How-tos

Internal combustion engines all have engine oil dipsticks. The dipstick is a long flat metal rod with a plastic puller on its top. Its main function is to indicate the oil level inside the engine and tell you about the oil condition as well as the internal health of your engine. The metal rod slides through what is usually a metal tube and drops into the oil pan off to the side. Depending on the type of vehicle or engine, the dipstick has an orange, yellow or white circular handle, so you can find it easily on the top or either side of the engine. However, once it is stuck or broken, it can lead to costly damage to your engine.

Are you struggling with a Bobcat hydraulic equivalent? Many Bobcat owners want to save on maintenance costs by shifting to a hydraulic fluid equivalent. This guide will walk you through the Bobcat hydraulic oil equivalent chart and how to choose the right fluid for your Bobcat hydraulic systems.

Need an Ariens drive belt diagram? Our guide covers the Ikon XD 52 and 60 models. Get detailed, step-by-step instructions for replacing your drive belt, plus tips on how the automatic tensioner system works.

Learn the correct lawn mower blade position to avoid a ragged cut. This guide shows you which way mower blades go on—wings up for lift—and explains why timing blades is unnecessary for most mowers with a V-belt drive.

When your riding mower won’t start and there’s no click, the issue is almost always electrical. This guide provides a step-by-step process for troubleshooting, from checking safety switches and battery connections to testing the main fuse.

A starter solenoid is a crucial part in turning over your mower engine. Understanding the 3 pole and 4 pole starter solenoid wiring diagram can help you better solve related electrical problems. When you need a replacement lawn mower starter solenoid, we advise you choose the same solenoid as the original one. If you have to convert the 3 pole starter solenoid to a 4 pole one, you must refer to your owner’s manual and considerations listed in this blog.

Relay wiring diagram: how to wire 4-pin and 5-pin relays. Learn the pattern, and you can wire lights, fans, or horns on any loader, excavator, or skid steer. A 4-pin relay is simple on/off. A 5-pin adds pin 87a—powered when the relay is off, useful for changeover circuits. For most add-ons, leave 87a unused. The standard layout: 85 to ground, 86 to your switch, 30 to fused battery, 87 to your accessory. Keep the fuse close to the battery. Size wire and fuse for your accessory’s draw—not the relay’s sticker. Avoid common mistakes: connecting to 87a instead of 87, skipping the fuse, or weak grounds. Test with a multimeter before finalizing.

Having the cable extended can be a really common issue on your lawn mower due to constant use. Sometimes it can lead to a break, making it quite tricky to push the throttle cable. When you run into issues like this, having a Briggs and Stratton throttle linkage diagram can help you better understand the area clearly. Let’s enjoy it!

Lawn mower maintenance schedule by season. Spring is the reset—clean, inspect, change oil, check the blade, filter, and spark plug. Summer is about staying reliable under heavy use—keep the deck clean, monitor blade and belt wear, and watch for signs of trouble. Fall is the time for a full service—replace worn parts, inspect drive items, and prep for cleanup and storage. Winter is about storage protection—stabilize fuel, clean thoroughly, lubricate, and store dry. Following the seasons gives you cleaner cuts, easier starts, and fewer breakdowns. Service by the season, and your mower stays ready.

Puzzled by oil on spark plug threads when the tip is clean? This isn’t normal and signals a leak. Learn the two main causes—external leaks from gaskets or internal issues like a bad PCV system—and how to diagnose the problem correctly.

How often to change an oil filter? Every oil change—no exceptions. Light-use machines might stretch a filter, but working equipment faces dust, heat, and heavy loads that contaminate oil fast. The filter catches dirt, soot, and metal particles. Let it get too full, and the bypass valve opens, sending unfiltered oil through the engine. That’s where the wear starts. Stick to the manual’s hour schedule, but shorten it for harsh sites, long idle cycles, or extreme temperatures. Track engine hours, not memory. Replace the filter with every oil service, check for metal in the drained oil, and record the next interval. Fresh oil through an old filter is a wasted service.

Understanding the fuse box diagram is one of the most common concerns among many truck owners, mechanics and fleet managers seeking quick access to electrical components for maintenance and repairs. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the Kenworth T680 fuse box diagram, fuse panel locations and how you can do a DIY replacement. Enjoy your reading.