It’s Time to Put Your Mower to Bed

It’s gettin’ on toward hibernation time for your lawn mower, and there’s a few important things to do before you store it over the cold months. Start with this easy bedtime routine, and you’ll be rarin’ to go next spring:

• Empty the gas tank. Over time, old gasoline turns into a varnish-like film that can wreck your carburetor.
• Drain and replace the engine oil. Replace the filter, too, if you haven’t done that earlier in the year. That way, you’ll be ready to roll next spring.
• Remove the spark plug. Then squirt about 15 drops of lubricating oil into the hole. Crank the engine a few times to spread the oil all over the inside of the engine.
• Check the spark plug. If it’s in good condition, clean and regap it; otherwise, replace it.
• Sharpen the blade. You can always take it to a pro if you’re uncomfortable doing this task yourself.
• Dip a soft cloth in oil. Then rub it over the blade and all exposed metal parts to keep rust from forming.
• Finish by greasing all moving parts. This’ll keep ‘em from freezing up in the cold.

Then tuck that baby into your garage or shed and let it sleep in peace until next spring.

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