How to fix Ryobi lawn mower height adjuster?

[bmolloy]

I have a Ryobi 36V Lawn mower a couple of years old. After mowing for about 10mins, the height adjuster keeps dropping down from level 3 to 1, cutting  the grass too close and damaging the grass. There are no signs of damage and I've tightened all the screws around the wheel and lever assembly. Any idea folks on the cause?

[JacobZ]

Hi @bmolloy,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

To start with, could you please let us know the specific model of lawn mower that you have? There will be a sticker or plate somewhere on it that will tell you the model number.

Additionally, a couple of photos of the height adjuster could help us work out what is going wrong. If you need a hand uploading photos, please let me know so I can assist.

It sounds like the height adjuster mechanism on your Ryobi mower has lost some tension or grip over time. This can happen as the spring or locking parts wear, allowing the lever to slip down during use.

Try cleaning the area around the lever and wheels to remove grass or debris. Avoid using oil-based lubricants, as they can make it slide more easily. If it keeps slipping, the internal spring or locking parts may be worn and need replacement.

To determine whether this is possible, I'll need to see the model number of your mower so I can check with Ryobi if replacement parts are available.

If your mower is still within its warranty period, which is 4 years (6 with registration for an extended warranty), then you may be entitled to a replacement.

Let me know what you think, and if you can provide further details, I can certainly assist further.

Jacob

[bmolloy]

Hi JacobZ,

Images attached of the model number and spring. I went into my local Dural Bunnings and they said they don't have any stock, then I called Ryobi support and they said they do not carry any stock for the height adjuster spring, very disappointing given this model is still sold at Bunnings. I would expect them to carry spare parts for a spring, which is obviously going to lose tension over time. 

[EricL]

Hello @bmolloy 

Thank you for sharing those pictures of your mower. I've forwarded your query to the Ryobi customer service team and will be waiting for a reply.

Thank you for your patience.

Eric

[MitchellMc]

Hi @bmolloy,

I'm sorry that part is not available.

Did you take the mower with you to have it assessed for a warranty swap over? A height adjuster that is failing sounds like something that would put it into the catergory of being faulty. I've spoken to Arthur at Bunnings Dural and he's keen to check the mower out for you. If you can take it into the store with your batteries (if purchased together) and reciept then he'll assess it for you. He's on until next Sunday.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[Kiwi333]

Hi @bmolloy I have the exact same model with the exact same fault - were they able to fix for you ar did you have to do a warranty swap out?

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Kiwi333. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about Ryobi lawnmowers.

I'm sorry to hear you're having issues with your mower, too. We'll certainly pass feedback on to Ryobi about the multiple instances.

Hopefully, @bmolloy can let you know how they went. As Ryobi is not under a repair warranty, it's unlikely that anything was fixed in-store unless a team member identified a simple cause of the issue. Your best bet is to take your mower in and have it assessed under warranty. Remember to take your proof of purchase with you.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell