Towing Carts And Other Attachments; Check Engine Oil Level; Adding Gasoline; To Start Engine - Craftsman EZ3 917.271014 Owner's Manual

TOWING CARTS AND OTHER A'rrACH.
MENTS
Tow onlythe atiachmentsthat are recommended
byandcom_ w_ spec_a_nsofthemanofac-
tutor of your_'actor.Use common sense when
towing.Tooheavy of a Icad, while on a slope,is
dangerous._res can lose tractionwith the ground
and cause you to lose control of your tractor.
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.
• Unthread and remove oil fill cap/dipstick;
wipe oil off. Reinsert the dipstick into the
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 VIS-
cosrrY CHART" in the Maintenance sec-
tion of this manual).
• To change engine oil, see the Mainte-
nanca section in this manual.
ADD GASOLINE
• Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular un-
leaded gasoline with a minimum of 87 oc-
tane. (Use of leaded gasoline will increase
carbon and lead oxide deposits and re-
duce valve life). Do not mix oil w_ gaso-
line. Purchase fuel in quantities that can be
used within 30 days to assure fuel fresh-
ness.
IMPORTANT: When operating in tempera-
tures below 32°F(0°C), use fresh, clean win-
ter grade gasoline to help insure good cold
weather starting.
_WARNING: Experience indicates that al-
cohol blended fuels (called gasohol or using
ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture
which leeds 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 for additional informa-
tion. Never use engine or carburetor cleaner
products in the fuel tank or permanent dam-
age may occur.
_CAUTION: Fill to bottom of gas tank filler
neck. Do not overfill. Wipe off any spilled oil or
fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline near
an open flame.
TO START ENGINE
When starting the engine for the first time or if
the engine has run out of fuel, it will take extra
cranking time to move fuel from the tank to
the engine.
• Sit on seat in operating position, depress
clutch/brake pedal and set parking brake.
• Place gear shift lever in neutral (N) posi-
tion.
• Move attachment clutch to "DISEN-
GAGED" 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 clock-
wise to "START" position and release key
as soon as engine starts. Do not run starter
continuously for more than fifteen seconds
per minute, ff 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 posi-
tion and retry.
WARM WEATHER STARTING (50 ° F AND
ABOVE
• When engine starts, move the throttle con-
trol 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 ( 50o F AND
BELOW)
• When engine starts,allow engine to run
with the throttle control in the choke posi-
tion until the engine runsroughly,then
movethrottle control to fast position. T his
may require an engine warm-up peried
from severalsecondsto several minutes,
depending on the temperature.
• The attachmentscan also be used during
the engine warm-up period.
NOTE: Ifat a highaltitude(above3000 feet)
or in cold temperatures(below32 F) the car-
buretorfuel mixturemay need to be adjusted
for best engine performance. See 'TO AD-
JUST CARBURETOR" in the Service and
Adjustments section of this manual.
16