Use and Care Manual

Maintenance
6
11
Maintenance Schedule
After First
5 Hours
Each use
or Every
5 Hrs.
Every
Season or
25 Hours
Every
season or
50 Hours
Every
season or
100 Hours
Service
Dates
Check Engine Oil Level
P
Change Engine Oil
P P
Check Air Cleaner (If so equipped)
P
Service Air Cleaner (If so equipped)
P
Check Spark Plug
P
Replace Spark Plug
P
Clean Engine Shroud (If so equipped)
P
Clean around muffler
P
Replace Fuel Filter (If equipped)
P
Periodic inspection and adjustment of the
engine is essential if high level performance
is to be maintained. Regular maintenance will
also ensure a long service life. The required
service intervals and the kind of maintenance
to be performed are described in the table
above. Follow the hourly or calendar intervals,
whichever occur first. More frequent service is
required when operating in adverse conditions.
WARNING!
Shut off the engine before performing any
maintenance. To prevent accidental start-up,
disconnect the spark plug boot.
NOTE:
If engine must be tipped to transport
equipment or to inspect or remove grass, keep
spark plug side of engine up. Transporting or
tipping engine spark plug down may cause
smoking, hard starting, spark plug fouling, or oil
saturation of air cleaner.
WARNING!
If the engine has been running, the muffler will be
very hot. Be careful not to touch the muffler.
Oil Recommendations
Refer to the viscosity chart (“Figure 6-1”) for
oil recommendations. Do not over-fill. Use
a 4-stroke, or an equivalent high detergent,
premium quality engine oil certified to meet
or exceed U.S. automobile manufacturer’s
requirements for service classification of a
minimum level SF or SG (higher letter ratings
are acceptable such as SJ, SL and SM grades).
Engine oil will display this designation on the
container.
NOTE: Do not use non-detergent oil or
2-stroke engine oil. It could shorten the
engine’s service life.
Figure 6-1
Checking and Changing the Oil
To avoid engine damage, it is important to:
• Check oil level before each use and every
5 operating hours when the engine is
warm.
• Change the oil after the first 5 operating
hours and every 50 operating hours
thereafter. Engine should still be warm
but NOT hot from recent use.
Oil Fill Cap and Dipstick
WARNING!
Before tipping engine or equipment to drain oil,
drain fuel from tank by running engine until fuel
tank is empty.
1. Carefully disconnect the spark plug
wire and keep it away from the spark
plug. Refer to “Figure 6-2” for spark plug
location.
• Keep the disconnected spark plug
wire securely away from the metal
parts where arcing could occur.
• Carefully attach the spark plug
wire to the grounding post, if
provided.
Spark
Plug
Spark
Plug
Boot
Figure 6-2