Maintenance - Craftsman 917.28008 Operator's Manual

NOTE: The original equipment battery on
your tractor is maintenance free. Do not
attempt to open or remove caps or covers.
Adding or checking level of electrolyte is
not necessary.
TO CLEAN BATTERY AND TERMINALS
Corrosion and dirt on the battery and termi-
nals can cause the battery to "leak" power.
1. Remove terminal guard.
2, Disconnect BLACK battery cable first
then RED battery cable and remove
battery from tractor.
3. Rinsethe batterywith plainwaterand dry,
4, Clean terminals and batten! cable ends
with wire brush until bright,
5. Coat terminals with grease or petroleum
jel]y.
6. Reinstall battery (See "REPLACING
BATTERY" in the SERVICE AND AD-
JUSTMENTS section of this manual).
TRANSAXLE MAINTENANCE
The transmission fan and cooling fins should
be kept clean to assure proper cooling, Do
not attemptto clean fan or transmission while
engine is running or while the transmission
is hot. To prevent possible damage to seals.
do not use high pressure water or steam to
clean transaxle.
• Inspect cooling fan to be sure fan blades
are intactand clean.
• Inspect cooling fins for dirt, grass clippings
and other materials. Toprevent damageto
seals, do not use compressed air or high
pressure sprayer to clean cooling fins.
TRANSAXLE PUMP FLUID
The transaxle was sealed at the factory and
fluid maintenance is not required for the life
of the transaxle. Should the transaxle ever
leak or require servicing, contact your near-
est Sears or other qualified service center.
Change the oil after every 50 hours of op-
eration or at least once a year if the tractor
is not used for 50 hours in one year.
Check the crankcase oil level before start-
ing the engine and after each eight (8)
hours of operation.
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL
Determine temperature range expected
before oil change, All oil must meet API
service classification SG-SL.
• Be sure tractor is on level surface,
• Oil will drain more freely when warm.
• Catch oil in a suitable container,
1. Remove oil fill cap]dipstick. Be careful
net to aliow dirt to enter the engine
when changing oil,
2. Remove yellow cap from end of drain
valve and install the drain tube onto
the fitting.
3. Unlock drain valve by pushing inward
slightly and turning counterclockwise.
V-BELTS
4,
5,
OilDrain Vaive
__ Drain
Tube
To open,pull outon thedrain valve,
After eli has drained completely, close
and tock the drain valve by pushing
.........................
-, ..........
; ........
. nward and turning clockwise until the
CheckV-be tsToraeter ora_onanawearalter pin is in the-iocked i_ositisnasstl0wn_
100 hours of operation and replace if neces-
sary, The belts are not adjustable. Replace
belts if they begin to slip from wear,
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Only use high quality detergent oil rated with
API service classification SG-SL. Selectthe
oil's SAE viscosity grade according to your
expected operating temperature.
23
6. Remove the drain tube and replace the-
cap onto the end of the drain valve.
7, Refill engine with oil through oil flit dip-
stick tube. Pour slowly. Do not overfill.
For approximate capacity see "PROD-
UCT SPECIFICATIONS" section of this
manual,
8. Use gauge on elf fill cap/dipstick for
checking level. Insert dipstick into
the tube and rest the oil fill cap on the
tube. Do not thread the cap onto the
tube when taking reading, Keep oil
at "FULC line on dipstick. Tighten cap
onto the tube securely when finished,