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TRANSMISSION GEAR OIL SERVICE
Check the transmission gear oil level after every 30 hours
of operation or whenever you notice any oil leak. Operat-
ing the tiller when the transmission is low on oil can result
in severe damage.
A. To Check the Transmission Gear Oil Level:
1. Check the gear oil level when the transmission is cool.
Gear oil will expand in warm operating temperatures
and this expansion will provide an incorrect oil level
reading.
2. With the tiller on level ground, pull the Depth Regula-
tor Lever all the way up.
3. Remove the oil fill plug (A, Fig. 5-2) from the transmis-
sion housing and look inside the oil fill hole to locate
the main drive shaft situated below the hole.
4. The gear oil level is correct if the gear oil is approxi-
mately halfway up the side of the main drive shaft.
5. If the gear oil level is low, add gear oil as described
next. If the gear oil level is okay, securely replace the
oil fill plug.
IMPORTANT: Do not operate the tiller if the gear oil
level is low. Doing so will result in severe damage to the
transmission components.
6. If adding only a few ounces of gear oil, use API rated
GL-4 or GL-5 gear oil having a viscosity of SAE 140,
SAE 85W-140 or SAE 80W-90. If refilling an empty
transmission, use only GL-4 gear oil having a viscosity
of SAE 85W-140 or SAE 140.
IMPORTANT: Do not use automatic transmission fluid or
motor oil in the transmission.
7. While checking frequently to avoid overfilling, slowly
add gear oil into the oil fill hole until it reaches the
halfway point on the drive shaft.
8. Securely replace the oil fill plug.
B. To Drain the Transmission Gear Oil:
The transmission gear oil does not need to be changed
unless it has been contaminated with dirt,
sand or metal particles.
1. Drain gasoline from the fuel tank or run
the engine until the fuel tank is empty. See
“DANGER” statement below.
WARNING: Gasoline is highly flammable and its
vapors are explosive. Follow these safety practices
to prevent personal injury or property damage fr om
fire or explosion.
• Allow th e engine and muffler to cool for at least
two minutes before draining the tiller’s gasoline
tank.
• Do not a llow open flames, sparks, matches or
smoking in the area.
• Wipe away spills and push tiller away from spilled
fuel.
• Use only an approved fuel container and store it
safely out of the reach of children.
• Do not store gasoline in an area where its vapors
could reach an open flame or spark, or where
ignition sources are present (such as hot water
and space heaters, furnaces, clothes dryers,
stoves, electric motors, etc.)
2. Drain the oil from the engine.
3. Remove four screws (B, Figure 5-2) and remove
transmission cover and gasket.
4. Remove the left-side wheel.
5. Tilt the left-side wheel shaft into a drain pan and allow
the gear oil to drain through the top of the transmis-
sion.
6. Reinstall the wheel.
7. Install a new gasket (do not reuse old gasket) and
reinstall the transmission cover.
8. Refill the transmission using GL-4 gear oil (SAE
85W-140 or SAE 140).
9. Refill the engine with motor oil and replenish the fuel
tank with gasoline.
BOLO TINES
The bolo tines will wear with use and should be in-
spected at the beginning of each tilling season and after
every 30 operating hours. The tines can be replaced
either individually or as a complete set. See the Parts
List pages for tine identification and part numbers.
A. Tine Inspection:
With use, the tines will become shorter, narrower and
pointed. Badly worn tines will result in a loss of tilling
depth, and reduced effectiveness when chopping up and
turning under organic matter.
B. Removing/Installing a Single Tin e:
1. With the engine shut off and the spark plug wire
disconnected, remove the two screws (A, Figure 5-3)
and nuts (B) that attach a single tine to a tine holder.
If needed, use penetrating oil on the nuts.
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Figure 5-2: Remove oil fill plug (A) to check gear oil level
and to add gear oil. Remove four cover screws (B) to drain
gear oil.
5
WARNING