Off-Season Storage - Craftsman 79960 Owner's Manual

STORAGE
OFF-SEASON STORAGE
DANGER
To Prevent Personal injuryor Property Damage:
* Never perform maintenance while engine is
runningor when spark plug wire is connectedto spark
plug, exceptwhere specifically instructedto do so.
,, Never store machine with fuel in the fuel tank
inside a building where fumes may reach an open
flame or spark, or where ignitionsourcesare present
such as hot water and space heaters, furnaces,
clothes dryers, stoves, electric motors, etc_
NOTE: A yearly check-up by your local Sears Service
Center is a good way to ensure that your machine will
provide maximum performance for the next season.
1. Review the "Customer Responsibilities and Storage"
safety rules in the Safety Section of this Manual
2. To prevent engine damage (if the machine is not
used for more than 30 days) follow the steps below:
a. It is important to prevent gum deposits from
forming in essential fuel system parts such as the
carburetor, fuel filter, fuel hose or tank during
storage, Also, experience indicates that alcohol
blended fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol or
methanol) can attract moisture which leads to
separation and formation of acids during storage
Acidic gas can damage the fuel system of an
engine while in storage.,
b. To remove gasoline, run the engine until the tank
is empty and the engine stops.
c. If you do net want to remove gasoline, a fuel
stabilizer (such as Craftsman Fuel Stabilizer No
335500) may be added to any gasoline left in the
tank to minimize gum deposits and acids If the
tank is almost empty, mix the stabilizer with fresh
gasoline in a separate container and add some to
the tank. ALWAYS FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS
ON THE STABILIZER CONTAINER, THEN, RUN
THE ENGINE AT LEAST 10 MINUTES AFTER
THE STABILIZER IS ADDED TO ALLOW
MIXTURE TO REACH CARBURETOR. STORE
THE MACHINE IN A SAFE PLACE SEE
DANGER ABOVE
d. Change the oil if it has not been changed in the
last three months, See Page 28
e. Lubricate the piston/cylinder area,, First, remove
the spark plug, Then, squirt approximately '1/2
ounce of clean engine oil into the spark plug hole_
Cover the spark plug hole with a rag to absorb oil
spray and then rotate the engine by pulling the
starter rope two or three times. Finalty, re-install
the spark plug.
f. Clean the engine by removing any dirt, chaff or
other debris from its exterior.
3. Thoroughly clean the machine, collection bag, hose,
and blower deflector.
4. Check that all hardware is in place and securely
fastened. Refer to the Parts List in this Manual for
replacement hardwarer
5. Inspect all visible moving parts for damage,
breakage, and wear_ Repair or replace as needed (refer
to Parts List).
6. Touch up paint on all chipped or scratched surfaces
to prevent rust from forming.
7. If possible, store machine indoors (see DANGER
statement on this page) Cover machine for protection
from dust and dirt. Use a covering (not plastic) that does
not retain moisture, Be sure the engine and muffler are
cool before covering the machine,
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