Time to Bring Your Outdoor Power Equipment Out of Hibernation!
With warmer days on their way, it’s time to wake up your
outdoor power equipment from their winter slumber and prepare them for the yard
working season ahead! It takes just a few hours to tune-up your equipment for optimal
performance and engine longevity this spring.
Precautions
Always disconnect spark plug wires before doing any work on
your outdoor power equipment. Spinning the blade on your motor can unintentionally
start the engine and cause injury!
Oil & Fuel
Power equipment with 2 stroke engines often requires a mixture
of oil and fuel to ensure proper lubrication during operation.
Pre-mixed 2 stroke fuel and oil can also be purchased for added ease and convenience.
Never use a mixture for lawn mowers and power equipment with 4 stroke engines as they have separate
reservoirs for oil and fuel!
After emptying out any remaining fuel from the previous
year, it’s time to add new fuel to your tank. When choosing fuel, avoid octane
levels lower than 87 and purchase only as much as you will use in thirty days
unless using a fuel stabilizer. After about a month, fuel loses ignition
potential, retains water, and develops deposits which can clog up fuel lines
and carburetors - potentially leading to corrosion. Fuel stabilizers can
increase your fuel lifespan up to two years and help neutralize unwanted
chemical reactions that can damage an engine.
Cleaning & Lubrication
Give all your machines a quick clean-up before starting them
up for the season. Dirt and debris that accumulates on the engine can reduce
cooling capacity and contaminate the engine when you’re adding fuel or oil. Over
time debris can wear away the protective finish on other parts and cause rust.
Start with a stiff nylon brush to remove larger particles, then give everything
a quick wipe down with a damp microfiber cloth.
Once clean, lubricate moving parts such as wheels, levers,
and folding handles to keep them squeak-free.
Lawn Mower Tune-Up
Start the season strong with a tune-up to avoid problems
down the line. Signs of potential issues to look out for are reduction in engine
power, stalling, increased fuel consumption, strange noises, and start-up difficulty.
Clean off any dried grass from the underside of the
mower
Replace the spark plug which can become dirty or
corroded
Make sure that blades are sharp. Dull blades
tear grass instead of cutting it. If the tips of your grass are ragged and
white after mowing, you’ll know it’s time for a sharper blade!
Inspect the fuel filter and line running from
the filter to the tank. Clean out the filter with an air compressor or replace
it if it’s very dirty
Replace the air filter every three months of use
to prevent dirt from entering the engine
Flush old gas from the tank and replace with
fresh fuel and stabilizer
Replace old oil which can get dirty, no longer
providing protection to the engine
Trimmer Tune-Up
Make sure the throttle trigger and lock and stop
switch are working properly
Inspect the blade and blade guard – check that
the blade is centered and sharp
Check for worn areas on the clutch, clutch
spring, and drum
Chainsaw Tune-Up
If your chainsaw is running poorly because of
old fuel, replace it with fresh properly mixed fuel. If this doesn’t work, disassemble
and clean the carburetor
Clean or replace the fuel filter
With time the air filter can become clogged with
dirt and debris, clean or replace the filter to maintain proper functioning
Replace the sparkplug according to heat range
and specifications in the manual
Sharpen or replace the chain
Regular maintenance of your outdoor power equipment helps
reduce repairs and headaches down the line. Bring your power equipment in to our service center and we can repair or tune it up for you! Check out our Outdoor Power
Equipment section for all your power equipemnt maintenance needs this spring!
