MTD i1046, i1050 warranty Maintaining Your Tractor, Maintaining Your Lawn Tractor, Operating

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Maintaining Your Tractor

WARNING

Before performing any maintenance or repairs, disengage PTO, move shift lever into neutral position, set parking brake, stop engine and remove key to prevent unintended starting.

Before lubricating, repairing, or inspecting, always disengage PTO, set parking brake, stop engine and remove key to prevent unintended starting.

Maintaining Your Lawn Tractor

WARNING: Before performing any maintenance procedures, inspections, or repairs, disengage PTO, set parking brake, stop engine and remove key to prevent unintended starting.

Checking Engine Oil Level

Check engine oil level before each use as follows:

•Place the tractor on a flat surface and stop the engine. Allow the engine to cool long enough for the oil to drain into the engine sump.

•Clean the area around the oil dipstick/fill cap. unscrew the dipstick/fill cap from the fill tube on the engine. Remove the dipstick and wipe the oil off. Reinsert the dipstick into the tube and rest the cap on the tube. Do not screw the cap onto the tube. See Figure 15.

Dipstick/Oil Fill Cap

Oil Fill Tube

Oil Drain Valve

Cap Drain

Valve

Drain

Hose

Figure 15

•Pull the dipstick out and check the oil level. The oil level should be up to, but not over, the “FULL” of “F” mark on the dipstick. See Figure 16.

F	Full Mark	FULL
	Operating
	Range
L		ADD

Figure 16

•If the level is low, add oil of the proper type (See following Viscosity Chart), up to the “FULL” or “F” mark on the dipstick. Always check the level with the dipstick before adding more oil. Do not over fill the crankcase.

Recommended Viscosity Grades
				10w30
	5W20, 5W30
			32º
(ºF) -20º	0º	20º	40º		60º		80º	100º
(ºC) -30º	-20º	-10º	0º	10º		20º	30º	40º

IMPORTANT: Never operate the engine with the oil level below the “ADD” or “L” mark, or above the “FULL” or “F” mark, on the dipstick.

Changing Engine Oil & Filter

Change the engine oil and oil filter after every 100 hours of operation.

•Run the engine for a short time to warm the engine oil. The oil will flow more freely and carry away more impurities.

•Locate the oil drain valve on the right side of the engine, beneath the starter motor. Refer to Figure 15.

•Pop open the protective cap on the end of the oil drain valve to expose the drain port. Push the oil drain hose (packed with this manual) onto the oil drain port. Route the opposite end of the hose into an appropriate oil collection container with a capacity great enough to collect the used oil.

•Remove the oil fill cap/dipstick from the oil fill tube. Push the drain valve in slightly and turn counterclock- wise until it stop, then pull the valve fully outward to open the valve and drain the oil. Refer to Figure 15.

•After the oil has finished draining, push the oil drain valve back in, rotate it clockwise to lock the valve closed. Remove the drain hose and re-cap the end of the oil drain valve to keep debris from entering.

•From the left side of the engine, remove the oil filter using an automotive type oil filter wrench (See Figure 17). Wipe the filter adapter with a clean cloth.

Figure 17

•Place the new oil filter in a shallow pan with open end up. Pour new oil, of the proper type, into the center

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