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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Take Care Of Your Outdoor Power Equipment With Proper Winter Storage

ALEXANDRIA, VA, October 2000 - If you take good care of your outdoor power equipment this winter, you will be glad you did next spring. According to the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), the consumer who takes the time to store equipment properly can benefit in several ways. They can:

• Keep their equipment in safe, working order;
• Save the trouble of unexpected, and possibly costly, repairs;
• Extend the life of their equipment; and,
• Keep their engines running efficiently. And, incidentally, with the new low emission engines that now run 70% cleaner than in previous years, proper storage will also help keep the air cleaner - for everyone.

So, when it comes time for your equipment to hibernate for the winter, here is what OPEI recommends that you do:

• Drain the fuel tank completely by running the engine until all of the excess fuel is gone.
• While the engine is still warm, drain the crankcase oil.
• Fill it with fresh oil.
• Lubricate all lubrication points.
• Check all moving parts for damage. Cover any bare metal parts with oil or rust preventive.
• Clean caked-on grass and wipe debris from engine, deck and handle of mowers. Clean debris from tillers, edgers, and shredder housings.
• For battery-powered equipment, remove battery and fully charge before storing.
• For those of you who really aren't do-it-yourselfers - you might prefer to take your equipment to a service dealer for a pre-storage tune up. Then, store equipment and any fuel can in a clean, dry, ventilated area and never near a pilot light, stove, or heat source of any kind.

So, now you can relax, enjoy the winter... and stay tuned for more helpful maintenance tips from OPEI throughout the year.

OPEI is a trade association whose membership is primarily composed of U.S. manufacturers of powered lawn and garden maintenance products, components and attachment supplies, as well as industry-related services. OPEIís domestic members manufacture in excess of 95% of the U.S. consumer retail market for gas and electric powered lawn and garden maintenance products.

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