Storage; Operating Tips - Craftsman 768.884900 Owner's Manual

STORAGE
Off-Season Storage
If the snowblower is to be stored for thirty (30) days or
more or at the end of the snow season, the following
steps are recommended to prepare your snowblower for
storage.
1. Thoroughly clean the snowblower.
2. Drain the gasoline from the fuel tank by removing
the fuel line at the fuel shut-off valve.
NO TE: Close fuel shut-off valve before removing the
fuel line. Allow gasoline to drain into a container.
Replace the fuel line to the fuel shut-off valve.
WARNING: Drain gasoline outdoors away from fire
or flame.
3. Start the engine and run at SLOW speed (idle) until
the engine stops from fuel exhaustion. Fuel tank,
fuel line carburetor, and the engine should now be
free from gasoline.
4. Remove the spark plug and squirt one (1) ounce of
engine oil into the cylinder. Pull the recoil starter
rope slowly which will allow the piston to coat the
internal engine parts. Install an old spark plug; this
prevents fouling a new plug with the preservative
used to lubricate the internal parts of the engine.
Close the choke and plug the muffler opening.
5. Lubricate all lubrication points (see Lubrication).
6. Insure that all nuts, bolts, and screws are securely
fastened. Inspect all visible moving partsfordamage,
breakage, and wear. Replace if necessary.
7. Touch up all rusted or chipped paint surfaces; sand
lightly before painting.
8. Coverthe bare metal parts of the blower housing
auger, and the impeller with rust preventative.
9. If possible, store your snowblower indoors and cover
it to give protection from dust and dirt.
10. If the machine must be stored outdoors, block up
the snowblower and insure the entire machine is off
the ground. Coverthe snowblower with a heavy tar
paulin.
A DANGER A
Never store engine with fuel in tank indoors or in enclos
ed, poorly ventilated enclosures, where fuel fumes may
reach an open flame, spark or pilotlightas on a furnace,
water heater, clothes dryer, etc.
Handle gasoline carefully. It is highly flammable and
careless use could result in serious fire damage to your
person and/or property.
Drain fuel into approved containers outdoors, awayfrom
open flame.
17
Operating Tips
1. For optimum snowblower efficiency, adjust ground
speed, not the throttle. REMEMBER — if the track
slips forward speed should be reduced.
2. Most efficient snowblowing is accomplished when
snow is removed immediately after it falls.
3. For complete snow removal, slightly overlap each
swath previously taken.
4. Snow should be discharged downwind whenever
possible.
5. Fornormal usage,set the skidsone eighthinchbelow
the scraper bar. Forextremely hard-packedsnow sur
faces, the skids may be adjusted upward to insure
cleaning efficiency.
6. On gravel or crushed rock surfaces, the skids should
be set at one-fourth inch below the scraper bar (see
Adjusting Skids, page 12). Rocks and gravel must
not be picked up and thrown by the machine.
7. If the front of the snowblowerhas a tendency to rise,
reduce the ground speed and engage weight trans
fer system.
8. Afterthe snowblowing job has been completed, al
low the engine to idle for a few minutes, which will
melt snow and ice accumulated off the engine.
9. Remove ice and snow accumulation from the entire
snowblower to prevent obstructions and possible
damage when snowblower is subsequently oper
ated.
DANGER A
AVOID INJURY FROM
ROTATING AUGER - KEEP
HANDS, FEET, AND
CLOTHING AWAY.
A DANGER
DO NOT
USE HANDS
TO UNCLOG
DISCHARGE
CHUTE.
»
• Stop enging/motor be
ing debris.
• Do not walk in front o
machine.
• Do not discharge at b<
• Keep people and pets
tance from the machine.
• Before leaving machin
engine/motor and remoi
fore remov-
f running
ystanders.
a safe dis-
e, shut off
re key.