Tractors, Mowers, Chippers, Trailers, Chainsaws, Generators, Driveway Erosion Control, ETC.

I always take the battery out and then put a battery tender on it down in the basement.

 

I was kinda thinking to do the same. I used to do that with my motorcycles during winter if I wasn't going to ride for a couple months.

 

I use a Battery tender on mine and other 12 volt's that co-habitate in the workshop. I've had batteries last 10 years with this practice.
Andif I'm not mistaken it's the heat that really takes a tole on batteries. Correct me if I'm wrong @koditten .@RustyGreen

 

I like to put the battery on the charger just after I stop using the machine for the year.

The charging systems on the mowers are half assed at best and they really don't do a good job keeping the battery fully charged.

A decent battery charger will fully charge the battery to close to new condition.

A fully charged battery won't freeze.

I don't remove the battery from the unit.

 

I don't expect to have this same mower in 10 years, but if I do, I will be thrilled if the OEM battery lasts that long

 

Ok, now that's what I will plan to do. I have a full on battery charger for cars/trucks, I used to have a Battery Tender for my motorcycles, but sold it with the bikes 10+ years ago.

 

I have no power to my shed so I'm stuck with removing it. 14/2 underground is darn expensive and digging the trench by hand is not something I want to do anyways

 

I had an old Craftsman that I bought in 1999 and just got ride of it in 2021, because the tranny was going bad. It had the original battery in it. But as we all know they don't make things like they used too.

 

I don't even have a battery tender.

I'm kinda leery about leaving a battery hooked up to any charger long term.

I've seen too many shops burnt to the ground that were the result of a battery shorting out while on the charger.

 

I mean, I guess a fire in the basement will take care of the termite problem...

 

Storage:
1) Treat the last gas of the season with a stabilizer product.
2) Run all the gas out of the machine, a kerosene siphon is useful to remove the bulk of the fuel from the tank.
3) Remove the battery and store it in a cool, dry & above freezing location.
4) Hook the battery to a small tender, Deltran Battery Tender and NOCO Genius 1 are two very good units.

The smallest one is excellent for a mower battery, either will be around $35. The Battery Tender is simpler, the NOCO has more functions. I have been using both of these for years, they really work - the battery on one of my mowers is from 2016, I top up the water every spring & fall.

Spend the extra few dollars for either of the brands above, there is a good bit of tech in these little chargers and they are the leaders -- this isn't an item to get at Harbor Freight.
You can get them on AMZ or your local auto parts store or The Mart.







These are really handy to have around for emptying mower tanks, clogged sinks, etc.

 

Forgot about the gas. I just treat the ethanol free gas with Stabil storage. Fact, I do that with every can I fill up, even in the summer.

If you can't get ethanol free it might be best to drain it...

 

Yeah, I just had top replace the OEM battery in my Tacoma this last weekend. It had 6 1/2 years and 93K miles on it. Last couple times I drove the truck, it was very slow to crank, but did fire and ran ok. I put my battery charger on it for two days, nothing. My multi-meter said it was only going up to 10.54Volts, even after 2 full days on my charger.

 

Those NOCO chargers that do the desulfation are really nice for recovering a spent battery. The battery on the Miller propane welder was completely spanked. We ordered one of those chargers and low and behold it recovered it. I hard wired it to the unit itself so you just plug it in when you get done. It hardly ever gets used, but nice that it'll fire right up now.

 

I already planned on Stabil or other gasoline storage stabilizer, and running the tank dry. I was just curious about the recommendations for the battery

 

@koditten you the Kawasaki man?

I acquired a Hustler Super Z a couple weeks ago and Cole's been mowing with it, the other day he mowed and pulled up beside me and the engine started running away. I turned it off, got him to move the throttle lever and it's still attached. Reckon the governor came loose inside or possibly the shaft that comes out of the block?

I haven't had time to check the shaft.

 

If you find ethonal free gas its better for small engines

 

Thankfully, we have some stations in Corbin that sell ethanol free gas.

 

SO I've come to find out that our water at the kitchen faucet has salinity levels of 630ppm. This is also the same for the water coming into the house and for another property nearby. Drinking a gallon of water is 20% of my daily salt allowance!

I guess this is just the standard water supply here in Phoenix. Now drinking bottled water until we move next month and I will invest in a RO filtration system.

 

It would be curious to know the high blood pressure statistics versus a community with a lower salt level.