Use and Care Manual

12
OPERATION
MAINTENANCE
Proper routine maintenance will help prolong the life of the machine. Please perform maintenance checks ac-
cording to the schedule below. If there are any questions about the maintenance procedures listed in this manual,
please call [phone] M-F 8-5CT. It is best practice to drain your carburetor after every use. Always drain
before storage. Do not store the plate compactor with fuel inside the tank for more than 2 weeks. This will cause
the carburetor to clog and will need to be disassembled and cleaned before the next use. Run the plate compactor
for 15 minutes a month to maximize its lifespan. Refer to the next page for drainage procedures.
CAUTION: Never perform maintenance operations while the plate compactor is running.
Recommended
Maintenance Schedule
(Clean more as necessary)
Each Use
First
Month,
then Every
20 Hours
Every 3
Months or
50 Hours
Every 6
Months or
100 Hours
Every
Year or
300 Hours
Engine Oil
Check level x
Replace x x
Air Cleaner
Check x
Clean x
Spark plug Check/clean x
Fuel tank
Check level x
Clean x
Fig. 4
STOPPING THE PLATE COMPACTOR:
1. Move handle lever to “MIN” position to disengage the compactor.
2. Turn the engine switch to the “OFF” position.
3. Turn the fuel valve to the “OFF” position.
FOR EMERGENCY SHUTDOWNS, move the throttle to the idle position and turn the engine switch OFF.
WARNING: Allow the unit to cool for several minutes before touching areas that become hot during
use.
CAUTION: Allowing gasoline to sit in the fuel tank for long periods of time can make it difficult to start the plate
compactor in the future. Never store the plate compactor for over two weeks with fuel in the fuel tank. If sitting
more than a month, drain the carburetor.
CLEANING THE PLATE COMPACTOR:
Never clean the plate compactor when it is running! If the plate compactor becomes dirty, clean the exterior with
a damp cloth, a soft brush, or vacuum/pressurized air.
CHECKING THE OIL:
Check the oil level of the engine according to the Recommended Maintenance Schedule (Fig. 4). The engine
is equipped with an automatic shutoff to protect it from running with low oil pressure. The engine should be
checked before each use for proper oil level. This is a critical step for proper engine maintenance.