7
Off-Season
Storage
WARNING
Never store snow thrower with fuel in tank indoors or in poorly ventilated areas, where fuel fumes may reach an open flame, spark or pilot light as on a furnace, water heater, clothes dryer or gas appliance.
Drain fuel into an
approved container outdoors, away from any open flame. Be certain engine is cool. Do not smoke. Fuel left in engine during warm weather deteriorates and will cause serious starting problems.
Do not drain
carburetor if using
fuel stabilizer.
Never use engine or carburetor cleaning products in the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur.
If the snow thrower will not be used for 30 days or longer, or if it is the end of the snow season when the last possibility of snow is gone, the equipment needs to be stored properly. Follow storage instructions below to ensure top performance from the snow thrower for many more years.
Preparing Engine
NOTE: Refer to the engine manual for more detailed information on preparing the snow thrower engine for storage.
WARNING: Never store snow thrower with fuel in tank indoors or in poorly ventilated areas, where fuel fumes may reach an open flame, spark or pilot light as on a furnace, water heater, clothes dryer or gas appliance.
NOTE: It is important to prevent gum deposits from forming in essential fuel system parts of the engine such as the carburetor, fuel filter, fuel hose or tank during storage.
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 for 30 days or longer. Follow these instructions to prepare your snow thrower for storage:
WARNING: Drain fuel into an approved container outdoors, away from any open flame. Be certain engine is cool. Do not smoke. Fuel left in engine during warm weather deteriorates and will cause serious starting problems.
1.Remove all gasoline from the carburetor and the fuel tank to prevent gum deposits from forming on these parts and harming the engine.
2.Run the engine until the fuel tank is empty and it stops due to lack of fuel.
3.Drain carburetor by pressing upward on bowl drain, located below the carburetor cover. See Figure 14.
Carburetor
Bowl Drain
WARNING: Do not drain carburetor if using fuel stabilizer. Never use engine or carburetor cleaning products in the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur.
NOTE: Fuel stabilizer (such as
Do not drain carburetor if using fuel stabilizer.
4.Remove the spark plug and pour one (1) ounce of engine oil through the spark plug hole into the cylinder. Cover spark plug hole with a rag and crank the engine several times to distribute the oil. Replace spark plug.
NOTE: Refer to the engine manual for more information on preparing the snow thrower engine for storage.
Preparing Snow Thrower
1.When storing the snow thrower in an unventilated or metal storage shed, care should be taken to rustproof the equipment. Using a light oil or silicone, coat the equipment, especially any chains, springs, bearings and cables.
2.Remove all dirt from exterior of engine and equipment.
3.Follow lubrication recommendations on page 12.
4.Store equipment in a clean, dry area.
Figure 14
14