Troy-Bilt 12168 owner manual Drive Belt Maintenance

Section 5: Maintenance

Transmission Gear Oil Maintenance

A. Check for Transmission Oil Leaks

After the first two (2) hours of brand- new operation, check the transmission for oil leaks. Thereafter, check for leaks every 25 operating hours. Specifically, inspect the following areas for signs of leaks or seepage:

1. There are oil seals on each side of the

transmission housing where the tine shaft

passes through the housing. Examine

I

H

Fig. 5-2: Remove transmission top cover to check the level of gear oil.

those areas for seepage or for leaks on

the ground. An oil seal leak can lead to

internal damage, so the seal should be

replaced immediately.

2. There are oil seals on each side of the

transmission housing where the wheel

shaft passes through the housing. Leaks

from either of these seals also means seal

replacement should be done right away.

3. The end of the transmission housing

has a bolted on end cap. It should be

examined for leaks. Tighten the bolts if

they seem loose. If a gear oil leak con-

tinues, remove the end cap, clean its

surfaces, and apply a new coating of

rubberized silicone sealant behind the end

cap. Reinstall the end cap by tightening

the bolts securely, but do not overtighten

them.

B. Check Transmission Gear Oil Level

Every 25 hours of operation (and at the beginning of the tilling season), check the gear oil level in the transmission housing (see Fig. 5-2).

1.Shut off the engine, let all moving parts stop completely, disconnect the spark plug wire and move the wire away from the plug to prevent the possibility of accidental starting.

2.Disconnect the tine hood from the hood bracket and put the hood aside (refer to Figs. 4-6 and 4-7). Tilt tine end of tiller up to allow gear oil to move to front cavity in the transmission. Then lower tine end of tiller down.

3.Clean around the top cover (H, Fig. 5-

2) before removing the four cover screws (I, Fig. 5-2). Loosen the cover by gently

tapping it sideways with a hammer (do not pry it up with a screwdriver which could damage the gasket underneath the cover). The gear oil level should be 1-3/4" below the topmost surface of the chassis (this surface is machined) when level. Add or remove gear oil as needed (use a dipper or suction).

Small Top-0ffs: use SAE 140 or SAE 85W-140. Use API rating of GL-4 .

Full Replacement: SAE 140 or SAE 85W- 140 with an API rating of GL-4 only.

4.Replace the top cover securely with the four screws (I) removed previously. Tighten them firmly, but do not over- tighten to avoid thread damage.

5.Replace the tine hood.

6.Reconnect the spark plug wire.

Drive Belt Maintenance

A.Checking Cable Tension Applied to the Drive Belt

After the first two hours of operation, the amount of tension that the bail lever cable applies to the drive belt should be checked and, if necessary, adjusted. Thereafter, perform this check every twenty-five (25) operating hours.

1.Move the machine to firm, level ground. The equipment must be in the front tine cultivator mode (the handlebar is swung around over the engine and the tine hood is removed).

2.Start the engine. Move the throttle lever to between idle and full-speed. Position yourself behind the handlebar.

3.Slowly pull the Drive Bail back toward the handlebar and note when the tines begin to rotate. The bail lever should have traveled anywhere between one-third (1/3) to one-half (1/2) the distance toward the handlebar. Cable tension on the belt must be increased if the bail traveled more than one-half the distance. Reduce cable tension if the tines “creep” with the bail fully open or if they rotate when the bail is less than one-third closed.

B.Adjusting Cable Tension Applied to the Drive Belt

4.To increase cable tension, loosen the upper nut (J, Fig. 5-3) securing the threaded cable adjuster (K) to the handle- bar mounting bracket. Turn the lower nut to move the cable end down, then

retighten the upper nut.

5.To decrease cable tension, loosen the lower nut (L, Fig. 5-3), turn the upper nut to move the adjuster upward, then retighten the lower nut.

6.Recheck the cable tension (see Steps

1through 3 at left).

K
J	L
Fig. 5-3

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