MTD 250 - Manual (Page 10)

10
Always stop engine,
disconnect spark
plug, and ground
against engine before
cleaning, lubricating
or doing any kind of
maintenance on your
machine.
IMPORTANT: Never
use a pressure washer
to clean your tiller. Water
can penetrate tight
areas of the tiller and
its chain case causing
serious damage to the
unit.
IMPORTANT: Never run
your engine without the
air cleaner completely
assembled.
5
Maintaining
Your Tiller
WARNING
Replacing the Belt
Your tiller has been engineered with a belt made of
special material for longer life and better performance.
It should not be replaced with an off-the-shelf belt. See
the retailer from which you purchased your tiller, an
authorized MTD Service Dealer, or call 1-800-800-7310
for information regarding price and availability.
1. Remove the frame and engine by removing the six
screws and lock nuts holding the engine and frame to
the shield, Figure 9.
2. Remove the shoulder screw, carriage screw, and nuts
from the idler bracket assembly, Step 1 Figure 10.
3. Unloop the belt from the pulleys, Step 2 Figure 10.
4. Reassemble the new belt and reattach idler pulley to
secure in place.
5. Reattach frame and engine using the hardware
removed earlier.
WARNING: Always stop engine,
disconnect spark plug, and ground
against engine before cleaning, lubri-
cating or performing any maintenance
on your machine.
Engine
Refer to the separate engine manual for engine
maintenance instructions.
• Maintain engine oil as instructed in the separate
engine manual packed with your unit. Read and
follow instructions carefully.
• Service air cleaner every ten hours under normal
conditions. Clean every hour under extremely dusty
conditions. Poor engine performance and flooding
usually indicates that the air cleaner should be
serviced. To service the air cleaner, refer to the
separate engine manual packed with your unit.
IMPORTANT: Never run your engine without
air cleaner completely assembled.
• The spark plug should be cleaned and the gap reset
every 25 hours of engine operation. Spark plug
replacement is recommended at the start of each
tiller season; check engine manual for correct plug
type and gap specification.
• Clean the engine regularly with a cloth or brush.
Keep the cooling system (blower housing area) clean
to permit proper air circulation which is essential to
engine performance and life. Be certain to remove all
dirt and combustible debris from muffler area.
Lubrication
Transmission
The transmission is pre-lubricated and sealed at the fac-
tory. It requires no checking. See an authorized service
dealer for any service issues.
Tine Shafts
Remove tine assemblies and lubricate the tine shafts at
least once a season.
Wheel Shafts
Remove wheel assemblies and lubricate the axle shafts
at least once a season.
Cleaning Tine Area
Clean the underside of the tine shield after each use.
The dirt washes off the tines easier if rinsed off im-
mediately instead of after it dries. Always towel dry the
tiller afterwards and apply a light coat of oil or silicone to
prevent rusting or water damage.
IMPORTANT: Never use a “pressure
washer” to clean your tiller. Water can
penetrate tight areas of the tiller and its
chain case and cause serious damage to the unit.
Figure 10 - Replacing the belt.
1
2
Figure 9 - Remove engine and frame to gain access to the belt.