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,
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 Maintenance
section
of this manual).
• To change
engine oil, seethe
Maintenance
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 quantities
that
can be used within 30 days to assure
fuel
freshness.
_i_,CAUTION:
Wipe
off any spilled
oil or
fuel.
Do not store, spill or use gasoline
near
an open flame.
IMPORTANT:
When
operating
in tempera-
tures
below
32°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 separation
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
fue!
lines
and carburetor
are empty.
Use
fresh fuel next season.
See Storage
Instruc-
tions 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.
Be sure freewheel
control
is in the trans-
mission
engaged
position.
2.
Sit on seat in operating
position,
depress
brake
pedal
and set parking
brake.
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/10
°
C and above)
6.
When
engine
starts,
move
the throttle
control
to the fast position.
• The
attachments
and
ground
drive
can
now be used. Ifthe 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/10 ° C
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,
immediately
move
the
throttle
control to the fast position.
Engine
warm-up
may take from several
seconds
to several
minutes
(the colder
the tem-
perature,
the longer
the warm-up).
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
WARM UP
Before
driving
the unit in cold weather,
the
transmission
should
be warmed
up as fol-
lows:
1.
Be sure the tractor
is on level ground.
2.
Release
the parking
brake
and let the
brake slowly
return to operating
position.
3.
Allow one minute fortransmission
to
warm
up. This
can be done
during
the
engine
warm
up period.
• The
attachments
can also
be used
dur-
ing 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/0°C)
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