31
STORAGE
Immediately prepare your tractor for stor-
age at the end of the season or if the trac-
tor will not be used for 30 days or more.
WARNING:
Never store the trac tor
with gas o line in the tank inside a building
where fumes may reach an open fl ame
or spark. Allow the engine to cool before
storing in any en clo sure.
TRACTOR
Remove mower from tractor for winter
storage. When mower is to be stored for a
period of time, clean it thor oughly, remove
all dirt, grease, leaves, etc. Store in a
clean, dry area.
1. Clean entire tractor (See “CLEAN ING”
in the Maintenance section of this
manual).
2. Inspect and replace belts, if nec es sary
(See belt re place ment in struc tions in
the Service and Ad just ments section of
this manual).
3. Lubricate as shown in the Main te nance
section of this man ual.
4. Be sure that all nuts, bolts and screws
are securely fastened. In spect moving
parts for damage, break age and wear.
Replace if nec es sary.
5. Touch up all rusted or chipped paint
surfaces; sand lightly before paint ing.
BATTERY
• Fully charge the battery for storage.
• After a period of time in storage, battery
may require recharging.
• To help prevent corrosion and power
leakage during long periods of stor age,
battery cables should be dis con nect ed
and battery cleaned thor ough ly (see “TO
CLEAN BATTERY AND TER MI NALS” in
the Maintenance section of this man u al).
• After cleaning, leave cables dis con -
nect ed and place cables where they
cannot come in contact with battery
terminals.
• If battery is removed from tractor for
storage, do not store 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
hose, or tank during storage. Also, 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 dam-
age the fuel system of an engine while in
storage.
• Empty the fuel tank by starting the en-
gine and letting it run until the fuel lines
and carburetor are empty.
• Never use engine or carburetor clean er
products in the fuel tank or permanent
damage may occur.
• Use fresh fuel next season.
NOTE:
Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable
alternative in min i miz ing the formation of
fuel gum deposits during stor age. Add
stabilizer to gasoline in fuel tank or stor-
age container. Always follow the mix ratio
found on stabilizer container. Run engine
at least 10 minutes after adding stabilizer
to allow the sta bi liz er to reach the car-
buretor. Do not empty the gas tank and
carburetor if using fuel stabilizer.
ENGINE OIL
Drain oil (with engine warm) and replace
with clean engine oil. (See “ENGINE” in
the Maintenance section of this man ual).
CYLINDER(S)
1. Remove spark plug(s).
2. Pour one ounce of oil through spark
plug hole(s) into cylinder(s).
3. Turn ignition key to “START” po si tion
for a few seconds to distribute oil.
4. Replace with new spark plug(s).
OTHER
• Do not store gasoline from one sea son
to another.
• Replace your gasoline can if your can
starts to rust. Rust and/or dirt in your
gasoline will cause problems.
• If possible, store your tractor in doors
and cover it to give protection from dust
and dirt.
• Cover your tractor with a suitable pro-
tective cover that does not retain mois-
ture. Do not use plastic. Plas tic cannot
breathe which allows con den sa tion to
form and will cause your tractor to rust.
IMPORTANT
: Never cover tractor while
en gine and exhaust areas are still warm.
