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Lawn Mower Questions & Answers

Lawn Mower Questions & Answers

We're here when you need us. Our support operations are just as strong as our mowers. Check the Mr. Know-It-All sections below to answer just about any question you may have.

If you can't solve the problem you are having our Support Center is just a call away. Call us toll-free at 866-622-3269 and we will be glad to help in any way we can.


Lawn Mower Service & Maintenance

Bad Boy Mowers leave the factory with synthetic 10w 30 motor oil in the engine and should be changed every 50 hours on an air cooled engine and every 100 hours on a liquid cooled engine. However, since the engines are warranted by the engine manufactures, we recommend that you refer to the engine owner's manual for specs, or you can visit their web sites for more information.

Engine Manufacturer Information:

We use 20w 50 motor oil for our hydraulic system.

We recommend changing the oil in the hydraulic system every 250 hours or once a season, whichever comes first.

We recommend that you use a name brand fuel to ensure quality. Use fuel with an octane rating near 87. Higher octane fuels offer no benefit.

Maintenance schedules will vary by model. Consult your operator's manual for more details or call your local dealer to schedule a maintenance appointment.

All mowers have a belt diagram underneath the floor panel. This shows how to route the belt in case you need to reinstall it. Make sure your belt is routed correctly, that the belt is secure in all pulley grooves, and that you start the belt halfway on your last pulley and turn/roll the pulley until the belt snaps into its groove.

When preparing for the off season or any period of 90 days or more, the most important thing is proper fuel preparation. Use a fuel stabilizer in your final tank of fuel and drain or run dry. Choke and repeatedly crank engine until it will not start. This will lessen the potential for varnish or gum deposits forming in your system.

Make sure your machine has plenty of antifreeze. You can get an antifreeze tester at your local hardware store to ensure your machine is ready for the winter.

Lubricate unit per the operator's manual.

The air filtration system will also affect the price. A canister-type air filter greatly improves filter performance, but also increases the cost of the engine.

The only way to know you are having a problem with your belts is if they slip or perform poorly. If this occurs, there is a spring tension adjustment on the pump belt that attaches directly to the pump spring. It is a black, all-thread bolt that can be adjusted by tightening the 1/2" nuts on the part. The deck belt can be adjusted by loosening the nut on the deck idler spring and sliding the spring forward or backward to add or remove tension accordingly. A .030 Feeler Gauge can be used to determine the correct belt tension.

We recommend that you replace your blades and avoid sharpening. Sharpening your blades can shorten the tip and affect the quality of cut.

All Bad Boy Mowers have an oil drain (except MZ, MZ Magnum and Diesel model(s)) to make oil changes easier. The drain will be a hose or valve attached to the engine block. To drain your oil, simply open the valve, drain the oil, close the valve and add 10W30 oil back to your gas engine and 15W40 oil for your diesel engine. Refer to your owners manul for more instructions.

Touch-up paint is available. Contact your local dealer for more information.

In the spring, don't use that old gas unless you properly used a fuel stabilizer, it can cause a number of problems. Better to use fresh gasoline to begin the new mowing season.

To help extend the life of your mower, grease the grease fittings during oil changes. To find these grease fitting locations on your mower see your mower manual or go to our Manuals Page to download a manual.

Check tire pressure. If the tire pressure is different from side to side, the cut will be uneven. Air pressure may also have a drastic affect on traction in dusty or wet conditions. See owner's manual for recommended air pressure.


Lawn Mower Troubleshooting

Please contact an authorized Bad Boy Dealer if your mower is creeping when in the neutral position.

Troubleshooting Checklist:
  • Check battery charge and connection.
  • Check your fuel. Make sure your fuel is fresh(less than 30 days old) and that there is no water in the tank.
  • Make sure your spark plug is in good condition and spark plug wire is attached. If in doubt, replace it.
  • Make sure air filter is clean. A dirty filter will make it more difficult for the engine to draw air.
  • Check all visible wires and connections.
  • Check all in-line fuses.
  • Review starting procedures in your Operator's Manual.

Troubleshooting Checklist:
  • Make sure the safety switch is plugged in on the bottom of seat.
  • Check the underside of the PTO engager to ensure the plug is secure at switch.
  • Check for any loose or unplugged wires and connections.

Some Tips On Prevention:
  • Check tire pressure. If the tire pressure is different from side to side, the cut will be uneven. Air pressure may also have a drastic affect on traction in dusty or wet conditions. See owner's manual for recommended air pressure.
  • Check blade sharpness (replace blades at least once per year or when needed)
  • Make sure blades are installed and tightened properly.
  • Check spring and belt tension.
  • Check the underside of the deck to ensure the mower deck is free of grass build-up and debris.
  • Make sure your machine is at full throttle.
  • Vary your mowing pattern each time you cut your grass.
  • Monitor your speed. Mowing too fast could cause grass stems to be uncut.

If the finished lawn appearance is unsatisfactory, please contact us.


General Lawn Mower & Sales Information

Our Options & Accessories page will show what accessories are available on specific models. Don't see what you're looking for? You can always visit your local dealer for more information!

