Helpful Tips & Suggestions; Storing Your Powerhead - Honda umc435 Owner's Manual

HELPFUL TIPS & SUGGESTIONS

STORING YOUR POWERHEAD

Storage Preparation
Proper storage preparation is essential for keeping your powerhead
trouble-free and looking good. The following steps will help to keep
rust and corrosion from impairing your powerhead's function and
appearance, and will make the engine easier to start when you use
it again.
Cleaning
If the engine has been running, allow it to cool for at least half an hour
before cleaning. Clean all exterior surfaces, touch up any damaged
paint, and coat other areas that may rust with a light film of oil.
Using a garden hose or pressure washing equipment can force
water into the air cleaner or muffler opening. Water in the air
cleaner will soak the air filter, and water that passes through the
air filter or muffler can enter the cylinder, causing damage.
Fuel
Depending on the region where you operate your equipment, fuel
formulations may deteriorate and oxidize rapidly. Fuel deterioration
and oxidation can occur in as little as 30 days and may cause
damage to the carburetor and/or fuel system. Please check with
your servicing dealer for local storage recommendations.
Gasoline will oxidize and deteriorate in storage. Deteriorated
gasoline will cause hard starting, and it leaves gum deposits that
clog the fuel system. If the gasoline in your powerhead deteriorates
during storage, you may need to have the carburetor and other fuel
system components serviced or replaced.
The length of time that gasoline can be left in your fuel tank and
carburetor without causing functional problems will vary with such
factors as gasoline blend, your storage temperatures, and whether
the fuel tank is partially or completely filled. The air in a partially
filled fuel tank promotes fuel deterioration. Very warm storage
temperatures accelerate fuel deterioration. Fuel deterioration
problems may occur within a few months, or even less if the
gasoline was not fresh when you filled the fuel tank.
Fuel system damage or engine performance problems resulting
from neglected storage preparation are not covered under the
Distributor's Limited Warranty.
You can extend fuel storage life by adding a gasoline stabilizer that
is formulated for that purpose, or you can avoid fuel deterioration
problems by draining the fuel tank and carburetor.
Short Term Storage (30–90 days)
Adding a Gasoline Stabilizer to Extend Fuel Storage Life
When adding a gasoline stabilizer, fill the fuel tank with fresh
gasoline. If only partially filled, air in the tank will promote fuel
deterioration during storage. If you keep a container of gasoline for
refueling, be sure that it contains only fresh gasoline.
1. Add gasoline stabilizer following the manufacturer's
instructions.
2. After adding a gasoline stabilizer, run the engine outdoors for
10 minutes to be sure that treated gasoline has replaced the
untreated gasoline in the carburetor.
3. Stop the engine.
Long Term or Seasonal Storage (greater than 90 days)
Draining the Fuel Tank and Carburetor
Gasoline is highly flammable and explosive, and you
can be burned or seriously injured when refueling.
• Stop the engine and let cool before refueling.
• Keep heat, sparks, and flame away.
• Refuel only outdoors.
• Wipe up spills immediately.
1. Make sure the engine oil filler cap is tightened securely.
2. Remove the fuel tank cap and drain the fuel into an approved
gasoline container by tipping the powerhead toward the fuel
filler neck.
3. Press the priming pump several times until all fuel left in the fuel
return tube is returned into the fuel tank.
PRIMING PUMP
FUEL RETURN TUBE
(TRANSPARENT
TUBE)
ENGINE OIL FILLER CAP
FUEL FILLER NECK
FUEL TANK CAP
FUEL TANK CAP
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