Tine Shaft Maintenance; Tire And Wheel Maintenance; Engineoil Maintenance; Air Cleaner Maintenance - Troy-Bilt 12090 Owner's Manual

Section5: Maintenance
_ efore inspecting, cleaning or servicingthe machine, shut off engine, wait for all movingparts to come
to a complete stop, disconnectspark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug. Remove ignition
key, if so equipped.
Failure to follow these instructionscan result in serious personalinjuryor propertydamage.
Tine Shaft Maintenance
After every 10 operating hours, remove
the left- and right-side Bolo Tine holders
and clear away dirt and debris that have
accumulated on the Oneshaft or inside
the Oneholders. Pleasefollow this main-
tenance recommendation, as debris can
cause premature wear to the Oneshaft
and its oil seals. Refer to the previous
tine holder removal instructions. After
cleaning away any debris and removing
old greasefrom the tine shaft, apply fresh
grease to the tine shaft.
Tire and Wheel Maintenance
Checktire air pressure every 30 operating
hours. The recommended pressure for
tilling is 104o-20 psi (pounds per square
inch). Both tires should be inflated
equally. (Unequal pressure can cause the
tiller to pull to one side.)
Removing the Wheels
Eachwheel is secured by a roll (spirol)
pin that passesthrough the wheel hub
and the wheel shaft. Drive the roll pin out
to remove a wheel.
1. Prop the transmission up with a sturdy
block to raise the wheel you want to
remove off the ground.
2. Move the Wheel Speed Lever to either
SLOWor FASTposition to prevent the
wheels from turning.
3. Use a 5/16" drift pin (or a blunt point
16-penny nail) to drive the roll pin free.
Wear safety goggles when driving the
roll pin into or from the wheel hub to
protectyour eyes from the possibilityof
flying metal particles.
Engine
Oil Maintenance
Checkthe engine oil level before starting
the engine each day and 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 changethe oil
every ten (I0) operating hours and even
sooner when operating in extremely dirty
or dusty conditions. Refer to the separate
Engine Owner's Manual for detailed
service instructions.
Air Cleaner Maintenance
The engine is equipped with a dual
element air cleanerthat filters the air
twice before it enters the carburetor to
mix with the fuel.
The engine air cleaner filters dirt and dust
out of the air before it enters the carbure-
tor. Operating the engine with a dirty,
clogged air filter can cause poor perfor-
mance and damage to the engine. Never
operate the engine without the air cleaner
installed. Inspect and servicethe air
cleaner more often if operating in very
dusty or dirty conditions.
It is critical that the filters be kept clean
and properly installed at all times. See
the location of the air cleanerassembly on
your engine by referring to Figure5-39 or
Figure 5-40.
Refer to the engine manufacturer's litera-
ture supplied with your tiller for complete
air cleaner service and maintenance infor-
mation.
Throttle Cable Maintenance
The throttle lever settings are factory-
adjusted, so unnecessary adjustments
should not bemade. However, if the
engine does not start or stop, or respond
immediately to various throttle lever
settings, then adjustments may be
necessary. Pleaserefer to the engine
manufacturer literature supplied with your
tiller for specific adjustment instructions.
Ignition System Maintenance
Your engine is equipped with electronic
ignition. It does not havea condenser or
points, so there is no need to perform any
regular tune-up maintenance on this
system other than adjusting or replacing
the spark plug.
Spark Plug Maintenance
The spark plug must be in good condition
for proper engine operation. Remove and
inspect the plug every 50 operating hours
or annually, whichever occurs first.
The correct electrode gap is .030". Check
the gap with a feeler gauge. Do not use a
spark plug if the porcelain is cracked, the
electrodesare pitted or burned, or if other
visible damage is present.
NOTE: Do not wire brush or sandblast the
spark plug to clean it - loose particles
can enter the engine, causing damage!
To replacethe plug, first tighten it
securely by hand, then use a spark plug
wrench to tighten the plug an extra 114
turn.
Battery Care and Maintenance
Battery Care in Service
I. Every month or every ten (10)
operating hours, whichever comes first,
checkthe level of electrolyte solution in
the battery cells:
a. If battery case has UPPERand
LOWERlevel lines on it, solution
should be maintained at the UPPER
level line.
b. If the battery does not havelevel
lines on case, maintain solution
levelat lowest part of the filler well
within eachcell.
NOTE: Use only distilled or demineralized
water to refill eachbattery cell.
c. After filling, replace battery caps
securely, then wash off any spilled
solution with baking soda and water
mixture.
d. Run engine outdoors for about 20
minutes (at 3/4 throttle) to help
recharge. For safety, do not leave
the tiller unattended while the
engine is running.
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