Troy-Bilt E686N manual Maintenance, Tighten Bolts and Nuts, Tiller Lubrication

Section 5: Maintenance

WARNING

Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the machine, shut off engine, wait for all moving parts to come to a complete stop, disconnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug. Remove ignition key, if so equipped.

Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury or property damage.

Tighten Bolts and Nuts

Check for loose or missing hardware every ten (10) operating hours. Failure to tighten or replace fasteners can cause poor performance, equipment damage or oil leakage. See your Parts Catalog for complete fastener descriptions.

Most hardware on your tiller is visible. Pay particular attention to hardware shown in Figures 5-1, 5-2, 5-3 and 5-3A.

1.Check the transmission pulley mounting bolt (Figure 5-1). If the washer behind the bolt head is loose, the bolt needs tightening. To do this, first insert a punch or thick screwdriver into the hole next to the bolt and wedge the tool against the side of the motor mount casting. This immobilizes the pulley while you tighten the bolt.

2.Check jam nut on left side of neutral plunger assembly (Figure 5-2). If loose, immobilize bolt head with one wrench and use another wrench to tighten the nut.

3.Check the three rear bearing cap screws under the depth regulator mounting bracket (A, Figure 5-3). If any is loose, it can cause an oil leak or drive shaft end play.

4.Check the five bolts securing the tiller housing cover to the left side of the trans- mission (B in Figure 5-3). Gear oil can leak from a loose housing cover. To reach the bolts, remove the left side tine holder. See Bolo Tine Maintenance in this Section for tine holder removal directions.

5.Check both swing-bolts (C, Figure 5-3) that connect the power unit transmission to the tine attachment. Both bolts should be checked every 2-1/2 hours of operation. If loose, wear can occur on the locating pin on the power unit, and cause enlargement of the locating hole in the tine attachment. Using a torque wrench, tighten these bolts to 70-to-80 ft.-lbs.

6.Check the locknut that fastens the

shifting linkage to the eccentric shifting lever (D, Figure 5-3). Do not tighten the locknut against the eccentric lever. It should be very close to, but not touching the lever.

7.Check the four bolts and nuts securing left and right tine holders to the tine shaft (Figure 5-3A).

IMPORTANT: Give screws or bolts that go into the transmission housing a coating of non-hardening gasket sealant to prevent gear oil from leaking.

Tiller Lubrication

Proper lubrication of the tiller’s mechani- cal parts is an essential part of good maintenance. Lubrication should be done after every ten (10) hours of operation.

Use ordinary motor oil (#30 weight or lighter) where oil is specified. Use a quality grease with a metal lubricant where grease is recommended (regular grease is acceptable). Do not over lubricate. If there is a build-up of dirt, remove the build-up and re-apply oil or grease.

Figure 5-3A: Tine holder hardware must be tight.

A

B

Figure 5-1: Check bolt on transmission pulley.

C

D

Figure 5-3: Gently tilt tiller forward to check fasteners.

Figure 5-2: Check jam nut on plunger assembly. 29