i i illllllllllll i ill ill illlll iilllllii iill ill iii iii iii ii illl illl illlii ij ii 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. ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM 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. 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. TRACTOR Remove mower from tractor for winter storage° When mower is to be stored for' a period of time, clean it thor- oughfy, remove all dirt, grease, leaves, etc_ Store in a clean, dry area. ° 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° Clean entire tractor (See"CLEAN tNG" in the Customer Responsibilities section of this manual). ° Inspect and replace belts, if necessary (See belt re- placement instructions inthe Service and Adjustments section of this manual). NOTE: Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable alternative in minimizing the formation of fuel gum deposits during stor- age. Add stabilizer to gasoline in fuel tank or storage container,, Always foUow the mix ratio found on stabilizer container. Run engine at least 10 minutes after adding stabilizerto aUowthestabilizerto reach the carburetor.
Do riot drain the gas tank and carburetor if using fuel stabilizer° Lubricate as shown in the Customer Responsibilities 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. ENGINE OIL Drain oil (with engine warm) and replace with clean engine oil (See "ENGINE" in the Customer Responsibilities section of this manual). 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 batterycleaned thoroughly(see'_ro CLEAN BATTERY AND TERMINALS" in the Cus- tomer Responsibilities section of this manual). ° After cleaning, leave cables disconnected and place cables where they cannot come in contact with battery terminals_ CYLINDERS Remove spark plug(S)o ° 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 Be sure battery drain tube is securely attached.
° Do notstore gasoline from one season to arrothero ° If battery is removed from tractor for storage, do not store battery directly on concrete or damp surfaces,_ ° Replace your' gasoline can if your can 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 condensation to form and will cause your tractor to rust. IMPORTANT: NEVER COVER TRACTOR WHILE ENGINE AND EXHAUST AREAS ARE STILL WARM. 24