Craftsman 316.794800 Operator's Manual page 11

WARNING:
To prevent serious injury, never perform
maintenance or repairs with unit running. Always service and
repair a cool unit. Disconnect the spark plug wire to ensure
that the unit cannot start. See Replacing the Spark Plug.
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
Perform these required maintenance procedures at the frequency
stated in the table. These procedures should also be a part of any
seasonal tune-up.
NOTE: Some maintenance procedures may require special tools
or skills. If you are unsure about these procedures take
your unit to a Sears or other qualified service dealer.
NOTE: Maintenance, replacement, or repair of the emission
control devices and system may be performed by a Sears
or other qualified service dealer.
In order to assure peak performance of your engine, inspection of
the engine exhaust port may be necessary after 50 hours of
operation. If you notice lost RPM, poor performance or general lack
of acceleration, this service may be required. If you feel your engine
is in need of this inspection, refer service to a Sears or other
qualified service dealer for repair. DO NOT attempt to perform this
process yourself as engine damage may result from contaminants
involved in the cleaning process for the port.
FREQUENCY MAINTENANCE REQUIRED REFER TO
Before using Fill fuel tank with fresh fuel p 8
Check oil while the engine is cold p 8
Every 25 hrs Change oil p 11
Every 25 hrs Clean and re-oil air filter p 11
Every 25 hrs Check rocker arm clearance and adjust p 12
Every 25 hrs Check spark plug condition and gap p 13
Every 50 hrs Clean spark arrestor p 13
CHANGING THE OIL
WARNING:
To avoid serious personal injury, always I
turn the unit off and allow it to cool before you clean or
I
service it.
WARNING:
Wear gloves to prevent injury when
handling unit.
I
Change the oil every 25 hours of operation. Change the oil while the
engine is still warm. The oil will flow freely and carry away more impurities.
1. Remove the oil fill plug.
2. Pour the oil out of the oil fill
hole and into a container by
tipping the unit to the side
(Fig. 22). Allow ample time
for complete drainage.
3. Wipe up any oil residue on the
unit and clean up any oil that \
may have spilled. Dispose of
the oil according to Federal,
State and local regulations.
4. Tilt the unit 30 ° to the side
(Fig. 23). Fig. 22
5. Refill the crankcase with
3.04 fluid ounce (90 ml) of SAE 30 SF, SG, SH oil.
NOTE: Use the bottle and spout saved from initial use to measure
the correct amount of oil. The top of the label on the bottle
measures approximately 3.04 ounces (90 ml) (Fig. 23). Check
the level, See Checking the Oil Level. If the level is low, add
a small amount of oil and recheck. Do not overfill (Fig. 23).
6. Replace the oil fill plug.
AIR FILTER MAINTENANCE
Cleaning the Air Filter
Clean and re-oil the air filter every 25 hours of operation. It is an important
item to maintain. Failure to maintain your air filter properly can result in
poor performance or can cause permanent damage to your engine.
1. Open the air filter cover. Push the locking tab on the under side of
the cover inward. Then pull the air filter cover out and up. (Fig. 24).
Fig. 24
2. Remove the air filter (Fig. 25).
Air Filter
Tabs
Back Plate
Fig. 23
Locking Tab
Fig. 25
3. Wash the filter in detergent and water (Fig. 26). Rinse the filter
thoroughly and allow it to dry.
4. Apply enough clean SAE 30 motor oil to lightly coat the filter
(Fig. 27).
5. Squeeze the filter to spread and remove excess oil (Fig. 28).
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