Craftsman 917.28861 Operator's Manual page 23

TO CLEAN B ATFERY AND TERMINALS
Corrosion and dirt o nthe battery and termi-
nals c an cause t hebattery to"leak" power.
1. Remove terminal guard.
2. Disconnect BLACK battery c able first
thenRED battery c able andremove
battery from tractor.
3. Rinsethe batterywith plain w aterand dry.
4. Clean t erminals and battery cable e nds
with wire brush u ntil bright.
5. Coat terminals with grease orpetroleum
jelly,
6. Reinstall battery (See"REPLACING
BATTERY" intheSERVICE AND AD-
JUSTMENTS section ofthis manual),
TRANSAXLE MAINTENANCE
The transmission fan and cooling fins should
be kept clean to assure proper cooling. Do
not attempt to 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 transaxte.
• Inspect cooling fan to be sure fan blades
are intact and clean,
• J nspect cooling fins for dirt, grass clippings
and other materials. Topreventdamageto
sea_s, 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 thetransaxle ever
leak or require servicing, contact your near-
est Sears or other qualified service center.
V-BELTS
CheckV-belts for deterioration andwear after
t 00 hours of operation and replace ff 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.
Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade
according to your expected operating
temperature.
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
not to allow 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.
Oil Drain Valve
Closed ___ " __._ra_
YellowCap1"__
4. To open, pull out on the drain valve.
5. After oil has drained completely, close and
lock the drain valve by pushing inward
and turning clockwise until the pinis in
the locked position as shown.
6, Remove the drain tube and replace the
cap onto the end of the drain valve.
7. Refill enginewith oilthrough oil fill dipstick
tube. Pour slowly. Do not overfill. For
approximate capacity see "PRODUCT
SPECIFICATIONS"section ofthis manual.
8. Use gauge on oi! fill cap/dipstick for
checking level Insert dipstick into the
tube and rest the oil fill cap on the tube.
Do netthreadthe cap ontothe tubewhen
taking reading. Keep oil at "FULI_' line
on dipstick. Tighten cap onto the tube
securely when finished.
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