Mower Blade Maintenance; General Engine Maintenance - HUSTLER TrimStar Owner's Manual

6. Never operate a machine without an air filter installed.
Overservicing
Overservicing occurs when an air filter element is removed
for cleaning or replacement before it is necessary. Each time the
filter is removed a small amount of dirt and dust could fall in the
intake system. This accumulated dirt can cause a dusted engine.
It only takes a few grams of ingested dirt over the normal
service life of an engine to cause a dusted engine.
Do not clean element, replace with a new element only.
Cleaning used air filter elements, through improper cleaning
procedures, can get dust on the inside of the filter causing dirt
ingestion and engine failure.
It is important to note that whenever an air filter element is
cleaned by any method, the person or company performing the
cleaning assumes responsibility for the integrity of the filter
from then on. The warranty for air filters expires upon
cleaning or servicing in any manner because the condition of
the filter after servicing is completely out of their control.
Therefore, on a dust ingested engine failure, there will be no
warranty consideration if the air filter element has been
cleaned or serviced in any manner.
A partially dirty air filter element works better than a new
element. Therefore, a dirty filter element is not bad for the
engine unless it is excessively restricting the air flow and engine
performance is affected. The reason is simple. The media in the
filter must be porous to allow air to pass through it. When dirty
air passes through the filter, the dirt plugs some of the holes in
the media and actually acts as part of the filter media. When the
next round of dirt enters, the first dirt helps filter out even
smaller particles making the filter more efficient at stopping dirt
from entering the engine. This is referred to as barrier filtration.
Of course, at some point the filter media becomes too clogged
to allow air to pass.
The mowing conditions will determine the frequency of air
filter element changing.

General engine maintenance

Detailed instructions and recommendations for break-in and
111251CE_1109
Air filter
Fig. 4-7
regular maintenance are specified in the Engine Owner's
manual. Please refer to this manual for engine servicing,
lubricating oil levels
recommendations, bolt torques, etc. The engine warranty is
backed by the manufacturer. Special attention should be paid to
applicable data which will not be duplicated here.
Belts
IMPORTANT: Any maintenance operation that requires the
removal of safety covers must be performed by a trained service
technician.
Inspect belts frequently for wear and serviceability. Replace a
belt that shows signs of severe cuts, tears, separation, weather
checking and cracking, or burns caused by slipping. Slight
raveling of belt covering does not indicate failure, trim ravelings
with a sharp knife.
WARNING: If the pump belt fails, loss of control will
occur especially when operating on a slope.
If you lose steering control while operating the
machine, place the H-Bar steering lever in the neu-
tral position immediately and place the neutral
lock/park brake lever in the park brake position.
Inspect the machine and involve your Hustler
dealer to resolve the problem before continuing to
operate.
Inspect the belt pulley grooves and flanges for wear. A new
belt, or one in good condition, should never run against the
bottom of the groove. Replace the pulley when this is the case,
otherwise belt will lose power and slip excessively.
Never pry a belt to get it on a pulley as this will cut or damage
the fibers of the belt covering.
Keep oil and grease away from belts and never use belt
dressings.

Mower blade maintenance

Check the mower blades daily, they are the key to power
efficiency and well groomed turf. Keep them sharp, a dull blade
will tear rather than cut the grass, leaving a brown ragged top on
the grass within a few hours. A dull blade also requires more
power from the engine.
Replace any blade which is bent, cracked or broken.
WARNING: Before working on or under the deck,
make certain engine cannot be accidentally started.
Shut engine off and remove ignition switch key for
maximum safety. If applicable disconnect negative
battery cable. Repairs or maintenance requiring engine
power should be performed by trained personnel only.
WARNING: Never attempt to straighten a bent blade
by heating, or weld a cracked or broken blade as the
blade may break and cause serious injury. Replace
worn or damaged blades.
4-5
with quality and viscosity