Servicing Your Engine; The Importance Of Maintenance; Maintenance Safety; Safety Precautions - Honda GXV160 Owner's Manual

SERVICING YOUR ENGINE

THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTENANCE

Good maintenance is essential for safe, economical and trouble-free
operation. It will also help reduce pollution.
 WARNING
Improper maintenance, or failure to correct a problem
before operation, can cause a malfunction in which you
can be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection and maintenance
recommendations and schedules in this owner's manual.
To help you properly care for your engine, the following pages include
a maintenance schedule, routine inspection procedures, and simple
maintenance procedures using basic hand tools. Other service tasks
that are more difficult, or require special tools, are best handled by
professionals and are normally performed by a Honda technician or
other qualified mechanic.
The maintenance schedule applies to normal operating conditions. If
you operate your engine under severe conditions, such as sustained
high-load or high-temperature operation, or use in unusually wet or
dusty conditions, consult your servicing dealer for recommendations
applicable to your individual needs and use.
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of the emission control
devices and systems may be performed by any engine repair
establishment or individual, using parts that are "certified" to
EPA standards.

MAINTENANCE SAFETY

Some of the most important safety precautions follow. However, we
cannot warn you of every conceivable hazard that can arise in
performing maintenance. Only you can decide whether or not you
should perform a given task.
 WARNING
Failure to properly follow maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures and precautions in this
owner's manual.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

• Make sure the engine is off before you begin any maintenance or
repairs. This will eliminate several potential hazards:
– Carbon monoxide poisoning from engine exhaust.
Be sure there is adequate ventilation whenever you operate
the engine.
– Burns from hot parts.
Let the engine and exhaust system cool before touching.
– Injury from moving parts.
Do not run the engine unless instructed to do so.
• Read the instructions before you begin, and make sure you have
the tools and skills required.
• To reduce the possibility of fire or explosion, be careful when
working around gasoline. Use only a nonflammable solvent, not
gasoline, to clean parts. Keep cigarettes, sparks and flames away
from all fuel related parts.
Remember that an authorized Honda servicing dealer knows your
engine best and is fully equipped to maintain and repair it.
To ensure the best quality and reliability, use only new genuine Honda
parts or their equivalents for repair and replacement.
4

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

Perform at every indicated
month or operating hour
ITEM
interval, whichever comes
first.
Engine oil Check
Replace
Air cleaner Check
Clean
Replace
Spark plug Check-adjust
Replace
Flywheel brake pad Check
Spark arrester Clean
Idle speed Check-adjust
Fuel tank and filter Clean
Fuel tube Check
Valve clearance Check-adjust
Combustion chamber Clean
(1) Service more frequently when used in dusty areas.
(2) Change engine oil every 25 hours when used under heavy load or
in high ambient temperatures.
(3) These items should be serviced by an authorized Honda servicing
dealer, unless you have the proper tools and are mechanically
proficient. Refer to the Honda shop manual for service
procedures.
(4) For commercial use, log hours of operation to determine proper
maintenance intervals.
Failure to follow this maintenance schedule could result in non-
warrantable failures.

REFUELING

Use unleaded gasoline with a pump octane rating of 86 or higher. This
engine is certified to operate on unleaded gasoline. Unleaded gasoline
produces fewer engine and spark plug deposits and extends exhaust
system life.
 WARNING
Gasoline is highly flammable and explosive, and you can
be burned or seriously injured when refueling.
• Stop engine and keep heat, sparks, and flame away.
• Refuel only outdoors.
• Wipe up spills immediately.
NOTICE
Fuel can damage paint and some types of plastic. Be careful not to
spill fuel when filling your fuel tank. Damage caused by spilled fuel is
not covered under the Distributor's Limited Warranty.
Never use stale or contaminated gasoline or oil/gasoline mixture.
Avoid getting dirt or water in the fuel tank.
English
REGULAR SERVICE PERIOD (4)
Before First Every 3 Every 6 Every Every
Each Month Months Months Year
Use or or or or Years
5 Hrs 25 Hrs 50 Hrs 100 or 250
Hrs
O
O O (2)
O
O (1)
O
O
O
O(3)
O(3)
Every 2 years
(Replace if necessary) (3)
O(3)
After every 300 hours (3)
Two
Page
Hrs
5
6
O
6
O
7
7
6
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