V-Belts; Engine Lubrication; Clean Air Screen; Clean Air Intake/Cooling Areas - Craftsman EZ3 917.271014 Owner's Manual

TO CLEAN BATIERY AND TERMINALS
Corrosion and dirt on the battery and ter-
minals can cause the battery to "leak"
power.
• Open battery box door.
• Disconnect BLACK battery cable first
then RED battery cable and remove
battery from tractor.
• Rinse the battery with plain water and
dry.
• Clean terminals and battery cable ends
with wire brush until bright.
• Coat terminals with grease or petro-
leum jelly.
• Reinstall battery (See "REPLACING
BATTERY" in the SERVICE AND AD-
JUSTMENTS section of this manual)•
V-BELTS
Check V-belts for deterioration and wear
after 100 hours of operation and replace
if necessary. The belts are not adjustable.
Replace belts if they begin to slip from
wear.
TRANSAXLE COOLING
Keep transaxle free from build-up of dirt
and chaff which can restrict cooling.
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Only use high quality detergent oil rated
with API service classification SF, SG, or
SH. 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. Tighten oil fill cap/dip-
stick securely each time you check the oil
level.
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL
Determine temperature range expected
before oil change. All oil must meet API
service classification SF, SG, or SH.
• Be sure tractor is on level surface.
• Oil will drain more freely when warm.
• Catch oil in a suitable container.
• Remove oil fill cap/dipstick. Be careful
not to allow dirt to enter the engine
when changing oil.
• Remove drain plug.
• After oil has drained completely, re-
place oil drain plug and tighten se-
curely.
• Refill engine with oil through oil fill dip-
stick tube. Pour slowly. Do not overfill.
For approximate capacity see "PROD-
UCT SPECIFICATIONS" section of this
manual.
• 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 not thread the cap onto the tube
when taking reading. Keep oil at
"FULl" line on dipstick. Tighten cap
onto the tube securely when finished.
Air Cover
Cleaner Knob
Cover
Foam
Pre-
Cleaner
•Wing
Nut
Grommet
Air
Air 3leaner
Cleaner Base
Paper
Cartridge Oil Fill
Cap/
Dipstick
Oil Drain Plug
CLEAN AIR SCREEN
Air screen must be kept free of dirt and
chaff to prevent engine damage from
overheating. Clean with a wire brush or
compressed air to remove dirt and stub-
born dried gum fibers.
CLEAN AIR INTAKE/COOLING AREAS
To insure proper cooling, make sure the
grass screen, cooling fins, and other ex-
ternal 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. Clea=l the cooling fins
and external surfac,_ as necessary. Make
sure the cooling ._,,rouds are reinstalled.
NOTE: Oper:,[ing the engine with a
blocked grass screen, dirty or plugged
cooling fins, and/or cooling shrouds re-
moved will cause engine damage due to
overheating.
2O