OPERATION
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL (See Fig. 12)
•The engine in your tractor has been shipped, from the factory, already filled with summer weight oil.
•Check engine oil with tractor on level ground.
•Unthread and remove oil fill cap/dipstick; wipe oil off. Reinsert the dipstick into the tube and rest oil fill cap on the tube. Do not thread the cap onto the tube. 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 “OIL VISCOSITY CHART” in the Customer Responsibilities section of this manual).
•To change engine oil, see the Customer Responsibili- ties section in this manual.
OIL FILL |
CAP/DIPSTICK |
FIG. 12
ADD GASOLINE
•Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded gasoline. (Use of leaded gasoline will increase carbon and lead oxide deposits and reduce valve life).
IMPORTANT: WHEN OPERATING IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 32°F(0°C), USE FRESH, CLEAN WINTER GRADE GASOLINE TO HELP INSURE GOOD COLD WEATHER STARTING.
WARNING: Experience indicates that 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 stor- age 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 Instruc- tions for additional information. Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur.
CAUTION: Fill to bottom of gas tank filler neck. Do not overfill. Wipe off any spilled oil or fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline near an open flame.
INDICATOR LIGHTS
Located on the dash of your tractor, these lights alert you to necessary steps required to start your tractor or, while tractor is running, alerts you to a serious problem which requires immediate attention.
DEPRESS | • Indicates you must depress clutch/brake | |
pedal fully to start tractor. | ||
FOOT | ||
PEDAL |
|
•Indicates you must disengage attachment clutch control to start tractor.
DISENGAGE
ATTACHMENT
•Indicates low oil pressure in your engine.
| Light should come on when engine is not | |
| running and key switch is in "ON" position. | |
CHECK | This is a test to be sure light is working | |
and a reminder to always check oil level | ||
OIL | ||
before starting engine. | ||
|
TO START ENGINE (See Fig. 8)
When starting engine for the first time or if engine has run out of fuel, it will take extra cranking time to move fuel from the tank to the engine.
•Depress clutch/brake pedal and set parking brake.
•Place motion control lever in neutral (N) position.
•Move attachment clutch to “DISENGAGED” position.
•Pull choke control out to choke ( 
) position for cold engine start. For warm engine start do not use choke control.
•Move throttle control to midway between fast (
) and slow (
) positions.
•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 engine does not start after
several attempts, move throttle control to fast (
) position, wait a few minutes and try again.
•When engine starts, slowly push choke control in.
•Move throttle control to fast (
) position.
•Allow engine to warm up for a few minutes before engaging drive or attachments.
IMPORTANT: COLD STARTING FOR HYDRO (BELOW 40° F) - AFTER STARTING ENGINE AND BEFORE DRIVING, LET TRANSMISSION WARM UP FOR ONE (1) MINUTE BY PLACING MOTION CONTROL LEVER IN NEUTRAL (N) POSITION AND RELEASING CLUTCH/ BRAKE PEDAL.
NOTE: If at a high altitude (above 3000 feet) or in cold temperatures (below 32°F), the carburetor fuel mixture may need to be adjusted for best engine performance. See “TO ADJUST CARBURETOR” in the Service and Adjust- ments section of this manual.
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