Fancy a top petrol mower for under a tenner?

The sound of petrol lawnmowers starting will reverberate across the country this Bank Holiday weekend – punctuated by the occasional expletive from those unable to get their machines into action for the first mowing of the year.

Households spend £130 million every year buying new mowers or having old ones repaired.

But instead of spending hundreds of dollars on repairs and brand new mowers, you can fix most problems for less than a tenner — just by following our money-saving steps.

Be careful when making repairs and ask a professional if you are not comfortable doing it yourself.

1. Change the gasoline

Brian Radam, author of Haynes Lawnmower Manual, says: ‘Modern petrol can get old, so if your mower has spent the winter in a shed, chances are the engine will not start. Empty the old tank and replace it with new gasoline.’

This is often a matter of loosening a clip and pulling off a rubber line that runs from the gas tank to the carburettor and emptying the fuel into a plastic container.

You may want to refill special fuel, which lasts longer and is better for lawnmowers. A 95 octane fuel (also known as E5) is a good option – it’s a mix of 5 percent ethanol and 95 percent gasoline and is better for the machine.

A gallon usually costs around £7.50 from garage forecourts.

A specialist ‘alkylate petrol’ – brands include Aspen – is even better. It costs around £20 for five liters (just over a gallon) from garden equipment stores.

Radam: ‘It may seem expensive, but alkylate petrol can last five or six years without getting old. It does not contain the corrosive elements of ethanol that can attack rubber and plastic in a carburetor system.’

Also make sure that the oil level is at the correct level – by checking the dipstick which is usually located nearby.

2. Clean or replace the spark plug

The spark plug provides the flash point to ignite gasoline for the engine.

Old spark plugs can get sooty with carbon deposits after a year of mowing the lawn, so it’s good practice to clean the metal tips with fine grit sandpaper.

Alternatively, you can replace the spark plug for around £3, but you’ll need a spark plug wrench and a feeler gauge, which cost around £5 each. Read the manual to find out how to replace yours.

Old spark plugs can get sooty with carbon deposits after a year of mowing the lawn, so it’s good practice to clean the metal tips with fine grit sandpaper.

3. Check the air filter and blades

If the mower won’t start, don’t turn it over to look underneath – this can allow oil to flow into an already clogged sponge air filter.

Take out the filter, clean it with turpentine and put it back when it is dry.

Mr Radam: ‘Sharpening the knives once a year is a good idea.’ Remove them with a wrench and sharpen them with an angle grinder.

4. Look for leaks/damage

The carburetor – which supplies the engine with the correct mix of fuel and air – is the most common part of the mower to fail, as the rubber seals and gaskets degrade over time.

You can buy a good carburettor gasket and diaphragm kit for £4. For most jobs, basic tools such as a screwdriver and spanners will do.

Watch videos on YouTube channels such as Mower Man and Micks Mowers The Mower Man for repair tips.

5. Check the warranty

Machines are usually covered by a warranty of up to three years. Check if you are eligible for a repair from the manufacturer.

6. Get an annual service

Sometimes it pays to call in an expert to solve the problem, especially if your machine is a complex machine.

An annual service costs around £100 – money well spent if it prevents you from having to shop for a new mower.

moneymail@dailymail.co.uk