Craftsman Mower 50 Owners Manual - Page 15

STORAGE Immediately prepare your lawn mower for storage at the end of the season or if the unit will not be used for 30 days or more. Operator presence control bar MOWING POSITION LAWN MOWER When lawn mower is to be stored for a period of time, clean it thoroughly, remove all dirt, grease, leaves, etc. Store in a clean, dry area. 1. Clean entire lawn mower (See "CLEANING" in the Maintenance section of this manual). 2. Lubricate as shown in the Maintenance section of this manual. 3. Be sure that all nuts, bolts, screws, and pins are securely fastened. Inspect moving parts for damage, breakage and wear. Replace if necessary. 4. Touch up all rusted or chipped paint surfaces; sand lightly before painting. HANDLE You can fold your lawn mower handle for storage. 1. Squeeze the bottom ends of the lower handle toward each other until the lower handle clears the handle bracket, then move handle forward. 2. Loosen upper handle mounting bolts enough to allow upper handle to be folded back. IMPORTANT: When folding the handle for storage or transportation, be sure to fold the handle as shown or you may damage the control cables. • When setting up your handle from the storage position, the lower handle will automatically lock into the mowing position. SQUEEZE TO FOLD Lower handle FOLD FORWARD FOR STORAGE Upper handle Handle knob Lower handle ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM IMPORTANT: It is important to prevent gum deposits from forming in essential fuel system parts such as carburetor, fuel filter, fuel hose, or tank during storage. 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 alternative in minimizing the formation of fuel gum deposits during storage. 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. NOTE: FRESH STARTTM fuel cap and cartridge system automatically drips concentrated fuel preserver into your fuel tank and is an acceptable alternative to adding fuel stabilizer. 15