14 November 2024
Along with managing leftover gas, there are a few other tasks you’ll need to complete when winterizing your yard machines. These tasks vary depending on the piece of equipment.
After draining the gas lines, clean the mower deck. Start by disconnecting the spark plug to prevent the motor from accidentally starting while you’re working around the blade. Use a leaf blower or compressed air to remove any debris or grass clippings that have collected on top of the mower.
Next, tip over the mower so you can access the deck (Make sure you’ve emptied the gas tank as gas can leak out of the tank even with the cap on). With the mower on its side, use a scraper to loosen and remove any dried grass clippings that are stuck to the deck’s underside.
Don’t be tempted to use a pressure washer for cleaning. That high pressure can force water into places that aren’t supposed to get wet, causing damage.
Winterizing a lawn tractor is like winterizing a walk-behind mower only with a few additional steps. After draining or stabilizing the fuel, clean the mowing deck. Again, disconnect the spark plug before working around the blade. Use a blower to remove any grass clippings that have collected on top of the mower deck.
If your mowing deck has a washout port, you can clean out the underside by connecting a garden hose to it and flushing out the clippings. Otherwise you’ll need to use a riding mower lift to raise the mower, so you can access the deck’s underside.
After cleaning the deck and parking the mower in storage, remove the battery and store it in a cool dry place to ensure it doesn’t discharge over the winter.
After dealing with gas leftover in the tank, turn your attention to the tiller’s tines. Remove any dried dirt stuck to the tines. You can use a hose to do this, but avoid using a pressure washer, which can damage the rototiller.
Once clean, wipe the tines dry with a rag, then rub a little cooking oil or used engine oil on them to prevent them from rusting while in storage.
Pressure washers differ from other outdoor equipment in that they have a pump system to winterize. Before taking care of any leftover gas in the engine and fuel tank, winterize the pump. You’ll need to drain any detergent or water left in it to prevent it from freezing and damaging the pressure washer while it’s in storage.
Flush the system by putting the pressure washer’s injection tube in a bucket of water and running the unit for a couple of minutes. Turn off the pressure washer then disconnect all the attachments and drain the lines and the spray gun.
Finally, attach a can of pump saver to the pressure washer’s water inlet and run it through the line until you see the pump saver liquid coming out of the outlet.
Unlike leaf blowers, string trimmers, and lawn mowers that only see seasonal use, you may actually need that chainsaw over the winter for cutting firewood or clearing downed trees after a winter storm. If that’s the case, consider keeping your chainsaw in action. Otherwise, winterize it by draining or stabilizing the fuel and cleaning the chain.
Start by engaging the chain break to ensure it won’t start up while you’re cleaning it. Next, pop off the side cover and remove the guide bar and chain from the chainsaw. Use a dry clean paintbrush or compressed air to remove any debris that has accumulated behind the cover. Next, use a scraper to clear out any sap or debris stuck in the groove around the chainsaw bar.
Clean the chain by soaking it in a solution of ammonia and water for about 15 minutes. Rinse the chain, allow it to dry, then oil it with chain oil before reassembling the chainsaw.
String trimmers have an air filter that prevents debris from getting inside the engine while you’re working with it. Over time, this air filter gets inundated with dirt, preventing air from getting to the engine.
Remove the air filter cover and brush off any grass that has accumulated on the filter. If the filter is still in good condition, place it back in the engine and reinstall the cover. If it’s inundated with dirt or damaged, replace the filter with a new one.
Winterizing your leaf blower is very similar to winterizing a string trimmer. Open the air filter cover on the engine, then remove the air filter and examine it. Remove any debris and replace the filter if it’s in bad shape.
Learn more or have your lawn equipment winterized, stop by Monnick Supply in Framingham and Marlborough.
Source: farmersalmanac.com
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