Brr'f1 – Craftsman 917.28746 User Manual

Page 12

Oil Drain Valve

Change the oil after every 50 hours of op-
eration or at least once a year if the tractor
is not used for 50 hours in one year.
Check the crankcase oil level before start-
ing the engine and after each eight (8)
hours of operation.

TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL

Determine temperature

range expected

before oil change.

All oil must meet API

service classification

SG-SL.

• Be sure tractor is on level surface.
• Oil will drain more freely when warm.
• Catch oil in a suitable container.

1. Remove oil fill cap/dipstick.

Be careful

not to allow dirt to enter the engine

when changing oil.

Remove yellow cap from end of drain

valve and install the drain tube onto the
fitting.

CLEAN AIR SCREEN

Air screen must be kept free of dirt and
chaff to prevent engine damage from
overheating.

Clean with a wire brush or

compressed air to remove dirt and stub-
born dried gum fibers.

CLEAN AIR INTAKE/COOLING

AREAS

To insure proper cooling, make sure the
grass screen, cooling fins, and other exter-
nal surfaces of the engine are kept clean

at all times.

Every 100 hours of operation (more often
under extremely dusty, dirty conditions) ,
remove the blower housing and other cool-

ing shrouds. Clean the cooling fins and
external surfaces as necessary. Make sure

the cooling shrouds are reinstalled.

NOTE:

Operating the engine with a

blocked grass screen, dirty or plugged
cooling fins, and/or cooling shrouds
removed will cause engine damage due to

overheating.

MUFFLER

Inspect and replace corroded muffler and

spark arrester (if equipped) as it could cre-
ate afire hazard and/or damage.
SPARK PLUG(S)

Replace spark plug(s) at the beginning

of each mowing season or after every .

100 hours of operation, whichever occurs

first. Spark plug type and gap setting are
shown in "PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS"
section of this manual.

IN-LINE FUEL FILTER

The fuel filter should be replaced once
each season.

If fuel filter becomes

clogged, obstructing fuel flow to carbu-
retor, replacement is required.

1. With engine cool, remove filter and

plug fuel line sections.

2. Place new fuel filter in position in fuel

line with arrow pointing towards carbu~
retor.

3. Be sure there are no fuel line leaks and

clamps are properly positioned.

4. Immediately wipe up any spilled gaso-

line.

Cla~lamp

FuelFilter~

AIR FILTER

Your engine will not run properly using
a dirty air filter. Service paper cartridge
every two months or every 25 hours of
operation, whichever occurs first.
Service paper cartridge more often under

dusty conditions.

Replace the paper cartridge annually, or

after every 100 hours of operation .

TO SERVICE CARTRIDGE

• Replace a dirty; bent, or damaged car-

tridge. Handle new cartridge carefully;
do not use if the rubber seal is dam-
aged.

NOTE:

Do not wash the paper cartridge

or use pressurized air, as this will damage
the cartridge.

1. Open door (A) on the blower housing

to access the air cleaner element (B).

Unhook the latch. (C) and remove the

element.

3. Gently tap the paper element to dis-

lodge dirt.

4. Clean all air cleaner components of

any accumulated

dirt or foreign mate-

rial. Prevent any dirt from entering the

throat of carburetor.

5. Install cleaned or new element on the

base and secure with latch.

6. Close and latch the door.

~brr'F1

)

FORE NEXl

Closed and
Locked
Position

Yellow
Cap

Unlock drain valve by pushing inward

slightly and turning counterclockwise.

4. To open, pull out on the drain valve.
5. After oil has drained completely, close .

and lock the drain valve by pushing
inward and turning clockwise until the
pin is in the locked position as shown.

Remove the drain tube and replace the

cap onto the end of the drain valve.

Refill engine with oil through oil fill dip-

stick tube.

Pour slowly.

Do not overfill.

For approximate capacity see "PROD-
UCT SPECIFICATIONS"

sectioilof

this

manual.

Use gauge on oil fill cap/dipstick for

checking level. For accurate reading,
insert dipstick into the tube and push
down firmly into place before removing.
Keep oil up to, but not over, the "FULL
line on dipstick. Push dipstick down

firmly into the tube when finished.

Adding or checking level of electrolyte is

not necessary.

TO CLEAN BATIERY

AND TERMINALS

Corrosion and dirt on the battery and

terminals can cause the battery to "leak"
power.

1. Disconnect BLACK battery cable first

then RED battery cable and remove

battery from tractor.

.2.

Rinse the battery with plain water and

dry.

3. Clean terminals and battery cable ends

with wire brush until bright.

4. Coat terminals with grease or pet roc

leum jelly.

5. Reinstall battery (See "REPLACING

BATIERY"

in the SERVICE AND AD-

JUSTMENTS

section of this manual).

TRANSAXLE

COOLING

The transmission

fan and cooling fins

should be kept clean to assure proper
cooling.

Do not attempt to clean fan or transmis-

sion while engine is running or while the
transmission

is hot. To prevent possible

damage to seals, do not use high pressure
water or steam to clean transaxle.
• Inspect coolihg fan to be sure fan blades

are intact and clean.

• Inspect cooling fins for dirt, grass clip-

pings and other materials.

To prevent

damage to seals, do not use com-
pressed air or high pressure sprayer to
clean cooling fins.

TRANSAXLE

PUMP FLUID

The transaxle was sealed at the factory
and fluid maintenance

is not required for

the life of the transaxle.

Should the trans-

axle ever leak or require serVicing, contact
your nearest Sears or other qualified
service center.

V-BELTS
Check V-belts for deterioration

and wear

after 100 hours of operation and replace
if necessary. The belts are not adjustable.
Replace belts if they begin to slip from
wear.

ENGINE

LUBRICATION
Only use high quality detergent oil rated

with API service classification

SG-SL.

Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade
according to your expected operating

temperature.