If you own a garden or yard, having a lawnmower is crucial. Whether you’re a gardening enthusiast or someone who loves a thrilling ride, knowing how to increase your mower’s speed to 30 mph can be exciting.
Typically, lawnmowers have a speed range of 3 to 8 mph, depending on the type and model. While this speed is sufficient for regular lawn mowing, there are ways to boost performance and reduce downtime.
In this article, we will guide you through the steps to increase your lawn mower’s speed by 30 mph. However, we advise caution and recommend optimizing the speed rather than pushing it to its maximum limit. We will explore modifications that can be made to achieve the optimal speed.
Why is My Lawn Mower Slow?
There can be numerous reasons why your lawn mower is running slow. Listed below, or the most common of them:
1. Clogged Air Filter
The first one has to be this one! If you haven’t cleaned your air filter for a long time, it can clog and disrupt the airflow. Further, it will affect the performance of the lawn mower.
2. Fuel Issues
If you learn that it does not have enough fuel, it can run slowly. Therefore, we advise you to check the fuel level frequently.
3. Old Spark Plugs
If you have one out or dirty spark plugs, then it could misfire. Moreover, this will reduce the speed of your lawnmower.
4. Faulty Ignition System
If you learn more, faulty ignition coils, spark plugs, or distributors can cause inconsistent or weak fires. Thus, it will reduce engine power.
5. Loose/Damaged Belt
If your mower’s belt is loose or damaged, then its engine can lose power and affect overall performance.
Can I Adjust My Mower’s Speed?
Yes, you can adjust the speed of your lawn mover by using the throttle control lever. The lever acts as your handle. You can move it back and forth to alter the speed.
When you push the throttle forward, then it will increase the speed. Conversely, when you pull the throttle backward, then it decreases the speed.
These days, most mowers come in 2-speed settings. A rabbit indicates the fast mood, while a turtle signifies the slow mode.
However, the symbols can change depending on the machine you use and its model. But don’t worry, there won’t be any complicated signs, and you can easily understand them.
How to Make a Lawn Mower Go 30 Mph?
When you want to increase the speed of your lawn mower to 30 MPH, it includes various modifications in proper steps. Listed below are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Select The Right Lawn Mower
If you want your lawn mower’s speed to be 30 mph, you must first select one capable of handling it. Not every lawn mower available in the market can handle speed modification. Therefore, you will need to select a lawnmower that is designed for high-speed operations.
Look for lawn mowers that are specially designed for commercial purposes. As commercial lawn mowers have powerful engines, they can handle any modification. It will help if you choose a lawn mower with a higher engine size, like one with 600 CC or 700 CC. They have more horsepower and torque, making it easier to get high speed.
Step 2: Make Modifications to The Engine
Once you have selected your lawnmower, now what? You need to modify the engine to increase the speed to 30 mph. In this step, you must do some research (we mean thorough research). You need to see if the changes and legal and safe for your mower.
Some modifications you can do to your mower to increase the limit to 30 mph are:
- Putting in a high-performance exhaust system and air filter.
- Getting a new fuel system and engine.
- Changing the spark plug and ignition system.
- Putting in a camshaft and valve train for performance.
Note: Some of these modifications may not be suitable for your mower. It can further void the manufacturer’s warranty. Make sure to check the local rules and regulations, as some might not be legal or safe.
Step 3: Make Changes to The Transmission
Only changing the engine is not enough to increase the speed! You’ll also have to change the transmission to handle higher speeds.
Tip: If the driven pulley in your lawn mower is bigger than the driver one, it will give more power and less speed. While if your driving pulley is bigger than the driven one, it will give you more speed but less power.
Again, you must ensure that any changes you make to your mower are legal and safe. Changing the motor can change how the mower handles and how stable it is, so you should be careful.
Step 4: Change The Wheels And Tires
You’ll also need to update your mower’s blades and wheels if you want it to go faster. Look for tires with a low profile and good grip that are made for high speeds.
The simple rule applies: the bigger the tire, the faster it can go. However, if the tire is bigger, you will need a strong engine to get it up to speed.
You’ll also need to improve the wheels to handle the extra stress of going fast. Look for wheels made for racing that are strong but not too heavy.
Step 5: Quality Engine Oil
If you own a lawn mower, you must know how important it is to use high-quality engine oil. This is another important factor that will affect the speed of your lawn mower.
We know many low-quality engine oils are available in the market, which can affect your engine adversely. If you want your lawn mower blades to run smoothly, never use them.
Step 6: Look at The Air Filters
Lawn mowers have air screens to prevent dust and other particles from entering the engine. It is the same as the lungs in our body. Too much dirt or no regular cleaning can lead them to clog!
If that happens, the filters won’t work as well. And, if your air filters don’t work well, your mower will work slowly. Luckily, all that needs to be done to get rid of the clog is to clean the air filter.
Many different kinds of air filters can be put in lawn mowers. So, it’s important to buy one that works with your machine. You can buy a new air filter if the old one is broken.
Step 7: Testing And Tuning
Now that you have made all the modifications you need, congratulations! Now you have to test it! You must check if your lawn mower is working properly or needs further changes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Modifying a Lawn Mower?
When you modify your lawn mower, it can increase its performance and make mowing an easy task. However, if you don’t modify it correctly, it can create various problems. Also, it can even damage the mower. Listed below are some of the mistakes you should definitely avoid while modifying a lawn mower:
1. Overpowering The Engine
Your lawn mower should be able to handle the load of bigger engines. Putting in a bigger engine or adding more horsepower can make the mower hard to control and unstable. This can also cause the engine and other mower parts to wear out faster than they should. Hence, they can cause more damage, and your lawn mower will have bigger effects.
2. Tires That Are of The Wrong Size
Using the wrong tire can change how the mower balances and moves. This can also make the mower hard to handle and keep stable.
3. Installing or Using Aftermarket Parts Incorrectly
Some aftermarket parts might not work with your mower or might not be put right, which could cause problems or even damage the mower. You need to select the right product that will fit your mower. Also, abstain from using inferior products, as they can cause the worst damage possible in the long run.
FAQ’s
Ans: Modifying a lawn mower for speed in some areas can be subject to legal action. Therefore, we advise you to check with the legal authorities for the rules and regulations. Further, there are even laws that say you need to use a lawn mower only on your private property and not on any public property.
Ans: No, you cannot modify all lawnmowers! If you choose a lawn mower with a powerful engine and transmission, like a commercial loan mower, then you can modify them. They can have the ability to adjust to the changes and achieve a speed of 230 mph or even more. At the same time, mowers with less than 600 cc engines won’t be able to adjust to changes and can break down.
Ans: The cost of lawn mower modifications is never fixed. It depends on various factors like the type of product, the quality of product use, the modification needed, and the labor involved. However, the cost of modification is around $100–$1000.
Ans: Yes, it is quite challenging! When you want to change a lawn mower’s speed to go 30 mph, it will take a lot of technical skill and information. It’s not a good idea for people who have never changed an engine before or who don’t have access to special tools and equipment.
Ans: A lawn mower with high speed needs more frequent maintenance than a regular one. It is important to keep the engine and other modifications in check for the lawn mower to work at high speed.
Conclusion
Having a slow lawnmower can be frustrating! It is especially true if you own a large yard! The average lawnmower speed is 7 to 8 MPH. However, you can increase the speed of a lawnmower if you follow our steps above.
If you encounter any issues with your lawn mower, don’t hesitate to contact a professional as soon as possible. They will diagnose the issue and solve it efficiently.