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LSMP Equipment Maintenance September 200409-01-04 | News



Winterize Your Small Equipment Engines

Tips from the State University of New York at Buffalo




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Before you store your tractors and mowers for winter, make sure to drain the gasoline, or use fuel stabilizer. Dispose of unused gasoline properly, following local codes. For information on environmental policy on everything from gas disposal and water conservation to pesticide updates visit www.epa.gov.


Extreme cold can harm any internal combustion engine. The effect is magnified when equipment is left to endure months of freezing followed by a regular thawing cycle. What?EUR??,,????'???s more, leaving gasoline in a tank for long periods can by itself harm motors.

Taking a few minutes with your small tractors, lawn mowers, tillers, chippers and chain saws before they?EUR??,,????'???re stowed for the season can pay off with longer product life and ease of starting in the spring.

There are two general approaches you can take for winterization. The first is draining the fuel tank. The second is adding a fuel stabilizer to reduce corrosive effects.

Draining the tank

Check the owner?EUR??,,????'???s manual for information on draining the fuel system for winter storage. If recommended for your model, draining the tank will reduce evaporative emissions that occur during storage.






If recommended for your model, draining the tank will reduce evaporative emissions that occur during storage. If the gasoline cannot easily be removed, a gasoline stabilizer should be added.







If the owner?EUR??,,????'???s manual says the gasoline can be removed and it can be done easily, the tank should be carefully drained Winterize in a clean, approved storage container. The engine can then be run until it stops to remove the remaining fuel. If clean, the collected gasoline can be carefully added to your car?EUR??,,????'???s gas tank.

Using a stabilizer

If the gasoline cannot easily be removed, a gasoline stabilizer should be added. First, fill the tank to the rim to minimize air space. Add the stabilizer and run the engine for a minute to draw stabilized fuel into the carburetor. For added protection, you can close the engine?EUR??,,????'???s valves by pulling on the pull-starter until resistance is felt. An effective vapor barrier can be improvised by placing aluminum foil over the gas cap and then sealing the foil with tape.

Whichever approach is taken, equipment should be stored in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.



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Equipment Info

Accidents– ER treatment is required for 75,000 accidents per year from mower injuries.

Gas– Mowers use 580 million gallons of gas per year.

Pollution:– Running a gas mower for one hour is equivalent to pollution from a car driven 20 miles.

Source:www.banditchipper.com



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Small equipment winterization checklist

If you are going to store a lawn mower or other small internal combustion engine for more than a month you can take the following steps.

  1. Disconnect the spark plug wire.
  2. Clean the top and underside of the mower. Tighten any loose bolts you notice. If you?EUR??,,????'???re really ambitious, go ahead and sharpen the blade for a head start on next year.
  3. If you have a two-cycle (fuel-oil mixture) engine, skip this step. Drain the remaining gas from the tank, or run the engine to use the last bit of gas in the tank. If you choose not to drain the tank, be sure to use a gas additive designed for small engines. Untreated gas left in a tank more than 30 days begins a chemical composition change that?EUR??,,????'???s harmful to the engine.
  4. While the engine is warm, drain the oil and refill it with fresh oil.
  5. Remove the spark plug, and add about one-half ounce of engine oil to the spark plug cylinder. Replace the plug, but don?EUR??,,????'???t reconnect the spark plug wire until you are ready to use the mower again. Slowly pull the start cord to distribute the oil to internal engine parts.
  6. Clean or replace the air filter.
  7. For best protection, cover the mower with plastic, and store it in a dry place away from heat sources or electrical appliances.

When tipping a push mower deck to view or work on the underside, disconnect the spark plug wire. If the mower has a paper filter, remove it to prevent oil from seeping in. For safety?EUR??,,????'???s sake, get help or use a mower jack when turning a machine up to clean or drain fluids.


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