Craftsman 944.528398 - Manual (Page 20)

STORAGE
Immediately prepare your unit for storage at the end of the
season or if the unit will not be used for 30 days or more.
A
WARNING: Never store the snow
thrower with gasoline in the tank Inside
a
building where fumes may reach an
open flame, spark or pilot light as on a
furnace,
water heater, clothes dryer or
gas appliance. Allowthe engine to cool
before storing In any enclosure.
SNOW THROWER
When snow thrower is to be stored for a period of time,
clean it thoroughly, remove all dirt, grease, leaves, etc.
Store in a clean, dry area,
1, Clean entire snow thrower (See “CLEANING” in the
Maintenance section of this manual),
2, Inspect and replace belts, if necessary (See “TO RE­
PLACE BELTS” in the Service and Adjustments section
of this manual),
3, Lubricate as shown in the Maintenance section of this
manual,
4, Be sure that all nuts, bolts, screws, and pins are securely
fastened. Inspect moving parts for damage, breakage
and wear. Replace if necessary,
5, Touch up all rusted or chipped paint surfaces; sand
lightly before painting,
ENGINE
See engine manual.
FUEL SYSTEM
IMPORTANT: It is important to prevent gum deposits from
forming in essential fuel system parts such as carburetor,
fuel hose, or tank during storage. Also, 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,
• Empty the fuel tank by starting the engine and letting
it run until the fuel lines and carburetor are empty,
• Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in
the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur,
• Use fresh fuel next season,
NOTE: Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable alternative in min­
imizing the formation of fuel gum deposits during storage.
Add stabilizer to gasoline in fuel tank or storage container.
Always follow the mix ratio found on stabilizer container.
Run engine at least 10 minutes after adding stabilizer to
allow the stabilizer to reach the carburetor. Do not drain the
gas tank and carburetor if using fuel stabilizer,
ENGINE OIL
Drain oil (with engine warm) and replace with clean engine
oil, (See “ENGINE” in the Maintenance section of this
manual),
CYLINDER
1, Remove spark plug,
2, Pour one ounce (29 ml) of oil through spark plug hole
into cylinder,
3, Pull recoil starter handle slowly a few times to distribute
oil,
4, Replace with new spark plug,
OTHER
• Remove safety ignition key; store it in a safe place,
• Do not store gasoline from one season to another,
• Replace your gasoline can if your can starts to rust.
Rust and/or dirt in your gasoline will cause problems,
• If possible, store your snow thrower indoors and cover
it to protect it from dust and dirt,
• Cover your snow thrower with a suitable protective
cover that does not retain moisture. Do not use plastic.
Plastic cannot breathe, which allows condensation to
form and will cause your snow thrower to rust,
IMPORTANT: Never cover snow thrower while engine/ex-
haust area is still warm.
20