Craftsman 917.273481 manual Battery, Fuel System, Engine OIL, Cylinders, Other

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. /I, 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 TER- MINALS" 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 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 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.

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