Craftsman 917.272051 owner manual Belts, Transaxle Cooling, Engine Lubrication, Clean AIR Screen

•Keep battery and terminals clean.

•Keep battery bolts tight.

•Keep small vent holes open.

•Recharge at 6-10 amperes for 1 hour.

NOTE: The original equipment battery on your tractor is maintenance free. Do not attempt to open or remove caps or covers. Adding or checking level of electrolyte is not necessary.

TO CLEAN BATTERY AND TERMINALS

Corrosion and dirt on the battery and terminals can cause the battery to "leak" power.

1.Open battery box door.

2.Disconnect BLACK battery cable first then RED battery cable and remove battery from tractor.

3.Rinse the battery with plain water and dry.

4.Clean terminals and battery cable ends with wire brush until bright.

5.Coat terminals with grease or petro- leum jelly.

6.Reinstall battery (See "REPLACING BATTERY t' in the SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS section of this

manual).

V-BELTS

Check V-belts for deterioration and wear after 100 hours of operation and replace if necessary. The belts are not adjustable. Replace belts if they begin to slip from wear.

TRANSAXLE COOLING

Keep transaxle free from build-up of dirt

and chaff which can restrict cooling,

ENGINE

LUBRICATION

Only use high quality detergent oil rated with API service classification SF-SJ.

Select the oil'sSAE viscosity grade according to your expected operating temperature,

_E VlSCC_Y _ES

Change the oil after every 50 hours of

operation or at least once a year if the tractor is not used for 50 hours in one

year.

Check the crankcase oil level before

starting the engine and after each eight

(8)hours of operation, Tighten oil fill cap/ dipstick securely each time you check the oil level.

TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL

Determine temperature range expected

before oil change. All oil must meet API service classification SF-SJ.

•Be sure tractor is on level surface.

•Oil will drain more freely when warm.

•Catch oil in a suitable container.

1.Remove oil fill cap/dipstick. Be careful not to allow dirf to enter the engine when changing oil.

2.Remove cap from end of drain valve and install the drain tube onto the

fitting.

3.Unlock drain valve by pushing inward slightly and turning counterclockwise.

4.To open, pull out on the drain valve.

5.After oil has drained completely, close and lock the drain valve by pushing inward and turning clockwise until the pin is in the locked position as shown,

6.Remove the drain tube and replace

the cap onto to the end of the drain valve.

7.Refill engine with oil through oil fill dipstick tube. Pour slowly. Do not overfill. For approximate capacity see

"PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS" section of this manual,

8.Use gauge on oil fill cap/dipstick for checking level. Insert dipstick into the

tube and rest the oil fill cap on the . tube. Do not thread the cap onto the

tube when taking reading. Keep oil at "FULL" line on dipstick. Tighten cap onto the tube securely when finished.

Oil Drain Valve

Closed			DrainTube
			/
and _	_ ,,_	C _"_s_V	"
Locked	_I	_-_	A

PositiO_cap

CLEAN AIR SCREEN

Air screen must be kept free of dirt and chaff to prevent engine damage from

overheating, Clean with a wire brush or compressed air to remove dirt and stubborn dried gum fibers,

CLEAN AIR INTAKE/COOLING AREAS

To insure proper cooling, make sure the grass screen, cooling fins, and ether external surfaces of the engine are kept

19clean at all times,