BEFORE
STARTING
ENGINE
ADD OIL
Your lawnmower
is shipped
without oil in
the engine. For type and grade of oil to
use, see "ENGINE"
in the Maintenance
section of this manual.
• t, CAUTION:
DO NOT overfill engine with
oil, or it will smoke on startup.
1. Be sure lawnmower
is level and area
around oil fill is clean.
2.
Remove oil dipstick
from oil fill spout.
Make sure that rim of spout is clean.
3. You receive a container
of oil with the
unit. Slowly pour the entire container
down the oil fill spout into the engine.
4. Wait one minute to allow oil to settle.
Insert and tighten dipstick,
then re-
move it to check oil level.
5. Always be sure to retighten
oil dipstick
before starting
engine.
• Check oil level before each use. Add oil
if needed.
Fill to full line on dipstick.
• Change the oil after every 25 hours of
operation
or each season.
You may
need to change the oil more often under
dusty, dirty conditions.
ADD GASOLINE
• Fill fuel tank to bottom of tank filler neck.
Do not overfill.
Use fresh, clean, regular
unleaded
gasoline
with a minimum
of
87 octane.
Do not mix oil with gasoline.
Purchase
fuel in quantities
that can be
used within 30 days to assure fuel fresh-
Bess.
/I, CAUTION:
Wipe off any spilled oil or
fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline
,_ar
an open flame.
CAUTION:
Alcohol
blended fuels
(called gasohol
or using ethanol
or metha-
nol) 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 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.
oil cap
GasoUne
filler cap
Prime
TO START
ENGINE
NOTE: Due to protective coatings on the
engine,
a small amount
of smoke may be
present during the initial use of the prod-
uct and should be considered
normal.
1. To start a cold engine, push primer
three (3) times before trying to start.
Use a firm push. This step is not
usually necessary
when starting
an
engine which has already
run for a few
minutes.
2.
Hold operator
presence
control bar
clown to the handle and pull starter
handle quickly. Do not allow starter
rope to snap back.
TO STOP
ENGINE
• To stop engine,
release operator
pres-
ence control bar.
NOTE:
In cooler weather
it may be neces-
sary to repeat priming
steps. In warmer
weather
over priming
may cause flooding
and engine will not start. If you do flood
engine, wait a few minutes
before attempt-
ing to start and do not repeat pdming
steps.
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