Off Season equipment storage

[MDLawn]

For those of you that live in the colder area's of the country where your lawn equipment is sitting for a few months, how and what do you do to prep and store your lawn equipment for winter? Just want to see what some of you guys do. Thanks

[DLAWNS]

I change the oil, clean it up, and store it in my enclosed trailer and shed. Hopefully soon I will have a shop and a better place to store stuff.

[richallseasons]

You should try to drain the fuel out of your stored equipment also, including carbs if equiped. With the ethanol in todays gas it breaks down fast into a sludge that can cause problems.

[DLAWNS]

You should try to drain the fuel out of your stored equipment also, including carbs if equiped. With the ethanol in todays gas it breaks down fast into a sludge that can cause problems.

I've always been told to fill them all the way up with fuel to not allow moisture in. That's what I've done and haven't had a problem.

[MikeRi24]

clean, grease, and paint anything that needs painting, change the oil, drain it down to about 1/4 tank of gas, add Sta-Bil, let it run for a while to let it work its way through, put it all in the garage and let it sit til spring.

[gene gls]

I've always been told to fill them all the way up with fuel to not allow moisture in. That's what I've done and haven't had a problem.

I start my equipment every few weeks to keep it running.

[LB1234]

We change all oil, filters, etc. Add fuel stabilizer and let run for a few minutes. Park them in the trailer/s and start them up in the spring. Most equipment really only sits for 3 months where I'm at.


However, for longer stored equipment (i.e. snowblowers) I do do as gene above stated and start them up every month or so.

[Valk]

How many of you all remove your mower~batteries for the off-season? Wise or PITA? ...or both??! :laugh:

[Brad Ent]

Stabil in the tank
Start up engine, turn fuel off and fog carb w/ATF
Stored away in the barn under tarps
Ideally we prefer to change fluids/filters and scrub them down.
Winter came early this year, and we didn't get to PM all the equipment.

[gene gls]

How many of you all remove your mower~batteries for the off-season? Wise or PITA? ...or both??! :laugh:

I put in new heavy duty batteries every spring.

[mngrassguy]

All are great ideas here but not so sure about keeping the gas tank full. I used to do that but my snowmobile dealer put a jar of gas on the counter for about a year. After 3 months, the water and "gunk" settled out. You wouldn't believe how much water was in there. Leaving everything "dry" may not be such a good idea either. seals and gaskets can dry out is what I've heard.

My dealer tells me to "shake" the sled every time I start it to make sure gas is well mixed.

He says to add a 1/2 bottle of 2 cycle oil and a can of sea foam to the tank with fresh gas before starting it the first time for the season. Then, I wait until after the first tank to change the plugs.

Now I do this for all my equipment in the spring too.

[LawnGuy73]

Leave it on the trailer, and park it in the way back of the shop.