OPERATION
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.
•Check engine oil with tractor on level ground.
•Unthreed and remove oil fill cap/dipstick; wipe oil off. Reinsert the dipstick intothe 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.
ADD GASOLINE
•Fill fuel tank. 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.
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 indicatesthat 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 gastank, startthe engine and let itrun until the fuel lines and carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage Instructionsforadditional information. Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur.
CAUTION: Fill to bottom of gas tank I filler neck. Do not overfill. Wipeoffany I spilled oil or fuel. Do not store, spill or
use gasoline near an open flame.
TO START ENGINE (See Fig. 6)
When starting the engine for the firsttime or ifthe engine has run out of fuel, it will take extra cranking time to move fuel from the tank to the engine.
•Besure freewheelcontrol isinthe transmission engaged position.
Sit on seat in operating position, depress clutch/brake pedal and set parking brake.
•Place motion control lever in neutral (N) position.
•Move attachment clutch to =DISENGAGED" position.
Move throttle control to choke position.
NOTE: Before starting, read the warm and cold starting procedures below.
Insert key into ignition and tum 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, move throttle control to fast position,wait a few minutes and try again. If engine still does not start, move the throttle control back to the choke position and retry.
WARM WEATHER STARTING (50 ° F and above)
•When engine starts, move the throttle controltothe fast position.
•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.
COLD WEATHER STARTING ( 50 ° F AND BELOW)
•When engine starts, allow engine to run with thethrottle control in the choke position until the engine runs roughly, then move throttle control to fast position. This may require an engine
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WARM UP
•Before ddvingthe unit incold weather, the transmission should be warmed up as follows:
• | Be sure the tractor is on level ground. |
|
• | Place the motion control lever in neutral. | Release |
| the parking brake and let the clutch/brake | s I o w I y |
| return to operating position. |
|
•Allow one minute for transmission to warm up. This can be done during the engine warm up pedod.
•The attachments can also be used dudng the engine
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 Adjustments section of this manual.
PURGE TRANSMISSION
freewheel lever while the engine is run-
[_lbAUTION: Neverengageordisengage I ning.
To ensure proper operation and performance, it is
IMPORTANT: SHOULD YOUR TRANSMISSION REQUIRE
REMOVAL FOR SERVICE OR REPLACEMENT, IT SHOULD BE PURGED AFTER REINSTALLATION BEFORE
OPERATING THE TRACTOR.
Place tractor safely on level surface with engine off and parking brake set.
•Disengage transmission by placing freewheelcontrol in freewheeling position (See "TO TRANSPORT" in this section of manual).
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