Your lawnmower is essential household equipment. It is a necessary tool for keeping your lawn in shape and maintaining a beautiful-looking house. Sure, it can be a hassle to use and keep clean, yet it can save you hours of labor. A lawnmower is no small investment either. This is why if an issue arises, it can be quite unsettling, to say the least. However, we are here to help.
One common problem that lawnmower owners may face is a broken lawnmower cable. A broken lawnmower cable is a huge issue since it renders the entire machine useless.
There is a simple and straightforward solution to the problem of a broken cable, and this article will provide a step-by-step guide to getting your broken cable fixed yourself within a matter of a few minutes.
How may a lawnmower cable break?
A lawnmower’s cable, or throttle cable, to be exact, controls the machine’s engine. A lawnmower can be using the throttle cable, either manually or automatically, which kick starts the engine and turns on the blades that enable you to cut grass and mow your lawn as a result.
The cable can break if it undergoes damage. Since the cable is so vital to the functioning of the mower, any kind of damage and breakage can result in the mower being left useless.
Installing a new cable will cost anywhere from $15-16, and you will have to buy the cable from a hardware store or order it online. In either case, you will not be able to use your mower immediately.
On the other hand, you can repair the broken cable yourself as well. This alternative will cost you just $2-3, but most of all, you will be able to use your lawnmower right away. So there is no wasted time, and you can complete your gardening tasks without any interruptions.
Steps for fixing your lawnmower cable
Before you get started with the repairing process, make sure you have all the necessary tools and parts needed to get the repairing underway. You will need a hammer, a screwdriver, measuring tape, and pair of sharp pliers to cut the wire, as well as aluminum crimps and a section of the cable which matches the cable of your lawnmower. These are some basic pieces of equipment and tools which you need to have anyways for repairing work around the house. You will be surprised at the amount of money you can save by doing the repairing yourself.
Now, on to the fixing. Here are the task of fixing your lawnmower’s cable broken down into easy to follow steps:
Step #1
Remove the cable from both ends of the lawnmower. Use the screwdriver to remove the air filter. Get the cable out of the throttle and remove it from the throttle handle.
Step #2
Once the cable is removed, you can fully inspect the damage and measure the length of the cable needed to be replaced. Cut off the damaged bit using the pliers.
Step #3
Take the section of the cable and try to place it with the original lawnmower cable. You can cut the amount of cable you need using the pliers.
Step #4
Now take the hammer and flatten the two pieces of cable together. The aluminum wire is easily flattened. Just put some muscle into the process and make sure to really get the two pieces to align perfectly together. Take the pliers to twist the wires together.
Step #5
Time to secure the joint you have created. Place the crimps on the joints and press them down with some force to ensure that the crimps are fully secured in place and hold the joints tightly.
Step #6
You are not done yet. Time to test out your handy work. Thread the cable in place and screw on the nuts to restore the cable to its original form. Test the tension of the cable to see if it is just taut enough. If you measured and replaced the wire accurately, then this will be the end of the repair job, and you are good to go.
If unfortunately, the wire is either too short or too long, then it is back to the drawing board.
Restoring the lawnmower cable and maintaining it
As you can see, fixing a lawnmower cable is easy. Following the steps will help you through this simple exercise, and with time, you will become an expert at it. You will be able to repair your own cable in a matter of minutes.
A few important things to remember is to remain gentle with the cable. For a manual cable pulling it too hard can affect the integrity and strength of the cable and result in it breaking easily.
Another important thing is lubricating the cable. This makes it easy to start the engine and prevents extra force from being applied that breaks the cable.
Important things to remember
A few key things to remember are always to have the right tools and parts to keep the lawnmower in good shape. Maintaining your lawnmower is an easy task as long as you have the right tools. Having extra equipment handy is always a good thing.
Finally, getting a good lawnmower is a big investment. This is why you need to take care of your lawnmower and ensure that it is in good shape. Maintaining your lawnmower will increase its lifespan and will enable you to use it without any extra cost for many years to come.