Spark Plug
1. Cleanareaaroundthesparkplugbase.Do notsandblastspark
plug,Sparkplugshouldbecleanedbyscrapingorwire brushing
andwashingwitha commercialsolvent
Removeandinspectthesparkplug.Checkgap to makesureit is
setat .030".See Figure13.
Electrode Porcelain
_.030 (.76 mm) gap
\
Figure13
3. Replacethesparkplug(Champion®RC12YC)oncea season.
Muffler
Temperatureof mufflerandnearbyengineareasmayexceed150°F
(65°0).Avoidcontactwiththeseareas.
• inspectmufflerperiodically,and replaceifnecessary.Replace-
mentpartsfor the mufflermustbethe sameand installedin the
samepositionasthe originalparts.
Clean Engine
• Dailyor beforeeveryuse,cleangrass,chafforaccumulated
debrisfromengine.Keeplinkage,spring,andcontrolsclean.
Keepareaaroundandbehindmufflerfreeof anycombustible
debris.
Keepingenginecleanallowsair movementaroundengine.
• Enginepartsshouldbe keptcleanto reducetheriskof overheat-
ingandignitionof accumulateddebris.
Donotuse watertocleanengineparts.Watercouldcontaminatefuel
system.Usea brushordrycloth.
Carburetor Adjustment
• Thecarburetoron thisengineisnot adjustable.
LUBRICATION
Beforelubricating,repairing,or inspecting,alwaysdisengagePTO
(BladeEngageLever),moveshift leverinto neutralposition,set
parkingbrake,stopengineandremovekeyto preventunintended
starting.
Pivot Points & Linkage
Lubricateallthepivotpointsonthe drivesystem,parkingbrakeandlift
linkageatleastoncea seasonwithlightoil.
Rear Wheels
Therearwheelsshouldberemovedfromtheaxlesoncea season.
Lubricatetheaxlesandthe rimswellwithan all-purposegreasebefore
re-installingthem.
Front Axles
Eachend of thetractor'sfrontpivotbar maybeequippedwitha grease
fitting.Lubricatewitha greasegunafterevery25hoursof tractor
operation.
Battery
Thebatteryis sealedandis maintenance-free.Acidlevelscannotbe
checked.
Alwayskeepthebatterycablesandterminalscleanandfree of
corrosivebuild-up.
Aftercleaningthe batteryandterminals,applya lightcoatof
petroleumjellyorgreaseto bothterminals.
Alwayskeepthe rubberbootpositionedoverthe positiveterminal
to preventshorting.
iMPORTANT:if removingthe batteryforanyreason,disconnectthe
NEGATIVE(Black)wirefromitsterminalfirst,followedby thePOSI-
TIVE(Red)wire.Whenre-installingthe battery,alwaysconnectthe
POSITIVE(Red)wiretoits terminalfirst,followedbythe NEGATIVE
(Black)wire.Becertainthatthe wiresareconnectedtothe correct
terminals;reversingthemcouldchangethepolarityandresultin
damageto yourengine'salternatingsystem.
Cleaning Battery
Cleanthebatterybyremovingit fromthetractorandwashingwith
a bakingsodaandwatersolution.Ifnecessary,scrapethe battery
terminalswitha wirebrushto removedeposits.Coatterminalsand
exposedwiringwithgreaseor petroleumjellytopreventcorrosion.
Battery Failures
Somecommoncausesfor batteryfailureare:
incorrectinitialactivation
Overcharging
Freezing
Undercharging
Corrodedconnections
Thesefailuresare NOTcoveredbyyourtractor'swarranty.
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