Craftsman 917.258532 Owner's Manual page 18

CU SIBILITiES
.................................................. ,11111 iii iii iiiii i
ENGINE BATTERY
Your tractor has a battery charging system which is suffi-
cient for normal use+ However, periodic charging of the
battery with an automotive charger will extend its life+
• Keep battery and terminats clean.
- Keep battery bolts tight,
• Keep small vent holes open.
o Recharge at 6-10 amperes for 1 hour.
TO CLEAN BATI'ERY AND TERMINALS
Corrosion and dirt on the battery and terminals can cause
the battery to "leak" power,,
° Open battery box door,
• Disconnect BLACK battery cable first then RED bat-
tery cable and remove battery from tractor:
= Rinse the battery with plain water and dry,+
° Clean terminals and battery cable ends with wire brush
until bright,,
• Coat terminals with grease or petroleum jelly,.
= Reinstall battery (See "CONNECT BATTERY" in the
Assembly section of this manual).
V-BELTS
Check V-beEtsfor deterioration and wear after 100 hours of
operation and replace if necessary+ The belts are not
adjustable, Replace belts if they begin to slip from wear°
TRANSAXLE COOLING
The fan and cooling fins of transmission shouJd be kept
clean to assure proper cooling,.
Do not attempt to clean fan or transmission while engine is
running or while the transmission is hot,
° Inspect cooling fan to be sure fan blades are intact and
clean,,
• Inspect cooling fins for' dirt, grass clippings 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 transaxle was sealed at the factory and fluid mainte-
nance is not required forthe life of the transaxle, Should the
transaxle ever leak or require servicing, contact you r near-
est authorized service center/department,,
LUBRICATION
Only use high quality detergent oil rated with AP! service
classification SF, SG or SH+ Select the oil's SAE viscosity
grade according to your expected operating temperature+
SAE VISCOSITY GRADES
•30 '+ +20_ -10" 10" 20+ 30" 40+
TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OiL CHANGE
FIG. 16
NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils (5W30, 10W30 etc,)
improve starting in cold weather, these mufti-viscosity oils
will result in increased oil consumption when used above
32°F. Check your-engine oil level more frequently to avoid
possible engine damage from running low on oil+
Change the oil after every 25 hours of operation or at least
once ayear'if the tractor is not used for25 hours in one year.
Check the crankcase oil level before starting the engine
and after each eight (8) hours of operation,, Tighten oil fill
cap/dipstick securely each time you check the oil level
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL (See Figs, 16 and 17)
Determine temperatu re range expected before oi! change.
All oil must meet API service classification SG, SG or SH
• Be sure tractor is on level surface,.
• Oil will drain more freely when warm,
° Catch oil in a suitable container,.
o Remove oil fill cap/dipstick. Be careful not to allow dirt
to enter the engine when changing oil,,
• Remove drain plug
o After oil has drained completely, replace oil drain plug
and tighten secureiy,
• Refill engine with oil through oil fill dipstick tube. Pour
slowly. Do not overfill For approximate capacity see
"PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS" on page 3 of this
manual.
° Use gauge on oil fill cap/dipstick for checking level, Be
sure dipstick cap is t+ghtened securely for accurate
reading+ Keep oil at "FULL" line on dipstick.
18
CAP/DIPSTICK
OIL DRAIN
PLUG
FIG. 17