Small Engine Repair

Not all fuels are equal. When it comes to your small engines, be sure to use the best fuel possible to help avoid the need for engine repairs. For most small engines, the fuel you choose should be:

• clean, fresh and unleaded
• have a minimum of 87 octane

Storing your chainsaws and weed trimmers properly provides a number of benefits. For starters, it helps to maintain the condition of your equipment and extend their lifespan; and two, it keeps others out of harms way.

To properly store your chainsaw and/or weed trimmer:

• clean your equipment — remove woodchips, sawdust, grass clippings, etc.
• store it in a dry, dust-free environment (frost-free is also ideal) that is protected from the weather and with good ventilation
• do not store them in your house — a garage, shed, or storage unit is ideal
• keep them out of reach of children
• Empty the fuel tank during off-season storage

It is important to winterize your lawn mower to prevent unnecessary damage that could result in extensive repairs. To DIY your mower winterization, follow these steps:

1. Empty the gas tank — unused gas left in your small engine over winter can gum up the carburetor and allow rusting.
2. Disconnect the spark plug — to avoid serious injury if your mower were to accidentally kick-start.
3. Remove the blades — wear a pair of thick, protective gloves, unscrew the bolts that hold them in place, and clean / sharpen the blades.
4. Oil — Drain the oil if you have a 4-cycle engine. If you have a 2-cycle engine you can skip this step because the oil is mixed with the gas.
5. Clean the undercarriage — grab a putty knife and wire brush to clean any grass or mud debris on the underside of the cutting deck to help prevent rusting.
6. Reattach the sharpened blades.
7. Fill the oil tank with fresh oil — if your mower is a 2-cycle engine you’ll want to skip this step until spring.
8. Change the air filter — having a clean air filter allows your mower to burn gas more efficiently, so replace or restore the filter and clean the cooling fins. If your mower uses an oil-soaked sponge filter, you’ll remove it, wash it and let it dry completely. Then you’ll add a bit of clean oil and return it to its position.
9. Replace the spark plug — you’ll need to use a socket wrench with a spark-plug socket.