Winterizing your reel mower is essential to ensure it remains in excellent condition and performs well in the next mowing season. Proper winterization helps prevent damage from cold weather, moisture, and inactivity. This guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how and when to winterize your mower effectively.

Why Winterize Your Reel Mower?

  • Prevent fuel degradation: Gasoline can deteriorate and form gum and varnish in the fuel system during long periods of inactivity.
  • Avoid corrosion: Moisture can cause rust to develop on internal components and the mower deck.
  • Ensure easy start-up: Proper winterization helps your mower start easily in the spring.
  • Maintain performance: Regular maintenance, including winterization, extends the life of your mower and keeps it running efficiently.

When to Winterize Your Reel Mower

The best time to winterize your reel mower is typically in late fall, before the first frost or when you’ve completed your last mow of the season. This ensures that the mower is clean and ready to be stored away for the winter months.

Signs That It’s Time to Winterize:

  • Last mowing: When you’ve finished mowing for the season, usually after the last cut of grass.
  • Temperature drops: When nighttime temperatures consistently fall below freezing.
  • Snow forecast: If snow is forecasted or if you live in an area where snow accumulation is expected.

Step-by-Step Guide to Winterizing Your Reel Mower

1. Prepare the Mower

  • Safety first: Ensure the mower is off and the engine is cool, and disconnect the spark plug wire to prevent accidental starts.
  • Clean the mower: Follow a thorough cleaning process to remove grass clippings, dirt, and debris from the deck, blades, and undercarriage (see the cleaning guide for details).

2. Fuel Management

  • Drain or stabilize fuel: You have two options:
    • Drain the fuel: If you prefer to remove all gasoline, you have two choices.  One, you can shut off the fuel valve on your engine and run it until the gas in the carburetor is used and the motor shuts off. Or, you can run the engine until all the gasoline in the carburetor and gas tank is used.
    • Use fuel stabilizer: If you want to leave fuel in the mower, add a fuel stabilizer. Run the mower for a few minutes to circulate the stabilizer through the fuel system.

3. Change the Oil

  • Check the oil level: Inspect the oil level and condition.
  • Drain and replace oil: If the oil is dirty or has not been changed recently, drain the old oil and replace it with fresh oil (use SAE 30 or Honda 10W-30 oil). This helps prevent engine wear and protects against corrosion.

4. Clean the Air Filter

  • Inspect the air filter: Remove the air filter and check for dirt and debris.
  • Clean or replace: If it’s a foam filter, wash it in soap and water, then let it dry before re-oiling it. If it’s a paper filter and heavily soiled, replace it with a new one.

5. Inspect and Sharpen the Blades

  • Check for dullness: Inspect the mower blades for dullness or damage.
  • Sharpen the blades: Sharpen the blades to maintain their cutting efficiency. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, consider professional sharpening.

However, if you are planning to give your lawn a pre-season scalp next spring, you may want to hold off sharpening your blades now. Scalping can dull your mower blades, so it’s best to save your effort for after the scalp, sharpening them in time for the first proper mow of the new growing season.

6. Lubricate Moving Parts

  • Apply lubrication: Lubricate all moving parts, including the reel bearings, to prevent rust and ensure smooth operation when you start using the mower again. 

7. Store the Mower

  • Choose a suitable storage location: Store the mower in a dry, sheltered location to protect it from moisture and the elements.
  • Use a mower cover: If possible, use a mower cover to keep dust and debris off the mower during storage.

8. Final Checks

  • Reconnect the spark plug: Once winterization is complete, reconnect the spark plug wire.
  • Inspect other components: Check belts, wheels, and other components for wear or damage, replacing any parts as needed.

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