As the autumn leaves begin to take on their color, lawns go dormant, and you and your lawnmower near the time when you finally get some rest.
Before you throw a tarp over your grasscutting friend, give it some love with proper winterization and lawn mower storage. If you want your mower to be ready to go in the spring, your preparation starts now.
Keep reading to learn the basic steps of winterizing your lawnmower.
Fuel First
When you’ve finished the last of your yard work, empty your mower’s fuel tank.
Fuel left in a mower will separate into ethanol and other chemical components. the ethanol can dissolve the rubber and plastic parts of your fuel system and gum up carburetors. It could also attract moisture and corrode the metal parts in your mower engine.
If the fuel does not cause engine damage, you will still have a poorly performing mower in the spring when you leave fuel in the tank. Old fuel isn’t premium fuel, so empty your tank and line to protect your engine and ensure you have a well-running mower when the grass needs clipping again.
After you have drained as much gasoline from the tank as possible, start your mower. Let it run dry to burn off any gas remaining in the lines. If you can access the fuel lines, drain those as well.
Remove Battery and Spark Plugs
Whether you own a lawn tractor or a cordless battery-powered electric lawn mower, remove the battery after you’ve finished using the mower for the season. Clean the dust, grease, and dirt off the battery, and store it in a dry, cool location until spring. In the spring, bring the battery back to full capacity with a 120-volt battery charger.
Your yard care equipment will run best when it has a fully charged battery. Removing the battery ensures it won’t drain over the winter.
Winter is a great time to replace spark plugs as well. Remove the old plug and spray oil into the cylinder. To evenly distribute the oil on the cylinder, pull on the recoil handle multiple times.
Then replace your old plugs with new ones.
Clean the Filters and Change Oil
Your mower should have both an air filter and a fuel filter. Consult your owner’s manual to locate the filters and learn how to clean them.
Then drain all the oil from your mower. Put in the recommended oil type and weight as stated in the owner’s manual.
Sharpen the Blade
The blade of your gas lawnmower will need sharpening after a full season of use. There’s no better time to sharpen it than the fall. This way, when you need your mower in the spring, it’s ready to go.
Seek Lawn Mower Storage
If at all possible, keep your mower inside. Lay a tarp over the machine to keep dust off it. If you have mice in your shed, then place bait stations under your mower to prevent mice from climbing into the engine and destroying the wiring.
If you do not have garage space, look into small storage sheds that will house just your mower. DIY projects like a shed will take a day but will put years on your mower.
Winterize For the Spring
To best prepare for the spring, winterize your mower and seek proper lawn mower storage. This way your machine will be ready to do its job in the spring and make your lawn beautiful once again.
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