Spark Plug
1. Cleanareaaroundthe sparkplugbase.Do notsandblastspark
plug,Sparkplugshouldbecleanedby scrapingorwire brushing
andwashingwitha commercialsolvent
Removeandinspectthe sparkplug.Checkgap to makesureitis
setat .030".See Figure13.
Electrode Porcelain
_.030 (.76 mm) gap
\
Figure13
3. Replacethesparkplug(Champion®RC12YC)once a season.
Muffler
Temperatureof mufflerandnearbyengineareasmayexceed150°F
(65°0).Avoidcontactwiththeseareas.
• inspectmufflerperiodically,and replaceif necessary.Replace-
mentpartsfor the mufflermustbethe sameand installedin the
samepositionas theoriginalparts.
Clean Engine
• Dailyor beforeeveryuse,cleangrass,chaff oraccumulated
debrisfromengine.Keeplinkage,spring,andcontrolsclean.
Keepareaaroundandbehindmufflerfreeofany combustible
debris.
Keepingenginecleanallowsair movementaroundengine.
• Enginepartsshouldbe keptcleanto reducethe riskof overheat-
ingandignitionof accumulateddebris.
Do notusewaterto cleanengineparts.Watercouldcontaminatefuel
system.Usea brushordry cloth.
Carburetor Adjustment
• Thecarburetoron thisengineisnot adjustable.
LUBRICATION
Beforelubricating,repairing,or inspecting,alwaysdisengagePTO
(BladeEngageLever),moveshift leverintoneutralposition,set
parkingbrake,stopengineandremovekeyto preventunintended
starting.
Pivot Points & Linkage
Lubricateallthe pivotpointsonthe drivesystem,parkingbrakeandlift
linkageatleastonce a seasonwithlightoil.
Rear Wheels
The rearwheelsshouldberemovedfromtheaxlesoncea season.
Lubricatetheaxlesandthe rimswellwithan all-purposegreasebefore
re-installingthem.
Front Axles
Eachend of thetractor'sfrontpivotbar maybeequippedwitha grease
fitting.Lubricatewitha greasegunafterevery25hoursoftractor
operation.
Battery
The batteryissealedandis maintenance-free.Acidlevelscannotbe
checked.
Alwayskeepthe batterycablesandterminalscleanandfreeof
corrosivebuild-up.
Aftercleaningthe batteryandterminals,applya lightcoatof
petroleumjelly orgreaseto bothterminals.
Alwayskeepthe rubberbootpositionedoverthe positiveterminal
to preventshorting.
iMPORTANT: if removingthebatteryfor anyreason,disconnectthe
NEGATIVE(Black)wirefromitsterminalfirst,followedby thePOSI-
TIVE(Red)wire.When re-installingthe battery,alwaysconnectthe
POSITIVE(Red)wireto its terminalfirst,followedbythe NEGATIVE
(Black)wire.Becertainthatthe wiresareconnectedto thecorrect
terminals;reversingthemcouldchangethe polarityandresultin
damageto yourengine'salternatingsystem.
Cleaning Battery
Cleanthebatteryby removingit fromthe tractorandwashingwith
a bakingsodaandwatersolution.Ifnecessary,scrapethe battery
terminalswitha wirebrushto removedeposits.Coatterminalsand
exposedwiringwithgreaseor petroleumjellyto preventcorrosion.
Battery Failures
Somecommoncausesfor batteryfailureare:
incorrectinitialactivation
Overcharging
Freezing
Undercharging
Corrodedconnections
Thesefailuresare NOTcoveredbyyourtractor'swarranty.
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