I only have a push mower and I put it in the shed after every use. Interesting now I made need to leave it out for a while to cool off first.
Wait for mower to cool down before putting back in garage
- Thread starter Donald
- Start date
I don't think any of my mowers ever ran hot enough to start a fire, but then again, I don't park them next to gas cans. I wonder if the fires start when parking the mower after the engines ran really hot...perhaps from degraded oil or no-oil/high-sludge condition(?)
gathermewool
Site Donor 2023
Interesting. I hook the hose up to the deck-cleaning connection on my Craftsman, run it for a couple of minutes to clean, then run it for another couple of minutes to dry-out the deck, then immediately power it over to and park it in the shed.
Barring any fuel leaks and/or major obstructions at the engine (eg with grass clippings) I can’t see what would cause a fire.
Maybe I’ll let it cool down for 10 min or so outside of the shed from now on. An hour or more seems excessive.
Barring any fuel leaks and/or major obstructions at the engine (eg with grass clippings) I can’t see what would cause a fire.
Maybe I’ll let it cool down for 10 min or so outside of the shed from now on. An hour or more seems excessive.
I wonder how many commercial mowing companies let their mowers cool down before they put them in their enclosed trailers when they finish?
My brother in law had a mower catch fire on him a few years ago. Fairly new Briggs. Worked out well because he gave it to me and I was able to use the drive wheels. He doesn’t take the best care of things so I assume it was loaded with grass. Plus, he was mowing some tall stuff with the purple flowers and thorns and dandelion like fuzz which I am sure was fuel to the fire.
Keep it clean and you’ll be fine.
Keep it clean and you’ll be fine.
4WD
$50 site donor 2024
OPE & gas cans in separate storage … 40’ from house …
I blow off my ZTR with a leaf blower. Then, I clean the underside of the mower deck with water. It then goes into the metal shed and hooked to a battery tender. I store my gasoline far away from the enclosed shed.
On my Troy bilt tb130, I clean it off, let it cool in the shade for a bit then put it in the shed
I've had mine catch on fire twice.
Hot day, dry grass, I shut it off and was going to get a drink, just happened to look back and there were flames coming up from near the front. I had parked next a hose so it only took a few seconds to put it out.
After that I always had a hose ready and would park next to it, then step back and watch for a few minutes.
It happened again about two years later, same scenario.
After the first time I always waited until it had cooled off before putting it inside.
I had a large area to mow, it took a least couple of hours if I did it quickly, so it had plenty of time to build up heat and collect dry grass.
Hot day, dry grass, I shut it off and was going to get a drink, just happened to look back and there were flames coming up from near the front. I had parked next a hose so it only took a few seconds to put it out.
After that I always had a hose ready and would park next to it, then step back and watch for a few minutes.
It happened again about two years later, same scenario.
After the first time I always waited until it had cooled off before putting it inside.
I had a large area to mow, it took a least couple of hours if I did it quickly, so it had plenty of time to build up heat and collect dry grass.
