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OPERATION
13
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL (See Fig. 12)
• 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.
• Remove oil fi ll cap/dipstick and wipe clean, reinsert the dipstick and screw
cap tight, wait for a few seconds, 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 Customer Responsibilities sec tion of this
manual).
• To change engine oil, see the Customer Re spon si bil i ties section in this
manual.
ADD GASOLINE
• Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded 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 quantities that can be used within 30 days to assure fuel freshness.
IMPORTANT: WHEN OP ER AT ING IN TEM PERA TURES BELOW 32°F(0°C),
USE FRESH, CLEAN WINTER GRADE GAS O LINE TO HELP INSURE GOOD COLD
WEATHER STARTING.
WARNING: Experience indicates that alcohol blended fuels (called
gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture which leads to
separation 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.
CAUTION: Fill to bottom of gas tank
fi ller neck. Do not over fi ll. Wipe off any
spilled oil or fuel. Do not store, spill or
use gasoline near an open fl ame.
TO START ENGINE (See Fig. 7)
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 choke position.
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,
move throttle control to fast position, wait a few minutes and try again. If
engine still does not start, move the throttle control back to the choke position
and retry.
WARM WEATHER STARTING (50° F and above)
• When engine starts, move the throttle control to the fast position.
• 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, allow engine to run with the throttle control in the choke
position until the engine runs roughly, then move throttle control to fast
position. This may require an engine warm-up period from several seconds
to several minutes, depending on the tem per a ture.
HYDROSTATIC 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 neutral. Re lease the parking
brake and let the clutch/brake slowly re turn to operating posi-
tion.
• Allow one minute for transmission to warm up. This can be done during
the engine warm up period.
• The attachments can also be used during the engine warm-up period after
the transmission has been warmed up.
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
Adjustments section of this manual.