Clean up your mower

By Pam Ervin

Master Gardener

As autumn arrives and all the leaves have been mulched or vacuumed, it is important to properly prepare your mower for the winter. Getting your mower ready for storage should include the following:

- Clean above and below deck to remove dirt and debris. Lubricate mower following the manufacturer's instructions in an owner's manual.- Change oil and replace oil filter. Run mower to warm oil prior to changing. Dirty oil may contain moisture and acids that can shorten the life of the engine and can affect engine and starting performance.

- According to master technician Kenny McCombs of Faith Farm & Equipment Sales, gas can become stale in as little as 30 to 60 days. Using higher octane gas will provide some help.

Evaporation and oxidation create gum that can clog up the carburetor, block air and oil filters, and wear out spark plugs, making the mower difficult to start.

You can empty the gas tank by running the engine until empty or add a fuel stabilizer to keep fuel from oxidizing. Run mower briefly to circulate fluids in the system. Also add stabilizer to containers of stored fuel.

McCombs prefers the fuel stabilizer approach, rather than emptying the fuel system, which can leave problem residue for next season. (Hint: this same procedure works well for the off season storage of string trimmers, blowers and chain saws.)

- Inspect air and fuel filters. Clean or replace as needed.- Check mower blades. Sharpen or replace as needed.- Replace spark plugs if damaged.

- Check drive belts and tighten or replace as needed.

This is not a complicated process, but if you do not feel comfortable performing the service, any full service dealer can complete the task for you.

Pam Ervin is a Master Gardener volunteer with the Cooperative Extension Service.