Maintenance And Adjustments; Off-Season Storage - MTD 300 Series Operator's Manual

Maintenance& Adjustments
Maintenance
General Recommendations
Always observe safety rules when performing any type of
maintenance.
The warranty on this snow thrower does not cover items
that have been subjected to operator abuse or negligence.
To receive full value from the warranty, operator must
maintain the snow thrower as instructed in this manual.
Periodically check all fasteners and hardware to make sure
these are tight.
i_i WARNING! Before servicing, repairing, lubricating,
or inspecting, disengage all controls and stop
engine. Wait until all moving parts have come to a
complete stop. Disconnect spark plug wire and
ground it against the engine to prevent unintended
starting. Always wear safety glasses during
operation or while performing any adjustments or
repairs.
Engine
Listed below are general recommendations about maintaining
your snow thrower engine. For further details, refer to the
accompanying engine manual.
1. Before operating snow thrower, check the oil level.
2. Change engine oil after first two hours of operation and
every 25 hours thereafter.
3. Clean spark plug and reset the electrode gap to 0.030"
at least once a season or every 100 hours of operation;
replace every 200 hours of operation.
Tire Pressure
Refer to the Assembly & Set-up section for instructions on
checking and adjusting the tire pressure.
Check V-Belts
Follow instructions below to check condition of drive belts every
S0 hours of operation.
1. Remove the plastic belt cover on the front of the engine
by removing the self-tapping screw and pressing the
plastic tabs to release the belt cover. See Fig. 7-1 in the next
section of this manual.
2. Visually inspect for frayed, cracked, or excessively worn out
belts. Replace, if necessary, following instructions in the
Service section of this manual.
ShavePlate and Skid Shoes
The shave plate and skid shoes on the bottom of the snow
thrower are subject to wear. These should be checked
periodically and replaced when necessary
1. To replace skid shoes, remove two carriage bolts and nuts
securing each skid shoe to the auger housing, See Fig. 6-1.
\
\
NOTE: Augers no t shown for clarity
Figure 6-1
2. Reassemble new skid shoes with hardware just removed.
Make sure the skid shoes are adjusted to be level.
3. To remove shave plate: Remove both skid shoes and
hardware including carriage bolts and nuts which attach
shave plate to the snow thrower housing. For location of
shave plate, see Fig. 6-1.
4. Reassemble new shave plate, making sure heads of the
carriage bolts are to the inside of the housing.
5. Reinstall skid shoes. Tighten securely.
Off-Season Storage
If the snow thrower will not be used for 30 days or longer, or if it
is the end of the snow season when the last possibility of snow
is gone, the equipment needs to be stored properly. Follow
storage instructions below to ensure top performance from the
snow thrower for many more years.
1. Store the equipment in a clean, dry area.
2. If storing the snow thrower in an unventilated area,
rustproof the machine using a light oil or silicone to coat
the snow thrower.
3. Clean the exterior of the engine and the snow thrower.