Start And Stop Engine; Maintenance - Briggs & Stratton VANGUARD 540000 Operator's Manual

For Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) engines, no high altitude adjustment is necessary.
Add Fuel
WARNING
Fuel and its vapors are extremely flammable and explosive.
Fire or explosion can cause severe burns or death.
When adding fuel
• Turn engine off and let engine cool at least 2 minutes before removing the fuel
cap.
• Fill fuel tank outdoors or in well-ventilated area.
• Do not overfill fuel tank. To allow for expansion of the fuel, do not fill above the
bottom of the fuel tank neck.
• Keep fuel away from sparks, open flames, pilot lights, heat, and other ignition
sources.
• Check fuel lines, tank, cap, and fittings frequently for cracks or leaks. Replace if
necessary.
• If fuel spills, wait until it evaporates before starting engine.
1. Clean the fuel cap area of dirt and debris. Remove the fuel cap.
2. Fill the fuel tank (A, Figure 6) with fuel. To allow for expansion of the fuel, do not
fill above the bottom of the fuel tank neck (B).
3. Install the fuel cap.

Start and Stop Engine

See Figure: 1
Start Engine
WARNING
Fuel and its vapors are extremely flammable and explosive.
Fire or explosion can cause severe burns or death.
When Starting Engine
• Ensure that spark plug, muffler, fuel cap and air cleaner (if equipped) are in place
and secured.
• Do not crank engine with spark plug removed.
• If engine floods, set choke (if equipped) to OPEN or RUN position, move throttle (if
equipped) to FAST position and crank until engine starts.
WARNING
POISONOUS GAS HAZARD. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, a
poisonous gas that could kill you in minutes. You CANNOT see it, smell it, or
taste it. Even if you do not smell exhaust fumes, you could still be exposed to
carbon monoxide gas. If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using this
product, shut it off and get to fresh air RIGHT AWAY. See a doctor. You may
have carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Operate this product ONLY outside far away from windows, doors and vents to
reduce the risk of carbon monoxide gas from accumulating and potentially being
drawn towards occupied spaces.
• Install battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms or plug-in carbon monoxide
alarms with battery back-up according to the manufacturer's instructions. Smoke
alarms cannot detect carbon monoxide gas.
• DO NOT run this product inside homes, garages, basements, crawlspaces,
sheds, or other partially-enclosed spaces even if using fans or opening doors and
windows for ventilation. Carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these spaces
and can linger for hours, even after this product has shut off.
• ALWAYS place this product downwind and point the engine exhaust away from
occupied spaces.
NOTICE This engine was shipped from Briggs & Stratton without oil. Before you
start the engine, make sure you add oil according to the instructions in this manual.
If you start the engine without oil, it will be damaged beyond repair and will not be
covered under warranty.
Determine The Starting System
Before starting the engine, you must determine the type of starting system that is on
your engine. Your engine will have one of the following types.
• Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) System: This features Electronic Fuel Injection. It
does not have a choke or a primer.
• Choke System: This features a choke to be used for starting in cool
temperatures. Some models will have a separate choke control while others will
have a combination choke and throttle control. This type does not have a primer.
Note: Equipment may have remote controls. See the equipment manual for location and
operation of remote controls.
Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) System
1. Check the engine oil. See the Check Oil Level section.
2. Make sure equipment drive controls, if equipped, are disengaged.
3. Move the fuel shut-off (A, Figure 7), if equipped, to the OPEN position.
4. Move the throttle control (B, Figure 7), if equipped, to the FAST position. Operate
the engine in the FAST position.
5. Push the stop switch (D, Figure 7), if equipped, to the ON position.
6. Turn the electric start switch (E, Figure 7) to the ON or START position.
NOTICE To extend the life of the starter, use short starting cycles (five seconds
maximum). Wait one minute between starting cycles.
Note: If the engine does not start after repeated attempts, contact you local dealer or go
to VanguardEngines.com or call 1-800-999-9333 (in USA).
Choke System
Check the engine oil. See the Check Oil Level section.
1.
2. Make sure equipment drive controls, if equipped, are disengaged.
3. Move the fuel shut-off (A, Figure 7), if equipped, to the OPEN position.
4. Move the throttle control (B, Figure 7), if equipped, to the FAST position. Operate
the engine in the FAST position.
5. Move the choke control (C, Figure 7), or the combination choke and throttle (B, C),
to the CLOSED position.
Note: To start the engine with a dry fuel system (first time starting or after running out of
fuel), additional cranking time in the choke position will be required. This will give the fuel
pump time to prime the fuel system.
6. Push the stop switch (D, Figure 7), if equipped, to the ON position.
7. Turn the key switch (E, Figure 7) to the ON or START position.
8. If the engine fires but will not continue to run, move the choke control (C, Figure 7)
to the OPEN position to start the engine.
NOTICE To extend the life of the starter, use short starting cycles (five seconds
maximum). Wait one minute between starting cycles.
9. As the engine warms up, move the choke control (C, Figure 7) to the OPEN
position.
Note: If the engine does not start after repeated attempts, contact you local dealer or go
to VanguardEngines.com or call 1-800-999-9333 (in USA).
Stop Engine
WARNING
Fuel and its vapors are extremely flammable and explosive.
Fire or explosion can cause severe burns or death.
• Do not choke the carburetor, if equipped, to stop the engine.
1. Stop Switch, if equipped: Move the stop switch (D, Figure 1) to the OFF
position.
Key Switch, if equipped: With the throttle control in the SLOW position, turn the
key switch (E, Figure 1) to the OFF position. Remove the key and keep in a safe
place out of the reach of children.
2. After the engine stops, move the fuel shut-off (A, Figure 1), if equipped, to the
CLOSED position.

Maintenance

NOTICE If the engine is tipped during maintenance, the fuel tank, if mounted on
engine, must be empty and the spark plug side must be up. If the fuel tank is not
empty and if the engine is tipped in any other direction, it may be difficult to start due
to oil or gasoline contaminating the air filter and/or the spark plug.
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