16
OPERATION
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL
The engine in your tractor has been shipped from the fac-
tory already filled with sum mer weight oil.
• Check engine oil with tractor on level ground.
•
Remove oil fill cap/dipstick and wipe clean, reinsert the
dipstick and screw cap tight, wait for a few seconds,
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 VISCOSITY CHART” in the
Maintenance sec tion of this manual.)
• To change engine oil, see the Maintenance section in
this manual.
ADD GASOLINE
• Fill fuel tank to bottom of filler neck. Do not overfill.
Use fresh, clean, regular gasoline with a minimum of
87 octane. Do not mix oil with gasoline. Purchase fuel
in quantities that can be used within 30 days to ensure
fuel freshness.
CAUTION: Wipe off any spilled oil or
fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline
near an open flame.
IMPORTANT:
WHEN OPERATING IN TEMPERATURES
BELOW 32°F (0°C), USE FRESH, CLEAN WINTER GRADE
GASOLINE TO HELP ENSURE GOOD COLD WEATHER
STARTING.
CAUTION: Alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol
or using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture
which leads to sep a ra tion and for ma tion of acids
during storage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel
system of an engine 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 In struc tions for additional
information. Never use engine or carburetor cleaner
products in the fuel tank or permanent damage may
occur. Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable alternative
in minimizing the formation of fuel gum deposits
during stor age. Add stabilizer 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 carburetor. Do not empty
the gas tank and carburetor if using fuel stabilizer.
TO START ENGINE (See Fig. 16)
The Briggs & Stratton Endurance engine equipped with
your tractor features a Ready-Start automatic choke system
to provide simplified starting in normal conditions. Please
read the following starting instruction carefully.
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.
•
Ensure freewheel control is in the transmission en gaged
position.
•
Sit on seat in operating position, depress brake pedal,
and set parking brake.
• Place motion control lever in neutral position.
• Move attachment clutch control to “DISENGAGED”
position.
NORMAL STARTING (32°F/0°C and above)
•
Move throttle control to fast position (
) and click into
place.
• Insert key into ignition and turn key clockwise
( )
to
“START” position and release key as soon as engine
starts.
•
When engine starts, the attachments and ground drive
can now be used. If the engine does not accept the
load and shuts off, restart the engine and allow it to
warm up for one minute.
•
Leave throttle control in fast position (
) while mowing.
COLD WEATHER STARTING (32°F/0°C and below)
•
Move throttle control beyond fast position into the cold
weather starting position (
).
CAUTION: Do not run starter continuously for more
than fifteen sec onds per minute. If the engine does
not start after several attempts, wait a few minutes
and try again.
•
Insert key into ignition and turn key clockwise to “START”
position and release key as soon as engine starts.
•
When the engine starts, move the throttle control back
to the fast position (
) to warm-up. The time required
for warm-up will vary from a few seconds to a minute
depending upon conditions and temperature.
•
Leave throttle control in fast position (
) while mowing.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WARM UP
•
Before driving the unit in cold weather, the trans mis sion
should be warmed up as follows:
• Be sure the tractor is on level ground.
• Place the motion control lever in neutral. Re lease
the parking brake and let the clutch/brake slowly
return to operating position.
• Allow one minute for transmission to warm up. This
can be done during the engine warm up period.
• The attachments can also be used during the engine
warm-up period after the transmission has been warmed
up.
