Winterizing your Lawn Mower

With snow on the way, it's time to think about winterizing your mower and putting it to bed. So it's important to give it the right treatment to minimize problems next spring.

You should consult the owner’s manual for specific safety and maintenance instructions to your mower. Here is the general maintenance requirements for a typical mower:

1. Empty the fuel tank by  simply to starting the mower and let it run until it runs out of gas. Leave it empty until you're ready to use it again next spring.
   
   ***-----> Let engine cool down and remove spark plug wire before next step!
    
2. Empty the oil from engine crankcase (On most mowers there’s a drain plug).

3. Turn the machine on it’s side (ONLY after all the fluids have been completely drained) and clean the deck with a stick or scraper.
    
4. Remove the blade and sharpen or replace accordingly ( seek professional help if needed )
    
5. Check air filter. Paper filters should be replaced if dirty. Foam filters can be washed with soap and water
    
6. Replace spark plug
    
7. Refill engine with oil (make sure to use proper oil and correct amount). Leave gas tank empty and start with fresh gas next spring.
    
8. Lubricate all moving parts and store mower in a safe & dry place.

Have a safe winter!