Harbor Freight Tools 97964 User Manual
2.5 HP HORIZONTAL OHV
Model
97964
GASOLINE ENGINE
SET UP, OPERATING, AND SERVICING INSTRUCTIONS
Using an engine indoors CAN KILL YOU IN
MINUTES.
Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide.
This is a poison you cannot see or smell.
Copyright© 2008 by Harbor Freight Tools®. All rights reserved. No portion of this manual or any artwork
contained herein may be reproduced in any shape or form without the express written consent of Harbor
Freight Tools. Diagrams within this manual may not be drawn proportionally. Due to continuing improvements,
actual product may differ slightly from the product described herein.
NEVER use inside
a home or garage,
EVEN IF doors and
windows are open.
Visit our website at: http://www.harborfreight.com
Only use OUTSIDE
and far away from
windows, doors, and
vents.
Read this material before using this product.
Failure to do so can result in serious injury.
SAVE THIS MANUAL.
For technical questions or replacement parts, please call 1-800-444-3353.
Manual Revised 09i
CONTENTS
PARTS LIST ................................. 16
IMPORTANT SAFETY
INFORMATION ............................ 3
BASIC SPECIFICATIONS ............. 6
UNPACKING .................................. 6
SET UP INSTRUCTIONS ............... 6
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS ...... 7
ENGINE CONTROLS ......................... 7
STARTING THE ENGINE ................... 7
CHECKING AND FILLING
ENGINE OIL ...............................7
CHECKING AND FILLING FUEL ..8
START PROCEDURE ................... 9
BREAK-IN PERIOD ......................9
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS .. 10
ASSEMBLY DIAGRAM ................ 17
LIMITED 1 YEAR / 90 DAY
WARRANTY .............................. 18
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM
WARRANTY .............................. 18
SERVICING .................................. 10
MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES ..... 10
ENGINE OIL CHANGE ...............10
AIR FILTER ELEMENT
MAINTENANCE ....................... 11
SPARK PLUG MAINTENANCE .. 11
INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE,
AND CLEANING SCHEDULE ... 12
AFTER INITIAL 20
OPERATION HOUR PERIOD: . 12
EVERY 25 OPERATION
HOURS THEREAFTER: ...........12
EVERY 50 OPERATION
HOURS: .................................... 12
EVERY 100 OPERATION
HOURS: .................................... 12
EVERY 300 OPERATION
HOURS: .................................... 12
STORAGE ........................................12
TROUBLESHOOTING ......................14
Page 2SKU 97964 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
SAVE THIS MANUAL
Keep this manual for the safety warnings and precautions, assembly, operating, inspection, maintenance and cleaning
procedures. Write the product’s serial
number in the back of the manual near the
assembly diagram (or month and year of
purchase if product has no number). Keep
this manual and the receipt in a safe and
dry place for future reference.
IMPORTANT SAFETY
INFORMATION
In this manual, on the labeling,
and all other information
provided with this product:
This is the safety alert
symbol. It is used to alert
you to potential personal
injury hazards. Obey all
safety messages that
follow this symbol to avoid
possible injury or death.
NOTICE is used to
address practices
not related to personal injury.
CAUTION, without
the safety alert
symbol, is used to address
practices not related to
personal injury.
WARNING! Read all instructions.
Failure to follow all instructions
listed below may result in re,
serious injury and/or DEATH.
The warnings and precautions
discussed in this manual cannot
cover all possible conditions and
situations that may occur. It must
be understood by the operator that
common sense and caution are
factors which cannot be built into
this product, but must be supplied
by the operator.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
SET UP PRECAUTIONS
DANGER indicates
a hazardous
situation which, if not
avoided, will result in death or
serious injury.
WARNING
indicates a
hazardous situation which, if
not avoided, could result in
death or serious injury.
CAUTION, used
with the safety
alert symbol, indicates a
hazardous situation which, if
not avoided, could result in
minor or moderate injury.
Gasoline fuel and fumes are amma-1.
ble, and potentially explosive. Use
proper fuel storage and handling procedures. Do not store fuel or other
ammable materials nearby.
Have multiple ABC class re extin-2.
guishers nearby.
Operation of this Engine may create 3.
sparks that can start res around dry
vegetation.
A spark arrestor may be required.
The operator should contact local re
agencies for laws or regulations relat-
ing to re prevention requirements.
Page 3SKU 97964 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
Mount and use the Engine securely 4.
and only on a at, level, well-ventilated surface.
Wear ANSI-approved safety goggles, 5.
heavy-duty work gloves, and dust
mask/respirator during set up.
Use only oil and fuel recommended 6.
in the “Specications” section of this
manual.
Wear ANSI-approved safety goggles 4.
and hearing protection during use.
People with pacemakers should 5.
consult their physician(s) before
use. Electromagnetic elds in close
proximity to a heart pacemaker could
cause pacemaker interference or
pacemaker failure. Caution is necessary when near the engine’s magneto
or recoil starter.
OPERATING PRECAUTIONS
1. CARBON MONOXIDE
HAZARD
Using an engine indoors
CAN KILL YOU IN
MINUTES.
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide. This is a poison you
cannot see or smell.
NEVER use inside a home or garage,
EVEN IF doors and windows are
open.
Use only accessories that are recom-6.
mended by Harbor Freight Tools for
your model. Accessories that may be
suitable for one Engine may become
hazardous when used on another
piece of Engine.
