Maintaining Your Garden Tractor - MTD 807 Operator's Manual

SECTION 7: MAINTAINING YOUR GARDEN TRACTOR
WARNING:
maintenance or repairs, disengage PTO,
move shift lever into neutral position, set
parking brake, stop engine and remove key to
prevent unintended starting.
Engine
Refer to the Briggs & Stratton Operator/Owner
Manual (or Kohler engine's Owner's Manual) for
engine maintenance instructions.
Check engine oil level before each use as instructed in
the Briggs & Stratton Operator/Owner Manual (or
Kohler engine's Owner's Manual) packed with your
unit. Follow the instructions carefully.
Changing Engine Oil
NOTE:
Depending on the engine model found on your
tractor, it may be necessary to remove the tractor's side
panel in order to replace the oil filter (if so equipped).
• Unscrew oil fill cap and remove dipstick from the oil
fill tube. See Figure 14.
Oil Fill Cap
Oil Drain Hose
Oil Fill Tube
Figure 14
• Pop open the protective cap on the end of the oil
drain valve to expose the drain port. See Figure 14.
• Push the oil drain hose (packed with this manual)
onto the oil drain port. Route the opposite end of
the hose into an appropriate oil collection container
with a capacity great enough to collect the used oil
(approximately 64 oz.).
• Push the oil drain valve in slightly, then rotate
counterclockwise and pull outward to begin
draining oil. See Figure 14.
• Service the oil filter (if so equipped) as instructed
in the separate Briggs & Stratton Operator/Owner
Before performing any
Protective Cap
Oil Drain Valve
Drain Port
Manual (or Kohler engine's Owner's Manual)
packed with your unit.
Perform the above steps in the opposite order after oil
has finished draining.
• Refill the engine with new motor oil.
Refer to the Briggs & Stratton Operator/
IMPORTANT:
Owner Manual (or Kohler engine's Owner's Manual)
packed with your unit for information regarding the
quantity and proper weight of motor oil.
Air Cleaner
Service the pre-cleaner, if so equipped, and cartridge/
air cleaner element as instructed in the Briggs &
Stratton Operator/Owner Manual (or Kohler engine's
Owner's Manual) packed with your unit.
Spark Plugs
The spark plugs should be cleaned and the gap reset
once a season. Spark plug replacement is
recommended at the start of each mowing season.
Refer to the Briggs & Stratton Operator/Owner Manual
(or Kohler engine's Owner's Manual) for correct plug
type and gap specifications.
Lubrication
Engine
Lubricate the engine with motor oil as instructed in the
Briggs & Stratton Operator/Owner Manual (or Kohler
engine's Owner's Manual) packed with your unit.
Pivot Points & Linkage
Lubricate all the pivot points on the drive system,
parking brake and lift linkage at least once a season
with light oil.
Front Wheels
Each end of the tractor's front pivot bar may be
equipped with a grease fitting. Lubricate with a grease
gun after every 25 hours of tractor operation.
Cleaning the Engine And Deck
Any fuel or oil spilled on the machine should be wiped
off promptly. Do NOT allow debris to accumulate
around the cooling fins of the engine or on any other
part of the machine, especially the belts, pulleys and
other moving parts. Clean the underside of the deck
with a wisk broom, scraper or forced air after each
mowing.
The use of a pressure washer or garden
IMPORTANT:
hose to clean your tractor is NOT recommended. It may
cause damage to electrical components, spindles,
pulleys, bearings or the engine. The use of water will
result in a shortened life of the tractor and reduce its
serviceability.
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