Storage - Craftsman C950-52844-1 Owner's Manual

STORAGE

OFF SEASON STORAGE
WARNING: Never store the engine, with fuel in the tank,
indoors or in a poor ventilated enclosure where fuel
fumes could reach an open flame, spark or pilot light as
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, away
from open flame.
If the snowthrower is to be stored for thirty (30) days or more at
the end of the snow season, the following steps are recom-
mended to prepare your snowthrower for storage.
NOTE: Gasoline must be removed or treated to prevent gum
deposits from forming in the tank, filter, hose, and carburetor
during storage.
1. To remove gasoline, run engine until tank is empty and en-
gine stops.
If you do not want to remove the gasoline, add fuel stabilizer to
any gasoline left in the tank to minimize gum deposits and acids.
If the tank is almost empty, mix stabilizer with fresh gasoline in a
separate container and add some to the tank. ALWAYS FOLLOW
INSTRUCTIONS ON STABILIZER CONTAINER. THEN RUN EN-
GINE AT LEAST 10 MINUTES AFTER STABILIZER IS ADDED TO
ALLOW MIXTURE TO REACH CARBURETOR. STORE
SNOWTHROWER IN SAFE PLACE.
2. You can help keep your engine (4-cycles only) in good oper-
ating condition by changing oil before storage.
3. Lubricating the piston/cylinder area. This can be done by
first removing the spark plug and squirting clean engine oil
into the spark plug hole. Then cover the spark plug hole with
a rag to absorb oil spray. Next, rotate the engine by pulling
the starter two or three times. Finally, reinstall spark plug
and attach spark plug wire.
4. Thoroughly clean the snowthrower.
5. Lubricate chute control flange (see "Lubricate Before Storage"
in the SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS section).
6. Insure that all nuts, bolts, and screws are securely fastened.
Inspect all visible moving parts for damage, breakage, and
wear. Replace if necessary.
7. Touch up all rusted or chipped paint surfaces; sand lightly be-
fore painting.
8. Cover the bare metal parts of the thrower housing auger, and
the impeller with rust preventative.
9. If possible, store your snowthrower indoors and cover it to
give protection from dust and dirt.
10. On models with folding handles, loosen the knobs that secure
the upper handle. Rotate the upper handle back.
11. If the machine must be stored outdoors, block up the
snowthrower and insure the entire machine is off the ground.
Cover the snowthrower with a heavy tarpaulin.
REMOVING THE SNOWTHROWER FROM STORAGE
When removing the snowthrower from storage, follow the steps
below.
1. Put the upper handle in the operating position, tighten the
knobs that secure the upper handle.
2. Fill the fuel tank with a fresh fuel.
3. Check the spark plug. Make sure the gap is correct. If the spark
plug is worn or damaged, replace before using.
4. Make sure all fasteners are tight.
5. Make sure all guards, shields, and covers are in place.
6. Make sure all adjustments are correct.
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