How to Maintain and Winterize a Riding Lawn Mower

Check to make sure all shields and deflectors are in place and undamaged. Replace any damaged or worn parts before use.

Make sure the tires are inflated and the brakes are working properly.

Check the oil and fuel levels.

Once you finish mowing, disconnect the battery or spark plug wires as described above and brush off the mower engine and deck. If you have a grass catcher, brush off debris and check for damage.

Check the air cleaner system. Brush away debris. Check the air filter. If it's dirty or damaged, replace it. Your mower may have a pre-cleaner that you can wash and reuse. Wash it with detergent and water and dry it.

Different mowers have different methods for draining used oil from the engine. Follow the instructions for your mower and drain the oil into a used-oil container.

Place the used-oil container under the oil filter. Clean away dirt from around the filter and remove it.

Lightly coat the gasket of the new oil filter with fresh oil. Install the filter, tightening it until the gasket contacts the engine. Twist the filter one additional half-turn.

Contact your local recycling center for oil disposal instructions, and dispose of the oil and filter properly. Clean up any spills.

Replace the oil drain cap or close the drain valve and add new oil, checking the level periodically. Don't overfill because excess oil can damage the engine.

With the engine cool and the battery disconnected, remove the plug wires. Unscrew the spark plugs and screw the new plugs into the engine. Replace the wires.

Connect the new fuel filter to the hoses, making sure the arrow on the fuel filter points in the direction of the fuel flow. Replace the clamps and inspect for leaks around the fuel filter.

Clean clippings and debris from the mower deck. Use a plastic putty knife to scrape away accumulated clippings from under the deck.

Remove the nuts or bolts along with the blade and washer. Your mower may have several nuts or bolts, a blade adapter or additional hardware you need to remove.

If the mower blades aren't damaged and you decide to sharpen them, you can file them or use an angle grinder or bench grinder. Kits with a lawn mower blade sharpener attachment for a drill and a balancer are available. Before using one, make sure it's designed to work with your blade. If you're sharpening a mower blade with a file or handheld grinder, secure the blade in a vise before you begin.

• Following the original angle of the cutting edge, file or grind away material equally from both ends of the blade.
• Don't sharpen the entire blade; file or grind only the 3- to 4-inch cutting edges.
• Don't sharpen too much because a razor-sharp mower blade dulls quickly and doesn't cut well.

Check the blade balance with a balancer or by inserting a round screwdriver shaft through the blade mounting hole. If the blade is unbalanced, remove material from the heavy edge and check again. Repeat until the blade is balanced. An unbalanced blade can damage the mower and cause injury.

Sharpen and balance the remaining riding mower blades.

To install a new mower blade or reinstall a newly sharpened blade, position the blade and mounting hardware on the shaft with the cutting edge of the blade facing the ground. Some blades are marked to indicate the side that should face the grass. With the blades immobilized, secure and tighten to the torque your manual specifies. Remove the wood block or blade removal tool. Install the remaining blades using the same procedure. Reinstall the mower deck and verify that it's level.

Lubricate the engine cylinders. Remove the spark plugs and squirt about an ounce of oil into each spark plug socket. Reinstall the plugs but leave the plug wires disconnected. Crank the mower five or six times to distribute the oil.