Poulan SP24H48YT Lawn Mower User Manual


 
18
CAUTION: Alcohol blended fuels (called
gasohol or us ing ethanol or methanol) can
attract mois ture which leads to separa-
tion and for ma tion of acids during storage.
Acid ic gas can damage the fuel system of
an en gine while in storage.
To avoid en gine prob lems, the fuel system
should be emp tied 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 emp ty. Use fresh fuel
next season. See Stor age In struc tions for
additional in for ma tion.
Never use engine or car bu re tor clean er
prod ucts in the fuel tank or per ma nent
dam age may occur.
TO START ENGINE
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.
1. Be sure freewheel control is in the
trans mis sion en gaged position.
2. Sit on seat in operating position,
depress clutch/brake pedal and set
parking brake.
3. Place motion control lever in neutral
(N) position.
4. Move attachment clutch to dis en gaged
po si tion.
5. Move throttle control to fast position
6. Pull choke control out for a cold engine
start attempt. For a warm engine start
attempt the choke con trol may not be
needed.
NOTE: Before starting, read the warm and
cold starting procedures below.
7. Insert key into ignition and turn key
clock wise to start position and release
key as soon as engine starts. Do
not run starter con tin u ous ly 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 con-
trol out and retry.
WARM WEATHER STARTING (50° F and
above)
8. When engine starts, slowly push choke
control in until the engine begins to
run smoothly. If the en gine 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 en gine and
allow it to warm up for one minute using
the choke as de scribed above.
COLD WEATHER STARTING (50° F and
below)
8. 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 en-
gine 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 tem per a ture.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WARM UP
Before driving the unit in cold weath er,
the trans mis sion should be warmed up as
follows:
1. Be sure the tractor is on level ground.
2. Place the motion control lever in
neu tral. Release the parking brake and
let the clutch/brake slowly return to
operating position.
3. Allow one minute for trans mis sion to
warm up. This can be done during the
en gine warm up period.
• The attachments can be used during
the engine warm-up period after the
trans mis sion 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 car bu re tor 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).
ADD GASOLINE
• Fill fuel tank to bottom of tank fi ller neck.
Do not overfi ll. Use fresh, clean, reg u lar
un lead ed gasoline with a min i mum of 87
octane. (Use of leaded gasoline will in-
crease carbon and lead oxide de pos its
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 gas o line
near an open fl ame.
IMPORTANT: When operating in tem per a-
tures below 32°F(0°C), use fresh, clean
win ter grade gas o line to help in sure good
cold weather start ing.