Winter storage preparation

[Isleblue65 0]

Hi, I'm getting the tractor ready for winter storage. I've tuned it up, degreased and washed it down, removed the mower deck and I'm going to remove the battery soon. The question I have for folks who store their spare tractors over the winter is do you drain the fuel or add something like Sta-bil? I filled my tank with fresh gas to the top to prevent condensation, but it might be better to drain everything from tank through carb. Anything else to consider for winter storage? Thanks,

[Guest]

You should use Sta-bil... I will this year, never have. Bad.bad.bad.me The Sta-bil from what I understand will reduce carburator clogging and/or deterioration. I knew someone who would add some marvel mystery oil to the cylinders.

[GWGAllisfan 159]

I was thinking about this same subject at almost the same time. Down here, mowers get put up for winter and aren't pulled out till spring. I was wondering if making sure they were all started about twice a month and run a while would be good for them? That might help keep the fuel from sitting in carb passages without flow that lets it oxidize, maybe. Just a thought

[ehertzfeld 1]

I have never added anything to my tanks. I uses them off and on durring the winter. Even if I don't use them, I start them a few times a mounth.

[goatfarmer 817]

I put Sta Bil in the tank,run it for a few minutes,until I'm sure there's Sta Bil in the carb,then shut it off,and drain the tank. No problems so far.

[firefoxz1 4]

Fuel: I use fuel shut offs in the line, shut them off and let the carb run out of gas. I usually just leave the gas in the tank and top off with fresh in the spring. If you drain a metal tank, spray the inside with a small engine fogger , wd40, or something like that. I never clean the grease and oil off before storage as it keeps things from corroding during storage, clean them in the spring when you get it back out. If I do anything it is put more oil on around the cables and linkages (anything that moves). One other thing I do is smear vasoline on the ignition switch opening to keep moisture out. If outside put something under the tires to keep them from contacting the ground but allowing water to drain away.

[Isleblue65 0]

Thanks, I'll put the Sta-bil in and fog the cylinder. On the Sta-bil website it says you don't have to drain anything, and shouldn't. With no fuel in the lines to the carb, and inside the carb, fuel leaks can occur when gas is added in the spring. Fuel keeps the rubber and gaskets soft and sealed. No fuel means they can dry out. I just greased everything, but before I degreased the frame. Probably did that the wrong way around. I'll have to spray pivots with WD-40 and hit the zerks with a shot of grease before I put her away for the last time & take out the battery. It's stored in a shed with a tarp over it, so moisture won't be much of a problem. Thanks for the good replies!

[Mick14 0]

All of the gasoline around here now has ethanol in it,and i've heard that it has a much shorter "life" than if it didn't have the ethanol,will a product like sta-bil still work for a long storage ?

[BigSix 0]

quote:

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All of the gasoline around here now has ethanol in it,and i've heard that it has a much shorter "life" than if it didn't have the ethanol,will a product like sta-bil still work for a long storage ?

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Yes, it will still work. On the Sta-bil bottle, there are directions for extended storage (24 months?) which say to double the strength (amount) of the treatment. If you're worried about it, you could do that.

[Bunky 3]

I use Stabil in all my gas.. Some of my Tractors and my Quad sit fir periods of time and so far this has seemed to help.....

[HubbardRA 19]

I have not been doing anything special for my tractors for winterizing. Now with the ethanol in the fuel, I may put in some stabil. I try to start mine and run them a few minutes at least once a month. Mine don't get a vacation. They have work to do in winter same as summer. Maybe different tractors and definitely different attachments.

[PGL 449]

I also spray some white grease on the exposed parts of the rods on the hydraulic cylinders of the loader and any expoxed metal on the hood and bucket.

[ka9bxg 3]

About cleaning off the oil and grease.Think about all the old hit and miss engines and old tractors that were covered with grease and oil when they stoped using them.Now those tractors are in pretty good shape compared to the ones that were kept clean. Give me a dirty old tractor they last longer.