Craftsman 917.25023 Operator's Manual page 18

TOCLEAN B ATTERY AND TERMINALS
Corrosion and dirt o nthe battery and termi-
nals c an cause thebattery to"leak" power.
1. Disconnect BLACK b attery cable f irst
then RED battery cable a nd remove
battery from tractor.
2. Rinsethe battery with plain w ater and dry.
3. Clean t erminals and battery cable
e nds
with wire brush until bright.
4. Coat terminals with grease or petro-
leum jelly.
5. Reinstall battery (See "REPLACING
BATTERY in the SERVICE AND AD-
JUSTMENTS section of this manual),
TRANSAXLE MAINTENANCE
Keep transaxle free from build-up of dirt and
chaff which can restrict cooling.
Do not attempt to clean transaxle while
engine is running or while the transax[e is
hot. To prevent possible damage to seals,
do not use high pressure water or steam to
clean transaxle,
V-BELTS
Check V-belts for deterioration and wear after
100 hours of operation and replace if neces-
sary. The belts are not adjustable. Replace
belts if they begin to slip from wear.
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Only use high quality detergent oil rated
with APt service classification SG-SL,
Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade
according to your expected operating
temperature.
SAE VISCOSITY GRADES
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL
Determine temperature range expected
before oil change, All oil must meet API
service classification SG-SL.
• Be sure tractor is on level surface.
• Oil will drain more freely when warm,
• Catch oil in a suitable container,
t. Remove oil fill cap/dipstick, Be careful
not to allow dirt to enter the engine when
changing oil.
2. Slide oil drain extension from the docking
position on the engine blower housing
and extend out_#ardfrom engine,
Docking
sition Oil Drain
3, To open, twist cap counter-clockwise
4. After oil is drained completely, replace
cap and twist clockwise until it stops.
5. Re-attach oil drain extension to engine
blower housing.
6. Refill engine with oil through oil filldipstick
tube. Pour slowly. Do not overfill. For ap-
proximate capacity see "PRODUCT SP-
ECI FICATIQNS" section of this manual.
7. Use gauge on oil fill cap/dipstick for
checking bevel, For accurate reading,
tighten dipstick cap securely onto the
tube before removing dipstick, Keep oil
at "FULt2 line on dipstick. Tighten cap
onto the tube securely when finished.
NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils (5W30,
IOW30 etc.) improve starting in cold weather,
they will result in increased oil consumption
when used above 32°F/0°C. Check your
engine oil level more frequently to avoid
possible engine damage from running low
on oil.
Change the oil after every 50 hours of op-
eration or at least once a year if the tractor
is not used for 50 hours in one year.
Checkthe 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.
ENGINE OIL FILTER
Replace the engine oil filter every season
or every other oil change if the tractor is
used more than 100 hours in one year.
AIR FILTER
Your engine will not run properly using
a dirty air filter. Service air cleaner more
often under dusty conditions. See engine
manual.
18