User Guide

106567_0706
10-12
The oil drain and oil filter are located at the rear of the engine. Fig. 10-
9
Engine air filter
Perform engine air filter maintenance per the Service Interval chart on
page 10-9.
A specially designed dry filter is standard equipment on the Hustler Z
tractors and supplies clean combustion air to the engine. Fig. 10-10
Recommended service procedure
Many engine failures can be attributed to improper air cleaner
servicing. Ingested dust and dirt will cause cylinder, piston and bearing
damage in a few hours. “Dusted” engines will result from:
1. Overservicing the air filter element.
2. Improper installation.
3. Damaged filter, seals or canister.
4. Incorrect air filter element size.
5. Use of poorly designed aftermarket air filter elements.
Air cleaner servicing is an inexpensive maintenance check that can
prevent costly non-warrantable premature engine damage.
Overservicing
Overservicing occurs when an air filter element is removed for cleaning
or replacement before it is necessary. Each time the filter is removed a
small amount of dirt and dust could fall in the intake system. This
accumulated dirt can cause a dusted engine. It only takes a few grams of
ingested dirt over the normal service life of an engine to cause a dusted
engine.
Do not clean element, replace with a new element only. Cleaning
used air filter elements, through improper cleaning procedures, can get dust
on the inside of the filter causing dirt ingestion and engine failure.
It is important to note that whenever an air filter element is cleaned by
any method, the person or company performing the cleaning assumes
responsibility for the integrity of the filter from then on. The Donaldson
warranty for air filters expires upon cleaning or servicing in any
manner because the condition of the filter after servicing is completely
out of their control. Therefore, on a dust ingested engine failure, there
will be no warranty consideration if the air filter element has been
cleaned or serviced in any manner.
A partially dirty air filter element works better than a new element.
Therefore, a dirty filter element is not bad for the engine unless it is
excessively restricting the air flow and engine performance is affected. The
reason is simple. The media in the filter must be porous to allow air to pass
through it. When dirty air passes through the filter, the dirt plugs some of
the holes in the media and actually acts as part of the filter media. When
the next round of dirt enters, the first dirt helps filter out even smaller
particles making the filter more efficient at stopping dirt from entering the
engine. This is referred to as barrier filtration.
Of course, at some point the filter media becomes too clogged to allow
air to pass.
The mowing conditions will determine the frequency of air filter
element changing.
Improper installation of an air filter element
Dust must not leak past the seals on each end of the air filter element.
The filter must be aligned within the canister and properly seated for an
effective seal so that no dirt can enter the engine.
Damaged filter, seals or canister
Never bang or bump the filter element against the tire or any solid
object, as dust and dirt particles will be forced through the media causing
continual passing of dirt into the engine. Visually inspect the outside of the
air cleaner canister periodically for external damage and replace if
necessary.
Incorrect air cleaner element
Use only the correct Donaldson air filter element, Hustler part number
785261, which is designed to fit the canister properly.
Hustler air filter elements have the correct media composition, filter
area, micron size and dimensions. Always use genuine Hustler filters.
Many aftermarket filters have been found to be incompatible with Hustler’s
canisters and engines.
The air filter must remain intact to block passage of dirt and foreign
particles from entering the engine. Being inclined to disbelieve the need for
more expensive air filter elements used on gasoline engines may cause
some individuals to opt for a less expensive part.
The filter element must be sufficient size and construction to withstand
stresses, caused by rapid cycling of the air volume demanded by the engine,
without cracking or tearing under fatigue and pressure (especially diesel
engines). Therefore, Hustler Turf Equipment and the engine manufacturers
have carefully selected a reliable filter designed to fit the needs of the
engines. The filter specified is a Donaldson filter, Hustler part number
785261.
Owners should be reminded that failure to use original equipment
Figure 10-8
Fuel shut-off valve
Closed position
shown
Left tank
position
Right tank
position
Figure 10-9
Engine oil
drain plug
Engine oil filter
Engine oil filler tube
Kawasaki engine shown
Figure 10-10
Pre-cleaner
Canister