Before Starting The Engine; Check Engine Oil Level; Add Gasoline; To Start Engine - Craftsman 917.251572 Owner's Manual

CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL (See Fig. 11)
• The engine in your tractor has been shipped, from the
factory, already filled with summer weight oil
• Check engine oil with tractor on level ground_
• Unthread and remove oil fill cap/dipstick; wipe oil off
Reinsert the dipstick into the tube and rest oil fill cap on
the tube. Do not thread the cap onto the tube. Remove
and read oil level If necessary, add oil until "FULL"
mark on dipstick is reached. Do not overfill.
= For cold weather operation you should change oil for
easier starting (See "OIL V_SCOSITY CHART' in the
Customer Responsibilities section of this manual)
, To change engine oil, see the Customer Responsibili-
ties section in this manual,
This engine on this product is designed for maximum
performance and life if operated with the choke (l\l) fully
open and the throttle control in the fast (,_) position. To
open the choke fully requires an engine warm-up period of
several seconds to several minutes, depending on the
temperature°
After starting the engine, first open the choke slowly until
the engine just begins to run smoothly.. Then open the
choke in smal_ steps, allowing the engine to accept sma}i
changes in speed and load, until the choke is fully open..
During engine warm-up, the equipment can be operated
When starting engine for the first time or if engine has run
out of fuel, it will take extra cranking time to move fuel from
the tank to the engine.
• Depress clutch/brake pedal and set parking brake.r
• Place motion control lever in neutral (N) position.
• Move attachment clutch to "DISENGAGED" position..
• Pull choke control out to choke (N) position for cold
engine start. For warm engine start do not use choke
control
FIG. 11
ADD GASOLINE
• Fil! fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded
gasoline with a minimum of 87 octane.. (Use of leaded
gasoline will increase carbon and lead oxide deposits
and reduce valve rife). Do not mix oil with gasoline.
Purchase fuel in quantities that can be used within 30
days to assure fuel freshness
IMPORTANT: WHEN OPERATING tN TEMPERATURES
BELOW 32°F(0°C), USE FRESH, CLEAN WINTER GRADE
GASOLINE TO HELP INSURE GOOD COLD WEATHER
STARTING.
WARNING: 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 engfne while in storage To avoid engine
problems, the fuel system should be emptied before stor-
age of 30 days or longer. Drain the gas tank, start the
engine and let it run until the fuel lines and carburetor are
empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage Instruc-
tions for additional information Never use engine or
carburetor cleaner products in the fuel tank or permanent
damage may occur.
MI,, iH,, H
!_ CALITION: Fill to bottom of gas tank
filler neck. Do not overfill, Wipe off any
spilled oil or fuel, Do not store, spill or
use gasoline near an open flame.
............................................ Hi I,H,
o Move throttle control to midway between fast (,_) and
slow (,_) positions
o Insert key into ignition and turn keyctockwiseto"START"
position and release key as soon as engine starts. Do
not run starter continuously for more than fifteen
seconds per minute, tf engine does not start after
several attempts, move throttle control to fast (,_)
position, wait a few minutes and try again.
° When engine starts, slowly push choke control in..
° Move throttle control to fast (,_) position_
o Mow engine to warm up for a few minutes before
engaging drive or attachments
IMPORTANT: COLD STARTING FOR HYDRO (BELOW
40°F) - AFTER STARTING ENGINE AND BEFORE
DRIVING, LET TRANSMISSION WARM UP FOR (1)
MINUTE BY PLACING MOTION CONTROL LEVER IN
NEUTRAL AND RELEASING CLUTCH/BRAKE PEDAL
NOTE: If at a high altitude (above 3000 feet) or in cold
temperatures (below 32°F), the carburetor fuel mixture
may need to be adjusted for best engine performance.. See
"TO ADJUST CARBURETOR" in the Service and Adjust-
ments section of this manual
15