Storage; Preparing The Fuel System; Preparing The Engine; General Information - Toro 20831 Operator's Manual

Storage

To prepare the lawn mower for off-season storage, perform
the recommended maintenance procedures. Refer to
Maintenance on page 14.
Store the lawn mower in a cool, clean, dry place. Cover the
lawn mower to keep it clean and protected.

Preparing the Fuel System

Warning
Gasoline can vaporize if you store it over long
periods of time and explode if it comes into contact
with an open flame.
Do not store gasoline over long periods of time.
Do not store the lawn mower with gasoline in
the fuel tank or the carburetor in an enclosure
with an open flame. (For example, a furnace or
a water heater pilot light.)
Allow the engine to cool before storing it in any
enclosure.
Empty the fuel tank when mowing the last time before
storing the lawn mower.
1. Run the lawn mower until the engine stops from
running out of fuel.
2. Prime the engine and start it again.
3. Allow the engine to run until it stops. When you can no
longer start the engine, it is sufficiently dry.

Preparing the Engine

1. While the engine is still warm, change the oil in the
crankcase. Refer to Changing the Engine Oil on
page 17.
2. Remove the spark plug (Fig. 11).
3. Using an oil can, add about one tablespoon of oil
through the spark plug hole.
4. Slowly rotate the engine several times using the starter
rope to distribute the oil.
5. Install the spark plug but do not connect the wire to the
spark plug.

General Information

1. Clean the housing. Refer to Cleaning the under the
Housing on page 15.
2. Clean any dirt and chaff from the cylinder, cylinder
head fins, and blower housing.
3. Remove grass clippings, dirt, and grime from the
external parts of the engine, the shrouding, and the top
of the housing.
4. Check the condition of the blade. Refer to Maintaining
the Blade on page 18.
5. Charge the battery (electric-start model only); refer to
Charging the Battery on page 20. Store the battery in an
unheated area, if possible. For long-term battery
storage, charge the battery every 6 months; in
temperatures of 80 F (27 C) or above, charge the
battery every 90 days.
6. Service the air filter; refer to Servicing the Air Filter on
page 16.
7. Lubricate the self-propel drive; refer to Lubricating the
Self-Propel Drive on page 17.
8. Tighten all nuts, bolts, and screws.
9. Touch up all rusted or chipped paint surfaces with paint
available from an Authorized Service Dealer.

Removing From Storage

Warning
Folding or unfolding the handle improperly can
pinch, stretch, or damage one or more of the
cables. Any pinched, stretched, or damaged cable
may cause an operational failure that results in an
unsafe operating condition.
Do not pinch, stretch, or damage the cables.
Handle the cables with care when folding or
unfolding the handle.
Do not use the lawn mower if one or more of the
cables are pinched, stretched, or damaged.
Contact an Authorized Service Dealer.
1. Carefully unfold the upper handle until it nests with the
lower handle, then tighten the knobs.
2. Check and tighten all fasteners.
3. Remove the spark plug (Fig. 11) and spin the engine
rapidly using the starter to blow the excess oil from the
cylinder.
4. Clean the spark plug or replace it if it is cracked,
broken, or if the electrodes are worn.
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