Maintaining Your Engine - Cub Cadet 18M 19-inch Operator's Manual

10
Maintaining
Your
Engine
WARNING
Shut off the engine
before performing any
type of maintenance.
To prevent accidental
start-up, disconnect
the spark plug boot.
Before tipping engine
or equipment to
drain oil, drain fuel
from tank by running
engine until fuel tank
is empty.
IMPORTANT: Be sure
to check engine on a
level surface with the
engine stopped. Drain
the oil while the engine
is still warm to assure
rapid and complete
draining.
WARNING: Shut off the engine before
performing any maintenance. To
prevent accidental start-up, disconnect
the spark plug boot.
IMPORTANT: If engine must be tipped to transport
equipment or to inspect or remove grass, keep spark
plug side of engine up. Transporting or tipping engine
spark plug down may cause smoking, hard starting,
spark plug fouling, or oil saturation of air cleaner.
First 5 hours
Tasks
Check Engine
Oil
Change Engine
Oil
Check Air
Cleaner
Service Air
Cleaner
Check Spark
Plug
Service Spark
Plug
Clean Finger
Guard
Clean Around
Muffler
† Service more frequently when used in dusty areas.
†† If operating under heavy load or high ambient temperature.
Oil Fill Cap
Drain
Plug
Figure 10-1: Changing the oil.
Oil Service
• Check oil level regularly.
• Be sure correct oil level is maintained. Check every
five hours or daily before starting engine. See oil
checking procedure in the Operation section.
Periodic inspection and adjustment of the engine is
essential if high level performance is to be maintained.
Regular maintenance will also ensure a long service life.
The required service intervals and the kind of mainte-
nance to be performed are described in the table below.
Follow the hourly or calendar intervals, whichever occur
first. More frequent service is required when operating in
adverse conditions.
Maintenance Schedule
Each use or Every season
every 5 hours or 25 hours
Oil Change
IMPORTANT: Be sure to check engine on a level surface
with the engine stopped. Drain the oil while the engine is
still warm to assure rapid and complete draining.
1. Remove oil fill cap and drain oil by either removing
drain plug or turning mower on its side (air cleaner side
up) and allowing oil to drain into a suitable container.
See Figure 10-1.
Level
2. Reinstall the drain plug (if removed), and tighten it
securely.
3. Refill with the recommended oil (see Operation
section) and check the oil level. See Figure 10-1.
4. Reinstall the oil fill cap securely.
18
Every season Every season
or 50 hours or 100 hours
WARNING: Before tipping engine or
equipment to drain oil, drain fuel from
tank by running engine until fuel tank is
empty.
Service Dates