Briggs & Stratton MB (18 HP) Checking/Servicing, Maintenance Instructions, Danger, Battery

Maintenance Instructions CHECKING/SERVICING

Security of Air Cleaner System

NOTE: The following inspection is only an external inspection and should be done without “disturb- ing” the filtration components.

On a daily basis, visually inspect the external condi- tion of the air cleaner cover.

Check for damage. Make sure the cover is in place and the cover latches are secure - do not run the engine without the air cleaner cover in place and secure.

Battery

NOTE: For initial battery service during setup, refer to Battery Service in Assembly Instructions.

IMPORTANT: Make sure battery is securely mounted in the frame. A loose battery may cause damage to the case resulting in acid leakage and severe damage to the machine. A hazard may be created by damage to critical working parts and safety systems.

Cleaning the Terminals

If battery terminals are corroded, remove battery from the mower. Using a wire brush, remove corro- sion with a solution of one part baking soda and four parts water. Rinse with clean water. Coat the terminals with petroleum jelly or terminal protector spray to retard further corrosion.

Charging the Battery

DANGER

BATTERIES PRODUCE EXPLOSIVE

GASES

•Charge the battery in a well-ventilated area, so that gases produced while charg- ing can dissipate.

•Keep sparks, flames, and smoking ma- terials away from the battery at all times.

•Make sure the battery cap vents are open (check manifold vent on each cap).

•Make sure the battery charger is un- plugged before connecting or discon- necting cables to the battery.

Check the battery charge by measuring the specific gravity of electrolyte; if specific gravity is less than 1.225, the battery will need to be charged as follows:

•Charge the battery at 15 amps for 10 minutes. DO NOT exceed 20 amps maximum recommended charging rate. Charge until specific gravity is at least 1.250. Total charging time should not exceed one (1) hour.

Tire Pressure

Inflate tires to pressures shown below:

Deck Caster Wheel = 20 PSI (137 kPa)

Drive	=	15 PSI (103 kPa)
Rear	=	20 PSI (137 kPa)

Sharpen Mower Blades

Check mower blade(s) for straightness, sharp- ness, condition of the cutting edge, and balance every 10 hours of operation (or more often when mowing abrasive type grass or operating on sandy soils). Replace blades if worn, bent, cracked, or otherwise damaged (refer to REPLACING/ REPAIRING the Mower Blades in this section). Use the following procedure to check and sharpen blades:

NOTE: Keep blades sharp - cutting with dull blades not only yields a poor mowing job but slows the cutting speed of the mower and causes extra wear on the engine and blade drive by pulling hard.

1.Stop the engine, remove ignition key, and dis- connect the spark plug wires before raising the mower deck to service blades.

2.Raise the deck and secure it in the tilt-upposi- tion (refer to Deck Secured in Tilt-Up Position photo in CLEANING of Grass Buildup in Mower Housing in this section).

DANGER

NEVER operate cutter blades with the deck in the raised position.

3.Check the blades for straightness by marking the blade tip position inside the deck housing, and then rotating the opposite end of the blade to the same position and comparing. If the dif- ference in blade tip track is more than 1/8 in. (3 mm), the blade is bent and should be re- placed.

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