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13
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL
• The engine in your tractor has been shipped, from the
factory, already fi lled with sum mer weight oil.
• Check engine oil with tractor on level ground.
• Unthread and remove oil fi ll cap/dipstick; wipe oil off.
Reinsert the dipstick into the tube and rest oil fi ll cap on
the tube. Do not thread the cap onto the tube. Remove
and read oil level. If necessary, add oil until “FULL”
mark on dipstick is reached. Do not overfi ll.
• 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 theMaintenance section in
this manual.
ADD GASOLINE
• Fill fuel tank to bottom of fi ller neck. Do not overfi ll.
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 fl ame.
IMPORTANT: WHEN OPERATING IN TEMPERATURES
BELOW32°F(0°C), USE FRESH, CLEAN WINTER GRADE
GAS O LINE TO HELP INSURE 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 stor-
age. 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 car-
buretor cleaner products in the fuel tank or permanent
damage may occur.
OPERATION
TO START ENGINE (See Fig. 6)
When starting the engine for the fi rst 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 (N) 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
fi fteen 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 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 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) 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.
PURGE TRANSMISSION
CAUTION: Never engage or disengage
freewheel lever while the engine is run-
ning.
To ensure proper operation and performance, it is rec om -
mend ed that the transmission be purged before operating
tractor for the fi rst time. This procedure will remove any
trapped air inside the transmission which may have de-
vel oped during shipping of your tractor.