20 601457_1107
can cause a dusted engine. It only takes a few grams of ingested dirt over the
normal service life of an engine to cause a dusted engine.
Do not clean element, replace with a new element only. Cleaning used
air filter elements, through improper cleaning procedures, can get dust on the
inside of the filter causing dirt ingestion and engine failure.
It is important to note that whenever an air filter element is cleaned by
any method, the person or company performing the cleaning assumes
responsibility for the integrity of the filter from then on. The warranty for
air filters expires upon cleaning or servicing in any manner because the
condition of the filter after servicing is completely out of their control.
Therefore, on a dust ingested engine failure, there will be no warranty
consideration if the air filter element has been cleaned or serviced in any
manner.
A partially dirty air filter element works better than a new element.
Therefore, a dirty filter element is not bad for the engine unless it is exces-
sively restricting the air flow and engine performance is affected. The reason
is simple. The media in the filter must be porous to allow air to pass through
it. When dirty air passes through the filter, the dirt plugs some of the holes in
the media and actually acts as part of the filter media. When the next round
of dirt enters, the first dirt helps filter out even smaller particles making the
filter more efficient at stopping dirt from entering the engine. This is referred
to as barrier filtration.
Of course, at some point the filter media becomes too clogged to allow
air to pass.
The mowing conditions will determine the frequency of air filter element
changing.
General engine maintenance
Detailed instructions and recommendations for break-in and regular
maintenance are specified in the Engine Owner’s manual. Please refer to this
manual for engine servicing, lubricating oil levels with quality and viscosity
recommendations, bolt torques, etc. The engine warranty is backed by the
manufacturer. Special attention should be paid to applicable data which will
not be duplicated here.
Belts
Inspect belts frequently for wear and serviceability. Replace a belt that
shows signs of severe cuts, tears, separation, weather checking and cracking,
or burns caused by slipping. Slight raveling of belt covering does not indicate
failure, trim ravelings with a sharp knife.
WARNING: If the pump belt fails, loss of control will occur
especially when operating on a slope. If you lose steering con-
trol while operating the machine, place the steering control
levers in the park brake position immediately. Inspect the
machine and involve your Hustler dealer to resolve the
problem before continuing to operate.
Inspect the belt pulley grooves and flanges for wear. A new belt, or one
in good condition, should never run against the bottom of the groove.
Replace the pulley when this is the case, otherwise belt will lose power and
slip excessively.
Never pry a belt to get it on a pulley as this will cut or damage the fibers
of the belt covering.
Keep oil and grease away from belts, and never use belt dressings. Any
of these will destroy the belt composition in a very short time.
Mower blade maintenance
Check the mower blades daily, they are the key to power efficiency and
well groomed turf. Keep them sharp, a dull blade will tear rather than cut the
grass, leaving a brown ragged top on the grass within a few hours. A dull
blade also requires more power from the engine.
Replace any blade which is bent, cracked or broken.
WARNING: Never attempt to straighten a bent blade by heat-
ing, or weld a cracked or broken blade as the blade may break
and cause serious injury. Replace worn or damaged blades.
DANGER: Never work with blades while engine is running or
deck clutch switch is engaged (on). Always place deck clutch
switch in the disengaged position, place steering control levers
in the park brake position and turn engine off and disconnect
negative battery cable. Block up mower when you must work
under it. Wear gloves when handling blades. Always check for
blade damage if mower strikes rock, branch or other foreign
object during mowing!
WARNING: Always wear adequate eye protection when grind-
ing mower blades.
Always place deck clutch switch in the disengaged position, place steer-
ing control levers in the park brake position and turn engine off and discon-
nect negative battery cable. Block up mower when you must work under it.
Figure 4-5
Figure 4-6
Resharpening
pattern
Do not sharpen to original pattern (below).
It is easier to get a straight cutting edge following
the resharpening pattern show above.
Original edge
Original edge
Air cleaner