Preparing the lawn mower

Let’s Garden

Tim Lewis

 

Preparing a lawnmower for winter

storage is an  important task

homeowners should pay attention to right now. In addition to the routine

maintenance required for summer operation, it is equally critical to perform

proper maintenance on them prior to storing them for the winter. This will

ensure the mower will be ready for the spring as well as prolong the life of

the mower. The following applies to rototillers or any other small engine.

First, thoroughly clean the mower. Turn the mower on one

side to expose the underside of the deck. With a wide blade putty knife, scrape

the underside until all grass clippings and other accumulations are removed.

Next, spray under the deck with a good, all-purpose cleaner,

letting this sit for a few minutes. Hose down with a spray nozzle under high

pressure.

Then, dry the underside of the deck with some old rags or

towels. Once dry, spray the newly dried surfaces with WD-40 or similar

lubricant.

Next, turn the mower right side up and clean all exposed

surfaces with old rags or towels as before, removing grease and grime. Again,

spray down with an all-purpose cleaner. Let this sit for a few minutes then

hose it down.

Once cleaned, the mower is ready to be drained of oil and

fuel. If any gas remains in the tank, remove the cap and pour into a bucket. If

any remains after this, run the engine until empty or simply remove with a

paper towel.

Drain old engine oil and catch in a plastic container. Used

oil should be taken to a recycling center or to an auto parts store that

provides this service.

Replace the oil drain plug and refill with fresh oil. A word

here about oil. Engine oil does four things. It lubricates engine parts,

reducing wear; it cools the engine; it seals spaces between the cylinders and

rings, preventing compressed air from escaping; it cleans the engine by carrying

away the by-products of combustion.

 Next, remove

and inspect the spark plug. If  it

is fouled with a heavy dark combustion buildup, replace it with a new one. If

relatively clean  and  less than a year old, clean it with a

carburetor cleaner and a stiff wire brush. Wipe it with a clean rag.

Before reinserting the spark plug, spray a good lubricant

such as WD-40 into the cylinder and pull the starter rope several times to

distribute the oil throughout the cylinder. Replace the spark plug.

Next, remove and clean or replace the air filter. Again,

clean the filter housing with a clean rag and some lubricant.

Store your mower in a sheltered, dry area and cover with a

drop cloth to prevent winter accumulation of dust and dirt.

After completing this cleaning regimen, you will feel better

— and so will your mower!

 

Tim Lewis is a Georgia Green Industry Association Certified

Plant Professional, gardening writer, former Perry High School horticulture

instructor, and former horticulturalist at Henderson Village and Houston

Springs. He and his wife, Susan, own and operate Lewis Farms Nursery located on

Hwy 26 two miles east of Elko, where he was born and raised. He can be reached

at (478)954-1507, timlewis1@windstream.net, LewisFarmsNursery.com, or LewisFarmsProduce.com.