V-Belts; Transaxle Cooling; Transaxle Pump Fluid; Engine Lubrication - Craftsman 944.604860 Owner's Manual

MAINTENANCE
TO CLEAN BA'I-FERY AND TERMINALS
Corrosion and dirt on the battery and terminals can cause
the battery to "leak" power.
• 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
Assembty section 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
The transmission fan and cooling fins should 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. To prevent pos-
sible damage to seals, do not use high pressure water or
steam to clean transaxle.
• 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 cool-
ing fins.
TRANSAXLE PUMP FLUID
The transaxle was sealed at the factory and fluid mainte-
nance is not required for the life of the transaxle. Should
the transaxle ever leak or require servicing, contact your
nearest authorized service center/department.
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Only use high quality detergent oil rated with API service
classification SF-SJ. Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade
according to your expected operating temperature. When
operating in temperatures below 0° F (-18 ° C) synthetic
oil must be used.
SAE VISCOSITY GRADES
**
r q J,
F-2_
,o 20 _ 4,o 6o, ep 19o
c -_o -2o -_
o i_
2'o 3o ,;o
STARTING TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE
* CAUTION: Air cooled engines run hotter than automotive
engines.The useofnon-syntheticmulti-viscosityoils (5W30,
10W30 etc.) in temperatures above 40 ° F (4 ° C) will result
in higher than normal oil consumption.When using a multi-
viscosity oil, check oil level more frequently.
** CAUTION: SAE 30 oil, if used below 40 ° F (4 ° C), will
result in hard starting and possible engine bore damage
due to inadequate lubrication.
O NOTE: Synthetic oil meeting ILSAC GF-2, API
certificationmark and API service symbol (shown
at left)with "SJ/CF ENERGY CONSERVING" or
O higher, is an acceptable oil at all temperatures.
Use of synthetic oil does not alter required
oil change intervals.
Changetheoilafterevery25 hoursofoperation or at leastonce
a year if the tractoris not used for 25 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. 12 and 13)
Determine temperature range expected before oil change.
All oil must meet API service classification SF-SJ.
• 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 yellow cap from end of drain valve and install
the drain tube onto the fitting.
FIG. 13
Unlock drain valve by pushing inward and turning
counterclockwise.
• To open, pull out on the drain valve.
• 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.
Remove the drain tube and replace the cap onto to the
bottom fitting of the drain valve.
• Refill engine with oil through oil fill dipstick tube. Pour
slowly. Do not overfill. For approximate capacity see
"PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS" section of this manual.
• Use gauge on oil fill cap/dipstick for checking level.
Be sure dipstick cap is tightened securely for accurate
reading. Keep oil at "FULL" line on dipstick.
FIG. 12
17