Immediately prepare your tractor for stor-
age at the end of the season or if the trac-
tor will not be used for 30 days or more.
_WARNING:
Never store the tractor
with gasoline in the tank inside a building
where fumes may reach an open flame
or spark. Allow the engine to cool before
storing in any enclosure.
TRACTOR
When
tractor
is to be stored
for a period
of time,
clean
it thoroughly,
remove
all dirt,
grease,
leaves,
etc.
Store
in a clean,
dry
area.
1.
Clean
entire
tractor
(See "CLEANING"
in the Maintenance
section
of this
manual).
2.
Inspect
and replace
belts,
if necessary
(See belt replacement
instructions
in
the Service
and Adjustments
section
of
this manual).
3.
Lubricate
as shown
in the Maintenance
section
of this manual.
4.
Be sure that all nuts,
bolts and screws
are securely
fastened.
Inspect
moving
parts for damage,
breakage
and wear.
Replace
if necessary.
5.
Touch
up all rusted
or chipped
paint
surfaces;
sand
lightly
before
painting.
BATTERY
• Fully charge
the battery
for storage.
• After a period
of time in storage,
battery
may require
recharging.
• To help prevent
corrosion
and power
leakage
during
long periods
of storage,
battery
cables
should
be disconnected
and battery
cleaned
thoroughly
(see
"TO CLEAN
BATTERY
AND TERMI-
NALS"
in the Maintenance
section
of
this manual).
• After cleaning,
leave
cables
disconnect-
ed and place
cables
where
they cannot
come
in contact
with battery
terminals.
• If battery
is removed
from tractor
for
storage,
do not store
battery
directly
on
concrete
or damp
surfaces.
ENGINE
FUEL
SYSTEM
IMPORTANT:
It is important to prevent
gum deposits from forming in essential
fuel system parts such as carburetor, fuel
hose, or tank during storage. Also, alcohol
blended fuels (called gasohol or using
ethanol or methanol)
can attract moisture
which
leads to separation
and formation
of
acids
during
storage.
Acidic
gas can dam-
age the fuel system
of an engine
while
in
storage.
Empty
the fuel tank by starting
the en-
gine and letting
it run until the fuel lines
and carburetor
are empty.
• Never
use engine
or carburetor
cleaner
products
in the fuel tank or permanent
damage
may occur.
• Use fresh fuel next season.
NOTE:
Fuel stabilizer
is an acceptable
alternative
in minimizing
the formation
of
fuel gum deposits
during
storage.
Add
stabilizer
to gasoline
in fuel tank or stor-
age container.
Always
follow
the mix ratio
found
on stabilizer
container.
Run engine
at least 10 minutes
after adding
stabilizer
to allow
the stabilizer
to reach the car-
buretor.
Do not empty
the gas tank and
carburetor
if using fuel stabilizer.
ENGINE
OIL
Drain oil (with engine warm) and replace
with clean engine oil. (See "ENGINE"
in
the Maintenance
section of this manual).
CYLINDER(S)
1. Remove spark plug(s).
2.
Pour one ounce of oil through spark
plug hole(s) into cylinder(s).
3. Turn ignition key to start position for a
few seconds to distribute oil.
4.
Replace with new spark plug(s).
OTHER
• Do not store gasoline from one season
to another.
Replace your gasoline can if your can
starts to rust.
Rust and/or dirt in your
gasoline will cause problems.
If possible, store your tractor indoors
and cover it to give protection from dust
and dirt.
• Cover your tractor with a suitable
protective
cover that does not retain
moisture.
Do not use plastic.
Plastic
cannot breathe which allows condensa-
tion to form and will cause your tractor
to rust.
IMPORTANT:
Never cover tractor while
engine
and exhaust areas are still warm.
29