Garden and Lawn Equipment Storage
Posted in Equipment storage, Equipment storage tips, Garden equipment, How to store equipment, Lawn equipment, Storing equipment on December 30th, 2008 by james – 2 Comments
Garden and Lawn Equipment Storage
Most equipment is designed to withstand the elements for outdoor use, but not for extended periods of non use and outdoor exposure. Paint fades and chips, exposed steels rust, plastic parts warp, and become inflexible. To increase the life span of tools and equipment, they need to be stored indoors.
When storing tools and equipment indoors, there are a few things that you can do to assure that they are in good condition and ready to put to work when winter is over, and the lawn starts to turn green again.
- First of all, the tools and equipment should be cleaned and dried. Removing the mud, and weeds from your equipment will avoid hidden pockets of rust and other degradation, will keep your storage building clean, and will allow closer inspection, and more pleasant repairs if needed.
- If you are storing gasoline powered equipment, it would be wise to drain the fuel tank for at least 2 reasons. For safety, and to avoid fuel separation, and condensation during storage.
- Since the equipment is now clean and dry, it can be inspected for cracks, leaks, and worn parts. When problems are found, why waste time, replace the parts that should be replaced, and do any repair work that needs to be done, so it will be ready when spring is sprung. Pay special attention to belts and hoses.
- Give the equipments joints a shot of grease from your grease gun before you put everything away for the winter, and be sure to wipe off any excess. Greasing the joints will help to prevent rust from forming on metal to metal surfaces, bu forcing out any hidden moisture, and coating the surfaces.
- There is the question of oil changes, whether it is better to change the oil before storage or just before season. That is really up to you. If you choose to change the oil before storage, do so before you empty the fuel tank, so that you can run the equipment for a few minutes for oil distribution, and check for leaks.
- This would also be a good time to sharpen any blades that might need attention. Putting a good, sharp, clean, smooth edge on the blades will assure you quick starts when the grass starts to grow, or the garden is ready to be tilled. When your blades are sharpened, wipe them clean, and give them a light coating of oil, or even better, linseed oil for the winter to prevent rust.
- Any equipment that is painted, might benefit from some touch up paint where some of the protective coatings have been chipped, scratched, or otherwise marred. Coating it now, will help to keep the problem from spreading.
