Before Starting The Engine; Check Engine Oil Level; Add Gasoline; To Start Engine - Craftsman ELECTRIC START 42" MOWER AUTOMATIC LAWN TRACTOR 944.602951 Owner's Manual

OPERATION
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
• The engine in your tractor has been shipped, from the
factory, already filled with summer weight oil.
• Check engine oil with tractor on level ground.
• Unthreed and remove oil fill cap/dipstick; wipe oil off.
Reinsert the dipstick intothe tube and rest oil fill cap on
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 indicatesthat 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 gastank, startthe engine and let itrun until
the fuel lines and carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel next
season. See Storage Instructionsforadditional information.
Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel
tank or permanent damage may occur.
CAUTION: Fill to bottom of gas tank I
filler neck. Do not overfill. Wipeoffany
I
spilled oil or fuel. Do not store, spill or
use gasoline near an open flame.
TO START ENGINE (See Fig. 6)
When starting the engine for the firsttime or ifthe engine has
run out of fuel, it will take extra cranking time to move fuel
from the tank to the engine.
• Besure freewheelcontrol isinthe 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 tum 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 engine starts, move the throttle controltothe 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 peried from several
seconds to several minutes, depending on the tempera-
ture.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WARM UP
• Before ddvingthe unit 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 s I o w I y
return to operating position.
• Allow one minute for transmission to warm up. This
can be done during the engine warm up pedod.
• The attachments can also be used dudng the engine
warm-up periodafterthe transmissionhas been warmed
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 Service and Adjustments
section of this manual.
PURGE TRANSMISSION
[_lb AUTION: Neverengageordisengage I
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 bevel-
oped during shipping of your tractor.
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 freewheelcontrol in
freewheeling position (See "TO TRANSPORT" in this
section of manual).
13