Craftsman 917.25736 owner manual Storage, Other, Battery, Fuel System, Engine OIL

STORAGE

Immediately prepare your tractor for storage at the end of the season or if the unit will not be used for 30 days or more

CAUTION: 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 e period of time, clean it thor-

oughly, remove all dirt, grease, leaves, etc Give blades and underside of housing a good coat of grease or rust

preventative. Store in a clean, dry area.

Clean entire tractor (See "CLEANING" in the Mainte- nance section of this manual)

Inspect and replace belts, if necessary (See belt re- placement instructions in the Service and Adjustments section of this manual).

Lubricate as shown in the Maintenance section of this manual.

Be sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are securely fastened. Inspect moving parts for damage, breakage and wear Replace if necessary

Touch up all rusted or chipped paint sudaces: 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 TERMINALS" in the Mainte-

nance sectioin of this manual)

After cleaning, leave cables disconnected and place cables where they cannot come in contact with battery terminals

Be sure battery drain tube Jssecurely attached to drain in battery tray

ENGINE

FUEL SYSTEM

IMPORTANT: IT IS IMPORTANT TO PREVENT GUM DEPOSITS FROM FORMING IN ESSEN- TIAL FUEL SYSTEM PARTS SUCH AS CARBURETOR, FUEL FILTER, FUEL HOSE, OR TANK DURING STORAGE. ALSO, EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT

ALCOHOL BLENDED FUELS (CALLED

GASOHOL OR USING ETHANOL OR

METHANOL) CAN ATTRACT MOISTURE

WHICH LEADS TO SEPARATION AND

FORMATION OFACIDS DURING STOR-

AGE ACIDIC GAS CAN DAMAGE THE

FUEL SYSTEM OF AN ENGINE WHILE IN STORAGE.

Drain the fuel tank

Start the engine and let 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 stor- age_ Add stabilizer to gasoline in fuel tank or storage 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 carburetor. Do not drain the gas tank and carburetor if using fuel stabilizer

ENGINE OIL

Drain oil (with engine warm) and replace with clean engine oil (See"ENGINE" intheMaintenancesectionofthisman- ual)

CYLINDERS

Remove spark plug(s)

Pour one ounce of oil through spark plug hole(s) into cylinder(s).

Turn ignition key to "START" position for a few seconds to distribute oil

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 unit indoors and cover it to give protection from dust and dirt.

Cover your unit with a suitable protective cover that does not retain moisture_ Do not use plastic. Plastic cannot breath which allows condensation to form and will cause your unit to rust

IMPORTANT: NEVER COVER TRACTOR WHILE ENGINE AND EXHAUST AREAS ARE STILL WARM.

26