18Section 5: Maintenance
WARNING
Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the machine, shut off engine, wait for all moving 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.
4.The gear oil level is correct if the gear oil is approximately halfway up the side of the main 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.
B
A 
B 
Figure 5-2: Remove oil fill plug (A) to check gear oil level and to add gear oil. Remove four cover screws (B) to drain gear oil.
6.If adding only a few ounces of gear oil, use API rated
IMPORTANT: Do not use automatic trans- mission fluid or motor oil in the transmis- sion.
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.
B. To Drain the Transmission Gear Oil:
The transmission gear oil does not need to be changed unless it has been contami- nated with dirt, sand or metal particles.
1.Drain gasoline from the fuel tank or run the engine until the fuel tank is empty. See “DANGER” statement below.
DANGER
Gasoline is highly flammable and its vapors are explosive. Follow these safety practices to prevent personal injury or property damage from fire or explosion.
•Allow the engine and muffler to cool for at least two minutes before draining the tiller’s gasoline tank.
•Do not allow open flames, sparks, matches or smoking in the area.
•Wipe away spills and push tiller away from spilled fuel.
•Use only an approved fuel container and store it safely out of the reach of children.
•Do not store gasoline in an area where its vapors could reach an open flame or spark, or where ignition sources are present (such as hot water and space heaters, furnaces, clothes dryers, stoves, electric motors, etc.)
2.Drain the oil from the engine.
3.Remove four screws (B, Figure
4.Remove the left-side wheel.
5.Tilt the
6.Reinstall the wheel.
7.Install a new gasket (do not reuse old gasket) and reinstall the transmission cover.
8.Refill the transmission using
9.Refill the engine with motor oil and replenish the fuel tank with gasoline.
BOLO TINES
The bolo tines will wear with use and should be inspected at the beginning of each tilling season and after every 30 operating hours. The tines can be replaced either individually or as a com- plete set. See the Parts List pages for tine identification and part numbers.
A. Tine Inspection:
With use, the tines will become shorter, narrower and pointed. Badly worn tines will result in a loss of tilling depth, and reduced effectiveness when chopping up and turning under organic matter.
B. Removing/Installing a Single Tine:
1.With the engine shut off and the spark plug wire disconnected, remove the two screws (A, Figure
2.When installing a single tine, be sure to position it so that its cutting edge (sharp) will enter the soil first as the tiller moves forward.
C. Removing/Installing a Tine Assembly:
1.A tine assembly consists of eight tines mounted on a tine holder.
2.If removing both tine assemblies, mark them “left” and “right” before removal. Remove the screw (C, Figure
3.Before reinstalling the tine assembly, inspect the tine shaft for rust, rough spots or burrs. Lightly file or sand, as needed. Apply a thin coat of grease to the shaft.
4.Install each tine assembly so that the cutting (sharp) edge of the tines will enter the soil first when the tiller moves forward. Secure the tine assembly to the tine shaft using the screw and locknut previously removed.