December is the month when garden activity slows down, the last of the woody debris has been cleared, and your trusty wood shredder or chipper starts looking forward to a long winter rest. But before you tuck your machine away in the shed, a vital step remains: winterisation.
Properly preparing your shredder for its downtime is non-negotiable. It’s the difference between starting up easily next spring and facing costly repairs due to rust, fuel degradation, or pest damage. As the UK experts in high-quality garden machinery, we’ve put together a practical, actionable checklist to ensure your Forester, Garden Master, or PTO model is protected from the worst of the cold, damp weather.
ā½ Fuel Management: The Most Important Step
One of the biggest causes of engine issues after winter storage is degraded fuel. Modern petrol, especially E10, can quickly break down and gum up the carburettor, fuel lines, and injectors, making starting impossible come spring.
Stabilise or Drain?
You have two reliable options for managing fuel during the winter:
- The Stabilise Route: If your storage period is shorter (2-3 months), add a high-quality fuel stabiliser to a full tank of fresh petrol. Run the engine for 10 minutes to ensure the stabilised fuel cycles through the entire system.
- The Drain Route (Recommended for long storage): Run the engine until the fuel tank is completely empty. Then, run the machine for a further minute until the engine dies, ensuring the carburettor bowl is also empty. This removes any fuel that could varnish or clog the system.
Never store a petrol engine with half-empty, untreated fuel. This creates condensation that leads to rust inside the tank and causes the fuel to degrade rapidly.
šŖ Inspection and Blade Care
Your shredding blades have worked hard this year. Now is the time to give them some TLC. Inspecting and maintaining the cutting mechanism prevents rust and saves you time on maintenance next spring.
Clean, Sharpen, and Protect
- Thorough Cleaning: Disconnect the spark plug cap (for safety!) and open the hopper. Use a wire brush and compressed air or a garden hose to remove all remaining chips, sap, and debris. Sap is highly corrosive and will eat away at metal surfaces over winter.
- Blade Check: Examine the cutting blades or hammers. If they are heavily chipped or excessively dull, consider sharpening or replacing them now. Fresh blades ready for spring will save you an unnecessary job later.
- Rust Prevention: Apply a light layer of machine oil or a corrosion inhibitor spray to all bare metal parts, including the blades, internal chambers, and hinges. This creates a protective barrier against the damp UK climate.
š§ Protecting the Engine and Chassis
Beyond the fuel, a few simple checks on the machineās mechanics and structure will preserve its lifespan.
- Spark Plug: Remove the spark plug and pour a small amount (a teaspoon) of engine oil directly into the cylinder. Gently pull the start cord a few times to distribute the oil, which prevents cylinder walls from rusting. Replace the spark plug.
- Oil Change: If you havenāt done so in the last 50 hours of use, change the engine oil and filter now. Used oil contains contaminants that can damage internal engine components during long storage.
- Tyre Care (Crucial for Greenshredder Models): If your unit has standard pneumatic tyres, ensure they are fully inflated to prevent flat spots. However, if your Greenshredder chipper or wheelbarrow is equipped with our Flat Free Tyres, your job is even simpler! Our puncture-proof tyres require zero air pressure monitoring. Just give them a good clean, and you can rest easy knowing they won’t rot, deflate, or crack under the weight over the winter months. They are truly the “fit-and-forget” solution for heavy machinery.
š” Final Storage Tips
Store your wood shredder or chipper in a dry, covered area like a shed or garage. Avoid areas subject to extreme temperature fluctuations. Covering the machine with a breathable tarp will protect it from dust and damp while allowing moisture to escape, preventing condensation.
By dedicating just one hour this November to winterising your Greenshredder wood chipper, you are ensuring that your machine is in peak condition, ready to tackle next year’s growth the moment spring arrives.
Don’t let costly winter damage catch you out. Explore our range of durable Flat Free Tyres and heavy-duty Shredder Chippers on the Greenshredder website to ensure your garden equipment is prepared for any season!