Manual

Section5: Maintenance
_ efore inspecting,cleaning or servicingthe machine, shutoff engine, wait for all movingpartsto come
to a completestop,disconnectsparkplug wire and movewire away from sparkplug. Remove ignition
key,if so equipped.
Failureto follow these instructionscanresult inseriouspersonalinjuryor propertydamage.
7. Replacethe filler caps andwashoff
any spilled electrolyte with a baking soda
and water solution.
8. Store thebattery in a cool, dry
location. Avoid freezing temperatures.
Batteries lose voltagewhen in storage,
more so in hot weatherthan in cold.
Ideal storagetemperature is 50OF.
Battery Removal and Replacement
1. Disconnect thenegative (-) cable from
the grounding screw on the right side of
the battery bracket (A, Figure 5-42) and
bend the cable awayfrom all metal parts.
2. Disconnect negative cablefrom
negative (-) battery post (B, Figure 5-42),
and remove cable.
3. Disconnect positive (+) cablefrom
positive battery post (C, Figure 5-42) and
bend it safely awayfrom metal parts.
Covercable terminal with rubber boot.
4. Removethe battery holddown clamp
and remove the battery.
5. Reversethe previous steps to replace
the battery. The batterypostsmustface
the rear of thetiller. (The positive post
must be on the left side as you face
forward from the handlebars.)
6. Insert the vent tube (on positive side of
battery) into the vent tube shield. Be sure
it is not crimped, pinched or folded along
its length.
Whenremovingthe battery, alwaysdis-
connect the negative (-) cable first
followed by the positive (+) cable. Re-
verse this procedure when reinstalling
thebattery.
Storing Your Tiller
When yourtiller won't be usedduring the
off-season, prepareit for storagewith the
following steps:
1. Cleanthe tiller and engine.
2. Do routine tiller lubrication andcheck
for loose hardware.
Figure 5.42
3. Protect the engine from deterioration
or damage by referring to the engine
storage instructions in your engine
manual literature.
4.When engine is still warm, drain oil
from enginecrankcase. Refillwith flesh
motor oil.
5. Protect internal cylinder against rust by
removing spark plug and pouring one
ounce of clean engine oil into spark plug
hole. Then slowly pull out recoil start
rope 2 or 3 times to distribute oil inter-
nally. Replacespark plug, but do not
reconnect plug wire. Pull rope until resis-
tance is felt -- let rope rewind.
6. Chargebattery (electric start option).
Store battery in cool, dry location.
7. Move Wheels/Tines/PTODrive Lever to
NEUTRALposition. Keeptiller in a clean,
dry area.
8. Neverstore tiller with fuel in fuel tank
in an enclosedareawhere gas fumes
could reach anopen flame or spark, or
where ignition sources are present (space
heaters, hot water heaters,furnaces, etc.).
Inspecting Forward Interlock
WiringSystem
Checkthe Forwardinterlock wiring
system everyten (10) operating hours,
for tight connections and to seethat the
insulation on the wires is unbroken (to
prevent the system from shorting out).
1. Check insulatedwire harnessfrom
lower ends of handlebars to wire harness
connector on top, right side of transmis-
sion cover. Besure connector is secure.
2. Check insulatedtubingfrom connector
to cast iron motor mount/belt shroud.
3. Check the wire leadingfrom the tubing
over to the switch assembly mounted on
top of the tab on the cast iron motor
mount-belt shroud. Also check the
secondwire that leads to the throttle
cable mounting bracket on the right side,
forward portion of the engine.
Testing the Forward
Interlock Wiring System
The wiringcircuit for the Forward
Interlock SafetySystem is designed to
ground out the engine's ignition system.
There are three switches in the circuit
which, when open, let the engine run.
Oneswitch is on the neutral plunger tab
of the cast iron motor mount. This switch
is openwhenever the Wheels/Tines/PTO
Drive Lever is in NEUTRALor REVERSE
positions. The other two switches are
locatedinside the handlebars,directly
abovethe two Forward Interlock Levers.
The switches are wired so when squeezed
(open) the enginewill run. There is a
fourth switch located in the wiring
harnessconnector on the top, right side
of the transmission cover. It warns you if
the connection is not mated by not letting
the engine run while the Wheels/Tines/PTO
Drive Lever is in FORWARD.
1. A broken or disconnectedwire could
let the engine run without you having to
press one of the Forward Interlock Levers.
2. A barewire touching tilleror engine
metal could ground out the engine's
ignition.
3. A switch that has failed allows the
engineto run. Or it may preventthe
enginefrom running.
Referto the Troubleshootingsection if
your Forward Interlock SafetySystem is
not operating correctly.
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