Craftsman 917.270824 Owner's Manual page 27

Immediately prepareyourtractorfor storT
ageat the end of the seasonor if the trac-
tor will not be usedfor 30 days or more,
CAUTION:Neverstore the tractorwith
gasolinein the tank inside a building
where fumes may reachan openflame or
spark,Allowthe engineto cool before
storingin any enclosure
TRACTOR
Removemowerfromtractorfor winter
storage.This will allowyou to clean
it
thoroughly Remove all dirt, grease,
leaves, etc. Store in a clean, dry area
• Clean entire tractor (See "CLEANING"
in the Maintenance section of this
manual).
. Inspect and replace belts, if necessary
(See belt replacement instructions in
the Service and Adjustments section of
this manual).
o Lubricate as shown in the Maintenance
section of this manual
o Be sure that all nuts, bolts and screws
are securely fastened Inspect moving
parts for damage, breakage and wear
Replace if necessary.
o Touch up all rusted or chipped paint
surfaces; sand lightly before painting
BATTERY
° Fully charge the battery for storage
o After a period of time in storage, battery
may require recharging
, To help prevent corrosion and power
leakage during long periods of storage,
battery cables should be disconnected
and battery cleaned thoroughly (see
"TO CLEAN BA-FIERYAND TERMI-
NALS" in the Maintenance section of
this manual)
, After cleaning, leave cables discon-
nected and place cables where they
cannot come in contact with battery ter-
minals
, If battery is removed from tractor for
storage, do net sto_e battery directly on
concrete or damp surfaces
ENGINE
FUEL SYSTEM
IMPORTANT: It is important to prevent
gum deposits from forming in essential
fuel system parts such as carburetor, fuel
filter, fuel hose, or tank during storage
Also, experience indicates that alcohol
blended fuels (called gasohel 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
o Drain the fuel tank
o Start the engine and let it run until the
fuel lines and carburetor are empty
o Never use engine or carburetor cleaner
products in the fuel tank or permanent
damage may occur
• Use fresh fuel next season
NOTE: Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable al-
ternative in minimizing the formation of
fuel gum deposits during sterage. Add sta-
bilizer to gasoline in fuel tank or storage
container. Always follow the mix ratio
found on stabilizer container Run engine
at least 10 minutes after adding stabilizer
to allow the stabilizer to reach the carbu-
reto_ Do not drain the gas tank and carbu-
retor if using fuel stabilizer
ENGINEOIL
Drain oil (with engine warm) and replace
with clean engine oil (See "ENGINE" in
the Maintenance section of this manual)
CYLINDER(S)
- Remove spark plug(s)
. Pour one ounce of oil through spark
plug hole(s) into cylinder(s).
o Turn ignition key to "START" position for
a few seconds to distribute oil
. Replace with new spark plug(s).
OTHER
° Do not store gasoline from one season
to another.
Replace your gasoline can if it starts to
rusL Rust and/or dirt in your gasoline
will cause problems.
If possible, store your tractor indoors
and cover it to give protection from dust
and dirt.
o Cover your tractor with a suitable pro-
tective cover that does not retain mois-
ture. Do not use plastic, Plastic cannot
breathe, which allows condensation to
form and cause your tractor to rust.
IMPORTANT: Never cover tractor while
engine and exhaust areas are still warm
27