MTD 31AH553G401 Operating Your Snow Thrower, Gas and Oil Fill-up, Tire Pressure, Electric Starter

SECTION 4: OPERATING YOUR SNOW THROWER

Gas and Oil Fill-up

Service the engine with gasoline and oil as instructed in the separate engine manual packed with your snow thrower. Read instructions carefully.

WARNING: Never fill fuel tank indoors, with engine running or while engine is hot. Do not smoke when filling up a fuel tank.

Tire Pressure

•Tires are over-inflated for shipping purposes. Reduce the tire pressure to 10-15 p.s.i. for snowthrower operation. Use pneumatic tires only on your snowthrower unit.

•Tire chains (optional equipment) should be used whenever extra traction is needed.

Electric Starter

WARNING: The electric starter is equipped with a three-wire power cord and three-prong plug, and is designed to operate on 120 volt AC household current. It must be properly grounded at all times to avoid possibility of electric shock which may be injurious to the operator.

Follow all instructions carefully. Determine that your house wiring is a three-wire grounded system. Ask a licensed electrician if you are not certain. If your house wiring system is not a three- wire grounded system, do not use this electric starter under any conditions. If your house wiring system is grounded but a three-hole receptacle is not available at the point the starter will normally be used, one should be installed by a licensed electrician.

•When connecting the power cord, always connect cord to starter on engine first, then plug the other end into a three-hole grounded receptacle.

•When disconnecting the power cord, always unplug from the three-hole grounded receptacle first.

To Start Engine

IMPORTANT: If unit shows any sign of motion (drive or augers) with the clutch grips disengaged, shut engine off immediately. Readjust as instructed in the “Final Adjustments” section of the Set-Up Instructions.

•Attach spark plug wire to spark plug. Make certain that the metal loop on the end of the spark plug wire (inside the boot) is fastened securely over the metal tip on the spark plug.

•Make certain the fuel shut-off valve, if equipped, is in the open (vertical) position.

•Make certain the auger and drive clutch levers are in the disengaged (released) position.

•Move throttle control to FAST position.

•Insert ignition key into slot. Make sure it snaps into place. Do not turn key.

Follow next three steps for electric start only.

•Rotate choke knob to OFF position.

•Connect power cord to switch box on engine. Plug the other end of power cord into a three-hole, grounded 120 volt AC receptacle.

•Push starter button to crank the engine. When engine starts, release the starter button, and move choke gradually to FULL, and then to OFF position. If the engine falters, move choke immediately to

FULL position and then gradually move it to OFF position.

Follow the next four steps for recoil start only:

•Rotate choke knob to FULL position. If engine is already warm, place choke in OFF position instead of FULL position.

•Push primer button two or three times. If engine is warm, push primer button once only.

•Grasp starter handle and pull rope out slowly, until it pulls slightly harder. Let rope rewind slowly. Pull starter handle rapidly. Do not allow handle to snap back. Allow it to rewind slowly while keeping a firm hold on starter handle. Repeat until engine starts.

•As engine warms up and begins to operate evenly, rotate choke knob slowly to OFF position. If engine falters, return to FULL choke, then slowly move to OFF position.

To Stop Engine

•Run engine for a few minutes before stopping to help dry off any moisture on the engine.

To avoid possible freeze-up of starter, proceed as follows.

Electric Starter: Connect power cord to switch box on engine, then to 120 volt AC receptacle. With the engine running, push starter button and spin the starter for several seconds. The unusual sound made by spinning the starter will not harm engine or starter. Disconnect the power cord from receptacle first, and then from switch box.

Recoil Starter: With engine running, pull starter rope with a rapid, continuous full arm stroke three or four times. Pulling the starter rope will produce a loud clattering sound, which is not harmful to the engine or the starter.

•To stop engine, push the throttle lever all the way down, or remove the ignition key. Do not turn key.

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