MTD 440 Thru E459 manual Mower, Engine, Storage Of The Battery, Other, Off-Season Storage

SECTION 9: OFF-SEASON STORAGE

Prepare your lawn mower for storage at the end of the season or if the unit will not be used for 30 days or more. Store the mower in a clean, dry area.

Mower

•Clean underside of the mower following instructions in the Maintenance section of this manual.

•We do not recommend the use of pressure washers or garden hose to clean your unit. They may cause damage to electric components, spindles, pulleys, bearings or the engine. The use of water will result in shortened life and reduce serviceability.

•Lubricate the mower as instructed in the Maintenance section of this manual.

•You can fold your mower’s handle for convenient storage: Remove the starter rope from the rope guide; loosen the two hand knobs on the sides of the handle, and let the upper handle fold down to the rear. Move the hairpin clips to the outer hole in the weld pins on the handle mounting brackets. Spread the sides of the lower handle, and push it forward and down.

•Inspect and replace/sharpen blade, if required. Refer to the Service & Adjustments section of this manual for blade care instructions.

Engine

•Follow recommendations in the accompanying engine manual for off-season storage of the engine.

•Change oil as necessary as stated in the engine owners manual.

•Clean engine and remove any grass clippings, dirt, and debris from the cooling fins, air intake screen, levers, linkage and the exterior of the engine.

Storage Of The Battery

The battery must be stored with a full charge. A discharged battery will freeze.

IMPORTANT: All batteries discharge during storage. Recharge battery every two months and before returning to service. Refer to charging instructions in OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER section on page 12.

Other

•Do not store gasoline from one season to another. Gasoline that is older than one month old may significantly contribute to difficulty in starting your engine.

•Replace your gasoline can if it starts to rust. Rust and/or dirt in the gasoline will cause problems. Store unit in a clean, dry area. Do not store next to corrosive materials, such as fertilizer or rocksalt.

NOTE: If storing in an unventilated or metal storage shed, be certain to rustproof the equipment by coating with a light oil or silicone.

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