TO OPERATE ON HILLS
_,WARNING: Do not drive up or down hills with slopes greater than 15 ° and do not drive across any slope. Use the slope guide at the back of this manual.
•Choose the slowest speed before start- ing up or down hills.
•Avoid stopping or changing speed on hills.
•If slowing is necessary, move throttle control lever to slower position.
•If stopping is absolutely necessary, push clutch/brake pedal quickly to brake posi- tion and engage parking brake.
•Move gearshift lever to 1st gear. Be sure you have allowed room for tractor to roll slightly as you restart movement.
•To restart movement, slowly release parking brake and clutch/brake pedal.
•Make all turns slowly.
TO TRANSPORT
•Raise attachment lift to highest position with attachment lift control.
•When pushing or towing your tractor, be sure gearshift lever is in neutral (N) position.
•Do not push or tow tractor at more than five (5) MPH.
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 recom- mended 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.Remove oil fill cap/dipstick and wipe clean, reinsert the dipstick and screw cap tight, wait for a few seconds, re- move 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 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 quan-
tities 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 temper-
atures below32°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 separa- tion 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 Instructions 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.Sit on seat in operating position, depress clutch/brake pedal and set parking brake.
2.Place gear shift lever in neutral (N) position.
3.Move attachment clutch to disengaged position.
4.Move throttle control to choke position. NOTE: Before starting, read the warm and cold starting procedures below.
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