Best way to clean/check/service petrol mower without turning

[DIYNotIan]

Hi gardeners!

I have a petrol mower with is sounding a bit grunty and rattly this year. So I want to take a look at the underneath and give it a clean up and once over.

However, in my experience with this and other petrol mowers, if you turn them on their side or upside down, it tends to cause problems either with leaking petrol or oil, or loads of smoke for a while when next used. It's a total guess, but I was thinking that it might be due to the petrol and oil mixing somewhere it shouldn't.

So my question is, how is it best to get to the underneath of a mower and how do you guys do it? Is it a bad idea to turn it on its side or upside down?

Many thanks

Max (who's now off to finish the lawn before it starts raining!)

 

[r896neo]

Your problem is you are lifting the wrong side, lift it so the air filter is up in the air then fuel doesn't run into it.

Dont turn it upside down

 

[enyam]

It's would be better to have emptied the petrol tank before working on it.

 

[Burnerman]

Tip them back towards their handles, then oil doesn't flood the air filter (through the crankcase breather connected to the carb) or into the exhaust port (down the valve guide).
The most you'll lose is a dribble of petrol, maybe.
John