lawn mower winter storage

[Brett Hartwig]

so, now that I broke down and bought the Dixie Chopper, what do all of you do to store a mower during the winter? Mine will be sitting in an unheated garage so I want to make sure to take care of it the best I can, most often in subzero temps for at least a couple months. Do you run it out of gas, or add Sta-bil? Trickle charger on the battery or remove it altogether?

 

[Robert Thomas]

Park it, forget it, fix it in the Spring.



If you winterize it, what if you die before spring, you have done a lots of work for nothing.



Wait I live in Florida and cut grass all year around. Forget what I said.

 

[Brett Hartwig]

he he he..JERK! Must be nice

 

[Robert Thomas]

Land of fruitcakes, nuts, an inability to vote, and TV court cases. But, no income tax.



It has poured down rain the last two weeks and I have to cut the grass twice a week.



Run the gas out of the Carb, Add Sta-bil, and trickle charge . Then change the oil before start of the season. Or run it once a month for about 15-20 min.



Does the Dixie have a cup holder? :haveabeer:

 

[Richard L]

Like Redfish said, but put the Sta-bil in your last tank or partial tank of gas for the season. When you are done drive it till it runs out of gas.



If you have easy access to the spark plug, remove it, squirt about a tablespoon of motor oil in the the spark plug hole. Replace the plug and turn the engine over once or twice to lube the cylinder walls.



Us a trickle charger to keep the battery charged.



If you can. get the tires off the ground/concrete check tire pressure monthly and keep tires properly inflated.



Cover the mower with a fabric tarp or even an old bed sheet....just don't use plastic. You want to keep the dust and dirt off the mower but you want the cover to breathe. You do not want moisture to condensate under the plastic cover which may lead to rusting.



About a month before you need to start using the mower, change the oil, gas it up and start the engine and run it for a few minutes every few minutes. I recommend that because I learned the hard way and when my grass needed mowing in the spring, my damned riding mower would not start...:angry:



If it was a $200 lawn mower, you might not feel it's worth all the trouble, but your mower is expensive and you want it to last.



Good luck



...Rich

 

[TrainTrac]

If you have easy access to the spark plug, remove it, squirt about a tablespoon of motor oil in the the spark plug hole. Replace the plug and turn the engine over once or twice to lube the cylinder walls.

Or, pick up a can of Sta-Bil Fogging Oil and spray it down the carb throat and in the plug holes when winterizing. I do this every fall to my mowers and it keeps them in great shape.



[Broken External Image]:



Seafoam can also be used in the gas as a fuel stabliizer. I use it in my RV's gas tank all the time

 

[Richard L]

Train Trac,

Good tip...I never hear of Sta-Bil Fogging Oil, but it sounds like that works just as good, and probably easier to use.



....Rich

 

[Johnny O]

With the ethanol they put in the gas now, I was advised by the mower dealer to use Sta-Bil in the gas ALL the time when I was having carb troubles. Ever since I started doing that I've had no problems.

 

[Todd Z]

All I EVER do to any of my lawn equipment and snow blowers is check tires and belts and stuff, Run it till its out of gas, Hit choke , Try and run more. Make sure its out good.



Park it.



Spring, Change oil, check plugs, sharpen blades, Fill with gas and use.



All of my stuff is close to 10 Years old, all original motors, look and run like day one !



Todd Z

 

[Richard L]

Todd,



That's exactly what I used to do too...for about 11-12 years. The mower always started right up and ran great. Then one spring day the mower would not start. After expensive repairs including rebuilding the carb, replacing the ignition coil, it started and ran, but it ran rough and was very hard to start after sitting only 2 weeks between mowings. It was not worth putting anymore money into it.



I think JohnnyO hit the nail on the head...Use Sta-Bil in the tank ALL the time if you cannot get ethanol-free gasoline.



...Rich

 

[Todd Z]

I agree with the Sta-bil since most 5 gallon cans in my house last a season or more. worth the few bucks.



Todd Z