Craftsman 917.254750 Owner's Manual page 16

CUSTO RESPONSi mLmT ES
BATTERY (See Fig. 12)
Your tractor has a battery charging system which is suffi-
cient for normat use. However, periodic charging of the
battery with an automotive charger will extend it's life.
• Acid solution level in each battery ceil should be even
with bottoms of vent wel{s. Add only distilled or iron free
water if necessary. Do not overfill.
• Keep battery and terminals clean.
• Keep battery bolts tight,
• Keep vent caps tight and small vent holes in caps open.
• Recharge at 6 amperes for 1 hour.
TO CLEAN BATTERY 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
• Wash battery with solution of four tablespoons of
baking soda to one gallon of water. Be careful not to get
the soda solution into the cells.
• 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 "INSTALL BATTERY" in the
Assembly section of this manual).
CUT AWAY VIEW
VENT
WELL
BATTERY
LEVEL
FIG. 12
V-BELTS
Check V-belts for deterioration and wear after I00 hours of
operation and rep{ace if necessary. The be{ts are not
adjustable_ Replace belts if they begin to slip from wear.
TRANSAXLE COOLING
Keep transaxle free from build-up of dirt and chaff which
can restrict cooling.
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Only use high quality detergent o!1 rated with API service
classification SG Select the oils SAE viscosity grade
according to your expected operating temperature,
SAE VISCOSITY GRADES
FIG. 13
NOTE; Although muLti-viscosity oils (5W30, 10W30, etc.)
improve starting in cold weather, these multi-viscosity oils
will result in increased oil consumption when used aboe
32°C. Check your engine oil level more frequently to avoid
possible engine damage from running low on oil,
Change the oil after the first two hours of operation and
every 25 hours thereafter or at least once a year if the
tractor is not used for 25 hours in one year,
Check the crankcase oil level before starting the engine
and after each eight (8) hours of continuous use. Tighten
oil fill cap/dipstick securely each time you check the oil
level
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL (See Figs. 13 and 14)
Determine temperature range expected before oil change
All oil must meet AP! service classification SG.
• Be sure vehicle is on level surface.
• Oil will drain more freely when warm
- Catch oil in a suitable container
• Remove oil fill dipstick Be careful not to aNow dirt to
enter the engine when changing oil
• Remove drain plug.
• After oil has drained completely, replace oi! drain plug
and tighten securely
• 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 dipstick for checking level Be sure
dipstick cap is tightened securely for accurate reading
Keep oil at "FULL" line on dipstick
COVER KN(
ENGINE OIL FILLER
CAP AND DIPSTICK
AIR
AIR SCRE!
AIR
CLEANER
BODY
OIL DRAIN PLUG
FIG. 14
16