Winterize and store your lawn mower
Mowing season is ending. Twenty minutes now saves a mower that won't start in April. These steps come from the Toro and Honda storage instructions and suit any push mower.
Step by step
Put it away for the winter
Safety Pull the wire off the spark plug before you touch the blade or reach under the deck. Wait for the blade to stop completely first. Do fuel work outdoors on a cold engine, away from sparks, pilot lights and cigarettes. Wipe up spills before starting.
| 01 | On the last fill-up of the year, add fuel stabilizer to the gas as the label says. | Toro: don't keep fuel without stabilizer more than 30 days, or stabilized fuel more than 90 days. |
| 02 | Run the mower until it runs out of fuel. Start it again and let it stall until it won't restart. | An empty carburetor can't gum up. |
| 03 | Change the oil while the engine is warm, if your engine calls for oil changes. | Honda lists an oil change as the first storage step. |
| 04 | Pull the spark plug wire. Remove the plug and pour a little engine oil into the hole: Toro says 1 fl oz (30 ml), Honda says 1 to 2 teaspoons (5 to 10 cc). | |
| 05 | Pull the starter rope slowly a few times to spread the oil, then refit the plug loosely. | |
| 06 | Clean grass and dirt off the deck, the top of the engine and the cooling fins. Sharpen the blade now so it is ready. | |
| 07 | Store it level in a dry place, away from furnaces, water heaters, dryers and anything with a pilot light or sparks. | Don't cover it with plastic sheet: it traps moisture. |
Start it in spring
Safety Never run an engine in a garage, shed or basement, even with the door open. Exhaust carbon monoxide can kill.
| 01 | Check and tighten all nuts and bolts. | |
| 02 | Remove the plug and pull the starter quickly a few times to blow out the storage oil. | |
| 03 | Refit the plug. Toro gives 15 ft-lb (20 N·m); on Honda engines, 1/8 to 1/4 turn past seated for a used plug. | |
| 04 | Check the oil level, fill up with fresh fuel, and reconnect the plug wire. | A little smoke on the first start is normal: it is the storage oil burning off. |
Engine not listed?
Send us the model number and we will look at adding it.