BEFORE
STARTING
THE
ENGINE
CHECK
ENGINE
OIL LEVEL
The engine
in your tractor
has been
shipped,
from the factory,
already
filled
with summer
weight
oil.
1.
Check
engine
oil with tractor
on level
ground.
2.
Remove
oil fill cap/dipstick
and wipe
clean,
reinsert
the dipstick
and screw
cap tight, wait for a few seconds,
re-
move 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 Maintenance
section
of this manual).
• To change
engine
oil, see the Mainte-
nance
section
in this manual.
ADD
GASOLINE
• Fill fuel tank to bottom
of filler neck. Do
not overfill.
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 quan-
tities 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 temper-
atures
below32°F(0°C),
use fresh, clean
winter
grade gasoline
to help insure
good
cold weather
starting.
CAUTION:
Alcohol
blended
fuels (called
gasohol
or using ethanol
or methanol)
can
attract moisture
which leads
to separa-
tion and formation
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
storage
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
Instructions
for
additional
information.
Never use engine
or carburetor
cleaner
products
in the fuel
tank or permanent
damage
may occur.
TO START
ENGINE
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.
1. Sit on seat in operating
position,
depress
clutch/brake
pedal and set
parking
brake.
2.
Place gear shift lever in neutral
(N)
position.
3.
Move attachment
clutch
to disengaged
position.
4.
Move throttle
control
to choke position.
NOTE:
Before
starting,
read the warm
and cold starting
procedures
below.
5.
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
seconds
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)
6.
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)
6.
When
engine
starts,
leave throttle
control
in choke position
until engine
warms
up and begins
to run roughly.
Once
rough running
begins,
imme-
diately
move the throttle
control
to the
fast position.
Engine
warm-up
may
take from several
seconds
to several
minutes
(the colder
the temperature,
the longer
the warm-up).
• The attachments
can also be used dur-
ing the engine
warm-up
period.
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).
14