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15
ADD GASOLINE
• Fill fuel tank to bottom of filler neck. Do not overfill.
Use fresh, clean, regular un lead ed gasoline with a
minimum of 87 octane. (Use of leaded gasoline will
increase carbon and lead oxide deposits and reduce
valve life). Do not mix oil with gasoline. Purchase fuel
in quan ti ties that can be used within 30 days to assure
fuel freshness.
CAUTION: Wipe off any spilled oil or
fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline
near an open flame.
IMPORTANT: WHEN OPERATING IN TEMPERATURES BELOW
32°F (0°C), USE FRESH, CLEAN WINTER GRADE GAS O LINE
TO HELP ENSURE GOOD COLD WEATHER START ING.
CAUTION: Alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol
or using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture
which leads to sep a ra tion and for ma tion of acids
during storage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel
system of an engine while in storage. To avoid engine
problems, the fuel system should be emptied before
stor age of 30 days or longer. Drain the gas tank,
start the engine and let it run until the fuel lines and
carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel next season.
See Storage In struc tions for additional information.
Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in
the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur.
OPERATION
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL
The engine in your tractor has been shipped, from the
factory, already filled with sum mer weight oil.
• Check engine oil with tractor on level ground.
• Pull up and remove oil fill cap/dipstick; wipe oil off.
Reinsert the dipstick into the tube and push down firmly
into place. Remove and read oil level. If necessary,
add oil until “FULL” mark on dipstick is reached. Do
not overfill.
• For cold weather operation you should change oil for
easier starting (See “OIL VISCOSITY CHART” in the
Maintenance sec tion of this manual).
• To change engine oil, see the Maintenance section in
this manual.
TO START ENGINE (See Fig. 15)
When starting the engine for the first time or if the engine
has run out of fuel, it will take extra cranking time to move
fuel from the tank to the engine.
• Be sure freewheel control is in the transmission en gaged
position.
• Sit on seat in operating position, depress clutch/brake
pedal and set parking brake.
• Place motion control lever in neutral position.
• Move attachment clutch to “DISENGAGED” position.
• Move throttle control to fast position
• Pull choke control out for a cold engine start attempt.
For a warm engine start attempt the choke control may
not be needed.
NOTE: Before starting, read the warm and cold starting
procedures below.
• Insert key into ignition and turn key clockwise to
“START” position and release key as soon as engine
starts. Do not run starter continuously for more than
fifteen sec onds per minute. If the engine does not start
after several attempts, push choke control in, wait a
few minutes and try again. If engine still does not start,
pull the choke control out and retry.
WARM WEATHER STARTING (50°F (10°C and above)
• When engine starts, slowly push choke control in until
the engine begins to run smoothly. If the engine starts to
run roughly, pull the choke control out slightly for a few
seconds and then continue to push the control in slowly.
• The attachments and ground drive can now be used. If
the engine does not accept the load, restart the engine
and allow it to warm up for one minute using the choke
as described above.
COLD WEATHER STARTING (50°F (10°C and below)
• When engine starts, slowly push choke control in until
the engine begins to run smoothly. Continue to push
the choke control in small steps allowing the engine to
accept small changes in speed and load, until the choke
control is fully in. If the engine starts to run roughly, pull
the choke control out slightly for a few seconds and
then continue to push the control in slowly. This may
require an engine warm-up period from several sec onds
to several minutes, depending on the temperature.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WARM UP
• Before driving the unit in cold weather, the trans mis sion
should be warmed up as follows:
• Be sure the tractor is on level ground.
• Place the motion control lever in neu tral.
Re lease the parking brake and let the clutch/brake
slowly return to operating po si tion.
• Allow one minute for transmission to warm up. This
can be done during the engine warm up period.
• The attachments can be used during the engine warm-
up period after the transmission has been warmed up
and may require the choke con trol be pulled out slight ly.
NOTE: If at a high altitude (above 3000 feet) or in cold
temperatures (below 32° F /0°C) the carburetor fuel mixture
may need to be adjusted for best engine performance. See
“TO ADJUST CARBURETOR” in the Service and Ad just -
ments section of this manual.