How to winterize your lawnmower
Oct 17, 2009 Rick's Tips
Most modern lawnmowers will last for many years if they are properly cared for and maintained, and with winter quickly approaching it’s time to start thinking about storing them until spring. But simply locking your mower in a shed and forgetting about it until April isn’t good enough. Here are a few tips for properly winterizing your lawn mower:
1 – Use a leaf blower, compressed air, or a shop vac (in blower mode) to blow all of the dried grass and other debris from the top of the mower. If you have a riding mower open the hood and blow out the engine compartment as well. Also be sure to remove any grass lodged in or around the pulleys that drive the mower and the belts. This is also an excellent time to check the belts for signs of wear, cuts or abrasions. If you find any, the damaged belt(s) should be replaced.
2 – Replace the air filter with a new one, even if it appears to be clean. Most likely it won’t be after a full mowing season.
3 – Replace the spark plug.
4 - Remove all the gasoline from the tank by allowing the mower to run until the tank is empty.
5 – Drain the oil from the mower by removing the filler cap and tilting the mower on its side. Be sure to catch the used oil in a flat pan for recycling. If you have a riding mower / lawn tractor, open the oil drain plug and drain the oil, then replace the oil filter. You’ll find complete instructions for the process in your mower’s owner’s manual.
6 – Replace the old oil with new. It’s important not to overfill the mower with oil, so consult the owner’s manual to determine how much you should add. Most mowers nowadays come equipped with a dipstick for verifying the oil level. Be sure to use the type of oil listed in the owner’s manual.
7 – Remove the blade(s) and thoroughly remove any debris such as caked-on dried grass from the underside of the mowing deck.
8 – Sharpen the blade. You can do it yourself by consulting the owner’s manual and following the instructions to the letter. Alternatively, you can take the blades(s) or the entire mower to a repair shop and have them do it for you. If the blade is deeply pitted, bent, broken, or otherwise damaged, you should replace it instead of trying to sharpen it.
9 – Put just enough gas back into the gas tank to run the mower for about 10 minutes. Now the mower is ready for storage.
10 – After three weeks, start the mower and let it run until all the gas is used up. Then put in another 10 minutes’ worth of gas and put the mower back in storage. Repeat this process every three weeks until the first spring mowing.
Note: If you have lost your owner’s manual you can order a replacement from the manufacturer. Many manufacturers now place their products’ owner’s manuals on their websites as well, and many of them can be downloaded for free!
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