Craftsman 917.28853 Operator's Manual page 18

TOCLEAN B ATTERY AND TERMINALS
Corrosion and dirtonthe batteryandterminals
can cause thebattery to"leak" power.
1. Disconnect BLACK b attery c able first
thenREDbattery c able andremove
battery from tractor.
2. Rinse t hebattery withplain water and
dry.
3. Clean t erminals and battery cable e nds
with wire brush u ntil bright.
4. Coatterminals with grease orpetroleum
jelly,
5. Reinstall battery (See"REPLACING
BATTERY" intheSERVICE AND AD-
JUSTMENTS section ofthismanual).
TRANSAXLE COOLING
Thetransmission fan and cooling fins should
be kept clean to assure proper cooling.
Do not attempt to clean fan or transmission
while engine is running or while the trans-
mission is hot. To prevent possible damage
to seals, do not use high pressure water or
steam to clean transaxle.
• Inspect cooling fan to be sure fan blades
are intact and clean.
• Inspectcoolingfinsfordirt, grassclippings
and other materials. To prevent damage to
seals, do not use compressed air or high
pressure sprayer to clean cooling fins,
TRANSAXLE PUMP FLUID
The transaxte was sealed at the factory and
fluid maintenance is not required for the life
of the transaxle. Should the transaxle ever
leak or require servicing, contact your near-
est Sears or other qualified service center.
V-BELTS
CheckV-belts for deterioration and wear after
100 hours of operation and replace ff neces-
sary. The belts are not adjustable. Replace
belts if they begin to slip from wear.
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL
Determine temperature range expected
before oil change, All oil must meet APt
service classification SG-SL
• Be sure tractor is on level surface,
• Oil will drain more freely when warm.
° Catch oil in a suitable container.
1. Remove oil fill cap/dipstick, Be careful
not to allow dirt to enter the engine when
changing oil.
2. Removeyellow capfrom endofdrainvalve
and install the drain tube onto the fitting.
Oil Drain Valve
andClosed ____-_,__L_._
Locked Drain
Position-" Tube
Yellow Cap-
3. Unlock drain valve by pushing inward
slightly and turning counterclockwise.
4, To open, pull out on the drain valve.
5, After oil has drained completely, closeand
lock the drain valve by pushing inward
and turning clockwise until the pin is in
the locked position as shown,
6. Remove the drain tube and replace the
cap onto the end of the drain valve.
7. Refill enginewith oil through oil fill dipstick
tube. Pour slowly. Do not overfilL For
approximate capacity see "PRODUCT
SPECIFICATIONS"section ofthis manual.
8. Use gauge on oil fill cap/dipstick for
checking level. For accurate reading,
insert dipstick into the tube and push
down firmly into place before removing.
Keep oil up to, but not over, the "FULE'
Only use high quality detergent oil rated with ineon dipstick. Push dipstick down firmly
.... APi se-_ice :€ass f ca{ on SG:SI__ Seiect{he .................. rote the tube when finished .....................................
oil's SAE viscosity grade according to your
expected operating temperature.
SAE VISCOSITY GRADES
Change the oi] after every 50 hours of opera-
tion or at least once a year if the tractor is
not used for 50 hours in one year.
Check the crankcase eli level before starting
the engine and after each eight (8) hours of
operation,
ENGINE OIL FILTER
Replace the engine oil filter every season or
every other oil change if the tractor is used
more than t00 hours in one year,
CLEAN AIR SCREEN
Air screen must be kept free of dirt and chaff
to prevent engine damage from overheating.
CIean with a wire brush or compressed airto
remove dirt and stubborn dried gum fibers.
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