Storage - Craftsman 917.20380 Operator's Manual

Immediately prepare your t ractor forstorage
attheend oftheseason o rifthetractor will
notbeused for30days or more.
WARNING: Never store t he tractor with
gasoline inthetank inside abuilding where
fumes may reach anopen flame orspark.
Allow theengine t o cool b efore storing in
anyenclosure.
TRACTOR
Remove mower from tractor forwinter stor-
age. W hen m ower istobestored f oraperiod
oftime, c lean itthoroughly, remove a lldirt,
grease, leaves, etc. S tore i naclean, dry area.
1. Clean e ntiretractor (See"CLEANING" in
theMaintenance section ofthis manual).
2. Inspect andreplace b elts, i fnecessary
(See belt r eplacement instructions inthe
Service and Adjustments section o fthis
manual).
3. Lubricate asshown i ntheMaintenance
section o fthismanual.
4. Ensure t hatall nuts, b oltsandscrews
aresecurely fastened. Inspect moving
parts fordamage, breakage andwear.
Replace ifnecessary.
5. Touch up all rusted or chipped paint
surfaces; sand lightly before p ainting.
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 storage,
battery cables should be disconnected
and battery cleaned thoroughly (see "TO
CLEAN BATTERY AND TERMINALS" in
the Maintenance section of this manual).
After cleaning, leave cables disconnected
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.
• If unit is equipped with battery indicator/
charging plug, an optional charging unit
may be purchased and connected to the
unit to charge the battery during tong term
storage. Inspect and clean the battery
terminals as needed prior to long term
storage with charger connected.
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 damage the fuel
system of an engine while in storage.
• Empty the fuel tank by starting the engine
and letting it run until the fuel lines and
carburetor are empty.
Never use engine or carburetor cleaner
products in the fuel tank or permanent
damage may occur.
Use fresh fuel next season.
NOTE: Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable al-
ternative in minimizing the formation of fuel
gum deposits during storage. Add stabilizer
to gasoline in fuel tank or storage container.
Always fotlow 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.
ENGINE OiL
Drain oil (with engine warm) and replace
with clean engine oil. (See "ENGINE" in the
Maintenance section of this manual).
CYMNDER(S)
1. Remove spark plug(s).
2. Pour one ounce (29.5 mL) of oil through
spark plug hole(s) into cylinder(s).
3. Turn ignition key to "START" position for
a few seconds to distribute oil.
4. Replace with new spark plug(s).
OTHER
• Do not store gasoline from one season to
another.
• Replace your gasotine can if your can starts
to rust. Rust and/or dirt in your gasoline
will cause problems.
• If possible, store your tractor indoors and
cover itto give protection from dust and dirt.
• Cover your tractor with a suitable protec-
tive cover that does not retain moisture.
Do not use plastic. Plastic cannot breathe
which allows condensation to form and will
cause your tractor to rust.
IMPORTANT: Never cover tractor while
engine and exhaust areas are still warm.
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