Small Engine Tune-Up Checklist for Fall
Before you store your mower for the season, run through this fall tune-up checklist to protect your engine, fuel system, and deck from winter damage.
Fall is the most important time of year to service your small engine equipment. Before temperatures drop and grass stops growing, a proper tune-up protects your investment and ensures your mower, trimmer, or generator starts reliably next spring. Skipping this step is one of the most common reasons equipment fails to start after winter storage.
Start with the fuel system. Drain the tank completely or add a quality fuel stabilizer rated for ethanol-blended gas. Ethanol attracts moisture and breaks down in as little as 30 days, leaving behind varnish that clogs carburetors and fuel lines. If you run the engine dry, run it until it stalls naturally to clear the carburetor bowl and float needle seat.
Next, change the oil while the engine is still warm from its last run. Warm oil drains faster and carries more contaminants with it. Use the weight specified in your owner's manual. Check the air filter too. A paper filter clogged with grass and dust chokes airflow and causes hard starts. Replace it if it is gray or compressed.
Inspect the spark plug. A plug that has been in service all season may have carbon buildup or a worn electrode gap. A fresh plug costs a few dollars and can mean the difference between a one-pull start and a frustrating spring morning. Check the gap with a feeler gauge and set it to spec, typically 0.030 inches for most Briggs and Stratton, Kawasaki, and Kohler engines.
For your mower deck, scrape off accumulated grass clippings from the underside. Wet clippings hold moisture against metal and accelerate rust. Spray the deck with a light coat of silicone or WD-40 after cleaning. Sharpen or replace blades. Dull blades tear grass rather than cutting it cleanly, which stresses the engine and leaves your lawn vulnerable to disease.
Finally, check tire pressure, clean the battery terminals, and store the equipment in a dry covered location. Rude Boy Small Engine Repair offers fall tune-up service with pickup and delivery across Simpson, Greenville, Winterville, and surrounding Eastern NC communities. Call (252) 818-7833 to schedule before the season ends.
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Rude Boy Small Engine Repair serves Greenville, Winterville, Ayden, Simpson, and surrounding Pitt County communities. Call us or request a pickup today.