Storage - Craftsman 536.88614 Instructions Manual

,/_ CAUTION: Never store your snow
thrower indoors or in an enclosed, poorly
ventilated area if gasoline remains in the
tank. fumes may reach an open flame,
spark or pilot light from a fumace, water
heater, clothes dryer, cigarette, etc.
To prevent engine damage (if snow thrower is
not used for more than 30 days) follow the
steps below.
SNOW THROWER STORAGE
• Thoroughly clean the snow thrower.
• Lubricate all lubrication points (See the
Maintenance section on pages 14-16).
• Be sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are
securely fastened. Inspect all visible mov-
ing parts for damage, breakage and wear.
Replace if necessary.
• Touch up all rusted or chipped paint sur-
faces; sand lightly before painting.
• Cover the bare metal parts of the blower
housing auger and the impeller with rust
preventative, such as a spray lubricant.
NOTE: A yearly checkup or tune-up by a
Craftsman Service Center is a good way to
insure that your snow thrower will provide
maximum performance for the next season.
ENGINE STORAGE
Gasoline must be removed or treated to pre-
vent gum deposits from forming in the tank,
filter, hose, and carburetor during storage.
Also during storage, alcohol blended gaso-
line that uses ethanol or methanol (some-
times called gasohol) attracts water. It acts
on the gasoline to form acids which damage
the engine.
• To remove gasoline, run the engine until
the tank is empty and the engine stops.
Then drain remaining gasoline from car-
buretor by pressing upward on bowl drain
located on the bottom of carburetor (see
figure below).
• If you do not want to remove gasoline,
use fuel stabilizer supplied with unit or
purchase Craftsman Fuel Stabilizer No.
33500. Add fue ! 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 con-
tainer. Then run engine at least 10 minutes
after stabilizer is added to allow mixture to
reach carburetor. Store snow thrower in a
safe place. See Waming above.
You can keep your engine in good operating
condition during storage by:
• Changing oil (See page 16).
• Lubricating the piston/cylinder area. This
can be done by first removing the spark
plug and squirting a few drops of 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 rope fully out two or
three times. Finally, reinstall spark plug
and attach spark plug wire.
OTHER
• If possible, store your snow thrower in-
doors and cover it to give protection from
dust and dirt.
• If the machine must be stored outdoors,
block up the snow thrower to be sure the
entire machine is off the ground.
• Cover the snow thrower with a suitable
protective cover that does not retain
moisture. Do not use plastic or vinyl.
IMPORTANT: Never cover snow thrower
while engine and exhaust areas are still
warm.
Bowl Drain
Carburetor Bowl
22