Craftsman 944.602951 - Manual (Page 13)

OPERATION
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL
• The engine in yourtractor has been shipped, from the
factory, already filled with summer weight oil.
• Check engine oil with tractor on level ground.
• Unthread and remove oil fill cap/dipstick; wipe oil off.
Reinsert the dipstick into the tube and rest oil fill capon
the tube. Do not thread the cap onto the tube. Remove
and read oil level. If necessary, add oil until “FULL”
mark on dipstick is reached. Do not overfill.
• For cold weather operation you should change oil for
easier starting (See “OIL VISCOSITY CHART” in the
Customer Responsibilities section of this manual).
• To change engine oil, see the Customer Responsibili­
ties section in this manual.
ADD GASOLINE
• Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded
gasoline with a minimum of 87 octane. (Use of leaded
gasoline will increase carbon and lead oxide deposits
and reduce valve life). Do not mix oil with gasoline.
Purchase fuel in quantities that can be used within 30
days to assure fuel freshness.
IMPORTANT: WHEN OPERATING IN TEMPERATURES
BELOW 32“F(0''C), USE FRESH, CLEAN WINTER GRADE
GASOLINE TO HELP INSURE GOOD COLD WEATHER
STARTING.
WARNING: 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. To avoid engine problems, the
fuel system should be emptied before storage of 30 days or
longer. Drain the gas tank, start the engine and let it run until
the fuel lines and carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel next
season. See Storage Instructions foradditionai information.
Never use engine or carburetor cleanerproducts in the fuel
tank or permanent damage may occur.
CAUTION: Fill to bottom of gas tank
fillerneck. Do not overfill. Wipeoffany
spilled oil or fuel. Do not store, spill or
use gasoline near an open flame.
TO START ENGINE (See Fig. 6)
When start! ng the engine for the first time or if the engi ne has
run out of fuel, it will take extra cranking time to move fue!
from the tank to the engine.
• Be sure freewheel control is in the transmission engaged
position.
• Sit on seat in operating position, depress clutch/brake
pedal and set parking brake.
• Place motion control lever in neutral (N) position.
• Move attachment clutch to “DISENGAGED" position.
• Move throttle control to choke position.
NOTE: Before starting, read the warm and cold starting
procedures below.
• Insert key into ignition and turn key clockwise to
“START position and release key as soon as engine
starts. Do not run starter continuously for more than
fifteen seconds per minute. If the engine does not start
after several attempts, move throttle control to fast
position, wait a few minutes and try again. If engine still
does not start, move the throttle control back to the
choke position and retry.
WARM WEATHER STARTING (50° F and above)
•
When eng ine starts, move the th rottle control to the fast
position.
• The attachments and ground drive can now be used. If
the engine does not accept the load, restart the engine
and allow it to warm up for one minute using the choke
as described above.
COLD WEATHER STARTiNG (50“ F AND BELOW)
•
When engine starts, allow engine to run with thethrottle
control in the choke position until the engine runs
roughly, then move throttle control to fast position. This
may require an engine warm-up period from several
seconds to several minutes, depending on the tempera­
ture.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WARM UP
•
Before driving the u nit in cold weather, the transmission
should be warmed up as follows:
• Be sure the tractor is on level ground.
• Place the motion control lever in neutral. Release
the parking brake and let the clutch/brake slowly
return to operating position.
• Allow one minute for transmission to warm up. This
can be done during the engine warm up period.
• The attachments can also be used during the engine
warm-up period afterthe transmission has been wanned
up.
NOTE: if at a high altitude (above 3000 feet) or in cold
temperatures (below 32 F) the carburetor fuel mixture may
need to be adjusted for best engine performance. See TO
ADJUST CARBURETOR” in the Sen/ice and Adjustments
section of this manual.
PURGE TRANSMISSION
A
CAUTION: Never engage or disengage
freewheel lever while the engine is run­
ning.
To ensure proper operation and performance, it is recom­
mended that the transmission be purged before operating
tractor for the first time. This procedure will remove any
trapped air inside the transmission which may have devel­
oped during shipping of yourtractor.
IMPORTANT: SHOULD YOUR TRANSMISSION REQUIRE
REMOVAL FOR SERVICE OR REPLACEMENT, IT
SHOULD BE PURGED AFTER REINSTALLATION BEFORE
OPERATING THE TRACTOR.
•
Place tractor safely on level surface with engine off and
parking brake set.
• Disengage transmission by placing freewheel control in
freewheeling position (See TO TRANSPORT in this
section of manual).
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