Blade tip speeds will range from 18,500SFM to 18,900SFM depending on engine horsepower.

We offer from 36" to a massive 72" deck on our zero-turn models.

Maintenance, mowing conditions, temperature, and hours of operations play a huge role in the life of a mower. However, Bad Boy Mowers are without a doubt the strongest, most durable zero-turn mower available. With proper care, your Bad Boy will deliver many years of reliability, productivity, and comfort.

The actuator which controls the deck height is designed for moving loads of up to 1000 pounds and has a static holding capability which exceeds 3,000 pounds. Our ¼” deck weighs approximately 250 pounds which is only 25% of its working capability.

We'd love to have you join the Bad Boy Family! To inquire about becoming a Bad Boy dealer, click here.

The Maverick, ZT Elite, ZT Avenger, MZ Magnum, and MZ Rambler series are our residential models. The ZT Elite series and MZ Magnum series are smaller in size, but we didn't cut corners getting there, and offers all of the basic features available on the commercial models.

Rear hitches are optional on the MZ, MZ Magnum, ZT Elite, CZT Elite, Outlaw, Outlaw Extreme and Outlaw XP series and are standard on AOS and Diesel series. Front hitches are standard on the Outlaw (all Outlaw series) and Diesel models.

Bad Boy Mowers has baggers available for all deck sizes. Check with your local dealer for more information.

Bad Boy Mowers offers one of the most competitive warranties in the industry. Engines and transmissions are warranted directly through the manufacturer. Visit our Warranty Info page or look in your Mower Manual for more information on your specific mower warranty.


Lawn Mowing Tips

Don't remove any more than one third of the grass leaf at any one cutting. If circumstances arise that a lawn gets too tall and you just have to lop off a bunch to get caught up, bite the bullet and break it down into several mowing's to get caught up with 3 or so days between cuttings. NEVER SCALP YOUR LAWN. Scalping severely damages the root system to such a degree that it may die.

When mowing in wet grass, take your time and make the adjustments necessary to make a clean cut.

Grass clippings do not contribute to thatch buildup or increase the chances of disease. If you mow your lawn at the right height, without removing any more than 1/3 of its total height, clippings will quickly breakdown without a trace. These clippings contribute additional nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil and supply it with additional organic materials. Clippings from a 1000 sq. ft. lawn can add as much as 1 - 2 pounds of nitrogen back into the soil.

If you have a compost pile, then you may want to bag your clippings occasionally to add much needed green-matter to the compost pile. Make sure it is mixed thoroughly with brown matter to avoid a strong ammonia odor. DO NOT COMPOST CLIPPINGS after applying any weed control or weed-feed type product. Before adding clippings to the compost pile wait at least 3 mowings after these products have been applied.

Better Cut Tips:
  • Mow header strips at the ends of the lawn and around flower beds first. Make them wide enough that you can turn the mower around in the already mown section. Then mow back and forth between these header strips overlapping each lap by about 1/8 the width of the mower's deck.
  • Don't cut your grass too short, particular for cool season grasses. Higher heights usually provide for a deeper root system, looks better, and is less likely to have weeds invading, particularly crabgrass.
  • Don't remove any more than one third of the grass leaf at any one cutting. If circumstances arise that a lawn gets too tall and you just have to lop off a bunch to get caught up, bite the bullet and break it down into several mowing's to get caught up with 3 or so days between cuttings.
  • NEVER SCALP YOUR LAWN. Scalping severely damages the root system to such a degree that it may die.
  • Avoid mowing when the grass is wet or when it's dark.
  • Avoid throwing grass clippings into the street and driveway where they can be washed into the sewer system. After mowing, clean up driveway and walkways.
  • When mowing remove only a third with each cutting (except for the first mowing of the season when it's ok to remove more). You can safely leave clippings that will quickly decompose and add nutrients back into the soil. Contrary to popular opinion, grass clippings do not add to thatch buildup. Grass blades are made up of about 75% water.
  • Mow your lawn in a different direction with each mowing, especially with lawns of shorter grass types. Altering the direction ensures a more even cut since grass blades will grow more erect and less likely to develop into a set pattern.
  • Keep your mower's blade sharp, which means having it sharpened several times during the mowing season. Keep several blades around so you'll always have a sharp one on hand. Sharp blades cut the grass cleanly and help mulch clippings into small pieces which break down quickly.
  • Don't forget to change your mower's oil at least once during the mowing season. For brand new mowers, change the oil after about 5 hours of operation during the initial break-in period.
  • At the end of the mowing season use a fuel stabilizer in the remaining gasoline.
  • In the spring, don't use that old gas unless you properly used a fuel stabilizer, it can cause a number of problems. Better to use fresh gasoline to begin the new mowing season.

In the spring, don't use that old gas unless you properly used a fuel stabilizer, it can cause a number of problems. Better to use fresh gasoline to begin the new mowing season.

When transporting your Bad Boy Mower we recommend using two tie-downs, one on the front and one on the back.