Before Starting; Add Gasoline; To Start Engine - Craftsman EZ3 917.273021 Owner's Manual

NOTE: To protect hood from damage
when transporting your tractor on a truck
or a trailer, be sure hood is closed and
secured to tractor. Use an appropriate
means of tying hood to tractor (rope, cord,
etc.).
TOWING CARTS AND OTHER
A'I-rACHMENTS
Tow only the attachments that are recom-
mendedby and comply with specifications
of the manufacturer of your tractor. Use
common sense when towing. Too heavy of
a load, while on a slope, is dangerous.
Tires can lose traction with the ground and
cause you to lose control of your tractor.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL
i 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/dip
stick; 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 nec-
essary, 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
Responsibilities 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
_Tx oil with gasoline. Purchase fuel in
quantities that can be used within 30
days to assure fuel freshness.
16
IMPORTANT: When operating in tempera-
tures below 32°F(0°C), use fresh, clean
winter grade gasoline to help insure good
_d 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 duringstorage. Acidic
gas can damage the fuel system of an
engine while in storage. To avoid engine
problems, the fuel system should be emp-
tied 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 Instructionsfor additional
information. Never use engine or
carburetor cleaner products in the fuel
_k or permanent damage 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.
• Be sure freewheel control is in the
transmissionengaged 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 =DISEN-
GAGED" position.
• Move throttle control to fast position
• Pull choke control out for a cold engine
start attempt. For a warm engine start
attempt the choke control may not be
needed.
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, push choke control in, wait a
few minutes and try again. If engine still
does not start, pull the choke control out
and retry.