6
Maintaining Your Tractor
WARNING
This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed, could endanger the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all instructions in this man- ual before attempting to operate this machine. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in personal injury. When you see this symbol.
HEED ITS WARNING
Your
Responsibility
Restrict the use
of this power machine to persons who read, understand
and follow the warnings
and instructions
in this manual
•Check the gap using a wire feeler gauge. Adjust the gap to .030 in. (0.76mm) by carefully bending the ground electrode. See Figure 19.
Electrode
.030 in.
Figure 19
•Reinstall the spark plug into the cylinder head. Torque the spark plug to
Engine Cooling
To ensure proper cooling, make sure the grass screen, cooling fins, and other external surfaces of the engine are kept clean at all times.
Every 100 hours of operation (more often under extremely dusty, dirty conditions), remove the blower housing and other cooling shrouds. Clean the cooling fins and external surfaces as necessary. Make sure the cooling shrouds are properly reinstalled.
Carburetor
In compliance with government emission standards, the carburetor is calibrated to deliver the correct
If engine troubles are experienced that appear to be fuel system related, check the following areas:
•Make sure the fuel tank is filled with clean, fresh gasoline. Make sure the fuel tank vent is not blocked.
•Make sure the
•Make sure the air cleaner element is clean and all air cleaner element components are fastened securely.
If after checking the above items the engine is hard to start, runs roughly, stalls, or lacks power, contact your Cub Cadet dealer to have the carburetor and fuel pump inspected.
Fuel Line
Change the fuel line filter after every 100 hours of operation. The fuel filter is located on the left side of the engine in the fuel line. Note the orientation of the filter to install the new filter correctly.
•Place a container below the filter to catch any spilled gasoline and carefully clamp the fuel lines.
•Loosen the hose clamps to remove and replace the filter.
Steering Maintenance
Steering Lubrication
The steering arms, pivot shafts, and axles must be lubricated if ever the steering effort increases, or after every 25 hour of operation. Lubricate using a pressure grease gun and Cub Cadet 251H EP grease, or an equivalent No. 2 multipurpose lithium grease.
•Apply grease through the lube fitting on the RH and LH steering arms which are located at rearward end of the two steering drag links. See Figure 20.
Steering | Steering Arm | |
Lube Fitting | ||
Gear Cover |
Shoulder
Bolt
Hex |
Screw |
Cover
Tab
Axle Pivot Bar
Lube Fittings
Figure 20
•Locate the lube fittings for the pivot shaft and axle on the front of one end of the axle pivot bar. Apply grease through the two lube fittings, then repeat to lubricate the other end of the pivot bar. See Figure 20.
Cleaning Steering Gears
Once a year, or if a tight spot is experienced when turning the steering wheel, remove the steering gear cover on each end of the pivot bar and clean the two steering gears.
•From beneath the cover base plate on each end of the pivot bar, remove the three hex screws securing the steering gear cover. Remove the covers and clean the gears. It is not necessary to lubricate the gears. Refer to Figure 20.
•Insert the tab of the LH steering gear cover into the square hole in the LH base plate, position the cover, and secure with the three hex screws. Do not over tighten. Repeat to install the cover on the RH side.
Pivot Bar adjustment
If excessive play is experienced in the steering wheel, check the pivot bar for forward/rearward movement.
1.Raise the front of the tractor and set it on jack stands, so the front wheels are suspended above the ground.
2.Grasping the ends of the pivot bar, attempt to move each end of the axle forward and rearward to check for side play. There should be minimal or no side play.
22
