Maintenance Instructions

CLEANING

Cylinder Head Cooling Fins

It is essential for performance and longevity of the air-cooled engine to keep the cylinder head cooling fins clean and free of obstruction. After every 8 hours of operation, check the performance of the cooling system by starting the engine, holding a hand adjacent to the cylinder head, and feeling the cooling airflow. If there is little or no airflow, clean the cooling fins as described below.

DANGER

Make sure to keep hands clear of exhaust pipe, muffler, and moving parts when checking airflow.

Every 100 hours, inspect and clean the cooling fins (more often when operating in extremely dusty, dirty conditions). Remove the two (2) cooling fin access panels in the engine shroud and clean the cooling fins and external surfaces using compressed air. Make sure to reinstall the access panels before operating the engine.

NOTE: If dirt is packed into the cooling fins it may be necessary to remove the engine shroud in order to thoroughly clean the cooling fins.

Engine Cooling

Fin Access Panels

Kohler Engine

Shroud

Engine Air

Intake Screen

Engine Air Intake Screen

and Cooling Fin Access Panels

Check Airflow

with Hand

Cylinder

Head

Cooling System Airflow

Engine Cooling System - MTL and MTLEFI

Radiator Screen and Cooling Fins

To prevent the engine from overheating and possible engine damage, clean grass clippings, chaff, and dirt from the fine mesh radiator intake screen daily. In certain mowing conditions (dry grass, leaves, tree “cotton”, etc.), it may be necessary to check and clean the screen several times during use to prevent engine overheating.

1.Remove the screen. To clean the screen, wash with soapy water or blow out with compressed air.

2.Inspect the radiator cooling fins for material lodged in this area which would restrict cooling airflow. Use pressurized air or water to clean.

DO NOT use any tool, like a screwdriver or knife, to clean material out of the fins as this may damage the cooling fins. DO NOT use cold water on a hot radiator.

NOTE: Directing pressurized air or water from the fan side of the radiator outward is recom- mended to dislodge material packed on the out- side of the cooling fins. DO NOT use cold water on a hot radiator.

WARNING

Radiator and engine parts can become extremely hot during operation. Wear gloves and avoid touching hot parts while cleaning the radiator screen and cleaning debris away from the engine and cooling system.

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