Lawnmower and Tractor Maintenance - Preparing for Winter Storage
If you live in the middle or northern states, chances are that as autumn approaches you can start to think about packing your lawnmower away for the winter. For many people this means simply pushing the mower to an out-of-the-way corner of the garage or shed or trading places with the snowblower. But, experts say, taking a few minutes to perform some simple maintenance tasks first will significantly improve performance and lengthen the life of your lawnmower or tractor!
Electric and Battery Mowers and Tractors
Electric powered and battery operanted lawnmowers are the easiest to maintain. No worrying about fuel, oil, spark plugs and the like. However before storing you should:
- Examine the blade and sharpen as needed
- Clean the mower deck - turn your mower upside-down and scrape off all the grass clippings, shredded leaves and other gunk sticking to the bottom of it. Tip: Spraying the underside of your mower with a silicone spray will minimize sticking in the future.
- If you have a battery-powered mower or tractor remove and charge the battery. Make some reminders on your calendar to charge it periodically throughout the winter - this way your battery is more likely to hold a full charge come spring!
Gas Powered Lawnmowers
Gas powered mowers are a bit more labor-intensive to maintain, however proper care will prolong the life of your machine.
- Remove or Stabilize the Fuel - proper attention to the fuel tank before storage is necessary in order to prevent the gas from clogging the carburetor - a costly repair!
For safety purposes if you will be storing the mower INDOORS, like in a basement or attached garage, it's advisible to REMOVE all the fuel. Start your mower and let it run until the fuel tank is completely empty.
If you are storing the mower OUTDOORS in an attached garage or shed, you can optionally just STABILIZE the fuel by adding a fuel stabilizer. Make sure you run the engine for a few minutes after adding the stabilizer - this insures that the stabilizer reaches the carburetor. Tip: It's a good idea to use a fuel stabilizer whenever you fill the tank, even in-season, as it will make your lawnmower's engine run cleaner!
- Change the Oil- drain and refill the oil. Be sure to use the proper type of oil for your mower.
- Clean the mower deck (see above)
- Sharpen the blade if necessary
- Battery operated starters - charge the starter battery
- Oil and Air Filters - see your owners' manual for instructions and recommendations on changing the oil and air filters.
- Lubrication - See your owners' manual for any recommended lubrication of the engine and/or mechanical parts of the mower.
- Belts - Look for any belts which may be worn and replace them now. Once again, see your owners' manual
- Spark Plugs - replace any corroded spark plugs. See your owners' manual for instructions and information as to how often your spark plugs should routinely be replaced.
And don't forget to check out your owners' manual to see if any additional maintenance task are indicated for your particular mower.