Section 7: Maintaining Your Garden Tractor - Cub Cadet 1222 Operator's Manual

SECTION 7: MAINTAINING YOUR GARDEN TRACTOR

WARNING:
Before performing any
maintenance or repairs, disengage PTO, move
shift lever into neutral position, set parking
brake, stop engine and remove key to prevent
unintended starting.
Engine
The engine manual contains instructions for engine
maintenance. Some general recommendations are
listed below. For further details about performing these
tasks, refer to the engine manual.
NOTE: Maintenance and/or repair of emission control
devices and systems on this tractor, done at customer's
expense, may be performed by any engine repair
establishment. Warranty-related repairs must be
performed by a Cub Cadet dealer only.
• Check engine oil level before each use. Fill up as
necessary. Follow instructions below to change oil.
• Service pre-cleaner, if so equipped, and cartridge/
air cleaner element as instructed in the engine
manual.
• Clean spark plugs and reset the gap once a
season. Spark plug replacement is recommended
at the start of each mowing season. Refer to the
engine manual for correct plug type and gap
specifications.
Changing Engine Oil
• Raise the tractor's hood gently.
• Unscrew the oil fill cap and remove the dipstick
from the oil fill tube. See Figure 11.
Oil Fill Cap /
Dipstick
Drain Port
Figure 11
• Pop open the cap at the end of the oil drain valve
and expose the drain port as shown in Figure 11.
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Head Lamp
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Cleaning Engine and Deck
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IMPORTANT:
your tractor is not recommended. Direct water pressure
on electrical components and the engine could reduce
life of the tractor and its serviceability.
Lubrication
Oil Drain Hose
Engine
Lubricate the engine with motor oil as instructed in the
engine manual .
16
Push the oil drain hose, originally packed with this
manual, on to the oil drain port. See Figure 11.
Route the opposite end of the hose into an
appropriate oil collection container with minimum
64 oz. capacity.
Push oil drain valve in slightly, then rotate counter-
clockwise and pull outward to begin draining oil.
Service oil filter as instructed in engine manual.
After the oil has drained completely, disconnect
hose and shut off the cap on the oil drain valve.
Refill engine with fresh motor oil of correct grade.
Re-insert the dipstick and secure the oil fill cap.
Flip the tractor hood back to operating position.
WARNING:
If the engine has been recently
run, the engine, muffler and surrounding metal
surfaces will be hot and can cause burns to the
skin. Allow the tractor to cool and use caution
when changing the lamp bulbs.
Lift the hood and locate the headlight wire harness
and lamp sockets
To remove the bulb & socket from the reflector
housing, simply grasp the socket and gently rotate
it 1/4 turn clockwise.
After replacing the bulb, align the tab of the socket
with the notch of the reflector and gently rotate it 1/4
turn counterclockwise.
Promptly wipe off any fuel or oil spilled on the
machine.
Do not allow grass, leaves, and dirt to accumulate
around the cooling fins of the engine or on any
other part of the machine, especially the pulleys
and other moving parts.
The use of a pressure washer to clean
WARNING:
Before lubricating, repairing, or
inspecting, always disengage PTO, move shift
lever into neutral position, set parking brake,
stop engine and remove key to prevent
unintended starting.