HUSTLER 3500 Owner's Manual page 38

WARNING: Allow the engine and radiator to cool
before draining and flushing the system.
To drain the cooling system:
1. Use a suitable receptacle to catch the used coolant.
Remove the radiator cap and open the drain valve to
drain the radiator and engine block. Figure 4-18
2. After the coolant has drained, place a water hose in the
radiator filler neck and run water through the system.
When water is flowing from the block drain valve, start
the engine. When the water flowing from the drain
valve, is free of discoloration and sediment, stop the
engine and remove the hose. Allow all water to drain
from the system through the drain valve.
3. Close the drain valve and slowly refill the system with
a 50/50 solution of permanent antifreeze and clear
water. Fill until the coolant level is approximately 1.5"-
2.0" (3.8cm-5cm) below the bottom of the filler neck.
Do not fill beyond this level.
4. Clean the radiator cap and cap seal and install the cap.
Figure 4-19
5. Fill the coolant recovery reservoir bringing the fluid
level up until it is between the full and low marks on
the reservoir.
6. Open the front screen and remove chaff, dust, or other
foreign substances. The foreign substances can be
dropped onto the ground through the rubber at the
lower part. Figure 4-20
7. Pull out on the radiator screen and clean it. Figure 4-17
8. Run the engine until normal operating temperature is
reached, then stop the engine. Recheck the coolant
level when the engine is cold and add additional
coolant as necessary.
IMPORTANT: Never run the engine when the cooling
system is empty. Do not add cold water or cold antifreeze
solution if the engine is hot.
Drain valve
Figure 4-18
Fan belt
NOTE: Check the condition of the fan belt after every 50
hours of operation. Check fan belt tension after every 200
hours of operation. Figure 4-21
A belt-driven fan located at the front of the engine draws air
through the fins of the radiator to lower the temperature of the
radiator coolant.
When 20-25 lbs. (9-11 kg) of thumb pressure is applied
Radiator
Radiator screen
open position
midway between the water pump pulley and the alternator
pulley, a correctly tightened belt will deflect .40"-.60"
(10mm-15mm).
If the fan belt is slipping, fan efficiency is lowered,
resulting in the engine running too hot. If the belt is too tight,
the life of the alternator bearing will be shortened. If the fan
belt shows signs of cracking or fraying, install a new one.
To adjust fan belt tension:
1. Loosen the alternator mounting bolts. Figure 4-21
WARNING: Never attempt to loosen or tighten
alternator mounting bolts with the engine running.
2. Pry the alternator away from the engine and tighten the
mounting bolts.
3. Recheck belt deflection.
4-10
Figure 4-19
Figure 4-20
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