Storage; Preparing For Storage - Honda HRR216PKA Owner's Manual

STORAGE

PREPARING FOR STORAGE

Proper storage preparation is essential for keeping your lawn mower
trouble free and looking good. The following steps will help to keep
rust and corrosion from impairing your lawn mower's function and
appearance, and will make the engine easier to start when you use
the lawn mower again.
Cleaning
Engine
Wash the engine by hand, and be careful to prevent water from
entering the air cleaner.
NOTICE
Using a garden hose or pressure washing equipment can force water
into the air cleaner. Water in the air cleaner will soak the paper
element and can enter the carburetor or engine cylinder, causing
damage.
Water contacting a hot engine can cause damage. If the engine has
been running, allow it to cool for at least half an hour before washing.
Mower Deck
Before washing the underside of the mower deck, be sure the fuel
valve is in the OFF position. Disconnect the spark plug cap. Rest the
mower on its right side, so the carburetor side is up. This will help to
prevent fuel leakage and hard starting due to carburetor flooding.
Wear heavy gloves to protect your hands from the blades.
Wash the lawn mower, including the underside of the mower deck.
If using a garden hose or pressure washing equipment to clean the
mower deck, be careful to avoid getting water into controls and
cables, or anywhere near the engine air cleaner or muffler opening.
Grass Bag
Remove the bag from the mower, and wash it with a garden hose or
pressure washing equipment. Allow the bag to dry completely before
storage.
Drying
1. After washing the lawn mower, wipe dry all accessible surfaces.
2. With the mower in an upright position, start the engine outdoors
and let it run until it reaches normal operating temperature to
evaporate any water remaining on the engine.
3. Stop the engine and allow it to cool.
4. After the lawn mower is clean and dry, touch up any damaged
paint, and coat other areas that may rust with a light film of oil.
14
Fuel
NOTICE
Depending on the region where you operate your equipment, fuel
formulations may deteriorate and oxidize rapidly. Fuel deterioration
and oxidation can occur in as little as 30 days and may cause damage
to the carburetor and/or fuel system. Please check with your servicing
dealer for local storage recommendations.
Gasoline will oxidize and deteriorate in storage. Old gasoline will
cause hard starting, and it leaves gum deposits that can clog the
small passages in the fuel system. If the gasoline in your mower
deteriorates during storage, you may need to have the carburetor and
other fuel system components serviced or replaced.
The length of time that gasoline can be left in your fuel tank and
carburetor without causing functional problems will vary with such
factors as gasoline blend, your storage temperatures, and whether
the fuel tank is partially or completely filled. The air in a partially filled
fuel tank promotes fuel deterioration. Very warm storage
temperatures accelerate fuel deterioration. Fuel deterioration
problems may occur within a few months, or even less if the gasoline
was not fresh when you filled the fuel tank.
If you keep a container of gasoline for refueling, be sure that it
contains only fresh gasoline.
If it will take more than 3 months to use the fuel in your storage
container, we suggest adding a fuel stabilizer to the fuel when you fill
the container.
Short Term Storage (30-90 days)
If your equipment will not be used for 30 to 90 days, we recommend
the following to prevent fuel-related problems:
1. Add fuel stabilizer following the manufacturer's instructions.
When adding a fuel stabilizer, fill the fuel tank with fresh gasoline. If
the tank is only partially filled, air in the tank will promote fuel
deterioration during storage.
Note:
– All stabilizers have a shelf life, and their performance will
deteriorate over time.
– Fuel stabilizers will not reconstitute stale fuel.
2. After adding a fuel stabilizer, run the engine outdoors for
10 minutes to be sure that treated gasoline has replaced the
untreated gasoline in the carburetor.
3. Turn the fuel valve to the OFF position.
4. Continue to run the engine until it stops from the lack of fuel in the
carburetor fuel bowl. Running time should be less than 3 minutes.
Long Term or Seasonal Storage (greater than 90 days)
Start the engine and allow it to run long enough to empty all the
gasoline from the entire fuel system (including the fuel tank). Do not
allow gasoline to remain in your engine for more than 90 days of
inactivity.
The DISTRIBUTOR'S LIMITED WARRANTY
cover fuel system damage or engine performance problems resulting
from neglected storage preparation.
Engine Oil
Change the engine oil (page
(page 20) does not
11).