53
Maintenance Instructions
CHECKING/SERVICING
Blade Balancer
Blade Balanced on Magnetic
Wall-Mounted Balancer
7. Mount the blade with wing tips pointing up into
the housing. For
gear driven decks
reinstall
the blade, washer, lock washer, and nut.
Tight-
en the nut to 60 lb·ft (81 N·m).
For
belt driven
decks
reinstall the spacer (if applicable), blade,
washer, and bolt.
Tighten the bolt to 70 lb·ft
(90 N·m).
Drive Belts
Raise the body and inspect the condition of the
three (3) drive belts after
every 25 hours
of opera-
tion -- engine/PTO drive and ground drive. If the
belts show
signs of cracking or deteriorating,
the
belts should be
replaced.
Refer to
REPLACING/
REPAIRING
the
Drive Belts
in this section.
Mower Deck Gearbox Oil Seals
The mower deck gearbox seals should be inspected
every 25 hours
for evidence of oil leaking;
particu-
larly the lower oil seal on the blade drive gearbox.
This seal is protected by the trash guard on the blade
hub and seal protector plate on the housing, but is
still vulnerable to seal damage due to operating in
an adverse environment. The mower blade must be
removed for inspection of the seal, so it is recom-
mended to
inspect the gearbox seals when blades
are removed for sharpening.
If an oil leak is noted,
the seal should be replaced and the gearbox as-
sembly relubricated. Refer to
LUBRICATION
for
Mower Deck Gearbox Lubrication
in this section.
Spark Plugs
Every 100 hours,
remove the spark plugs, inspect,
clean, and reset the gap (or replace with a
new
plug
). Clean spark plug with a wire brush. If the
electrodes are burned short or pitted, replace the
plug (refer to
Specifications
for the proper type of
replacement plug). Check the spark plug gap with
a wire-type feeler gauge and set the gap between
0.028 and 0.032 in. (0.7 and 0.8 mm). Reinstall and
tighten to 17 lb
·
ft (23 N
·
m). Both spark plugs should
be replaced yearly.
Breaker Points
The Briggs & Stratton engine is equipped with elec-
tronic ignition. No breaker points, maintenance, or
adjustments are necessary with this system. Con-
tact an authorized Briggs & Stratton engine dealer
in case of ignition failure.
Fuel Lines and Clamps
Every year,
inspect the fuel line from the tank to
engine for deterioration or damage. Also, inspect
the fuel line
clamps for tightness.
Good preven-
tive maintenance calls for complete
replacement
of
fuel lines and clamps
every two (2) years.
Blade Brake Action
WARNING
It is important to check and maintain blade
brake action for safe operation of the ma-
chine.
Check the function of the cutter blade brake by en-
gaging the blade clutch (PTO), operating the engine
at full throttle, then disengaging the clutch and mea-
suring how quickly the blades stop. Watch the rota-
tion of the blade drive shaft as a visual indication that
movement has stopped. If the brake is
working
properly, all rotation will stop five (5) seconds
after disengagement
of the clutch. If the brake sys-
tem malfunctions - blades do not stop in five (5) sec-
onds - adjust or repair the brake before operating
the mower. Refer to
ADJUSTMENTS
for
Clutch
Disengagement/Brake Action,
Step 2 -
Blade Brake
Band Adjustment,
on page 68.
Summary of Contents for B18
Page 73: ...69 Operator s Notes...
Page 74: ...70 Operator s Notes...
