How To Jack Up A Lawn Tractor Or Mower

Assuming you own a lawn tractor or mower, you know that regular maintenance is necessary to keep it functional and durable. 

Occasionally, you may need to lever it up for servicing the tires, replacing old oil, and other routine maintenance. However, these machines are pretty heavy, and goof-ups while lifting them can lead to injury or damage to the machine itself.

Apart from needing a robust hydraulic jack and jack stands, you also need prior knowledge of the procedure.

Read on to know more.

How To Jack Up A Riding Lawn Mower?

Here is a step-by-step illustrative guide on jacking up your riding mower. Some pieces of equipment you will need include:

• Hydraulic jack 
• Jack stands 
• Woodblocks 
• Plywood

Step 1

Drive and park your machine on a leveled, hard surface such as a driveway or garage. Ensure to engage the parking brake of the machine.

Before you engage the jack, slide wooden blocks underneath the front and back tires to prevent them from rolling.

If raising the front tires, place the woodblocks under the rear tires and vice versa. 

Step 2

Though not entirely necessary, you can slide a large plywood board underneath the mower, positioning it at the center.

This helps provide a solid base for the jack, and the jack stands. Ensure the plywood covers the entire area underneath the mower from the front to the rear axle and stretches sideways. 

Step 3

You now want to position the floor jack under the mower depending on which side you wish to raise. If raising the front of the mower, place the jack at the front axle center.

Repeat a similar action if raising the rear of the mower by placing the mower at the center of the drawbar frame.

Some lawn tractors lack the drawbar frame. Place the floor jack at the transaxle center should this be the case. 

Step 4

Everything being in position, twist the jack handle clockwise and start pumping up and down to lift the lawn tractor to the desired height.

At this point, the tire should be spinning freely.

However, avoid lifting the machine too high to prevent frame damage. Use wood blocks or jack stands to provide additional support and prevent it from falling. 

Step 5

After lifting the lawn tractor to the required height, turn the floor jack handle counterclockwise to allow the machine to rest on the woodblocks or jack stands. 

Safety Precautions To Consider

Here are some safety tips to follow when operating a jack.

• The weight lifting capacity of the jack should be more than three-fourths the curb weight of your lawnmower. A lower-rated jack can slip and damage your machine.
• Empty the fuel tank and carburetor to avoid leaks during lifting and disconnect the battery.
• Disconnect the spark plug wires if changing the mower blade.
• Ensure that your jack has a broad base. This ensures stability while lifting and prevents slip-ups.
• Avoid using similar pieces of equipment such as a car jack. They lack the required lifting capacity for lawn tractors. 

Wrap Up

Given their high purchase cost, you want to ensure that you properly jack up your lawnmowers or tractors to avoid causing damage. In addition, your safety is equally important.

Using the avoid guide will keep you and your machine safe while lifting it.

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