Before Starting The Engine; Check Engine Oil Level; Add Gasoline; Warm/Cold Weather Starting/Automatic Transmission Warm Up - Craftsman 917.271121 Owner's Manual

BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL
• The engine in your tractor has been
shipped, from the factory, already tilled
with summer weight oil.
• Check engine oil with tractor on level
ground.
• Unthread and remove oil fill cap/dip
stick;, wipe oil off. Reinsert the dipstick
into the tube and rest oil till cap on the
tube. Do not thread the cap onto the
tube. Remove and read oil level. If nec-
essary, add oil until "FULL" mark on
dipstick is reached. Do not ovedilL
• For cold weather operation you should
change oil for easier starting (See "OIL
VISCOSITY CHART" in the Customer
Responsibilities section of this manual).
• To change engine oil, see the Customer
Responsibilities section in this manual.
ADD GASOLINE
• Fill 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 life). Do not
mix oil with gasoline. Purchase fuel in
quantities that can be used within 30
days to assure fuel freshness.
IMPORTANT: When operating in tempera-
tures below 32°F(0°C), use fresh, clean
winter grade gasoline to help insure good
,_d weather starting.
WARNING: Expedence indicates that
alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol or
using ethanol or methanol) can attract
moisture which leads to separation and
formation of acids dudng storage. Acidic
gas can d_,_nage the fuel system of an
engine while in storage. To avoid engine
problems, the fuel system should be emp-
tied before storage of 30 days or longer.
Drain the gas tank, start the engine and let
it run until the fuel lines an_carburetor are
empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See
Storage Instructions for additional informa-
tion. Never use engine or carburetor
cleaner products in the fuel tank or perma-
znt damage may occur.
CAUTION: Fill to bottom of gas tank
tiller neck. Do not overfill. Wipe off any
spilled oil or fuel. Do not store, spill or use
gasoline near an open flame.
TO START ENGINE
When starting the engine for the first time
or if the engine has run out of fuel, it will
take extra cranking time to move fuel from
the tank to the engine.
•• Be sure freewheel control is in the
transmission engaged position.
• Sit on seat in operating position,
depress clutchlbrake pedal and set
parking brake.
• Place motion control lever in neutral (N)
position.
• Move attachment clutch to "DISEN-
GAGED" position.
• Move throttle control to choke position.
NOTE: Before starting, read the warm and
cold starting procedures below.
• Insert key into ignition and turn key
clockwise to _3TART" position and
release key as soon as engine starts.
Do not run starter continuously for more
than fifteen seconds per minute. If the
engine does not start after several
attempts, move throttle control to fast
position, wait a few minutes and try
again. If engine still does not start,
move the throttle control back to the
choke position and retry.
WARM WEATHER STARTING (50 ° F and
above)
• When engine starts, move the throttle
control to the fast position.
• The attachments and ground drive can
now be used. If the engine does not
accept the load, restart the engine and
allow it to warm up for one minute using
the choke as described above.
COLD WEATHER STARTING ( 50 ° F and
below)
• When engine starts, allow engine to run
with the throttle control in the choke
position until the engine runs roughly,
then move throttle control to fast posi-
tion. This may require an engine warm-
up pedod from several seconds to sev-
eral minutes, depending on the temper-
ature.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WARM UP
• Before ddving the unit in cold weather,
the transmission should be warmed up
as follows:
• Be sure the tractor is on level qround.
• Place the motion control lever =nneutral.
Release the parking brake and let the
clutch/brake slowly ratum to operating
position.
• Allow one minute for transmission to
warm up. This can be done dudng the
engine warm up period.
• The attachments can also be used dur-
ing the engine warm-up pedod after the
transmission has been warmed up.
NOTE: At a high altitude (above 3000
feet) or in cold temperatures (below 32 F)
the carburetor fuel mixture may need to be
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