Getting the Mower Ready for Winter
Lawn grasses have pretty much stopped growing for the season. Even though we may be getting some sunny, warm, late fall days, because the days are so short and nights cold, the grasses are going into dormancy. If you haven't already, it's always good to do one last mowing of the season. By mowing one more time you'll keep the lawn grasses short going into winter. If the grass is tall, it may be more likely to be infected with diseases next spring.
Once you've done your last mowing of the season, don't forget about the mower. While battery powered mowers are gaining in popularity because they don't pollute as much as gas mowers, are quieter, less smelly, and lighter in weight, most home owners still use gas powered mowers. Before you just bury the mower in the corner of your garage or shed, there are some maintenance chores that should be done. Doing a little work now will ready the mower for next spring.
- Clean the Deck. Clean the underside of the mowing deck removing all old grass and leaves. Rotting organic matter left under the deck can lead to the metal rusting.
- Tune Up the Engine. Change the spark plugs, air filter, and any other warn parts.
- Sharpen the Blades. Sharpen the blades now. Sharp blades are critical to fast, easy, efficient grass cutting. Dull blades tear the grass sometimes leading to disease problems and a ragged looking lawn.
- Change the Oil. Change the oil now in your lawn mower so next spring you're mower will be ready to go.
- Drain the Gas. If you're storing your mower in a cold area, either add a gas additive to prevent water buildup, or drain the gas. Water in the gas line can prevent the engine from turning over in spring.
- Send it to the Shop. If you don't want to do any of these chores yourself, send your mower off to the maintenance shop this fall. Spring tends to be busy. Mower maintenance shops often have 1 to 2 week waits for mower repairs and tune ups. Beat the rush by sending your mower off now to be repaired and tuned up.
Craftsman weedwacker model: 358798420.
The gas lines broke off from age so I don't have a go-by.
1. The primer has two nipples: one skinny and one fat.
2. The carb has two nipples: one is at a 45degree angle and the other is stright.
Question: Which one of the carb nipples is the line with the fuel pick-up/filter from the tank conected to?
Posted by: Johnny Wilson | November 22, 2009 at 07:38 PM