Do not operate in explosive atmo-7.
spheres, such as in the presence of
ammable liquids, gases, or dust.
Gasoline-powered engines may ignite
the dust or fumes.
Stay alert, watch what you are doing 8.
and use common sense when operating this Engine. Do not use this En-
gine while tired or under the inuence
of drugs, alcohol or medication.
Do not overreach. Keep proper foot-9.
ing and balance at all times. This
enables better control of the Engine
in unexpected situations.
Only use OUTSIDE and far away
from windows, doors, and vents.
Keep children away from the Engine, 2.
especially while it is operating.
Do not leave the Engine unattended 3.
when it is running. Turn off the Engine before leaving the work area.
Dress properly. Do not wear loose 10.
clothing or jewelry. Keep hair, clothing and gloves away from moving
parts. Loose clothes, jewelry or long
hair can be caught in moving parts.
Parts, especially exhaust system 11.
components, get very hot during use.
Stay clear of hot parts.
Do not cover the Engine during op-12.
eration.
Page 4SKU 97964 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
Keep the Engine and surrounding 13.
area clean at all times.
Use the Engine in accordance with 14.
these instructions and in the manner intended for the particular type
of Engine, taking into account the
working conditions and the work to be
performed. Use of the Engine for operations different from those intended
could result in a hazardous situation.
SERVICE PRECAUTIONS
Before service, maintenance, or 1.
cleaning:
Turn the Power Switch (94) to its a.
“OFF” position.
Allow the Engine to completely b.
cool.
Then, remove the Spark Plug Wire c.
from the Spark Plug.
Do not operate the Engine with 15.
known leaks in the Engine’s fuel
system.
This product contains or, when used, 16.
produces a chemical known to the
State of California to cause cancer
and birth defects or other reproductive harm. (California Health & Safety
Code § 25249.5, et seq.)
When spills of fuel or oil occur, they 17.
must be cleaned up immediately.
Dispose of uids and cleaning materials as per any local, state, or federal
codes and regulations. Store oil rags
in a bottom-ventilated, covered, metal
container.
Keep hands and feet away from 18.
moving parts. Do not reach over or
across the Engine while operating.
Keep all safety guards in place and in 2.
proper working order. Safety guards
include Mufer, Air Cleaner, mechanical guards, and heat shields, among
other guards.
Do not alter or adjust any part of 3.
the Engine that is sealed by the
manufacturer or distributor. Only
a qualied service technician may
adjust parts that may increase or
decrease governed Engine speed.
Wear ANSI-approved safety goggles, 4.
heavy-duty work gloves, and dust
mask/respirator during service.
Maintain labels and nameplates on 5.
the Engine. These carry important
information. If unreadable or missing, contact Harbor Freight Tools for a
replacement.
Before use, check for misalignment 19.
or binding of moving parts, breakage
of parts, and any other condition that
may affect the Engine’s operation.
If damaged, have the Engine serviced before using. Many accidents
are caused by poorly maintained
engines.
Use the correct Engine for the appli-20.
cation. Do not modify the Engine and
do not use the Engine for a purpose
for which it is not intended.
Have the Engine serviced by a quali-6.
ed repair person using only identical replacement parts. This will
ensure that the safety of the Engine
is maintained. Do not attempt any
service or maintenance procedures
not explained in this manual or any
procedures that you are uncertain
about your ability to perform safely or
correctly.
Page 5SKU 97964 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
Store the Engine out of the reach of 7.
children.
information, refer to the last pages of this
manual.
Follow scheduled engine mainte-8.
nance.
REFUELING PRECAUTIONS:
Do not smoke, or allow sparks, 1.
ames, or other sources of ignition
around the Engine, especially when
refuelling.
Do not rell the fuel tank while the 2.
Engine is running or hot.
Do not ll fuel tank to the top. Leave 3.
a little room for the fuel to expand as
needed.
Refuel in a well-ventilated area only.4.
SAVE THESE
INSTRUCTIONS.
BASIC SPECIFICATIONS
Fuel
Type
Capacity .42 Gal. (1.4 liters)
Type
Engine Oil
Capacity 13.5 Oz. (0.4 liters)
Note: Additional specications found in
the TECHNICAL ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS chart in this manual.
The emission control system for this
engine is warranted for standards set by
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and by the California Air Resources Board
(also known as CARB). For warranty
89+ octane unleaded
gasoline
SAE 30W
(above 32° F)
SAE 5W-30
(at 32° F or below)
At high altitudes, the Engine’s carburetor, governor and any other parts that
control the fuel-air ratio will need to be
adjusted by a qualied mechanic to allow
efcient high-altitude use and to prevent
damage to the Engine and any other devices used with this product.
UNPACKING
When unpacking, check to make sure
that the item is intact and undamaged. If
any parts are missing or broken, please
call Harbor Freight Tools at the number
shown on the cover of this manual as soon
as possible.
SET UP INSTRUCTIONS
Read the ENTIRE IMPORTANT
SAFETY INFORMATION
section at the beginning of this
manual including all text under
subheadings therein before set
up or use of this product.
TO PREVENT
SERIOUS INJURY
FROM ACCIDENTAL
STARTING:
Turn the Power Switch of the
equipment to its “OFF”
position, wait for the engine to
cool, and disconnect the
spark plug wire(s) before
assembling or making any
adjustments to the equipment.
TO PREVENT
SERIOUS INJURY:
Operate only with proper
spark arrestor installed.
REV 08e
Page 6SKU 97964 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.
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