time the engine is running. Because of extremely close tolerances, wear is an impor- tant factor in their life. Contaminants in the hydraulic oil and cavitation does the greatest harm to the pumps. Cavitation is a blockage in the supply lines that produces a partial vac- uum causing violent bubbling in the hydraulic oil in the pump.
Check the two suction hoses (the hoses con- nected to the filter) daily before starting the engine. Look for a flattened condition or any leaks and repair or replace as necessary. A flattened or leakng suction hose will permit cavitation to develop which can destroy the pumps in a short time.
Contaminants or foreign matter in the oil will also damage the pumps . To prevent this, use a filter that captures particles as small as 30 microns or 30 millionths of a meter in diame- ter. You can help in the battle against dirt by being very careful when you remove or repair a component in the hydraulic system. Thor- oughly clean off any component before you work on it. Plug the ends of any hose or line you remove with a rubber or plastic plug. Use plastic caps to seal off the ends of hydraulic fittings. Place any component you remove in a clean plastic bag so it can’t pick up dust or dirt. Clean your hands frequently when work- ing on the hydraulic components.
Note: The pumps are not
4.Steering Lever Adjustments: Place the mower on level ground with the engine run- ning, parking brake off and steering levers opened out to the neutral position. If the Mower begins to creep, adjust the Steering Levers.
If the mower creeps, first determine whether it creeps to the right or left side and which direc- tion the mower moves — to the front or the rear. To make the adjustment, place the steer- ing levers in the
age control arm. If the mower creeps back- ward, thread the rod end bearing one half turn counterclockwise out of the linkage control arm. Then tighten the jam nut and reconnect the rod end bearing to the control lever pivot by replacing the cap screw and lock washer.
After adjusting the steering linkage, swing the seat back to its normal position and place the steering lever on the side you adjusted up to the operating position. If you feel a slight push forward or a slight pull backward from the neu- tral position you must adjust the lever return assembly. To do this, swing the steering lever back out to the neutral position, pivot the seat forward and loosen the jam nut on the lever return rod where it is threaded into the hex- shaped end of the lever return bolt. If the steering lever was pushed forward, turn the
G.Storage
1.General: If your mower will not be in service for a few months, it should be stored in a dry location that is not subject to drastic changes in temperature. Before storing, the following maintenance procedures should be per- formed.
a.Clean the mower. The entire tractor and cutting deck should be washed and cleaned.
b.Sharpen the blades so that the mower will be ready to use when needed.
c.Protect the metal surfaces. Repair scratches with the appropriate
d.Lubricate the mower.
e.Drain the engine oil. The engine should be warm so that all the oil drains. Replace the engine oil filter and refill the crankcase with fresh oil.
f.Gasoline Engine: Drain all the fuel. Close the fuel tank shutoff valve. Disconnect the fuel line from the carbuetor and put the end into an approved fuel container. Open the fuel tank shutoff valve and drain the fuel tank and line into the approved container.
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