Craftsman 12AE764Y099 Operator's Manual page 19

MAINTENANCE
WARNING
Before performing any maintenance or repairs, disengage blades,
stop engine and remove key to prevent unintended starting.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
• Always observe safety rules when performing any type of
maintenance on the mower.
• the warranty on this lawn mower does not cover items that have
been subjected to operator abuse or negligence. to receive full
value from warranty, operator must maintain the lawn mower as
instructed in this manual.
• Changing of engine-governed speed will void engine warranty.
• All adjustments should be checked at least once each season.
• Periodically check all fasteners and make sure they are tight.
ENGINE MAINTENANCE
Checking the Engine Oil
Check oil level before each use. Stop engine and wait several minutes
before checking oil level. with engine on level ground,
the oil must be to FULL mark on dipstick.
1. Remove the Oil Cap/Dipstick and wipe with a
clean cloth.
2. Replace and tighten Oil Cap/Dipstick. Remove
Oil Cap/Dipstick and check oil level. Level
should be at FULL mark.
3. If needed, add oil slowly into the engine oil fill. Recheck oil level.
Do not overfill.
4. Reinsert Oil Cap/Dipstick and tighten.
CAUTION
Do not overfill. Overfilling with oil may make the engine hard to start,
or not to start. If over the FULL mark on the dipstick, drain oil level to
FULL mark on dipstick.
Changing the Engine Oil
WARNING
If the engine has been recently run, the engine, muffler and sur-
rounding metal surfaces will be hot and can cause burns to the skin.
Exercise caution to avoid burns.
the oil in the engine should be changed after the first five hours of
operation and every 50 hours of operation.
1. Run the engine for a few minutes to allow the oil in the crankcase
to warm up. warm oil will flow more freely and carry away more of
the engine sediment which may have settled at the bottom of the
crankcase. Use care to avoid burns from hot oil.
SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
OK
2. to gain access to the oil drain valve on the engine, pivot the right
handle brace tube forward.
a. Remove the upper star knob and carriage screw on the right
side of the handle, Figure 13.
b. Pivot the brace tube towards the front of the mower to allow
room to connect the oil drain hose to the oil drain valve,
Figure 13.
A
3. Pop off the protective cap on the end of the oil drain valve to
expose the drain port. See Figure 14.
Oil Fill Cap/Dipstick
4. Remove the oil fill cap/dipstick from the oil fill tube, Figure 14.
5. 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 collec-
tion container with at least a 2.5 quart capacity, to collect the used oil.
19
b
Oil Drain
Valve
Figure 13
Figure 14