Starting The Engine; Electric Starter - Craftsman 247.881701 Operator's Manual

Gasoline
Use automotivegasoline (unleaded or low leadedto minimizecombustion chamber
deposits) w itha minimumof87 octane. G asoline with up to 10%ethanolor 15%
MTBE (Methyl T ertiaryButylEther) canbeused. N everuseanoil/gasoline mixture
or dirty gasoline. A voidgettingdirt, dust,or waterinthe fuel tank.DO NOT useE85
gasoline.
Refuel i nawell-ventilated areawith theenginestopped. D onot smokeor
allowflamesor sparks in theareawherethe engineisrefueledor where
gasoline isstored.
Donot overfillthe fuel tank.After refueling, m akesurethe tank capisclosed
properlyandsecurely.
Becareful n ot to spillfuel whenrefueling.Spilled fuel or fuel vapormay
ignite.Ifanyfuelis spilled,makesurethe areaisdry beforestartingthe
engine.
Avoidrepeated or prolongedcontact w ith skinor breathingof vapor.
Useextreme carewhen handling gasoline.Gasolineisextremely flammable
and the vapors areexplosive.Neverfuel the machineindoorsor while the
engine ishot or running. Extinguishcigarettes, cigars,pipesand other
sourcesof ignition.
2.
Clean aroundfuel fill beforeremoving capto fuelto avoiddirt anddebris
fallinginto fuel tank.
Afuel levelindicatorislocated in the fueltank.Filltank until fuel reaches t he
fuel levelindictor.SeeFigure 10inset.Becareful n ot to overfill.
Starting The Engine
Alwayskeephandsandfeet clearof moving parts. Donot usea pressurized
starting fluid. Vaporsareflammable.
Theextensioncordcanbe anylength, but must be ratedfor 15ampsat 125
volts,groundedand ratedfor outdoor use.
NOTE: Allowthe enginetowarmup forafew minutes after starting.Theenginewill
not develop full poweruntil it reaches o peratingtemperatures.
1. Makecertainboth theaugercontrol a nddrivecontrol a reinthe disengaged
(released) p osition.
2. Insert k eyintoslot.Make sureitsnaps i ntoplace. D onotattempt t oturnthe key.
flOTE: T he enginecannotstartwithout the keyfullyinsertedintothe switch.
ElectricStarter
Theoptional electric starter isequippedwith a groundedthree-wire power
cordandplug, andisdesignedto operateon 120volt AChousehold current.
It mustbe usedwith a properly groundedthree-prong receptacleat all times
to avoid the possibility of electricshock.Follow all instructions c arefully
prior to operating the electric starter. DONOT useelectricstarter inthe rain.
Determine thatyourhome's wiring isa three-wiregrounded system. A skalicensed
electrician if youarenot certain.
Ifyouhaveagrounded three-prongreceptacle, proceed asfollows.If youdonot
have the properhouse wiring, DO NOT usethe electricstarterunderanyconditions.
1. Plugthe extension cordintothe outlet located onthe engine'ssurface. P lug
the otherendof extension cordintoa three-prong120-volt, g rounded, A C
outlet inawell-ventilated area.
2. Movethrottlecontrolto FAST (rabbit)_ position.
3. Move choke contro, to the C HOKE pos t on I,"1/co,d
engine start).
If
engineiswarm,placechokecontrol i n RUN position.
4. Push primerthree(3)times,makingsureto coverventholewhenpushing.
Ifengineiswarm,pushprimeronlyonce. A lwayscover v ent holewhen
pushing.Cool w eathermayrequireprimingto berepeated.
5. Push andhold starterbuttondownto startengine.Once the enginestarts,
immediately release starterbutton.Electric starterisequipped with thermal
overload protection; s ystemwill temporarilyshutdownto allowstarterto
coolifelectricstarterbecomes o verloaded.
6. Asthe enginewarms,slowlyrotatethe chokecontrolto RUN position. I f
the enginefalters,restartengineandrunwith chokecontrol a t half-choke
positionforashortperiodoftime,andthenslowlyrotatethe chokeinto RUN
position.
7. Afterengineisrunning,disconnect powercordfrom electricstarter.When
disconnecting, alwaysunplugthe endat thewall outlet beforeunplugging
the opposite endfromthe engine.
RecoU Starter
Donot pull the starter handlewhilethe engine running.
1. Movethrottlecontrolto FAST (rabbit)_ position.
2. Movechokecontrol t o the CHOKE position 1,,_'1(coldengine start).If
engineiswarm,placechokecontrol i n RUN position.
3. Push primerthree(3)times,makingsureto coverventholewhenpushing.
Ifengineiswarm,pushprimeronlyonce. A lwayscover v ent holewhen
pushing.Cool w eathermayrequireprimingto berepeated.
4. Pullgentlyon thestarterhandleuntil it beginsto resist,thenpullquickly
andforcefully to overcome the compression. Engine shouldstart.Donot
release the handleandallowitto snapback.Return ropeSLOWLY to original
position.If required, r epeat t hisstep.
5. Asthe enginewarms,slowlyrotatethe chokecontrolto RUN position. I f
the enginefalters,restartengineandrunwith chokecontrol a t half-choke
positionforashortperiodoftime,andthenslowlyrotatethe chokeintoRUN
position.
Toavoid unsupervisedengineoperation, neverleavethe machine
unattended with the engine running. Turnthe engineoffafter useand
removeignition key.
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