When you think about storing items away for the summer, winter, or when you go on a trip, you do not likely think of your chainsaw as an item that needs to be winterized. In fact, you do need to think about your chainsaw, especially if you want it to work correctly when you pull it out of storage. Below, we will go over some tips to help you know how to properly winterize your chainsaw this season.
- Know Your Fuel
It is important and vital to the function of your chainsaw that you know what type of fuel is in your chainsaw. Most fuels used in small motors include ethanol and if you do not properly store your chainsaw, the ethanol fuel can have negative effects on the motor.
In fact, if you plan to store your chainsaw for more than three weeks, you should drain or use up any old fuel and then fill up the tank with fresh fuel and add a stabilizer to it. Doing this can help protect the motor and prevent the fuel from degrading and causing problems.
- Check and Clean the Air Breather
There is a small piece on your chainsaw called the air breather and this piece needs to be removed and cleaned if you plan to store your chainsaw. To clean this piece, you should wash it with soap and water and allow it to thoroughly dry before putting back on your chainsaw. If you are unsure of how to properly clean the air breather or how to remove it, refer to your owner’s manual for a step-by-step guide.
- Run the Chainsaw Dry
You may have heard people tell you that you need to run your chainsaw out of gas before you store it. As we mentioned above, you need to keep it filled with gas. In fact, if you do run it out of gas, you will find that there is not enough lubrication for the chainsaw and some of the seals and rubber pieces will dry out and crack.
- Check the Spark Plug
One of the last things you need to do before you store your chainsaw is look at the spark plug. You will need to remove it to look at it. When you inspect it, look for any obvious signs of corrosion or wear. If you notice some, you should replace the spark plug now instead of waiting until you return.
If you do not want to keep the spark plug in place while you store your chainsaw, you should use a lubricant spray to lubricate the interior space where the spark plug resides. If you do not do this, you will find that the port becomes dirty and your chainsaw may not start up as efficiently as it once did.
If you are prepping to store your chainsaw, follow the tips above to properly get it ready for storage. Remember, you need to take care of your equipment to ensure it will be in good working order when you return.
