13
MAINTENANCE
Disconnect spark plug wire before performing any maintenance (except car bu re tor adjustment) to prevent
accidental start ing of engine.
Prevent fi res! Keep the engine free of grass, leaves, spilled oil, or fuel. Re move fuel from tank before tipping
unit for maintenance. Clean muffl er area of all grass, dirt, and debris.
Do not touch hot muffl er or cylinder fi ns as contact may cause burns.
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL (See Figs. 18 and 19)
Determine temperature range expected before oil change.
All oil must meet API service classifi cation SG-SL.
• Be sure tiller is on level surface.
• Oil will drain more freely when warm.
• Use a funnel to prevent oil spill on tiller, and catch oil
in a suitable con tain er.
• Remove drain plug.
• Tip tiller forward to drain oil.
• After oil has drained completely, replace oil drain plug
and tighten securely.
• Refi ll engine with oil. See “CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL”
in the Operation section of this manual.
• Replace oil drain plug and tighten securely.
OIL
DRAIN
PLUG
OIL LEVEL
OIL FILLER PLUG
FIG. 19
FIG. 18
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Use only high quality detergent oil rated with API service
classifi cation SG-SL. Select the oil’s SAE vis cos i ty grade
according to your expected temperature.
NOTE:
Although multi-viscosity oils (5W-30, 10W-30, etc.)
improve starting in cold weather, these multi-viscosity oils
will result in increased oil consumption when used above
40°F (4°C). Check your engine oil level more frequently to
avoid possible engine damage from running low on oil.
Change the oil after every 25 hours of operation or at least once
a year if the tiller is not used for 25 hours in one year.
Check the crankcase oil level before starting the engine
and after each fi ve (5) hours of continuous use. Add SAE
30 motor oil or equivalent. Tighten oil fi ller plug securely
each time you check the oil level.
AIR FILTER (See Fig. 20)
Your engine will not run properly and may be damaged by
using a dirty air fi lter. Replace the air fi lter every 100 hours of
operation or every season, whichever occurs fi rst. Service
air cleaner more often under dusty conditions.
TO CLEAN AIR FILTER
• Remove cover.
• Carefully remove cartridge.
• Clean by gently tapping on a fl at surface. If very dirty,
replace cartridge.
• Install cartridge, then replace cover.
IMPORTANT:
PETROLEUM SOLVENTS, SUCH AS KER O SENE,
ARE NOT TO BE USED TO CLEAN CAR TRIDGE. THEY MAY
CAUSE DE TE RI O RA TION OF THE CARTRIDGE. DO NOT OIL
CAR TRIDGE. DO NOT USE PRES SUR IZED AIR TO CLEAN
OR DRY CAR TRIDGE.
FILTER COVER
LATCH TABS
TABS
FILTER
FIG. 20
MUFFLER
Do not operate tiller without muffl er. Do not tamper with
exhaust system. Damaged muffl ers or spark arresters could
create a fi re hazard. Inspect pe ri odi cally and re place if
nec es sary. If your engine is equipped with a spark arrester
screen assembly, re move every 50 hours for cleaning and
inspection. Re place if dam aged.
SPARK PLUG
Replace spark plugs at the beginning of each tilling sea-
son or after every 50 hours of use, whichever comes fi rst.
Spark plug type and gap setting are shown in “PRODUCT
SPEC I FI CA TIONS” on page 3 of this manual.
TRANSMISSION
Once a season, lubricate the right hand side gear case
grease fi tting with 1 oz. of EP #1 Grease.
