James River Blog

How Often Should I Service My John Deere Riding Lawn Mower?

Properly maintaining your John Deere riding mower isn't just about keeping it running; it's the key to extending its life and maximizing your investment. Whether you're working with a small 100-series lawn tractor or tackling hundreds of acres with a commercial mower, regular service keeps your mower performing at its best and prevents costly breakdowns. In this guide, we'll explain why regular lawn mower service is essential, and some general guidelines around how often you perform maintenance. When it's time to call in a professional, you can trust James River Equipment to provide expert service and repair to any of your John Deere riding lawn mowers. 

Why Regular Riding Lawn Mower Service Matters

Regular service is essential for your riding mower, even if you’re working with a mower for the home or commercial equipment for your landscaping business. Consistent service can help keep mower blades sharp and engines running strong so you can be confident you’re getting a pristine cut every time. Here are some of the biggest reasons why regular maintenance is important:

• Prevents performance loss from buildup, dull blades, and clogged filters
• Reduces long-term repair costs by identifying minor issues early on
• Can help maintain warranty coverage and increase resale values
• Improves fuel efficiency and cutting quality

By staying on top of routine maintenance, you’ll protect your equipment, avoid unexpected downtime, and ensure your mower delivers reliable performance season after season.

Recommended Service Intervals for Riding Mowers

Generally, how often and the type of work needed to be done on your John Deere riding lawn mower depends on how many hours you put on it, the conditions you mow in, and whether you’re using a residential or commercial-grade machine. While we strongly advise that you refer to your model’s manual for specific instructions, here are some general guidelines on how often your mower should be serviced:

Every 25 Hours: Clean the mower deck, check tire pressure, and inspect mower blades

Every 50 - 100 Hours: Change the oil and replace the oil filter

Every 100 - 150 Hours: Replace spark plugs and air filters

Annually or before winter storage: Grease all fittings, sharpen or replace blades, check belts, and inspect the battery

For commercial mowers used heavily, such as on golf courses or landscaping crews, we recommend shorter intervals to improve efficiency. If you have any questions about your specific John Deere mower model, reach out to our James River Equipment team today.

Get Professional John Deere Service with James River Equipment

At James River Equipment, we're proud to provide professional support for your John Deere equipment so you can stay focused on the work at hand. While much of the maintenance for your riding mower can be done yourself, our expert, John Deere-certified team is always available to ensure it's done right or to address any issues you may be experiencing. When working on your mower, we will thoroughly inspect every component and identify any damaged or worn parts so we can address them quickly. Across our dealerships, we keep a wide range of genuine John Deere OEM mower parts that are backed by fantastic warranties. Get started by scheduling your equipment service online or by calling our team today.