Before Starting The Engine - Husqvarna LT18542 Owner's Manual

TO OPERATE ON HILLS
WARNING: Do not drive up or down
hills with slopes great er than 15° and
do not drive across any slope.
• Choose the slowest speed before starting up or down
hills.
• Avoid stopping or changing speed on hills.
• If slowing is necessary, move throttle control lever to
slower position.
• If stopping is absolutely necessary, push clutch/brake
pedal quickly to brake position and engage parking
brake.
• Move gearshift lever to 1st gear. Be sure you have
allowed room for tractor to roll slightly as you restart
movement.
• To restart movement, slowly release parking brake and
clutch/brake pedal.
• Make all turns slowly.
TO TRANSPORT
• Raise attachment lift to highest position with at tachment
lift control.
• When pushing or towing your tractor, be sure gearshift
lever is in neutral (N) position.
• Do not push or tow tractor at more than fi ve (5) MPH.
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 AT TACH -
MENTS
Tow only the attachments that are recommended by and
comply with specifi cations of the manufacturer of your trac-
tor. 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
The engine in your tractor has been shipped, from the
factory, already fi lled with sum mer weight oil.
• Check engine oil with tractor on level ground.
• Pull up and remove oil fi ll cap/dipstick; wipe oil off. Re-
insert the dipstick into the tube and push down fi rmly
into place. Remove and read oil level. If necessary,
add oil until "FULL" mark on dipstick is reached. Do
not overfi ll.
• For cold weather operation you should change oil for
easier starting (See "OIL VISCOSITY CHART" in the
Maintenance sec tion of this manual).
• To change engine oil, see the Maintenance section in
this manual.
OPERATION
ADD GASOLINE
• Fill fuel tank to bottom of fi ller neck. Do not overfi ll.
Use fresh, clean, regular un leaded 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 quan tities that can be used within 30 days to assure
fuel freshness.
IMPORTANT:
BELOW32°F(0°C), USE FRESH, CLEAN WINTER GRADE
GASOLINE TO HELP INSURE GOOD COLD WEATHER
START ING.
CAUTION:
gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can at-
tract moisture which leads to sep aration and
for mation 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 In structions for additional
information. Never use engine or carburetor
cleaner products in the fuel tank or permanent
damage may occur.
TO START ENGINE (See Fig. 5)
When starting the engine for the fi rst 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) 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 turn key clockwise to "START"
position and release key as soon as engine starts.
Do not run starter continuously for more than fi fteen
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 control 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.
13
CAUTION: Wipe off any spilled oil or
fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline
near an open fl ame.
WHEN OPERATING IN TEMPERATURES
Alcohol blended fuels (called