MTD 54M Operator's Manual page 18

WARNING
Shut off the engine
beforeperforming
type of maintenance,
ro.roveo ,oo!doo o!
start-upi d isconnect
t,e parkp boot:
Beforetipping engine
drain oil, drain fuel
from tank by running
engine until fuel tank
is empty;
iMPORTANT:Be sure
to check engineon a
level surfaceW th the
engine stopped Drain
i
the oil while the engine
is still warm to assure
rapid and complete
draining:
i
WARNING:Shut off the engine before
performingany maintenance. To
preventaccidental start-up, disconnect
the spark plug boot.
IMPORTANT:If enginemustbe tippedto transport
equipmentor to inspector removegrass,keepspark
plug sideof engine up.Transporting or tippingengine
spark plugdownmay causesmoking,hardstarting,
spark plugfouling,or oil saturationof air cleaner.
Maintenance Schedule
Periodicinspectionand adjustment o f theengine is
essentialif high levelperformanceis to be maintained.
Regularmaintenancewillalso ensurea long servicelife.
The requiredserviceintervalsand the kindof mainte-
nanceto be performed are describedin thetable below.
Followthe hourlyor calendarintervals,whicheveroccur
first. Morefrequentserviceis requiredwhenoperatingin
adverseconditions.
Tasks
Change Engine
Oil
Service Air
Cleaner
First5 hours
v"
Service Spark
Plug
Clean Finger ........
Guard
Eachuseor
every5 hours
CleanAround
Muffler
Everyseason
or 25 hours
Everyseason
or 50 hours
v"
Every season
or 100 hours
v"
Service Dates
1-Servicemorefrequentlywhenusedin dustyareas.
ff
If operatingunder heavyload or highambienttemperature.
f
Oil Fill Cap
P
Drain
Figure 10-1: C hanging t heoil.
Oil Service
• Checkoil level regularly.
J
Be sure correctoil levelis maintained.Checkevery
five hoursor daily beforestartingengine.See oil
checkingprocedurein the Operationsection.
Oil Change
IMPORTANT: B e sureto checkengineon a level surface
with the enginestopped.Drainthe oil whilethe engine is
still warmto assurerapidand completedraining.
Removeoil fill cap and drain oil by eitherremoving
drain plugor turningmoweron its side (air cleanerside
up) and allowingoil to drain intoa suitablecontainer.
See Figure10-1.
WARNING: Before tipping engineor
equipmentto drain oil, drain fuel from
tank by runningengine until fuel tank is
empty.
2. Reinstallthe drain plug(if removed),and tightenit
securely.
3. Refillwith the recommended oil (see Operation
section)and checkthe oil level.See Figure10-1.
4. Reinstallthe oil fill cap securely.
18