V-Belts; Transaxle Cooling; Check Transaxle Oil Level; Engine Lubrication - Craftsman 917.273012 Owner's Manual

• Keepbatteryandterminalsclean.
• Keep battery bolts tighL
• Keep small vent holes open.
• Recharge at 6-10 amperes for I hour.
TO CLEAN BATTERY AND TERMINALS
Corrosion and dirt on the battery and ter-
minals can cause the battery to =leak"
power.
- .* Remove terminal guard.
Disconnect BLACK battery cable first
then RED battery 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 =REPLACING
BATTERY" in the MAINTENANCE sec-
tion of this manual).
V-BELTS
Check V-belts for 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
Keep transaxle free from build-uR.of dirt
and chaff which can restrict cooling.
CHECK TRANSAXLE OIL LEVEL
• Block up rear axle securely.
• Remove left rear wheel by removing
hub boils.
• Remove filler plug from transaxle. Oil
level must be even with plug threads. If
necessary, fill with SAE 30 motor oil,
API SF, SG or SH. Replace filler plug.
• Reassemble wheel to hub.
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Only use high quality detergent oil rated
with API service classification SF, SG, or
SH. Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade
according to your expected operating tem-
perature.
S_E VlSCOmTYG_/_S
Change the oil after every 50 hours of
operation or at least once a year if the
tractor is not used for 50 hours in one
year,
Check the crankcase oil level before start-
ing the engine and after each eight (8)
hours of operation. Tighten oil fill cap/dip-
stick securely each time you check the oil
level.
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL
Determine temperature range expected
before oil change. All oil must meet API
service classificationSF, SG, or SH.
• Be sure tractor is on level surface.
• Oil will drain more freely when warm:
• Catch oil in a suitable container.
• Remove oil fill cap/dipstick. Be careful
not to allow dirt to enter the engine
when changing oil.
• Remove drain plug.
• After oil has drained completely, replace
oil drain plug and tighten securely.
• Refill engine with oil through oil fill dip-
stick tube. Pour slowly. Do not overfill.
For approximate capacity see =PROD-
UCT SPECIFICATIONS" on page 5 of
this manual.
• Use gauge on oil fill cap/dipstick for
checking level. Insert dipstick into the
tube and restthe oil fill cap on the tube.
Do not thread the cap onto the tube
when taking reading. Keep oil at
"FULL" line on dipstick. Tighten cap
onto the tube securely when finished.
Drain Plug
,..Oil Fill
Cap/Dipstick
CLEAN AIR SCREEN
Air screen must be kept free of dirt and
chaff to prevent engine damage from over-
heating. Clean with a wire brush or com-
pressed air to remove dirt and stubborn
dded gum fibers.
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