Troy-Bilt 31/2 HP - Manual (Page 22)

MAINTENANCE
To service the 4-horsepower engine air cleaner:
1. Clean any excess dirt, dust, or chaff from the air
cleaner and carburetor.
2. Unscrew the knob from the top of the air cleaner
and lift the cover off.
3. Remove the foam pre-cleaner by sliding it upward,
off the paper cartridge.
4. Unscrew the wing nut from the stud in the center
of the paper filter. Lift the cartridge and base plate up,
off the stud.
5. Clean the foam pre-cleaner as follows:
a. Wash it in a solution of warm water and non­
sudsing detergent.
b. Wrap it in a towel and squeeze it dry.
c. Apply clean engine oil to it and then knead it to
evenly distribute the oil. Squeeze any excess oil
out of the pre-cleaner.
6 . Clean the paper cartridge by tapping it on a flat
surface to remove any loose dirt. If the cartridge is
very dirty, either replace it with a new one or wash it
in a solution of low- or non-sudsing detergent and
warm water. Then rinse the cartridge thoroughly from
the Inside out until the water flowing through the
cartridge is clear. Allow the cartridge to dry very
thoroughly before reinstalling it.
7. Clean the base plate and the inside of the air
cleaner cover.
8
. Place the base plate over the stud. Then place the
paper cartridge over the stud and secure it in place
with the wing nut.
9. Slide the foam pre-cleaner down over the cartridge.
10. Place the cover over the stud. Secure the cover
in place with the knob.
Spark Arrester
The muffler on the mower’s engine is equipped
with a screen-type spark arrester to help keep stray
sparks from accidentally escaping.
Before each use, check the spark arrester for
looseness and damage. If the spark arrester is
damaged or missing, do not use the mower until the
spark arrester is replaced with an original-equipment
spark arrester (available from us or your local Briggs
& Stratton dealer).
^WARNING
Avoid fires due to sparks.
Do not operate engine if spark arrester screen is
loose or damaged.
A WARNING TO ALL CALIFORNIA
MOWER OPERATORS
Under California Law, you are not permitted to
operate an internal combustion engine using hy­
drocarbon fuels on any forest-covered, brush-
covered, or grass-covered land, or land covered
with grain, hay, or other flammable agricultural
crop, without an engine spark arrester in contin­
uous effective working order. The engine on your
mower, like most lawn or garden equipment, is an
internal combustion engine that burns gasoline (a
hydrocarbon fuel); therefore it must be equipped
with a spark arrester muffler in proper working
order. The spark arrester must be attached to the
engine exhaust system in such a manner that
flames or heat from the system will not ignite flam­
mable material. Failure of the operator to comply
with this regulation is a misdemeanor under Cali­
fornia Law. Other states may have similar laws.
Federal laws apply on Federal lands.
L
BASE PLATE FOAM PRECLEANER KNOB- Photo 5-6:
The engine spark arrester.
20 Photo 5-5: The 4-horsepower engine’s air cleaner assembly
Also, please refer to the Briggs & Stratton Operat­
ing and Maintenance Instructions Manual for periodic
spark arrester maintenance information.