MTD 588 Maintaining Your Lawn Mower, General Recommendations, Lubrication, Deck Care, Engine Care

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Maintaining

Your Lawn

Mower

WARNING

Always stop engine, disconnect spark plug, and ground against engine before cleaning, lubricating or doing any kind of maintenance on your machine.

We do not recommend the use of pressure washers or garden hose to clean your unit. These may cause damage to electric components, spindles, pulleys, bearings, or the engine. The use of water will result in shortened life and reduce serviceability.

Figure 3

General Recommendations

1.Always observe safety rules when performing any maintenance.

2.The warranty on this lawn mower does not cover items that have been subjected to operator abuse or negligence. To receive full value from warranty, operator must maintain the lawn mower as instructed here.

3.Changing of engine-governed speed will void engine warranty.

4.All adjustments should be checked at least once each season.

5.Periodically check all fasteners and make sure these are tight.

WARNING: Always stop engine, disconnect spark plug, and ground against engine before cleaning, lubricating or doing any kind of maintenance on your machine.

Lubrication

1.Lubricate pivot points on the blade control handle at least once a season with light oil. The blade control must operate freely in both directions. See Figure 3.

2.Lubricate the wheels at least once a season with light oil (or motor oil). If wheels are removed for any reason, lubricate surface of the pivot arm and inner surface of the wheel with light oil. See Figure 3.

3.Lubricate the torsion spring and pivot point on the rear discharge door periodically with light oil to prevent rust. See Figure 3.

4.Follow the accompanying engine manual for lubrica- tion schedule and instruction for engine lubrication.

Deck Care

Clean underside of the mower deck after each use to prevent build-up of grass clippings or other debris. Follow steps below for this job.

1.Disconnect spark plug wire. Drain gasoline from lawn mower, or place a piece of plastic under the gas cap.

2.Tip mower so that it rests on the housing. Keep the side with the air cleaner facing up. Hold mower firmly.

WARNING: Never tip the mower more than 90 degrees in any directions and do not leave the mower tipped for any length of time. Oil can drain into the upper part of the engine causing a starting problem.

3.Scrape and clean the underside of the deck with a suitable tool. Do not spray with water.

4.Put the mower back on its wheels on the ground. If you had put plastic under the gas cap earlier, make sure to remove it now.

Engine Care

A list of key engine maintenance jobs required for good performance by the mower is given below. Follow the accompanying engine manual for a detailed list and instructions.

1.Maintain oil level as instructed in engine manual.

2.Service air cleaner every 25 hours under normal conditions. Clean every few hours 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 engine manual.

3.Clean spark plug and reset the gap once a season. Spark plug replacement is recommended at the start of each mowing season. Check engine manual for correct plug type and gap specifications.

4.Clean engine regularly with a cloth or brush. Keep the cooling system (blower housing area) clean to permit proper air circulation. Remove all grass, dirt and combustible debris from muffler area.

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