Tools freezing up?

[purpleroad]

Petrol tools like hedge cutters, mowers etc won't get damaged if the temperature goes below zero, will they? I mean if left in an or unheated garage? How about battery powered tools? I use dewalt drills and saws etc

My garage is in the middle of many garages, maybe I could attach a duvet to inside of garage door.

On South Coast so it's not too bad mind.

 

[pete50]

Well none of mine have suffered because of the cold. Mine are in my garage and in a couple of sheds and I live oop norf and have done for the last 30 odd years. My tools do suffer because they are crappily made and from use but not from the cold. Mainly cold will affect tools or devices that have water in them such as water cooled engines. The water when it freezes expands and that can and does crack housings and such. Having said all that it's not a bad idea to insulate garages and sheds if you can.

 

[Burnerman]

If you have a pressure washer, make sure its completely drained!
John

 

[Nige F]

I mean if left in an unheated garage? How about battery powered tools? I use dewalt drills and saws etc

My garage is in the middle of many garages, maybe I could attach a duvet to inside of garage door.

On South Coast so it's not too bad mind.

Maybe the power of the batteries might drop a bit ? Don't insulate the outside of the door, The travelling community are aware of posh garages containing goodies

 

[gasbanni]

Battery tools can get damaged aparrently by condesation when taken in to a warm environment from a cold one .......back of a van in to a warm house ....... chargers too............thats what bosch told me !!

 

[Keithmac]

I'd be tempted to put the batteries somewhere guaranteed not to freeze, outhouse/ broom cupboard etc.

 

[conny]

Petrol in mowers can produce condensation inside the engine apparently. I was told to make sure I drained my mower before winterising it to prevent this happening.

 

[Burnerman]

Consider adding some Briggs and Stratton fuel stabiliser, and keeping the tank full......empty tanks are prone to rusting, unless they are plastic, of course!
Briggs tanks fitted to the engine side have an alloy top and steel bottom, and are prone to rusting which gives problems in the future.
John

 

[conny]

It is a Briggs & Stratton engine, with a plastic tank, and I wasn't aware of the prone to rusting.
Have already drained it for this winter but will remember the stabiliser for next year. Thanks.

 

[Burnerman]

Plastic tanks mean no rusting, but any water in the fuel tends to corrode the steel float bowl of the carburettor - believe it or not! Some float chambers have a drain screw at the bottom side- some don't - to allow you to drain off the fuel residue with little fuss. Fuel stabiliser is supposed to hold any moisture in suspension (fantastic claim that ) but I use Aspen fuel anyway if the machine is laid up for a long time.....over 12 months for me.
John

 

[DaveHerns]

Just done my strimmer and mower today, drained the strimmer and put some oil down the plug hole. Changed the oil on the mower, filled the petrol tank to the brim and painted Waxoyl on the deck.

 

[purpleroad]

Consider adding some Briggs and Stratton fuel stabiliser, and keeping the tank full......empty tanks are prone to rusting, unless they are plastic, of course!
Briggs tanks fitted to the engine side have an alloy top and steel bottom, and are prone to rusting which gives problems in the future.
John

Stabiliser, is that what's used to prevent it going off over the winter months?

 

[Burnerman]

Yes, that's exactly it......but worry ye not, your fuel isn't going to deteriorate if it's left over the winter.
12 months or more, then maybe but even then I haven't had many issues.
John