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Winterizing Your Mower

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In previous blog posts, I have discussed projects for winterizing your lawn and landscape, but there is another tasks that you should do that will save you a lot of headaches next spring. I'm talking about winterizing your lawn mower. Winterizing an Electric Mower If you have an electric mower, the winterizing task list is short.
  • You should clean out the buildup of grass and other organic matter on the underside of the mower deck.
  • It's also a good idea to recharge the battery before on a regular basis throughout the winter, like once a month.
Winterizing a Gas-Powered Mower For gas powered mowers, the task list is longer. Before completing any of these tasks, it's a good idea to disconnect the spark plug wire to prevent accidental start-up. Here are some of the tasks that you should do when winterizing your gas powered mower:
  • One important task is to clean the underside of the mower deck. When tipping your mower, be sure that no fuel or oil spills out.
  • Scrape off the build-up of grass on the underside of the deck. Use a wire brush to remove any excess build-up.
  • Since the mower is tipped over, this is also a good time to remove the mower blade to have it sharpened. Removing the mower blade before scraping the underside of the carriage can make that task a little easier.
  • Once you have cleaned the underside of the deck, drain the oil and add fresh oil.
  • If possible, drain the gas tank. If this is difficult to do, completely fill the gas tank and add a fuel stabilizer. Then, run your mower for about a minute to make sure the additive is moved throughout the fuel system.
  • Check the air filter. If it is a paper filter, replace it. If it is a spongy foam filter, soak it in some warm, soapy water. After rinsing it out, allow it to completely dry. Then, work about 1 teaspoon of oil into the air cleaner and replace.
  • If your mower has a battery-powered starter, recharge it once a month.
  • Spark plugs cost a couple of dollars, so changing them each year is a good way to keep your mower running all season long for little investment.
These are relatively easy tasks and should take less than an hour to complete. By doing this now, your mower should be ready to go next spring.