NOTE: To protect hood from damage when transporting your tractor on a truck or a trailer, be sure hood is closed and secured to tractor. Use an appropriate means of tying hood to tractor (rope, cord, etc.).
TOWING CARTS AND OTHER ATTACH- MENTS
Tow only the attachments that are recommended by and comply with specifications of the manufacturer of your
tractor. Use common sense when towing. Too heavy of a load, while on a slope, is
dangerous. Tires can lose traction with the ground and cause you to lose control of your tractor.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL
The engine in your tractor has been shipped, from the factory, already filled
with summer weight oil.
1.Check engine oil with tractor on level ground.
2.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 the oil viscosity chart in the Maintenance section of this manual).
•To change engine oil, see the Mainte- nance section in this manual.
ADD GASOLINE
•Fill fuel tank to bottom of tank filler neck. Do not overfill. Use fresh, clean,
regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum of 87 octane. (Use of leaded gasoline will increase carbon and lead oxide deposits and reduce valve life). Do not mix oil with gasoline. Purchase fuel in quantities that can be used within 30 days to assure fuel freshness.
•,CAUTION: Wipe off any spilled oil or fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline near an open flame.
IMPORTANT: When operating in tem- peratures below 32°F(0°C), use fresh, clean winter grade gasoline to help insure good cold weather starting. 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 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.
TO START ENGINE
When starting the engine for the first time or if the engine has run out of fuel, it will
take extra cranking time to move fuel from the tank to the engine.
1.Be sure freewheel control is in the transmission engaged position.
2.Sit on seat in operating position,
depress brake pedal and set parking brake.
3.Move attachment clutch to disen- gaged position.
4.Move throttle control to fast position
5.Pull choke control out for a cold
engine start attempt. For a warm engine start attempt the choke control
may not be needed.
NOTE: Before starting, read the warm and cold starting procedures below.
6.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 the engine does not start after several attempts, push choke control in, wait a
few minutes and try again. If engine still does not start, pull the choke control out and retry.
WARM WEATHER STARTING (50 ° F and above)
7.When engine starts, slowly push choke control in until the engine
begins to run smoothly. If the engine starts to run roughly, pull the choke
control out slightly for a few seconds and then continue to push the control
in slowly.
•The attachments and ground drive can now be used. If the engine does not accept the load, restart the engine and allow it to warm up for one minute
using the choke as described above.
COLDWEATHER STARTING (50 F and below)
7.When engine starts, slowly push choke control in until the engine begins to run smoothly. Continue to push the choke control in small steps allowing the engine to accept small changes in speed and load, until the choke control is fully in.
If the engine starts to run roughly, pull
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