Maintenance Instructions
LUBRICATION/CLEANING
45
Transaxle Oil and Filter Change
Change the transaxle oil after the initial
break-in
period
of
75-100 hours.
Thereafter, change oil
ev-
ery 400 hours
of operation as follows:
1. Thoroughly clean the exterior of the transmis-
sion housing before servicing. Remove expan-
sion tank cap to allow venting. Using a 1/4 in.
hex wrench, remove the plug on the lower in-
side of each transaxle allowing the oil to drain.
2. Remove the oil filter guard, remove and replace
the oil filter using an oil filter wrench. Tighten
filter by turning filter 3/4 to 1 turn after gasket
contacts the filter base surface. Reinstall the oil
filter guard. (Refer to
Transaxle Oil Drain
Plug, Filter, and Guard Location
illustration.)
Oil Filter
Oil Filter
Guard
Oil Drain
Plug
Transaxle Oil Drain Plug, Filter, and
Guard Location
(Shown with Deck Support Arms
Removed for Clarity)
3. Reinstall drain plugs.
4. Remove the oil reservoir hose attached to the
elbow on top of the transaxles and remove the
elbows to access the oil fill openings.
5. Fill the transaxles with 20W-50 (API Service
Class SL or higher) oil through the opening
where the elbows were. Fill up to the opening.
6. Before reinstalling the elbows, screw the lock-
ing nut on the elbows down until they are snug
(the o-ring on the elbow will be to the bottom of
the o-ring groove).
Elbow
Screw Locking
Nut Down
Reinstall Transaxle Elbows
7. Reinstall the elbows. When the elbow begins to
be snug, position the elbow as it was when re-
moved and tighten the locknut. Reinstall reser-
voir hoses to elbows.
8. Fill reservoir to 1/4-1/2 in. (6-13 mm) with
20W-50 (API Service Class SL or higher) oil.
9. Start and drive the unit for 1 - 2 minutes.
10. If the transaxles sound noisy or have poor steer-
ing response, there may be air trapped in the
transaxles. Follow purge instructions below.
11. If oil needs to be added refer back to steps 5-10.
12. To purge air from transaxle, raise unit and block
with tires off the ground. With engine running,
slowly move Forward Speed Control forward
and backward 5 to 6 times. Turn off engine and
check oil level and add if needed. Repeat pro-
cedure until transaxles operate at normal noise
levels and move smoothly in forward and re-
verse.
CLEANING
CAUTION
If a pressure washer is used on the ex-
posed working parts, avoid water on the
electrical parts and the engine cooling sys-
tem.
Summary of Contents for B18
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