Before Starting The Engine; Check Engine Oil Level; Add Gasoline; To Start Engine - Craftsman EZ3 917.258591 Owner's Manual

OPEBA ON
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL (See Fig. 16)
• The engine in your tractor has been shipped, from the
factory_ already filled with summer weight oil
o Check engine oil with tractor on level ground.
• Unthread and remove oil fill cap/dipstick; wipe oil off..
Reinsert the dipstick intothe tube and rest oil fill cap on
the tube. Do not th read 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 B7octane (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 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. To avoid engine
problems, the fuel system should be emptied before stor-
age 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 Instruc-
tions for additional information,. Never use engine or
carburetor cleaner products in the fueI tank or permanent
damage may occur.
_) AUTION: Fill to bottom of gas tank
filler neck. Do not overfill. Wipe off any
spilled oil or fuet. Do not store, spill or
use gasoline near an open flame.
TO START ENGINE (See Fig. 8)
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 transmission em
gaged position.
• Sit on seat in operating position, depress clutch/brake
pedal and set parking braker
° Place motion control lever in neutrat (N) position..
° Move attachment clutch to "DISENGAGED" position..
° Move throttle control to choke (N) position.
Note: Before starting, read the warm and cold starting
procedures below.,
o Insert key intoignition and turn key clockwise to"START'
position and release key as soon as engine starts. Do
not run starter continuously for more than fifteen sec-
onds per minute,. If the engine does not start after
several attempts, move throttle controi to fast ('ca')
dPosition, wait a few minutes and try again.. If engine still
oes not start, move the throttle control back to the
choke (N) position and retry_
WARM WEATHER STARTING (50 ° F and above)
= When engine starts, move the throttlecontrol 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 ( 50 ° F and beiow)
• When engine starts, allow engine to run with the throttle
control in the choke (]\1) position until the engine runs
roughly, then move throttle control to fast (,t_) position°
This may require an engine warm-up period from
several seconds to several minutes, depending on the
temperature.
HYDROSTATIC TRANSMISSION WARM UP
° Before driving the unit in cold weather, the transmis-
sion should be warmed up as follows:
° Be sure the tractor is on level ground,,
° Place the motion control lever in neutral
Re{ease the parking brake and let the clutch/brake
slowly return to operating position.
° Allow one minute for transmission to warm up.
This can be done during the engine warm up
period.
° The attachments can also be used during the engine
warm-up period after the transmission has 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
t.... A CAUTION: Never engage or disengage
freewheel lever while the engine is run-
U 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 devel-
oped during shipping of your tractor.
IMPORTANT: SHOULDYOUR 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 seL
° Disengage transmission by placing freewheel con!rol
in freewheeling position (See _TO TRANSPORT' in
this section of manual)°
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