16
OPERATION
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
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 sys-
tem 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 ad di tion al information.
Never use engine or car bu re tor cleaner products in
the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur.
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.
• 2. Unthread and remove oil fill cap/dipstick; wipe oil
off. Reinsert the dipstick into the tube and rest oil fill
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 overfill.
• For cold weather operation you should change oil for
easier starting (See the oil viscosity chart in the Main-
te nance sec tion of this man u al).
• To change engine oil, see the Main te nance section in
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 first time. This procedure will remove any
trapped air inside the transmission which may have de-
vel oped during shipping of your tractor.
TO START ENGINE (See Fig. 9)
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 (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 fifteen
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 posi-
tion. This may require an engine warm-up period from
several seconds to several minutes, depending on the
tem per a ture.
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 neutral.
Re lease the parking brake and let the clutch/brake
slowly return to operating position.
• 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.
