Do some post-season push mower maintenance Before you store your mower, take time for post-season maintenance. All winter you looked forward to that first spring day when you could get the mower out and start cutting. But after several months of cutting grass, you may be looking forward to that fall day when you can park it for a while. Before you hide it in the garage or storage room, take a few minutes for some post-season maintenance. If you are going to store the machine for more than a month: 1. Disconnect the spark plug wire. 2. Clean the top and underside of the mower. Tighten any loose bolts you notice. If you're really ambitious, go ahead and sharpen the blade for a head start on next year. 3. If you have a two-cycle engine, skip this step. Drain the remaining gas from the tank, or run the engine to use the last bit of gas in the tank. If you choose not to drain the tank, be sure to use a gas additive designed for small engines. Untreated gas left in a tank more than 30 days begins a chemical composition change that's harmful to the engine. 4. While the engine is warm, drain the oil and refill it with fresh oil. 5. Remove the spark plug, and add about 1/2 oz. engine oil to the spark plug cylinder. Replace the plug, but don't reconnect the spark plug wire until you are ready to use the mower again. Slowly pull the start cord to distribute the oil to internal engine parts. 6. Clean or replace the air filter. 7. For best protection, cover the mower with plastic, and store it in a dry place away from heat sources or electrical appliances. Good idea: When tipping a push mower deck to view or work on the underside, disconnect the spark plug wire. If the mower has a paper filter, remove it to prevent oil from seeping in. For safety's sake, get a friend to help when turning a machine up to clean or drain fluids. Dispose of unused gasoline properly, following local codes. For more advice, visit www.epa.gov.