Tiller Lubrication, Check for OIL Leaks

Section 5: Maintenance

WARNING Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the unit, shut off engine, wait for all parts to come to a complete stop, disconnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug. Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury or property damage.

TILLER LUBRICATION

Proper lubrication of the tiller is an essential part of maintenance. After every 10 operating hours, oil or grease the lubrication points shown in Figures 5-1 and 5-1A and described below.

Use a good quality lubricating oil (#30 weight engine oil is suitable) and a quality general purpose grease (with a metal lubricant, if available).

•Remove wheels, clean wheel shaft (A, Fig. 5-1) and apply thin coating of grease to the shaft.

•Grease back, front and sides of depth regulator lever (B, Fig. 5-1).

•Remove tines, clean tine shafts (C, Fig. 5-1). Inspect for rust, rough spots or burrs (look around holes). File or sand smooth, coat ends of shaft with grease.

•Oil the threads on the handlebar height adjustment screws and the handlebar attaching screws (D, Fig. 5-1).

•Shifting Mechanism. Lightly oil pivot points for smooth operation (E, Fig. 5-1A).

A	C
	C
Figure 5-1
E
Figure 5-1A

CHECK FOR OIL LEAKS

Before each use, check your tiller for signs of an oil leak – usually a dirty, oily accumulation either on the unit or on the floor where it has been parked.

A little seepage around a cover or oil seal is usually not a cause for alarm. However, if the oil drips overnight then immediate attention is needed as ignoring a leak can result in severe transmission damage.

If a cover is leaking, try tightening any loose screws. If the screws are tight, a new gasket or oil seal may be required. If the leak is from around a shaft and oil seal, the oil seal probably needs to be replaced. See your authorized dealer or contact the factory for service or advice.

IMPORTANT: Never operate the tiller if the transmission is low on oil. Check the oil level after every 30 hours of operation and whenever there is any oil leakage.

CHECK HARDWARE

Check for loose or missing hardware after every 10 operating hours. Tighten or replace hardware before using the tiller. Be sure to check the screws underneath the tiller hood (lift the hood flap) that secure the transmission cover and the depth regulator lever to the transmission.

CHECK TIRE PRESSURE (on machines equipped with pneumatic tires)

Check the air pressure in both tires. Deflate or inflate both tires evenly from 15-to-20 PSI (pounds per square inch). Be sure that both tires have the same air pressure or the unit will tend to pull to one side.

NOTE: Your tiller may not be equipped with pneumatic tires, eliminating the need for air pressure checks.

TRANSMISSION GEAR OIL SERVICE

Check the transmission gear oil level after every 30 hours of operation or whenever you notice any oil leak. Operating the tiller when the transmission is low on oil can result in severe damage.

A. To Check the Transmission

Gear Oil Level:

1.Check the gear oil level when the trans- mission is cool. Gear oil will expand in warm operating temperatures and this expansion will provide an incorrect oil level reading.

2.With the tiller on level ground, adjust the Depth Regulator Lever up or down to the notch that makes the tiller level..

3.Remove the oil fill plug (A, Fig. 5-2) from the transmission housing and look into the oil fill hole. You will see the main drive shaft on one side of the hole.

4.The gear oil level is correct if the gear oil is approximately half way up the side of the drive shaft.

5.If the gear oil level is low, add gear oil as described next. If the gear oil level is okay, securely replace the oil fill plug. IMPORTANT: Do not operate the tiller if the gear oil level is low. Doing so will result in severe damage to the transmis- sion components.

6.If adding only a few ounces of gear oil, use API rated GL-4 or GL-5 transmis- sion gear oil having a viscosity of SAE 140, SAE 85W-140 or SAE 80W-90. If refilling an empty transmission, use only GL-4 transmission gear oil having a viscosity of SAE 85W-140 or SAE 140.

NOTE: Do not use automatic transmission fluid or engine oil in the transmission.

7.While checking frequently to avoid

overfilling, slowly add gear oil into the oil fill hole until it reaches the halfway point on the drive shaft.

8.Securely replace the oil fill plug.