Immediately
prepare
your tractor
for stor-
age at the end of the season
or if the trac-
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
Remove
mower
from tractor
for winter
storage.
When
mower
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 TERMINALS"
in
the Maintenance
section
of this manual).
• After cleaning,
leave cables
discon-
nected
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 carbure-
tor. Do not empty
the gas tank and carbu-
retor 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
pro-
tective
cover that does not
retain mois-
ture.
Do not use plastic.
Plastic
cannot
breathe
which
allows condensation
to
form and will cause
your tractor
to rust.
IMPORTANT:
Never cover tractor
while
engine
and exhaust
areas are still warm.
29