Ryobi RY64400 Changing Engine Lubricant, Storing the Cultivator, See Figures 21

MAINTENANCE

CHANGING ENGINE LUBRICANT

See Figure 20.

For best performance, engine lubricant should be changed after every 25 hours of operation.

To change the engine lubricant:

Stop the engine and disconnect the spark plug wire. Allow the engine to cool completely before proceeding.

Remove the oil fill cap/dipstick.

Tip the unit on its side and allow lubricant to drain from the oil fill hole into an approved container.

NOTE: Drain the lubricant while the engine is still warm but not hot. Warm lubricant will drain quickly and more completely.

Return the unit to an upright position and refill with lubri- cant following the instructions in the Adding/Checking Engine Lubricant section previously in this manual.

NOTE: Used lubricant should be disposed of at an ­approved disposal site. See your local retailer for more information.

CLEANING THE EXHAUST PORT AND MUFFLER

Depending on the type of fuel used, the type and amount of lubricant used, and/or your operating conditions, the exhaust port and muffler may become blocked with carbon deposits. If you notice a power loss with your gas powered tool, you may need to remove these deposits to restore performance. We highly recommend that only qualified service technicians perform this service.

STORING THE CULTIVATOR

The following steps should be taken before storing the cul- tivator for the season.

Fuel Tank:

nDrain the fuel tank completely into a container approved for gasoline. Even under ideal conditions, stored fuel containing ethanol or MTBE can start to go stale in 30 days. Stale fuel has a high gum content and can clog the carburetor and restrict fuel flow. The fuel tank should also be drained if the cultivator will not be used for more than two weeks.

nRestart the engine to make sure no fuel is left in the car- buretor. Run the engine until it stops. This helps prevent gum deposits from forming inside the carburetor and possible engine damage.

Spark Plug:

nDisconnect spark plug wire and remove the spark plug. Pour a teaspoon of clean, air-cooled, 4-cycle lubri- cant through the spark-plug hole into the combustion chamber.

nLeaving the spark plug out, pull the starter cord two or three times to coat the inside of the cylinder wall.

nInspect spark plug and clean or replace, as necessary.

nReinstall the spark plug, but leave the spark plug wire disconnected.

Air Filter:

nClean the air filter as previously described.

Cultivator Body:

nClean dirt, grass, and other materials from the entire unit.

nWipe the tines with lubricant or spray them with silicone lubricant to prevent rusting.

nOil the throttle cable and all visible moving parts. Do not remove the engine cover.

nOrder new parts to replace any that are badly worn or broken.

nStore in an upright position in a clean, dry place. Store with the handles in the extended position, or loosen handle knobs and fold handles down. Do not allow throttle cable to become pinched when lowering the handlebar.

nProperly dispose of any leftover fuel in compliance with Federal, state. and local laws.

ADJUSTING CAMSHAFT-TO-ROCKER ARM CLEARANCE

See Figures 21 - 23.

Inspect the camshaft-to-rocker arm clearance after every

25hours of operation. This should be done in a clean, dust- free environment.

NOTE: This procedure requires partial disassembly of the engine. If you are unsure if you are qualified to perform this operation, take the unit to an authorized service center.

Stop the engine. Allow the engine to cool completely before proceeding.

Remove screws from the engine cover. Remove engine cover and set aside.

Disconnect the spark plug wire.

Using a Torx screwdriver, remove the screw from the rocker arm cover. Remove the cover and gasket and set aside.

Position camshaft by pulling the recoil starter grip just until the deep hole in the camshaft gear is located at the 6 o’clock position as shown.

Place the feeler gauge under each rocker arm and measure the gap. The gap should be between .006 in. (0.15 mm) and .008 in. (0.20 mm) for both rocker arms.

NOTE: Use a standard automotive feeler gauge. The .006 in. (0.15 mm) feeler gauge should slide between the rocker arm and valve stem with a slight amount of resistance but without binding. The 0.008 in. (0.20 mm) feeler gage should not slide between the rocker arms and the cam lobes — it should be held tight.

If the valve clearance is not between .006 in. (0.15 mm) and .008 in. (0.20 mm), the clearance should be adjusted as follows:

12 - English