Craftsman 917.28927 - Manual (Page 29)

STORAGE
Im m ediately prepare your tractor for stor­
age at the end of the season or if the trac­
tor w ill not be used for 30 days or m ore.
A w ARNING: Never store the tractor
w ith gasoline in the tank inside a building
w here fum es m ay reach an open flam e
or spark. Allow the engine to cool before
storing in any enclosure.
TRACTOR
W hen tractor is to be stored for a period
of tim e, clean it thoroughly, rem ove all dirt,
grease, leaves, etc. Store in a clean, dry
area.
1. Clean entire tractor (See “CLEANING ”
in the M aintenance section of this
m anual).
2. Inspect and replace belts, if necessary
(See belt replacem ent instructions in
the Service and Adjustm ents section of
this m anual).
3. Lubricate as show n in the M aintenance
section of this m anual.
4. Be sure that all nuts, bolts and screws
are securely fastened. Inspect m oving
parts for dam age, breakage and w ear.
Replace if necessary.
5. Touch up all rusted or chipped paint
surfaces; sand lightly before painting.
BATTERY
• Fully charge the battery for storage.
• After a period of tim e in storage, battery
m ay require recharging.
• To help prevent corrosion and pow er
leakage during long periods of storage,
battery cables should be disconnected
and battery cleaned thoroughly (see
“TO CLEAN BATTERY AND TERM I­
NALS” in the M aintenance section of
this m anual).
• After cleaning, leave cables disconnect­
ed and place cables w here they cannot
com e in contact w ith battery term inals.
• If battery is rem oved from tractor for
storage, do not store battery directly on
concrete or dam p surfaces.
ENGINE
FUEL SYSTEM
IMPORTANT:
It is im portant to prevent
gum deposits from form ing in essential
fuel system parts such as carburetor, fuel
hose, or tank during storage. Also, alcohol
blended fuels (called gasohol or using
ethanol or m ethanol) can attract m oisture
w hich leads to separation and form ation of
acids during storage. Acidic gas can dam ­
age the fuel system of an engine w hile in
storage.
• Em pty the fuel tank by starting the en­
gine and letting it run until the fuel lines
and carburetor are em pty.
• Never use engine or carburetor cleaner
products in the fuel tank or perm anent
dam age m ay occur.
• Use fresh fuel next season.
NOTE: Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable
alternative in m inim izing the form ation of
fuel gum deposits during storage. Add
stabilizer to gasoline in fuel tank or stor­
age container. Alw ays follow the m ix ratio
found on stabilizer container. Run engine
at least 10 m inutes after adding stabilizer
to allow the stabilizer to reach the car­
buretor. Do not em pty the gas tank and
carburetor if using fuel stabilizer.
ENGINE OIL
Drain oil (w ith engine w arm ) and replace
w ith clean engine oil. (See “ENG INE” in
the M aintenance section of this m anual).
CYLINDER(S)
1. Rem ove spark plug(s).
2. Pour one ounce of oil through spark
plug hole(s) into cylinder(s).
3. Turn ignition key to start position for a
few seconds to distribute oil.
4. Replace with new spark plug(s).
OTHER
• 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 problem s.
• If possible, store your tractor indoors
and cover it to give protection from dust
and dirt.
• Cover your tractor w ith a suitable
protective cover that does not retain
m oisture. Do not use plastic. Plastic
cannot breathe which allow s condensa­
tion to form and will cause your tractor
to rust.
IMPORTANT: Never cover tractor w hile
engine and exhaust areas are still w arm .
29