Poulan Pro 420408, Operator'S Manual

14

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

TO START ENGINE (See Fig. 5)

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 brake pedal 

and set parking brake.

•  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/10° C 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.

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.

IMPORTANT:

  SHOULD YOUR TRANSMISSION RE QUIRE 

REMOVAL FOR SERVICE OR REPLACEMENT, IT SHOULD 

BE PURGED AFTER REINSTALLATION BEFORE OPERATING 

THE TRACTOR.

1.  Place tractor safely on a level surface - that is clear 

and open - with engine off and parking brake set.

2.  Disengage transmission by placing freewheel control 

in freewheeling position (See “TO TRANSPORT” in 

this section of manual).

3.  Sitting in the tractor seat, start engine. After the en-

gine is running, move throttle control to slow position. 

Dis en gage parking brake

CAUTION:  At any time, there may be 

movement of the drive wheels. 

4.  Depress forward drive pedal to full forward position, 

hold for five (5) seconds and release pedal. Depress 

reverse drive pedal to full reverse position, hold for five 

(5) seconds and release pedal. Repeat this procedure 

three (3) times.

COLD WEATHER STARTING ( 50° F/10° C 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.
•  Release the parking brake and let the 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.