10 winter storage tips on how to service a lawn mower and other garden machines
Although spring may seem far away at the moment, warmer days will be here before you know it. To get your gardening equipment to perform at its very best next season we list a bunch of handy storage and maintenance tips for our most popular machines, including lawn mowers and trimmers and riders. “A 15 minute effort this winter can make a world of difference when it’s time to go in the garden again,” says Göran Carlström, after sales manager at Husqvarna.
For most people winter isn’t the busiest time of year when it comes to gardening but it might be a good idea to set aside a few minutes to check up on your hibernating power tools. In order to get the same performance next spring it is important to service trimmers, hedge trimmers, ride-on and walk-behind mowers before storing them. There are a number of great tricks to keep in mind, and it can also be a good idea to visit your local Husqvarna service centre.
Top ten tips before storage:
Lawn mower service
- The fluid left by cut grass is rather corrosive. That’s why it’s extra important to clean gardening tools and mowers especially, before storage.
- When you service a lawn mower, be sure to empty out all of the petrol. Leaving petrol in the tank during storage may lead to a hard starting engine.
- If your model has an assisted electrical start, the battery can actually use a full recharge during winter, so charging is recommended.
Garden tractor & ride-on mower service
- Inspect the cutting deck, blades and belts to ensure that there’s no visible wear and tear.
- If needed, use the off-season to drop off your ride-on lawn mower or a garden tractor to your local Husqvarna Dealer for a winter service. Filling up on oil, checking air filters and syncing the all wheel drive are some of the things you may want to consider checking.
- Remember to fully recharge the battery at some point during the winter months, that way you’ll ensure a flying start to the season.
Grass trimmer & hedge trimmer service
- When it comes to strimmer and hedge trimmer maintenance, it’s easy to forget to remove smaller grass clippings that may have gotten stuck in between the blades. Take a few minutes to ensure that the machine has been properly cleaned.
- Just like with the walk-behind mowers, it’s a good idea to empty out all of the petrol left in the tank. Petrol left in the machine for longer periods of time can make it tough to start the engine next season.
- A professional trick for grass trimmer service is to remove the trimmer line and let it soak in fresh water during the winter season. By doing so it will maintain its flexibility, handle more strain and last longer.
- For the best results – and prolonged product life, give your weed trimmer the deluxe treatment and turn it in for a day at the your local Husqvarna service centre.
