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Section 5: Maintenance
WARNING Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the unit, shut off engine, wait for all parts to come to a
complete stop, disconnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug. Remove ignition key on elec-
tric start models. Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury or
property damage.
CHECK HARDWARE
At least every 10 operating hours, check
the unit for loose or missing hardware
(screws, bolts, nuts, hairpin cotters, etc.).
Loose or missing hardware can lead to
equipment failure, poor performance or
oil leaks.
Be sure to check the three end cap
mounting screws located at the rear of the
transmission (Figure 5-2). Lift the tine
flap to service those screws.
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
Check the air pressure in both tires.
Deflate or inflate both tires evenly to 15-
to-20 PSI (pounds per square inch). Be
sure that both tires have the same air
pressure or the unit will tend to pull to
one side.
Figure 5-1: Lubrication points.
Figure 5-2
A
B
C
D
E
CHECK FOR OIL LEAKS
Before each use, check your tiller for
signs of an oil leak – usually a dirty, oily
accumulation either on the unit or on the
floor where it has been parked.
A little seepage around a cover or oil seal
is usually not a cause for alarm. However,
if the oil drips overnight then immediate
attention is needed as ignoring a leak can
result in severe transmission damage.
If a cover is leaking, try tightening any
loose screws or bolts. If the fasteners are
tight, a new gasket or oil seal may be
required. If the leak is from around a
shaft and oil seal, the oil seal probably
needs to be replaced. See your autho-
rized dealer or contact the factory for
service or advice.
IMPORTANT: Never operate the tiller if
the transmission is low on oil. Check the
oil level after every 30 hours of operation
and whenever there is any oil leakage.
TRANSMISSION GEAR OIL SERVICE
Check the transmission gear oil level after
every 30 hours of operation or whenever
you notice any oil leak. Operating the
tiller when the transmission is low on oil
can result in severe damage.
A. To Check Transmission Gear Oil
Level:
1. Check the gear oil level when the trans-
mission is cool. Gear oil will expand in
warm operating temperatures and this
expansion will provide an incorrect oil
level reading.
2. To check the gear oil level (and to add
oil, if necessary), refer to “STEP 5: Check
Gear Oil Level in Transmission” in Section
2 of this manual.
B. To Drain and Refill the Transmission:
The transmission gear oil does not need
to be changed unless it has been contami-
nated with dirt, sand or metal particles.
1. Prop up the left side of the unit so that
it will be securely supported when the left
side wheel is removed. Remove the left
side wheel by removing the wheel mount-
ing hardware.
2. Unscrew the plastic gear oil fill plug
from the top of the transmission.
3. Place a clean pan below the transmis-
sion drain plug (see Figure 5-3) and
remove the drain plug. The oil will start
flowing out of the drain hole (it may flow
slowly, especially in cold temperatures).
4. Remove the transmission gear oil level
check plug that is located a few inches
above the left side wheel shaft.
5. When the oil stops flowing, tilt the
transmission forward to drain oil from the
rear of the transmission.
6. After draining the oil, clean the threads
of the drain plug, apply a non-hardening
removable gasket sealant to the threads,
and securely reinstall the drain plug.
7. Using a clean funnel, slowly add SAE
140 or SAE 85W-140 weight gear oil
(with an API rating of GL-4 only) to the
transmission. The transmission holds
approximately 3-1/4 pints (52-54
ounces). Tilt the tiller slightly backwards
to make sure the gear oil reaches the rear
(tine) end of the transmission. Stop
adding gear oil when it begins to flow
from the oil level check hole on the side of
the transmission.
8. Securely reinstall the oil level check
plug.
9. Securely reinstall the gear oil fill plug
on top of the transmission.
10. Reinstall the wheel and remove the
prop.