Servicing The Spark Plug - Toro 71254 Operator's Manual

Paper Element:
1. Tap the paper element on a solid flat surface and blow
it out from the inside with compressed air to remove
dust and dirt.
2. Inspect the element for tears, an oily film, and damage
to the rubber seal.
Important: Do not clean the paper element
with pressurized air or liquids, such as solvents,
gasoline, or kerosene. Replace the paper element
if it is damaged or cannot be cleaned thoroughly.
Installing the Foam and Paper Elements
Important: To prevent engine damage, always operate
the engine with the complete foam and paper air-cleaner
assembly installed.
1. Block the inlet duct with a rag to prevent dust and
debris from entering the engine.
2. Clean the inside of the air-cleaner housing of all dirt,
dust, and debris.
3. Remove the rag from the inlet duct.
4. Place the foam element and paper element into the
blower housing.
5. Align the tabs on the air-cleaner cover with the slots of
the blower housing (Figure 23).
6. Hook the handle onto the cover and press down on
the handle to lock the cover in place.
7. Close the hood.

Servicing the Spark Plug

Service Interval: Every 50 hours—Check the spark plug.
Every 100 hours
Ensure that the air gap between the center and side electrodes
is correct before installing the spark plug. Use a spark-plug
wrench for removing and installing the spark plug and a
gapping tool or feeler gauge to check and adjust the air gap.
Install a new spark plug if necessary.
Type: Champion QC12YC or equivalent
Air Gap: 0.76 mm (0.030 inch)
Removing the Spark Plug
1. Disengage the blade control (PTO).
2. Stop the engine, wait for all moving parts to stop, and
remove the key before leaving the operating position.
3. Open the hood.
4. Disconnect the wire from the spark plug (Figure 24).
1. Spark-plug wire
5. Clean around the spark plug to prevent dirt from falling
into the engine and potentially causing damage.
6. Remove the spark plug and metal washer.
Checking the Spark Plug
1. Inspect the spark plug (Figure 25).
Note: If you see light brown or gray on the insulator,
the engine is operating properly. A black coating on the
insulator usually means that the air cleaner is dirty.
1. Center electrode insulator
2. Side electrode
Important: Do not clean the spark plug. Always
replace the spark plug when it has a black coating,
worn electrodes, an oily film, or cracks.
2. Check the gap between the center and side electrodes
(Figure 25). Bend the side electrode if the gap is not
correct.
22
Figure 24
Figure 25
3. Air gap (not to scale)