Engine Cleaning; Air Cleanerservice; Engineoil Service; Spark Plugservice - Troy-Bilt 12213 Owner's Manual

Section 5: Maintenance
WARNING
Before inspecting,cleaning or servicing the unit, shut off engine, wait for all 1"
pads to come to a completestop, disconnectspark plug wire and move wire away from spark ...._.../
plug. Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury or
propertydamage.
ENGINE CLEANING
Keepthe engine clean to assure smooth
operation and to prevent damage from
overheating. Refer to the separate Engine
Owner's Manual for specific repair and
cleaning instructions. All inspections and
services must be done with the engine
shut off and cool to the touch.
AIR CLEANERSERVICE
The engine air cleaner filters dirt and dust
out of the air before it enters the carbure-
tor. Operatingthe engine with a dirty,
clogged air filter can cause poor perfor-
mance and damageto the engine. Never
operate the engine without the air cleaner
installed. Inspect and service the air
cleaner more often if operating in very
dusty or dirty conditions.
Service the air cleaner as instructed in the
separate Engine Owner's Manual.
ENGINEOIL SERVICE
Checkthe engine oil level before starting
the engine each day and check it after
each 5 hours of continuous operation.
Running the engine when it is low on oil
will quickly ruin the engine.
It is recommended that you change the
engine oil after every 10 hours of
operation and even sooner when
operating in extremely dirty or dusty con-
ditions. Refer to the separate Engine
Owner's Manual for detailed service
instructions.
A. To Checkthe EngineOil Level:
1. Move the tiller to a level area and shut
off the engine.
2. Level the engine by putting the Depth
Regulator Lever in the second notch from
the top,
3. Cleanthe area around the oil dipstick
or oil fill tube to prevent dirt from falling
into the crankcase.
4. On engines with an oil fill tube, remove
the filler cap, add oil (if required) until it
reaches the top of the tube and reinstall
the filler cap.
5. On engines with a dipstick, remove it,
wipe it clean, and reinstall it finger-tight.
Remove the dipstick and check the
reading. Add oil (if required) to bring the
level to the FULL mark. Do not overfill.
B. To Changethe EngineOil:
Changethe engine oil as instructed in the
separate EngineOwner's Manual.
SPARK PLUGSERVICE
inspect and clean or replacethe spark
plug after every 100 operating hours or
annually. Cleanthe plug and set the gap
as described in the separate Engine
Owner's Manual.
In some areas, local law requires using
resistor spark plugsto suppress ignition
signals. If the engine was originally
equipped with a resistor spark plug, use
the same type for replacement.
SPARK ARRESTER SCREEN
SERVICE
If the engine muffler is equipped with a
spark arrestor screen, remove and clean
it according to the time intervals and
instructions in the separate Engine
Owner's Manual.
Operators shall not tamper with the
engine governor settings on the
machine; the governor controls the
maximum safe operating speed to
protect the engine and all moving
parts from damage caused by
overspeed. Authorizedservice shall he
soughtit a problemexists.
THROTTLELEVERADJUSTMENT
If the engine does not respond to various
throttle lever settings, refer to the
separate Engine Owner's Manual for
service information or contact your local
authorized engine service dealer.
CARBURETOR/GOVERNOR
CONTROL ADJUSTMENTS
The carburetor was adjusted at the
factory for best operating speed. Refer to
the separate Engine Owner's Manual for
any adjustment information or seeyour
authorized engine service dealer.
The governor controls the maximum safe
operating speed and protects the engine
and all moving parts from damage
caused by overspeeding Do not tamper
with the engine governor settings.
OFF SEASONSTORAGE
When the tiller won't be used for
extended periods, prepare it for storage
as follows:
1. Cleanthe tiller and engine.
2. Do routine tiller lubrication and check
for loose parts and hardware.
3. Protect the engine and perform recom-
mended engine maintenance by following
the engine storage instructions found in
the separate Engine Owner's Manual.
NOTE:Be sure to protect the fuel lines,
carburetor and fuel tank from gum
deposits by removing fuel or by treating
fuel with a fuel stabilizer (follow engine
manufacturer's recommendations).
4. Store unit in a clean, dry area.
5. Never store the tiller with fuel in the
fuel tank in an enclosed area where gas
fumes could reach an open flame or
spark, or where ignition sources are
present (space heaters, hot water
heaters,furnaces, etc.).
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