Craftsman 917.259172 manual Engbne, Other, Fuel System, Engine OIL, Cylinders

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

gasoline in the tank inside a building whereCAUTION:fumesNevermay storereachthean tractoropen flamewith 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 thor- oughly, remove all dirt, grease, leaves, etc. Store in a clean, dry area..

oClean entire tractor (See "CLEANING" in the Customer Responsibilities 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 Customer Responsibilities 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 surfaces; sand lightty before painting_

BATTERY

•Fully charge the battery for storage.

•After a period of time in storage, battery may require recharging.

oTo 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 Cus-

tomer Responsibilities section 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 is securely attached..

otf battery is removed from tractor for storage, do not store battery directly on concrete or damp surfaces.

ENGBNE

FUEL SYSTEM

IMPORTANT: IT IS IMPORTANT TO PREVENT GUM

DEPOSITS FROM FORMING IN ESSENTIAL 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 OF ACIDS DURING

STORAGE.. ACIDIC GAS CAN DAMAGE THE FUEL SYSTEM OF AN ENGINE WHtLE IN STORAGE.

o Drain the fuel tank°

•Start the engine and let it run until the fuel lines and carburetor are empty°

•Never use engine or carburetorcleaner products inthe 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 I0 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" in the Customer Responsibilities section of this manual)_

CYLINDERS

•Remove spark ptug(s)_

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

=Turn ignitionkey 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°

oReplace your gasoline can if your can starts to rusL 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 protective cover that does not retain moisture. 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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