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Best tips on how to care for and maintain your robotic lawn mower
The maintenance your robotic lawn mower requires is much less than that of a conventional lawnmower. These machines may be technologically advanced, but they’re actually quite simple to look after – mainly because they have fewer parts that are less prone to malfunctioning.
Nonetheless, there are several things you can do to ensure your device is in tip-top shape all the time. These involve replacing its battery and blades when necessary, and properly storing it once winter sets in. Of course, you also need to clean your robotic mower regularly, and you might like to protect your machine from severe weather conditions throughout the year.
Carrying out these simple maintenance jobs can help ensure the lifespan of your robot mower. This article covers vital tips on how to maintain your robotic lawn mower. And if you’re on the market for one, make sure to read trusted reviews on Cleanup Expert site first about these innovative pieces of garden equipment.
Why is it important to clean my robotic lawn mower?
Regularly cleaning your robotic lawn mower is important for two main reasons. Cleaning can help prevent grass clipping buildup around the wheels, cutting mechanism, and other moving parts. If you allow grass clippings to build up over time, the mobility and cutting performance of your device will deteriorate. Furthermore, the buildup can cause unnecessary wear on your robot, which in turn shortens the lifespan of various parts.
The process of cleaning a robot lawn mower is a pretty simple job, and it doesn’t require any special tools. Usually all you need is a damp cloth, and a handheld brush with coarse bristles. If you need to remove the blades, it’s advisable to wear protective gloves before cleaning your robot.
Cleaning tips
Here are the things you need to do when cleaning your robot lawnmower.
- Turn off the master switch on your device to prevent the cutting blades from switching on accidentally. The switch is often located at the rear below the casing, or beneath the control panel. However, the specific location may vary from model to model.
- Once off, turn your robot upside down and place it on a tidy, soft surface. Most owners clean their units outdoors on the grass.
- Use a coarsely bristled brush to remove grass clippings from the underside of the machine. Pay attention to the cutting mechanism and wheels, this is where clippings tend to collect the most.
- Consider using a vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle attachment to remove clippings from hard-to-reach spots. A can of compressed air can also help blow away the grass clippings on these areas.
- Dislodge any leftover clippings with a flat-bladed screwdriver.
- After cleaning and dislodging most of the noticeable dirt and clippings, turn your unit over to allow this to fall out of the chassis.
- Turn over your device again. Then, clean the chassis using a damp cloth.
- When you’ve finished, turn the machine back on its wheels again and use the same damp cloth to wipe away any dirt from the outer casing.
Replacing the blades
It’s a good idea to check the sharpness of your mower’s blades regularly. A sharp blade ensures that your robot mower cuts grass more efficiently. Often, you will encounter the following problems when using a blunt blade:
- Some parts of the blade may break off. The last thing you want is for you or a family member to accidentally step on these broken pieces.
- The tips of your grass will be shredded and ripped.
- The damaged grass will turn brown.
How often you need to change the blades will depend on the model you have.
There are two categories of robotic lawn mower blades:
- Rotating razor blades. These blades are much smaller and are attached to a rotating disc. You need to change them more often, roughly after every eight weeks or so.
- Individually mounted blades. You will find these on John Deere, Ambrogio, and Robomow robot mowers. The power of the cutting systems of these blades is higher. In addition, they tend to stay sharp much longer. You will most likely need to replace them once every season. The blades on these models are pricier, but as you don’t need to change them as often the overall cost is pretty much the same.
It’s easy to change the blades of a robot lawnmower. Usually, you only need to prepare the interchangeable blades, screws, and a screwdriver. As the new blades will be very sharp, make sure you wear protective gloves for this job.
How to replace blade discs
- Turn off the main switch on your robot.
- Unscrew the blunt blades.
- Use a hard brush to clean the areas underneath.
- Attach your new blades.
- After you’re done with the assembly, check if you can turn the blades easily. If you’re having a hard time turning or the blades are not turning at all, you’ve mounted them incorrectly.
How to replace Robomow blades
- Make sure the main switch of your unit is turned off.
- Put the blade clamp provided on the two holes. Then, move it in the holes somewhat offset to the hooks. Next, turn the blade clamp to press the hooks together with it.
- Use a brush with stiff bristles to clean the area underneath if necessary.
- Simply press the new blade on and lock it into place.
How to replace blades with star-shaped serrations
- Again, it is important that the main switch is turned off before changing the blades.
- With your screwdriver, loosen the screws. Typically, you will find the screws of these blades in the middle part.
- Clean the area underneath using a brush with stiff bristles if necessary.
- Place your new blade on top and fasten with the screws, making sure to tighten them well.
When do I need to replace the battery of my robotic lawn mower?
It’s time to consider changing your robot’s battery once its maximum charge capacity is below 75%. Most smart robot mowers have a display where the battery charge level is indicated, or you can see it on their corresponding mobile app.
The usual lifespan of the battery is between 2 to 6 years. The battery life will vary from one brand to the next.
Charging station maintenance
Another thing to put on your list of robot lawn mower maintenance is the charging station. It’s worth giving this a thorough overhaul once a year. Additionally, you may want to clean it regularly using a damp cloth and brush. Covering and even bringing it inside during winter is also something to consider.
Along with these basic maintenance jobs, taking care of the charging contacts is also recommended. Here’s how to do it.
- Use a damp cloth to remove all dirt from the contacts, then wipe them dry.
- Check if the charging contacts have any corrosion. They will have a greenish shimmer if they’re corroded. Sand them lightly with sandpaper if necessary to remove this.
Winter storage
Winter storage is crucial for both your robot lawn mower and its charging station. This is because when you store your device and don’t use it for longer periods, the battery will lose its charge. Batteries also discharge much faster in colder temperatures.
Robotic lawn mower
Before putting your machine in winter mode and removing the charging station, make sure to recharge your mower’s battery. But keep in mind that it’s not a good idea to fully charge it to 100%; just above 70% is ideal. The reason behind this is that batteries with a higher charge level tend to discharge quicker. So there is no point charging it fully, because it will simply lose its maximum charge level very quickly.
After charging, turn your robotic mower off, give it a clean, and store it in a dry, frost-free and well-ventilated area.
Charging station
You may also remove the charging or docking station of your unit for winter storage. If your winters are mild to moderate, this isn’t necessary. Having said that, it’s important to avoid exposing your charging station to excessive snow. If you usually have heavy snowfall, you should consider storing it over winter.
If you do decide to store your charging station, you must insulate the boundary wire’s ends, as well as the guidewire if present, using insulating tape. If you decide to leave it in position in your garden, consider covering it with a tarpaulin to provide protection from the elements.
Do you have a robotic lawn mower? What’s your top tip for keeping it in great condition?
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