Winterizing Your Mower
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Once fall arrives, the air gets chilly, the
leaves change colors and it’s time to start preparing
for the winter. Winterizing your lawn mower is an important
process that often gets forgotten. So, here are a couple
of important steps you can follow this fall to extend
the life of your mower and keep it working hard for
years to come.
Start by cleaning the mower deck and the air intake
screen, especially because mulching leaves can easily
get clogged in these screens. Now is the perfect time
to tighten all the nuts and bolts and to check all belts,
filters and safety shields. Repair and treat scratched
or chipped metal surfaces, and apply a light coat of
engine oil to pivot and wear points to prevent rust.
Wondering how often you should
change the oil and the oil filter? If you have a small
yard, changing it once a year is probably enough, so
replacing the oil and filter at the end of the season
ensures that you’ll be ready to go next spring.
Be sure to drain the old oil while the engine is still
warm to get a complete flush and prevent any contaminants
from settling back in the oil pan.
When fuel is left dormant for
a month, it begins to decompose. Then chemicals begin
to interact, varnishing the carburetor and causing hard
starting -- or no starting. So for winter storage, John
Deere recommends either emptying your tank or adding
a fuel stabilizer to keep the carburetor from clogging.
After you add the stabilizer, run the engine for five
minutes to circulate the stabilizer throughout the fuel
system.
While your operator’s manual
may seem like a novel, it’s actually a lot shorter,
and the only symbols you’ll find will be pictorial
rather than metaphorical. Consult the manufacturer’s
operator manual for any other winter storage suggestions
(for example, you may need to check the battery and
the electrolyte levels). Then be sure to store your
mower in a safe, dry area or with a waterproof cover
if stored outside.
Want to get a jump on spring?
Make a checklist for what to do when you bring your
mower out again. You’ll want to check the tire
pressure and all fluid levels to ensure your equipment
is ready to go. Then run the engine at low to medium
idle for a couple of minutes to allow for the oil to
be redistributed throughout the engine.
Need a little help with winterizing?
Consider having your mower maintained by a professional.
John Deere offers a service called Ready to Mow that
comes to your house to perform mower maintenance. Sign
up now to avoid the spring rush.
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