MTD 390 Series Maintaining Your Tiller, Engine, Lubrication, Cleaning Tine Area, Belt Replacement

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Maintaining

Your Tiller

WARNING

Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it against the engine before performing any repairs or maintenance.

WARNING: Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it against the engine before performing any repairs.

Engine

Refer to the separate engine manual for engine maintenance instructions.

Maintain engine oil as instructed in the separate engine manual packed with your unit. Read and follow instructions carefully.

Service air cleaner every ten hours under normal conditions. Clean every hour under extremely dusty conditions. Poor engine performance and flooding usually indicates that the air cleaner should be serviced. To service the air cleaner, refer to the separate engine manual packed with your unit.

IMPORTANT: Never run your engine without air cleaner completely assembled.

The spark plug should be cleaned and the gap reset every 25 hours of engine operation. Spark plug replacement is recommended at the start of each tiller season; check engine manual for correct plug type and gap specification.

Clean the engine regularly with a cloth or brush. Keep the cooling system (blower housing area) clean to permit proper air circulation which is essential to engine performance and life. Be certain to remove all dirt and combustible debris from muffler area.

Lubrication

Pivot Points

Remove the belt cover and lubricate all pivot points and linkages at least once a season with light oil. Keep belts free of lubrication.

Tine Shafts

Remove tine assemblies and lubricate the tine shafts at least once a season.

Wheel Shafts

Remove wheel assemblies and lubricate the axle shafts at least once a season.

Chain Drive

The chain drive is pre-lubricated and sealed at factory.

Cleaning Tine Area

Clean underside of the tine shield after each use. The dirt washes off the tines easier if rinsed off immediately instead of after it dries. Always towel dry the tiller afterwards and apply a light coat of oil or silicone to prevent rusting or water damage.

IMPORTANT: Never use a “pressure washer” to clean your tiller. Water can penetrate tight areas of the tiller and its chain case and cause serious damage to unit.

Figure 5–1: Screw and nut removal.

Figure 5–2: Reverse drive belt removal.

Belt Replacement

Reverse Drive Belt

Your tiller has been engineered with a belt made of special material (Kevlar Tensile) for longer life and better performance. It should not be replaced with an off-the-shelf belt. Order all belts through you authorized service dealer.

1.Disconnect and ground the spark plug wire against the engine.

2.Remove the belt cover from the left side of the tiller by removing the two self-tapping screws and hex stop nut and washer.

See Figure 5–1.

3.Remove belt from transmission pulley and then from around the reverse idler pulley. See Figure 5–2.

4.To reassemble new belt. Follow instructions in reverse order. Be sure to place wider side of belt against transmission and idler pulley while slimmer side goes over the engine pulley. See Figure 5–2.

NOTE: Upon reassembly, make certain the belt is routed over the idler pulley and inside of belt keepers by engine pulley. See Figure 5–2.

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