One of the most basic tools in your garden shed is the lawn mower. But if you don't keep it well maintained, it may surprise you when you try to fire it up in the spring and find it as dead as a slug after a beerfest. Mike Ferrara, the self-proclaimed "Lazy Homeowner," offers tips on basic end-of-season tasks to complete before you put your mower away for the winter. The first thing to do when working on your lawn mower is disconnect the spark plug to prevent accidents. Once that's done, drain the oil from the mower's oil reservoir, and refill it with fresh oil of the weight recommended for your machine. Make sure to drain the used oil into a container, not down a storm drain, which leads directly to creeks, rivers or bays. It's not just environmentally unfriendly to dump used oils into storm drains--it's also illegal. Used oil can be taken to a gas station for recycling. After draining the old oil, add new oil of the correct weight. Do not use a product intended for use in an automobile. Check the level frequently with the dipstick to prevent underfilling or overfilling the reservoir. Overfilling will result in damage to the engine by blowing the seals, and underfilling may cause the engine block to overheat and warp. Once you've changed the oil, check the air filter. The air-filter assembly is easy to change and clean. The air filter is usually an oil-soaked sponge in a housing on the side of the mower. If you live in a dry or dusty part of the country, you may need to clean the air filter several times a year. To do so, place it in a pan of warm, soapy water, and squeeze gently until the sponge is clean. Add some new engine oil to the sponge, then squeeze it out so the filter is barely damp. If your mower has a disposable paper filter, don't try to clean it--just replace it with a new one. Spark plugs are cheap insurance, so replace them at least once per season. They cost only about $2 each, so don't try to clean and reuse old ones. You can easily convert your lawn mower into a mulching mower by inserting a plug kit into the space where the bag would fit. The plug kit costs about $20 and is available at garden centers and nurseries. The plug will cause the clippings to recycle in the mower housing and be chopped into fine shreds. In the spring, before you mow for the first time, spray some vegetable-oil cooking spray under the deck of your mower to prevent grass clippings from sticking. This simple step will save you a lot of work when cleaning your mower after each use. It also helps prevent rust.
RESOURCES :
Mike Ferrara
Lazy Homeowner,The
Minneapolis, MN 55423
Phone: 612-861-5230 ext 12
Fax: 612-861-3128
Email: axiom@skypoint.com
Website: www.axiomproductions.holowww.com/
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