Check Engine Oil
Checkoillevelbefore eachoperation.Besureoil levelis maintained.
1. Checktheoil with theenginestoppedand level.
2. Removetheoil fillercap/dipstickandwipe itclean.
3. Insertthe oilfiller cap/dipstickinto theoil filler neckas far as it will
go,butdo not screwit in,then removeittocheckthe oillevel.
4. Ifthe oil levelisnear or belowthelower limitmark onthe dipstick,
removetheoil fillercap/dipstick,andfill with the recommendedoil
tothe upperlimit mark.Do not overfill.
5. Reinstalltheoilfillercap/dipstick.
Change Engine Oil
Changeengineoilafter thefirst monthor five hoursof operation,and
everyfiftyhours oroncea seasonthereafter.
Draintheengineoil whentheengineiswarm.Warmoil drainsquickly
andcompletely.
1. Turnthefuel valve(Fig. 11)tothe OFFpositionto reducethe
possibilityoffuelleakage.
2. Placea suitablecontainernextto theengineto catchthe usedoil.
3. Removetheoil fillercap/dipstickanddrainthe oil intothe
containerbytippingthe enginetowardtheoil fillerneck. See
Figure14.
Usedoilis ahazardouswasteproduct.Disposeofusedoil properly.
IDonot discardwithhouseholdwaste.Checkwith yourlocalauthori-
_tiesor Sears ServiceCenterfor safedisposal/recyclingfacilities.
4. Withtheengine in a levelposition,fill to the upper limitmarkon
thedipstickwith therecommendedoil.
NOTE:Runningtheenginewith a lowoil levelcancause engine
damage.
5. Reinstalltheoil filler cap/dipsticksecurely.
Clean Engine
•Dailyor beforeeveryuse,cleangrass, chaffor accumulated
debrisfromengine.Keeplinkage,spring,andcontrolsclean.
Keepareaaroundandbehindmuffler freeofanycombustible
debris.
• Keepingenginecleanallowsairmovementaroundengine.
• Engineparts shouldbe keptcleanto reducetherisk of overheat-
ingandignitionofaccumulateddebris.
Donot usewaterto clean engineparts. Watercouldcontaminatefuel
system.Useabrush or dry cloth.
Oil Fill/DipsticAir Cleaner
Figure14
f
Figure15
LUBRICATION
Blade and Drive Control
Lubricatepivotpointsonthe bladeanddrivecontrolat leastonce
aseasonwith light oil.Thesecontrolsmustoperatefreely inboth
directions.SeeFigure15.
Wheels
Lubricatethe wheelsat leastoncea seasonwithlightoil (or motoroil).
Ifwheelsare removedforany reason,lubricatesurfaceofthe pivot
armand innersurfaceof the wheelwith lightoil. See Figure15.
Rear Discharge Door/Side Mulch Plug
Lubricatethe torsionspringand pivotpointson the reardischarge
doorandside mulchplug periodicallywithlightoil to preventrust.See
Figure15.
Transmission
Thetransmissionispre-lubricatedandsealedat thefactory anddoes
notrequirelubrication.
18