Craftsman 917.258540 Owner's Manual page 18

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CLEAN AIR SCREEN (See Fig. 16) CLEAN AIR INTAKE/COOLING AREAS
Air screen must be kept free of dirt and chaff to prevent
engine damage from overheating, Clean with a wire brush
or' compressed air to remove dirt and stubborn dried gum
fibers_
AIR FILTER (See Fig. 16)
'(our engine will not run properly using a dirty air filter.
Clean the foam pro-cleaner after every 25 hours of opera-
tion or every season° Service paper cartridge every 100
hours of operation or every season, whichever occurs first.
Service air cleaner more often under' dusty conditions.
• Remove knob and cover'.
o Remove wing nut and air cleaner from base.
TO SERVICE PRE-CLEANER
° Slide foam pre_cleaner off cartridge..
• Wash it in liquid detergent and water.
. Squeeze it dry in a clean cloth.
• Saturate it in engine oil., Wrap it in clean, absorbent
cloth and squeeze to remove excess oilo
TO SERVICE CARTRIDGE
° Gently tap the flat side of the paper cartridge to dis-
lodge dirt. Do not wash the paper cartridge or use
pressurized air, as this will damage the cartridge,
Replace a dirty, bent, or damaged cartridge.
° Reinstall the pre-cleaner (cleaned and oiled) over the
paper cartridge.
° Reassemble air cleaner, wing nut, cover and tighten
knob securely.
To insure proper cooling, make sure the grass screen,
coolingfins, and other external surfaces of the engine are
kept clean at all times,
Every 100 hours of operation (more often under extremely
dusty, dirty conditions), remove the blower housing and
other cooling shrouds. Clean the cooling fins and external
surfaces as necessary. Make sure the cooling shrouds are
reinstalled.,
NOTE; Operating the engine with a blocked grass screen,
dirty or plugged cooling fins, and/or cooling shrouds re-
moved will cause engine damage due to overheating.
MUFFLER
inspectand replace corroded muffler and spark arrestor (if
equipped) as it could create a fire hazard and/or damage.
SPARK PLUGS
Replace spark plugs at the beginning of each mowing
season or after every I00 hours of operation, whichever
occursfirst. Spark p[ug type and gap setting are shown in
"PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS" on page 3 of this manual.
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