Maintenance - Craftsman 917.203930 Operator's Manual

TO CLEAN BATTERY AND TERMINALS
Corrosion and dirt on the battery and terminals
can cause the battery to "leak" power.
1. Remove terminal guard.
2. Disconnect BLACK battery cable first
then RED battery cable and remove
battery from tractor.
3. Rinse the battery with plain water and
dry.
4. Clean terminals and battery cable ends
with wire brush until bright.
5. Coat terminals with grease or petroleum
jelly.
6. Reinstall battery (See "REPLACING
BATTERY" in the Service and Adjust-
ments section of this manual).
TRANSAXLE MAINTENANCE
The transaxle was sealed at the factory and
fluid maintenance is not required for the life
of the transaxle. Should the transaxle ever
leak or require servicing, contact your near-
est Sears or other qualified service center.
V-BELTS
Check V-belts for deterioration and wear after
100 hours of operation and replace if neces-
sary. 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 -2; -1; ; 1; _o _o 4;
TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE
Change the oil after every 50 hours of operation
or at least once a year if the tractor is not used
for 50 hours in one year.
Check the crankcase oil level before starting the
engine and after each eight (8) hours of operation.
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL
Determine temperature range expected
before oil change. All oil must meet API
service classification SG-SL
• Ensure tractor is on level surface.
• Oil will drain more freely when warm.
• Catch oil in a suitable container.
LOWER DASH COVER REMOVAL
1. Raise hood.
2. Remove fastener from lower dash cover.
CAUTION: Remove lower dash cover care-
fully to ensure cover tabs are not broken.
3. Slide lower dash cover up to release
cover tabs from tapered slots in lower
dash and remove.
Lower Dash
Cover
4. Remove oil fill cap/dipstick. Be careful
not to allow dirt to enter the engine when
changing oil.
5. Removeyellowcapfromendofdrainvalve
and install the drain tube onto the fitting.
6. Unlock drain valve by pushing inward
and turning counterclockwise.
7. To open, pull out on the drain valve.
Closed
and
Locked
Oil Drain Valve
Drain
Tube
Yellow Ca
8. 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.
9. Removethedraintubeand replacethecap
ontotothe bottom fitting of the drain valve.
10. Refill engine with oil through oil fill dipstick
tube. Pour slowly. Do not overfill. For
approximate capacity see "PRODUCT
SPECI FI CATIONS" section ofthis manual.
11.Use gauge on oil fill cap/dipstick for
checking level. Insert dipstick into the
tube and rest the oil fill cap on the tube.
Do not thread the cap onto the tube when
taking reading. Keep oil at "FULl" line
on dipstick. Tighten cap onto the tube
securely when finished.
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