Putting away the power tools

Published 6:52 pm Saturday, April 12, 2008

Crisp days, pungent smells and bright-colored leaves all signal the arrival of fall.

You planted your spring bulbs, mulched your garden and thatched your yard.

Now it’s time for one more chore — one that will save you from spending a lot of money and having a big headache come spring.

It’s a do-it-yourself maintenance plan that prepares your lawn and garden equipment for cold weather, ensuring that it will be usable in the spring. It takes a few hours, but is well worth every minute.

Wayne Footh repairs and maintains lawn and garden equipment at Horizon in Everett. He has a few simple tips on how to prepare your equipment for winter.

Start with your lawn mower. First, empty the gas tank. If you let it sit over the winter, the gas will turn gummy. If you can’t get the gas out, you can add a fuel stabilizer. It will slow down the gumminess, but your mower still may give you problems next spring. So, it’s best to empty it.

Next, drain the carburetor. Again, gas in the carburetor will gum up, and if water is present, it will cause rust.

“If you don’t do this, the inside of the carburetor will look like you sprayed it with shellac and nothing will move,” Footh said. Remove the nut at the bottom of the carburetor and pull the two halves apart. Empty and wipe with a rag. Spray with cleaner to remove all dirt and debris. Then gently wipe it clean and reassemble.

After that, remove and spray the mower spark plug with a lubricant to keep it from flash rusting. Then change the oil.

Once these are complete, turn the mower on its side and clean out all of the grass and muck. You can use a simple all-purpose cleaner and wire brush to get out most of the debris. Then paint any bare metal spots to prevent rust. While you have the mower tipped on its side, check out the blades. Consider getting them sharpened by a professional, or replace them if chipped or cracked.

Finally, grease all lube points such as wheel bearings and the transmission, if it’s a self-propelled mower.

Performing all of these maintenance actions will help guarantee that your mower starts in the spring, and save you from that big headache.

Power tools such as chain saws, hedge trimmers, lawn trimmers and rotary tillers need maintenance, as well. Follow the same guidelines that you used for your mower. Drain out all gas. Clean and paint bare metal parts. Grease and lube any gearboxes, controls and the chainsaw’s chain to prevent rust. You may need to sharpen or replace your hedge trimmer blades, so you will want to inspect those. Blade sharpening should be done by a professional, Footh said.

“Fall is a good time for repair work on tools. Shops are less busy than in springtime,” he added.

If you have a big riding mower, Footh recommends taking it to a professional for maintenance. Most service includes belt and pulley inspections. Technicians typically check, clean and seal electrical systems. They change the oil, lube control cables, and paint bare metal. They will find any cracks or other damage.

Footh often services large mowers at his shop. “We go through them, clean them up, weld cracks and paint bare spots,” he said. This kind of maintenance will extend the life of your mower.

A word of caution from Footh about outdoor equipment with gas tanks. Before moving them, shut the fuel off at their tanks. While transporting, bumps and jars can cause gas to overflow into their engines.

Hand tools need some winter preparation, too. Shelley Towers, who owns A Grand Design in Snohomish and is a horticulturist, landscape designer and certified arborist, recommends cleaning and removing all loose dirt from your hand tools.

“Use soap and water and a stiff brush, if necessary,” she said. Tighten the handles, and sandpaper or use steel wool to smooth rough spots.

If space allows, fill a bucket or trashcan with sand and a little motor oil. “Stuff the working ends of your tools in the sand,” she said. This will keep your tools in good shape throughout the winter. Otherwise, wipe them down with a good lubricant and hang them to get good air circulation.

If the handles are cracked and worn, you can make them like new. Footh recommends sanding lightly and spraying with a tough rubber coating that is available in most hardware stores. This coating will seal, insulate and improve the handle for gripping.

One more thing. Although it’s not outdoor equipment, you will need to protect your outdoor furniture from winter. Leaving it exposed to harsh weather can cause considerable damage, including deterioration, rust and discoloration. If possible, clean and move your furniture inside during winter. If you don’t have storage inside, cover it. Outdoor furniture covers are available in all shapes and sizes. And, many patio sets have covers specifically designed to fit them. Covers are made of durable material and will protect your furniture from harsh weather conditions year after year. You may need to spend a little, but it will be well worth the investment.