Craftsman 917.276681 Operator's Manual page 19

TO CLEAN BATTERYAND TERMINALS
Corrosionanddirt on the batteryand termi-
nalscan causethe batteryto "leak"power.
1. DisconnectBLACKbattery cable first
then RED battery cable and remove
battery from tractor.
2. Rinse the battery with plain water and
dry.
3. Cleanterminals and battery cable ends
with wire brush until bright.
4. Coat terminalswith grease or petro-
leumjelly.
5. Reinstallbattery (See "REPLACING
BATTERY"in the SERVICEAND AD-
JUSTMENTSsection of this manual).
TRANSAXLE COOLING
The transmissionfan and cooling fins
shouldbe keptclean to assureproper
cooling.
Do not attemptto clean fan or transmis-
sionwhile engineis runningor while the
transmissionis hot.Topreventpossible
damageto seals, do not use high pressure
water or steam to clean transaxle.
• Inspectcoolingfan to be sure fan blades
are intact and clean.
• Inspectcoolingfins for dirt, grassclip-
pings and other materials. Toprevent
damageto seals, do not use com-
pressed air or high pressuresprayerto
clean cooling fins.
NOTE: Althoughmulti-viscosityoils
(5W30, 10W30etc.) improvestarting in
cold weather,they will result in increased
oil consumptionwhen used above 32°R
Checkyour engine oil level morefrequent-
ly to avoid possibleenginedamagefrom
runninglow on oil.
Changethe oil after every50 hours of op-
eration or at least once a year if the tractor
is not usedfor 50 hours in one year.
Checkthe crankcaseoil level beforestart-
ingthe engine and after each eight (8)
hoursof operation. Tightenoil fill cap/
dipsticksecurelyeach time you check the
oil level.
TO CHANGEENGINEOIL
Determinetemperaturerange expected
beforeoil change. All oil must meet API
serviceclassificationSG-SL.
• Be sure tractor is on level surface.
• Oil will drain more freely when warm.
• Catchoil in a suitablecontainer.
1. Removeoil fill cap/dipstick. Be careful
not to allow dirt to enter the engine
when changingoil.
2. Removeyellow cap from end of drain
valve and install the drain tube onto the
fitting.
TRANSAXLE PUMP FLUID
The transaxle was sealed at the factory Closed
and fluid maintenance is not required for
the life of the transaxle. Should the trans- and
Locked
axle ever leak or require servicing, contact Position
your nearest Sears or other qualified
service center.
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.
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Only use high quality detergent oil rated
with API service classification SG-SL.
Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade
according to your expected operating
temperature.
SAE VISCOSITY GRADES
F _20 0 30 32 40 60 80 100
c -_o -2o -1; ; 1'o _o _o 4o
TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE
oJ_ visccha[tle
Oil Drain Valve
Yellow Cap
Drain Tube
3. Unlock drain valve by pushing inward
slightly and turning counterclockwise.
4. To open, pull out on the drain valve.
5. After oil has drained completely, close
and lock the drain valve by pushing
inward and turning clockwise until the
pin is in the locked position as shown.
6. Remove the drain tube and replace the
cap onto the end of the drain valve.
7. Refill engine with oil through oil fill dip-
stick tube. Pour slowly. Do not overfill.
For approximate capacity see "PROD-
UCT SPECIFICATIONS" section of this
manual.
19