Clean Air Intake/Cooling Areas; Air Filter; Spark Plugs - Craftsman EZ3 917.271071 Owner's Manual

CLEAN AIR INTAKE/COOLING
AREAS
To insure proper cooling, make sure the
grass screen, cooling fins, and other
external surfaces of the engine are kept
clean at all times.
Every 100 hours of operation (more often
under extremely dusty, dirty conditions),
remove the blower housing and other
cooling shrouds. Clean the cooling fins
and external surfaces as necessary.
Make sure the cooling shrouds are
reinstalled.
NOTE: Operating the engine with a
blocked grass screen, dirty or plugged
cooling fins, and/or cooling shrouds
removed will cause engine damage due
to overheating.
AIR FILTER
Your engine will not run properly using a
dirty air filter. Clean the foam pre-cleaner
after every 25 hours of operation or
every season. Service paper cartridge
every 100 hours of operation or every
season, whichever occurs first.
Service air cleaner more often under
dusty conditions.
• Remove knob and cover.
• Remove wing nut and air cleaner from
base.
TO SERVICE PRE-CLEANER
• Slide foam pre-cleaner off cartridge.
• Wash it in liquid detergent and water.
• Squeeze it dry in a clean cloth. Allow
it to dry.
• Saturate it in engine oil. Wrap it in
clean, absorbent cloth and squeeze to
remove excess oi1.
TO SERVICE CARTRIDGE
• Replace a dirty, bent, or damaged
cartridge.
NOTE: Do not wash the paper cartridge
or use pressurized air, as this will
damage the cartridge.
Reinstall the pre-cleaner (cleaned and
oiled) over the paper cartridge.
• Reassemble air cleaner, wing nut,
cover and tighten knob securely.
ENGINE OIL FILTER
Replace the engine oil filter every
season or every other oil change if the
tractor is used more than 100 hours in
one year.
Drain oil from engine crankcase (See
"TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL" in this
section of this manual, through step
remove drain plug).
• Remove oil filter and wipe off filter
adapter.
• Apply a thin coating of new engine oil
to the rubber gasket on replacement
oil filter.
• install replacement oil filter on filter
adapter. Turn oil filter clockwise until
rubber gasket contacts the filter
adapter, then tighten filter an addi-
tional 1/2 turn.
• Fill crankcase with new oil (See "TO
CHANGE ENGINE OIL" in this section
of this manual). For approximate
capacity see "PRODUCT SPECIFICA-
TIONS" section of this manual.
• Start the engine and check for oil
leaks. Correct any leaks before
placing engine into full operation.
__ Oil
Filter
\
%
MUFFLER
Inspect and replace corroded muffler
and spark arrester (if equipped) as it
could create a fire hazard and/or
damage.
SPARK PLUGS
Replace spark plugs at the beginning of
each mowing season or after every 100
hours of operation, whichever occurs
first. Spark plug type and gap setting are
shown in "PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS"
section of this manual.
21
IN-LINE FUEL FILTER
The fuel filter should be replaced once
each season. If fuel ' er becomes
clogged, obstructing _el flow to carbure-
tor, replacement is required.
• With engine cool, remove filter and
plug fuel line sections.
• Place new fuel filter in position in fuel
line with arrow pointing towards
carburetor.
• Be sure there are no fuel line leaks
and clamps are properly positioned.
• Immediately wipe up any spilled
gasoline.