FROM THE FIELD: When the Seasons Change

Another summer lies in the rearview mirror. That means much of your equipment will soon be put away for the winter while other pieces will be coming out for many Northern contractors. Here, then, are some tidbits and insight on protecting your machines throughout the winter months.

MOWERS. Shutting down mowers for a few months is not overly complicated, so follow these simple steps: 

Purge the fuel system by turning off the fuel and running the mower until the unit stalls out. This will purge any fuel you may have left in the fuel bowl. If you don’t want to drain it, then fill up the tank(s) and add a fuel stabilizer. The stabilizer keeps out damaging moisture that may form in the tank and create water. If water forms in the gas tank, you will have a difficult time starting it in the spring. 

• Remove the battery and periodically connect it to a trickle charger. 
• There are two schools of thought as to “Do I change my oil before I store or do I wait until spring to drain it?” Well, if you don’t want to waste time changing the oil now, then go ahead and wait until the spring – waiting will not damage the mower. 
• To prevent the rings from sticking to the cylinder walls, remove the spark plugs and put a couple drops of oil into each cylinder. 
• If storing equipment in an unheated building, spread kitty litter on the floor beneath the equipment, place plastic film over the liter and place the unit on the plastic. This keeps moisture from forming on the floor. 
• Also, clean all grass from under the mower deck. This keeps moisture out of the mower deck and dissuades  mice from nesting under the deck.

SPRAYERS. Pay particular attention to any spray pumps you may use while the temperatures falls. Freezing or even near-freezing temperatures can damage a pump that still has fluid in it, so consider the following: 

• If the units still have spray mixture in the tank during the day, keep the pump running between jobs. This circulates the spray mix and prevents freezing. 
• In the evenings, store the unit in a heated area or protect it by circulating a 50/50 mix of an RV antifreeze and water throughout the pump and the agitation nozzles in the tank.

SNOW THROWERS. As previously mentioned, some machines, such as snow throwers, are ready to come out of their summer-long hibernation. Here are some tips for snow throwers that don’t perform as they should when you first fire them up. 

• Check the belts for proper adjustment and signs of wear. Worn belts will lose traction on the pulleys. If they are not properly adjusted, they will slide over the pulleys instead of gripping and turning properly. 
• If the unit is a single-stage snow thrower, check the auger blades for wear. They deteriorate through normal use and eventually need to be replaced.
• Likewise, check two-stage snow throwers for proper conditions. These units have a two-piece front auger with shear pins connecting the blades to the auger drive shaft. Shear pins are designed to break under harsh conditions (catching a rolled up newspaper, large stone, etc.) and  prevent the gearbox from breaking. If the shear pins are broken, the auger will not turn. NOTE: Never use a different type of bolt in place of the shear pin. Using a non-shear type of bolt will break the gearbox and void your warranty.

The authors are part of LESCO’s Tech Services Department. They can be reached at fromthefield@gie.net or at 800/321-5325 ext. 3150 to answer technical questions.