I have a gas-powered Toro 22 inch Recycler Lawn Mower Model 20334 in Maine. It's a great machine, and I really like it. I do not have a heated place to winter it. I figure the only part subject to Maine's deep freeze weather is the battery, so I plan to remove it, bring it inside, and from time to time, on "nice" days over the winter, reinstall it, recharge it, and then bring it back in. Does that sound like a good idea? Thank you.

 

If the battery cannot be connected to a charger then it's best to bring it inside. Once a battery discharges and freezes.... it's shot.

You'll also need to remove any extra gas or if not possible add a stabilizer like Sea Foam in the gas tank. Allow the additive to get into the carburetor by running the engine. Shut the gas off to the engine and allow it to run until the carb is out of gas.

 

I will do precisely as you suggest. Thank you.

 

I am in Michigan, and have never lived in Maine so don't know exactly how our winters compare, but it gets plenty cold here and I have never brought a battery into the house, nor would I. Weather of course varies year to year, but my mower will typically get parked in the unheated barn sometime during November and come back out early to mid April. I never touch the battery, and the last time I looked in the file I'm pretty sure that I figured about 6 years average on batteries, which isn't bad. Same thing for the one at the cabin, which is about 200 miles north of home, and the average temperatures there are quite a bit lower during winter. And in fact I honestly don't know anyone around here who pulls the batteries out of their equipment. So, why not bring it inside? If you look at the instructions for many battery cables or battery chargers you will find that it recommends connecting one of the negative cables last, and preferably at a ground other than the battery itself. The reason for this is that you want to avoid a spark at the battery because the gas can be explosive. Also, if I do have a battery go bad I do not want the acid inside the house, If you want to be more proactive than simply leaving it in the mower over the winter, buy a battery tender, which you can find any number of options at your local auto parts store. You can hook it to the battery in the mower, or you can remove the battery from the mower, set it on a board, and connect the tender there.

 

I can't go against what works for aka, but I agree with PJ. I always remove my batteries and store them in the attached garage. Just warm enough to prevent damage.

But what about those batteries used on weed whackers and trimmers? Will they damage if frozen?

 

The writing is on the wall so to speak, documented by any number of people smarter than I, that batteries do discharge more in the cold. But, as far as typical use, if there is such a thing, and excluding the heart of Alaska, northern stretches of Canada, etc., I think that batteries that go bad over one winter were on their way out in the autumn. And frankly, removing a battery from a mower and storing it in a heated garage, or one that is at least better insulated than say a lean-to or wherever the mower is stored, sounds like a pretty decent idea, but I personally do not think that it is wise to store one in the house, which is what I gathered might be the plan in this case. I don't know about weed whackers or such, but assume those batteries are more like cordless tool batteries, and there again I know a lot of tradespersons whose batteries don't get into a fully heated atmosphere during the winter. Of course a lot of those batteries are cycled halfway frequently, so maybe that makes a difference, and is another reason that some DIYer's who don't use their tools as often experience shorter battery life.

 

Seafoam is great stuff but it's not a stabilizer!
I own about 15 different gas powered tools that I use in my business.
In the off season I dump out all the gas I can, then add some of this to the tank
https://www.zoro.com/sta-bil-fuel-tr...hoCQp4QAvD_BwE
Then I run it until the fuel runs out.
Never once had an issue getting the tool to start right off in the spring so I must be doing something right.
PS, a charged battery is not going to freeze.

 

Harbor freight has battery tender float chargers on sale right now for $4.99, I use them all the time and have had very good luck with my batteries. Have a good one.

 

It looks like those models have a plug in charger, can't be sure without the serial #. If so he could buy a cheapie and plug it in in the house instead of taking it back outside to do it on a "nice day".


Joe, read the can because it sure is. Check out this video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ3pfwIgijk


From the comments section:

How long will Seafoam keep gas fresh in equipment and storage?



Sea Foam Official
1 year ago
+Devin Ramsey Thanks, Devin. Helps for at least 2 years.



I don't know about two years but I use it all the time, good stuff is right.