Long term storage

[jdeare]

My grandfather has not mowed his own yard for about 5 years. He has a neighborhood kid do it. Now apparently the kid has made lawn mowing a career and has his own mowers. So my grandfather wants me to get rid of his old mower. I'm planning to buy a house in 5+ years (condo currently) and so I figure I can store this thing until then.

It's a Snapper Signature Series which I think has a B&S 5.5hp engine. It apparently still runs well enough since the kid was using it a month ago. My dad says it's less than 10 years old, but I distinctly remember using it in 1998.

So I figure I will change the oil, clean the thing up, and put Stabil in the gas tank and run it dry. Or is that not the correct thing to do? We have E10 gas only here also.

The storage will be inside (I have a storage area in the condo basement).

 

[oggb]

Are we talking a push-mower here? If so, just drain the gas tank, run the thing until it dies, drain the carb bowl, and give it a few more pulls just to make sure.

Put fresh oil the sump and disconnect the spark plug - go down the storage area and give it a few pulls a couple times a year.

If you can take it out and actually let it run a few times a year that'd be even better, but remember to drain the gas out of it.

 

[demarpaint]

I'd run it with Stabil and MMO added to the gas get it good and hot, and let it run out of gas. Just before it runs out of gas I'd fog the engine. Then drain and refill with fresh oil. Once it cools off remove the plug, squirt oil into the cylinder and pull the cord. But the plug back in pour a little MMO into the empty gas tank, and slosh it around. That's if the tank is a metal that can rust, if its plastic no worries. I'd make sure the air filter is clean too.

 

[jdeare]

I'm pretty sure it's self propelled. I assume the propel part still works, but I don't know for sure.

I can definitely get it out and run it a bit every year. And I totally forgot about the air cleaner.

Thanks guys!

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I'd run it with Stabil and MMO added to the gas get it good and hot, and let it run out of gas. Just before it runs out of gas I'd fog the engine. Then drain and refill with fresh oil. Once it cools off remove the plug, squirt oil into the cylinder and pull the cord. But the plug back in pour a little MMO into the empty gas tank, and slosh it around. That's if the tank is a metal that can rust, if its plastic no worries. I'd make sure the air filter is clean too.

What I do also but knowing what I know now..one of the few times I will ever recommend or say this word..here goes..Seafoam. Seafoam was originally created as a upper cylinder lube and fuel stabilizer for boats. The Pale oil is the lube, the IPA is the fuel stabilizer. Storage is a perfect use, the only use I could see for the stuff. I use aerokroil as a fogger but..I'll use the word again..Seafoam deep creep as a fogger.

 

[Donald]

Forget the MMO. If you are talking more than 2 years, run it until it stops then pull the fuel bowl and dump it and wipe it clean and put it back. Stabil is not good for an extended storage. Fogging oil down the air intake or fogging oil in the spark plug hole.

Fogging oil has a tacky component to it so it will not run downhill and puddle. Most other oils to not except for bar & chain oil and spline grease.

If you really want to do a little extra, shine a flashlight down the spark plug hole and pull the starter until its TDC. Look at the position of the blade. Pull the starter until its BDC, squirt in the fogging oil, put back the plug, but no wire, and pull the starter unit the blade position tells you its TDC. You will now have the cylinder sealed with fogging oil in it. The valves should both be closed.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I'd run it with Stabil and MMO added to the gas get it good and hot, and let it run out of gas. Just before it runs out of gas I'd fog the engine. Then drain and refill with fresh oil. Once it cools off remove the plug, squirt oil into the cylinder and pull the cord. But the plug back in pour a little MMO into the empty gas tank, and slosh it around. That's if the tank is a metal that can rust, if its plastic no worries. I'd make sure the air filter is clean too.

What I do also but knowing what I know now..one of the few times I will ever recommend or say this word..here goes..Seafoam. Seafoam was originally created as a upper cylinder lube and fuel stabilizer for boats. The Pale oil is the lube, the IPA is the fuel stabilizer. Storage is a perfect use, the only use I could see for the stuff. I use aerokroil as a fogger but..I'll use the word again..Seafoam deep creep as a fogger.


