Mower Storage?

[demarpaint]

Real Estate in my garage is hard to come by lately. I recently acquired a rear bagging Briggs 6.75 HP Craftsman/Husqvarna mower someone was tossing. About 30 minutes work and $8 in parts and this thing runs like a champ. I know some mowers are designed to store vertically. How many of you are storing your older mowers in a verticle position? I'm assuming it would be safe if the oil does't spill out of the fill tube. Is there anything I'm missing?

 

[jeepman3071]

As long as the spark plug side is facing up you should be fine, otherwise oil will leak into the cylinder.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Interesting question. The cylinder is horizontal, so with the mower vertical, all the oil will be sitting on the bottom of the piston and will be protecting the cylinder from corrosion. The carb will be on its side and the float might not shut the fuel off, so either have a dry tank or shut the fuel valve if it has one. I would assume the fuel is below the level of the filler cap, but check. Some oil might seep past the rings into the combustion chamber. This all assumes you are hanging it by the handle, spark plug down.

 

[demarpaint]

It would be sitting spark plug up, with a little gas in the tank. I'd remove the plug and give it a shot or two of Fogging Oil in the cylinder, put the plug in and call it good. The remaining fuel in the tank will have a bit of MMO and Stabil. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Donald]

hang it horizontally from ceiling

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted by Donald
hang it horizontally from ceiling


Thanks you gave me food for thought, I might just build another shelf and store it on that.

 

[JTK]

I think most push mowers with collapsible handles are designed to be stored arse-end down, but I'd be leery leaving fuel in the tank and I'd still watch for leakage.

Where ever it goes, as long as it stays out of the weather and out of water it will be fine.

 

[Linctex]

Originally Posted by JTK
I think most push mowers with collapsible handles are designed to be stored arse-end down.


Correct, since most put the spark plug at the front.

 

[slomo]

Originally Posted by Snagglefoot
Interesting question. The cylinder is horizontal, so with the mower vertical, all the oil will be sitting on the bottom of the piston and will be protecting the cylinder from corrosion. The carb will be on its side and the float might not shut the fuel off, so either have a dry tank or shut the fuel valve if it has one. I would assume the fuel is below the level of the filler cap, but check. Some oil might seep past the rings into the combustion chamber. This all assumes you are hanging it by the handle, spark plug down.

Storing with the piston down is not ideal. Oil will eventually leak past the cold rings into the cylinder. No cylinder is 100% sealed especially when cold. Then you could have a hydrolock condition. Call the mower manufacturer and get their response. Also wouldn't hurt to read your manual about winterizing slash storage.

slomo

 

[cb450sc]

Why not just remove the gas AND oil from the mower then hang it.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted by cb450sc
Why not just remove the gas AND oil from the mower then hang it.


Hard to explain, but I have no room to hang it, and after doing some looking around in the garage not much space for a shelf big enough. I'll probably store it vertical with a dry tank and deal with it in the spring if I have a problem.

 

[andyd]

3 project LBs, Folded handles with a piece of plastic on it. Stacked in a corner. Makes about a 30" cube. I just lined my leaky storage tent with a sheet of 6 mil. poly re-purposed skating rink liner.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I've stored push mowers outside over the winter. Put it on a couple milk crates and put a tarp over it, secured by bricks and tie-downs. Did this for 10+ years to a el-cheap Cratsman push that I paid $99 for, brand new. Suffered no after-effects.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted by Triple_Se7en
I've stored push mowers outside over the winter. Put it on a couple milk crates and put a tarp over it, secured by bricks and tie-downs. Did this for 10+ years to a el-cheap Cratsman push that I paid $99 for, brand new. Suffered no after-effects.


That's an option as well. Thanks.

 

[4WD]

How many ?

 

[slomo]

That is brilliant sir. Love the Toro display.

slomo

 

[leeaspell]

Originally Posted by Triple_Se7en
I've stored push mowers outside over the winter. Put it on a couple milk crates and put a tarp over it, secured by bricks and tie-downs. Did this for 10+ years to a el-cheap Cratsman push that I paid $99 for, brand new. Suffered no after-effects.

Mine gets ran dry on gas, or sometimes not, and then shoved under the spruce tree by the garage to live out the winter. Going on 10 years old now and still runs like a top. Fresh 15w40 every spring and away it goes.

 

[spasm3]

Unlike my generator. I leave fuel in my mowers over winter. They won't sit that long. My last tank of fuel in my ope has stabil and 1oz tcw3 per 5 gallons.