MAINTENANCE

MAINTENANCE

Regular maintenance will improve the performance and extend the life of the engine. See any Authorized Briggs & Stratton Dealer for service. Use only genuine Briggs & Stratton parts. Other parts may not perform as well, may damage the engine, and may result in injury. In addition, use of other parts may void your warranty.

ENGINE AND ENGINE PARTS

We recommend that you see an authorized Briggs & Stratton Service Dealer for all maintenance and service of the engine and engine parts. Use only genuine Briggs & Stratton parts.

Perform the following at recommended intervals:

Task

Daily

Hours50

Hours100

Hours250

Hours400

Hours600

Yearly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perform task at hourly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or calendar interval,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

whichever comes first.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check oil level

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check for

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

oil leaks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change oil

 

 

4*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change oil filter

 

 

4*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clean

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

air cleaner

 

 

4**

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Replace air cleaner

 

 

 

 

4**

 

 

cartridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check valve

 

4*

 

4

 

 

 

clearance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check battery

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

electrolyte

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

spark plugs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change fuel filter

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clean spark

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

arrestor (if equipped)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MODEL 540000 ONLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Replace Safety

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

filter cartridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MODEL 470000 ONLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check coolant

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change coolant

 

 

 

 

 

 

4***

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check fan belt

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Change oil and filter after first 50 hours of use, then every 100 hours or every season. Change oil every 50 hours when operating the engine under heavy load or in high temperatures.

Check valve clearance after first 50 hours of use, then

every 250 hours.

** Clean more often under dusty conditions or when airborne debris is present. Replace air cleaner parts, if very dirty.

*** If an extended life coolant is used, interval may be increased to once every 3000 hours.

EMISSION CONTROL

Maintenance, replacement or repair of the emission control devices and systems may be performed by any nonroad engine repair establishment or individual. However, to obtain no charge repairs under the terms and provisions of the Briggs & Stratton warranty statement, any service or emission control part repair or replacement must be performed by a factory authorized dealer.

WARNING

If you perform any maintenance on the engine, first disconnect the spark plug wires from the spark plugs, and disconnect the battery at the negative terminal (electric starter engines only) to prevent unintentional sparking. Unintentional sparking can result in fire or electric shock. Unintentional start-up can result in entanglement, traumatic amputation or laceration. Use only correct tools.

WARNING

Do not strike the flywheel with a hammer or hard object because the flywheel may later shatter during operation.

Do not tamper with governor spring, links or other parts to increase engine speed.

SPARK PLUG

Change spark plugs yearly. Use only Briggs & Stratton Spark Tester (part number 19368) to check for spark.

Note: In some areas, local law

.020” (0.51 mm)

requires using resistor spark plug

WIRE GAGE

to suppress ignition signals. If this

 

engine was originally equipped

 

with resistor spark plugs, use

 

same type for replacement.

 

VALVE CLEARANCE

Check valve clearance every 250 hours. (See Tune-up Specifications on page 6).

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