That should work, although I never tried it. I like the Stabil MMO combo in the gas it is something I use the entire season. I like actually fogging an engine, the oil [MMO or fogging oil] goes through the carb and leaves a film behind so things won't gum up. MMO also has some cleaning ability. Another reason for actually fogging is you'll never get all the gas out of the carb, and somewhere it can gum up. Dropping the bowl is fine, as long as you don't mess up the float. With the oil going through the carb, running it dry there won't be gas left behind that can cause problems, what's left behind in almost all oil.

I've stored engines for over ten years using the method I mentioned and never had a problem starting or running them when they came out of storage. I like to actually fog them and get a nice smoke screen going, that assures me the oil got everywhere its needed. Then I take the plug out and finish up by pouring oil down the cylinder and working the starter cord. Put the plug in and she's GTG. I make sure I ran it at least 30 minutes, before I fog and run dry. I make sure it runs dry as its being fogged, so the oil is left behind. The very last thing I do is drop the oil and refill with good clean oil.

I found they start up easier when fogged with MMO vs. fogging oil, but wouldn't hesitate to use either product for long term storage. This might be a bit repetitive but also clear things up a bit, and give my reasons for doing it the way I do. Opinions vary.

If I'm storing a winter machine at the end of the season, or a summer machine at the end of the season I go about it a different way.

 

[2cool]

I'm sorry to disagree with the fuel storage schemes. Empty the tank, empty the carb, and fog it. Put just enough to run it for 15 minutes a year and then totally empty again. Gas can't be kept for 5 years in that type of system, and I don't think ANY stabilizer manufacturer would say their product is good for 5 years. JMO, ya know!

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: 2cool
I'm sorry to disagree with the fuel storage schemes. Empty the tank, empty the carb, and fog it. Put just enough to run it for 15 minutes a year and then totally empty again. Gas can't be kept for 5 years in that type of system, and I don't think ANY stabilizer manufacturer would say their product is good for 5 years. JMO, ya know!


I agree, I never suggested storing the engine with fuel in it. If I plan on storing an engine for more than 6 months to a year I store it dry. Having said that I always have Stabil and MMO in my fuel when I use the engine. I think I made that pretty clear.

 

[jdeare]

Thanks guys! It looks like I will plan on running new gas through it once or twice a year. Haven't decided for sure what the stabilizer will be.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: jdeare
Thanks guys! It looks like I will plan on running new gas through it once or twice a year. Haven't decided for sure what the stabilizer will be.


There is only one choice, blue Marine Stabil.

Also before running the engine, check for them mouses. They make nests causing overheating, chew wires and gas lines. Maybe a few mothballs around. Since it will be inside, spread mothballs and cover with garbage bag, it will keep the mothball vapor inside the bag area.

 

[jdeare]

Just a quick update on this. I picked up the mower a few weeks ago and did some basic maintenance: power washed it, had the blade sharpened, replaced some cables and the spark plug, and changed the oil. It had about 3/4 of a tank of gas from last season (I assume), but I topped it off and shook it a bit and it started and ran fine.

It looked pretty beat but the powerwashing cleaned it up quite a bit. It has a Briggs & Stratton 5.5 HP Quantum engine on it. No smoke or anything so it seems good.

I'm going to use it to mow my parents' lawn a few times this season to get the old gas out of it.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: jdeare

It's a Snapper Signature Series which I think has a B&S 5.5hp engine. It apparently still runs well enough since the kid was using it a month ago. My dad says it's less than 10 years old, but I distinctly remember using it in 1998.


Year of mfg is the first two digits of the code number that will be on the blower housing...

Originally Posted By: jdeare
Just a quick update on this. I picked up the mower a few weeks ago and did some basic maintenance: power washed it, had the blade sharpened, replaced some cables and the spark plug, and changed the oil. It had about 3/4 of a tank of gas from last season (I assume), but I topped it off and shook it a bit and it started and ran fine.


Unless your grandfather has a postage stamp size yard and it ran this year, the gas isn't all that old...

 

[jdeare]

Well... I'm pretty sure the gas is from the gas can in my grandfather's garage, and that is from last season. It is a pretty small yard though.