How to Winterize your Lawn Mower

Introduction:

This is not how a professional lawn and garden person would advise you on winter care of mowers and edgers. But, it has worked for me and is very simple.

Things You Will Need:

Warm and dry storage area

WD-40

Shop towels

Scraping tool

Step 1:

When you are certain you have used your mower for the last time before next spring, follow the checklist beginning with Step 2.

Step 2:

Start from the bottom and work up. Clean the undercarriage with your scraping tool and coat lightly with WD-40 or a similar rust inhibitor. Sharpening the blade is optional. You can do it now, wait until next spring, or not do it at all. I have found that, unless it is severely pitted or bent in some way, (if the blade is damaged it needs to be replaced), you really don’t need to mess with it. Even a dull blade cuts grass. Just be certain that the nut holding it in place is not loose and it is not excessively dull.

Step 3:

Remove the air filter and either clean or replace it. Filters don’t cost much so the best and easiest thing to do is simply replace.

Step 4:

Remove the spark plug and clean the sparking end. Check the gap and adjust if necessary

Step 5.

Most professionals will drain the old oil. I don’t. Reason 1, I do not allow my oil to get excessive worn and dirty and reason 2 is, I like to run the engine several times during winter months.

Step 6:

Fill the gas tank and add a small amount of carburetor cleaner. This assists in keeping moisture out of the gasoline and fuel line.

Step 7.

Keep you mower; indeed, all of your spring and summer power lawn tools, in a dry, reasonably warm place. By warm I mean, do not allow your equipment to sit for an extended period of time in below freezing temperatures.

Tips:

Do all of the above and you will have minimal preparation to begin next spring. An oil change will be about it.

You may, if you wish, clean and replace anything on the mower you find excessively worn or dirty, but this can wait until spring.

Comments (3)

jswana said:

	... Great guidelines in winterizing the lawn mower. These things do need care to operate correctly. Thanks!
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October 14, 2011
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Susan Golis said:

	... Helpful tips for getting lawn mower ready for winter storage. My husband did not do this and in spring the mower would not start. Thanks for sharing.
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October 14, 2011
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carmen357 said:

	... Great tips thanks for sharing!
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October 31, 2011
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