Use and Care Manual

17
SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
7. For recoil starter engines:
• Grasp the recoil starter handle.
• Pull the recoil starter handle out slowly using a full arm
stroke.
• Repeat once. This will distribute the oil throughout the
cylinder to prevent corrosion during storage.
• Proceed to Step 9.
8. For electric starter engines:
• Plug an extension cord into the three-prong connector
located on the engine’s surface. Plug the other end of
extension cord into a three-prong 120-volt, grounded, AC
outlet in a well-ventilated area.
• Push and immediately release the starter button. This
will distribute the oil throughout the cylinder to prevent
corrosion during storage.
• Disconnect the extension cord from the outlet.
• Disconnect the extension cord from the three-prong
connector on the engine.
• Proceed to Step 9.
9. Remove the rag from spark plug hole.
10. Install the spark plug.
11. Carefully disconnect the spark plug wire from the grounding
post, if provided.
12. Connect the spark plug wire plug wire to the spark plug.
Oil
Change the oil if NOT changed within the last 3 months. See
Checking and Changing the Oil earlier in this section.
Off-Season Storage
CAUTION
Failure to use a fuel stabilizing additive or completely run
the engine until it’s out of fuel before off-season storage
may result in damage to your engine’s carburetor.
Subsequent damage would not be covered under the
manufacturer’s warranty.
Engines stored between 30 and 90 days need to be treated with
a fuel stabilizer and engines stored over 90 days need to be
drained of fuel to prevent deterioration and gum from forming
in fuel system or on essential carburetor parts. If the fuel in
your engine deteriorates during storage, you may need to have
the carburetor, and other fuel system components, serviced or
replaced.
1. Remove all fuel from tank by running engine until it stops
from lack of fuel.
WARNING
Never leave engine unattended while it is running.
2. Change the oil. See Changing the Oil earlier in this section.
3. Oil the cylinder bore. See Oil Cylinder Bore earlier in this
section.
4. Clean debris from around the engine and the muffler. Touch
up any damaged paint, and coat other areas that may rust
with a light film of oil.
5. Store in a clean, dry and well ventilated area away from any
appliance that operates with a flame or pilot light, such as a
furnace, water heater, or clothes dryer. Also avoid any area
with a spark producing electric motor, or where power tools
are operated.
6. If possible, also avoid storage areas with high humidity,
because that promotes rust and corrosion.
7. Keep the engine level in storage. Tilting can cause fuel or oil
leakage.
Removing From Storage
1. Check your engine as described in the Pre-Operation Check
section of this manual.
2. If the fuel was drained during storage preparation, fill the
tank with fresh gasoline. If you keep a container of gasoline
for refueling, make certain it contains only fresh fuel.
Gasoline oxidizes and deteriorates over time, causing hard
starting.
3. If the cylinder was coated with oil during storage preparation,
the engine will smoke briefly at startup. This is normal.