Craftsman 917.270814 - Manual (Page 28)

STORAGE
Immediately prepare your tractor for
storage at the end of the season or if the
tractor will not be used for 30 days or
more.
il^CAUTION: Never store the tractor with
gasoline in the tank inside a building
where fumes may reach an open flame or
spark. Allow the engine to cool before
storing in any enclosure.
TRACTOR
Remove mower from tractor for winter
storage. This will allow you to clean it
thoroughly. Remove all dirt, grease,
leaves, etc. Store in a clean, dry area.
• Clean entire tractor (See “CLEANING”
in the Maintenance section of this
manual).
• Inspect and replace belts, if necessary
(See belt replacement instructions in the
Service and Adjustments section of this
manual).
• Lubricate as shown in the Maintenance
section of this manual.
• Be sure that all nuts, bolts and screws
are securely fastened. Inspect moving
parts for damage, breakage and wear.
Replace If necessary.
• Touch up all rusted or chipped paint
surfaces: sand lightly before painting.
BATTERY
• Fully charge the battery for storage.
• After a period of time in storage, battery
may require recharging.
• To help prevent corrosion and power
leakage during long periods of storage,
battery cables should be disconnected
and battery cleaned thoroughly (see
TO CLEAN BATTERY AND TERMI­
NALS” in the Maintenance section of
this manual).
• After cleaning, leave cables disconnect­
ed and place cables where they cannot
come in contact with battery terminals.
• If battery is removed from tractor for
storage, do not store battery directly on
concrete or damp surfaces.
ENGINE
FUEL SYSTEM
IMPORTANT: It is important to prevent
gum deposits from forming in essential
fuel system parts such as carburetor, fuel
filter, fuel hose, or tank during storage.
Also, experience indicates that 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.
• Drain the fuel tank.
• Start the engine and let 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 minimizing 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).
CYLINOER(S)
• Remove spark plug(s).
• Pour one ounce of oil through spark plug
hole(s) into cylinder(s).
• Turn ignition key to “START” position for
a few seconds to distribute oil.
• Replace with new spark plug(s).
OTHER
• Do not store gasoline from one season
to another.
• Replace your gasoline can if it starts to
rust. Rust and/or dirt in your gasoline will
cause problems.
• If possible, store your tractor indoors
and cover it to give protection from dust
and dirt.
• Cover your tractor with a suitable
protective cover that does not retain
moisture. Do not use plastic. Plastic
cannot breathe, which allows condensa­
tion to form and cause your tractor to
rust.
IMPORTANT: Never cover tractor while
engine and exhaust areas are still warm.
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