Off-Season Storage

If the machine is to be inoperative for a period longer than 30 days, the following procedures are recommended:

WARNING! Never store the machine or fuel container indoors where there is an open flame, spark or pilot light such as on water heater, furnace, clothes dryer or other gas appliance.

NOTE: Fuel left in the fuel tank during warm weather deteriorates and will cause serious starting problems.

To prevent gum deposits from forming inside the engine’s carburetor and causing possible malfunction of the engine, the fuel system must be either completely emptied, or the gasoline must be treated with a stabilizer to prevent deterioration.

1.If using a fuel stabilizer:

a.Read the product manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations.

b.Add to clean, fresh gasoline the correct amount of stabilizer for the capacity of the fuel system.

c.Fill the fuel tank with treated fuel and run the engine for 2-3 minutes to get stabilized fuel into the carburetor.

2.If emptying the fuel system:

a.Do not drain fuel when the engine is hot. Allow the engine adequate time to cool. Drain fuel into an approved container outdoors, away from open flame.

b.Drain any large volume of fuel from the tank by disconnecting the fuel line from the in-line fuel filter near the engine.

c.Reconnect the fuel line and run the engine until it starts to falter, then use the choke to keep the engine running until all fuel in the carburetor has been exhausted.

d.Again disconnect the fuel line and drain any remaining gasoline from the system.

WARNING! Drain fuel only into an approved container outdoors, away from an open flame. Allow engine to cool. Extinguish cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and other sources of ignition prior to draining fuel.

Remove the spark plug and pour one (1) ounce of engine oil through the spark plug hole into the cylinder. Crank the engine several times to distribute the oil. Replace the spark plug.

Before storing for an extended period, clean and lubricate the tractor as instructed in “Maintenance and Adjustments.”

Cutting Deck Removal

To remove the cutting deck, proceed as follows:

1.Disengage the PTO (Blade Engage) and engage the parking brake.

2.Place the deck gauge wheels in their highest setting

(lowest deck setting).

3.Lower the deck by moving the deck lift lever into the bottom notch on the right fender.

4.Looking at the cutting deck from the left side of the tractor, locate the deck support pin on the rear left side of the deck. Refer to Fig. 7-1.

Deck Lift Arm

Deck Support Pin

Figure 7-1

5.Pull the deck support pin outward to release the deck from the deck lift arm. Pivot the support pin handle downward to lock the pin in the disengaged position. Refer to Fig. 7-1.

6.Move to the right side of the tractor and repeat the previous step to release the deck from the RH lift arm.

7.Move the deck lift lever into the top notch on the right fender to raise deck lift arms up and out of the way.

8.Carefully slide the cutting deck forward until the front deck hanger rod can be removed from the slots of the hanger bracket at the front of the deck.

9.The PTO belt is captured inside the PTO pulley on the bottom of the engine by a belt keeper. From beneath the front/left side of the tractor, locate the hex tapping screw securing the left side of the belt keeper to the bottom of the tractor frame. After first noting the frame hole into which right side of the belt keeper is inserted, remove the hex tapping screw and belt keeper. Slide the PTO belt off the tractor’s PTO pulley.

10.While holding the front deck hanger rod upward to clear the deck front hanger bracket, carefully slide the deck out from the right side of the tractor.

Section 7 — Service

 

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