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20
Maintaining Your Lawn Tractor
WARNING: Before performing any
maintenance procedures, inspections,
or repairs, disengage PTO, set parking
brake, stop engine and remove key to
prevent unintended starting.
Checking Engine Oil Level
Check engine oil level before each use as follows:
• Place the tractor on a flat surface and stop the
engine. Allow the engine to cool long enough for the
oil to drain into the engine sump.
• Clean the area around the oil dipstick/fill cap.
unscrew the dipstick/fill cap from the fill tube on the
engine. Remove the dipstick and wipe the oil off.
Reinsert the dipstick into the tube and rest the cap
on the tube. Do not screw the cap onto the tube. See
Figure 15.
• Pull the dipstick out and check the oil level. The oil
level should be up to, but not over, the “FULL” of “F”
mark on the dipstick. See Figure 16.
• If the level is low, add oil of the proper type (See
following Viscosity Chart), up to the “FULL” or “F”
mark on the dipstick. Always check the level with the
dipstick before adding more oil. Do not over fill the
crankcase.
6
Maintaining
Your 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.
Before lubricating,
repairing, or
inspecting, always
disengage PTO, set
parking brake, stop
engine and remove
key to prevent
unintended starting.
IMPORTANT: Never operate the engine with the oil level
below the “ADD” or “L” mark, or above the “FULL” or “F”
mark, on the dipstick.
Changing Engine Oil & Filter
Change the engine oil and oil filter after every 100 hours
of operation.
• Run the engine for a short time to warm the engine
oil. The oil will flow more freely and carry away more
impurities.
• Locate the oil drain valve on the right side of the
engine, beneath the starter motor. Refer to Figure 15.
• Pop open the protective cap on the end of the oil
drain valve to expose the drain port. Push the oil drain
hose (packed with this manual) onto the oil drain port.
Route the opposite end of the hose into an appropriate
oil collection container with a capacity great enough to
collect the used oil.
• Remove the oil fill cap/dipstick from the oil fill tube.
Push the drain valve in slightly and turn counterclock-
wise until it stop, then pull the valve fully outward to
open the valve and drain the oil. Refer to Figure 15.
• After the oil has finished draining, push the oil drain
valve back in, rotate it clockwise to lock the valve
closed. Remove the drain hose and re-cap the end of
the oil drain valve to keep debris from entering.
• From the left side of the engine, remove the oil filter
using an automotive type oil filter wrench (See Figure
17). Wipe the filter adapter with a clean cloth.
• Place the new oil filter in a shallow pan with open end
up. Pour new oil, of the proper type, into the center
Figure 15
Figure 16
Figure 17
F
L
ADD FULL
Operating
Range
Full Mark
10w30
-30º -20º -10º 0º
10º
20º 30º 40º
(ºC)
0º
20º
40º
60º
80º 100º-20º
(ºF)
32º
5W20, 5W30
Recommended Viscosity Grades
Oil Fill Tube
Oil Drain Valve
Dipstick/Oil Fill Cap
Cap
Drain
Drain
Hose
Valve