The Best Method For Preparing Your John Deere Mower For The Winter Season

As winter approaches, you are probably relieved to no longer have to cut grass for a little while. Maybe you'll pull out the lawn tractor a couple times to clean up leaves or even blow snow, but generally very little lawn maintenance is required throughout the dormant months. But that doesn't mean you should simply lock your mower in the shed and forget about it until March. If you own a John Deere lawn mower—or any mower, for that matter—you should always winterize it in the late fall. This is crucial for the health of the machine, and proper winterizing will allow your mower to run more effectively and last longer.

Winterizing serves several specific purposes. One of the most important reasons to winterize a mower is to protect the fuel system, which can clog with degraded and contaminated fuel.An electric mower will help you avoid these hassles. All mower types need to be kept dry during the winter, because moisture can cause essential components to rust. It's even important to fix any wear and tear from the past season before storing as well. The last thing you need is to realize several months later that you not only need to cut the grass, but also need to perform maintenance on your mower.

You can never know for sure when you'll have to cut grass the final time for the season, but try to end the season with as little fuel in your tank as possible. Siphon out the remaining gasoline using a pump. Always remember that it can be hazardous to siphon fuel by sucking on a tube. You can drop off the old gasoline at a local dump or landfill for proper handling. Once you've siphoned out as much fuel as possible, run the engine until it is completely empty. Any remaining fuel can corrode your tank, fuel lines, and carburetor. If you don't want to siphon fuel, you can pour fuel stabilizer in your tank to prevent the gasoline from damaging the engine.

You should change the oil in your mower as well. Fresh oil is one of the best ways to prevent corrosion and ensure a quick start in the spring. To prevent moisture from corroding your mower, you need to clean it at the end of the season. Use a scrub brush and an air compressor to clean up any grass and dirt that has built up on the deck, in the transmission, and even in the engine.  You should also clean the deck every time you mow your lawn. If you have an electric John Deere mower, it's easy to forget that the battery could run down over the winter, especially in a cold shed or under a heavy duty tarp. That's why you should remove the battery, charge it, and leave it in a warm, dry place until spring.

Finally, you should perform routine maintenance steps. If the blade is chipped or dull, consider having it sharpened. Also think about replacing the air filter, change any old spark plugs, replace the drive belts, and make sure the tires have enough air.