Maintenance - MTD 214-381-000 Owner's Manual

worked in with the mulch materials. Breaking up
leaves and straw and mixing it with several inches
of soil causes the soil to hold moisture longer and
allows proper aeration of the plant root system. It
also retards the growth of weeds.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and various
state and local agencies offer published booklets
and expert advice on all phases of gardening.
They should be consulted regarding soil informa¬
tion, planting dates, and the most satisfactory
varieties of crop for your particular area.
I
ADJUSTMENTS
^ WARNING {
Disconnect the spark plug wire and
ground against the engine before
performing any adjustments, repairs
or maintenance.
CLUTCH CONTROL ROD
To adjust the clutch control rod, refer to clutch
control rod installation, step number 3, under
Assembly Instructions.
WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS
To adjust the wheel yoke and wheel position, refer
to "How To Use Your Tiller'' on page 8.
DEPTH BAR ADJUSTMENT
To adjust the depth bar, refer to "How To Use Your
Tiller" on page 8.
CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENT
If any adjustments are made to the
engine while the engine is running
(e.g. carburetor), disengage all
clutches and tines. Keep clear of all
moving parts. Be careful of heated
surfaces and muffler.
Do not make unnecessary adjustments. Factory
settings are correct for most applications. If ad¬
justments are needed, refer to the separate engine
manual packed with your tiller.
LUBRICATION
IMPORTANT
Always stop engine and disconnect
spark plug wire before cleaning,
lubricating or doing any kind of
work on tiller.
CHAIN CASE
The chain case is pre-lubricated and sealed at the
factory. It requires no checking unless the chain
case is disassembled. To fill with grease, lay the
left half of the chain case on its side, add 14
ounces of Plastilube #0 grease and assemble the
right half to it. This grease can be obtained at your
nearest authorized dealer.
MAINTENANCE
Disconnect the spark plug wire and
ground against the engine before
performing any adjustments, repairs
or maintenance.
ENGINE OIL
Check oil level every five operating hours. Make
sure oil level is maintained full to point of
overflowing.
Change the oil in the crankcase after the first two
hours of operation of your new engine and after
each 25 hours of use thereafter to insure proper
lubrication of internal parts. Take care to remove
dirt around filler plug. Refer to figure 12.
To change oil, remove drain plug while engine is
warm and tip the tiller forward. Replace drain plug.
Remove oil filler cap and refill with new oil of pro¬
per grade. Replace filler cap.
AIR CLEANER
The air cleaner prevents damaging dirt, dust, etc.
from entering the carburetor and being forced into
the engine and is important to engine life and per¬
formance.
To service air cleaner, refer to the separate engine
manual packed with your unit.
Never run your engine without air cleaner com¬
pletely assembled.
CLEAN ENGINE
This is an air-cooled engine which operates most
efficiently when the cooling fins are clean.
Clean cylinder fins and underside of tank or hous¬
ing thoroughly of all accumulated grass and
debris.
SPARK PLUG
The spark plug should be cleaned and the gap
reset at least once a season or when oil is
changed. Spark plug replacement is recom¬
mended at the start of each mowing season;
check engine manual for correct plug type and
gap specification.
11