Servicing the Spark Plugs
Service Interval/Specication
Chec k the spark plugs after ev er y 100 operating
hours .
Ensure that the air g ap betw een the center and
side electrodes is cor rect before installing the spark
plug . Use a spark plug wrenc h for remo ving and
installing the spark plugs and a g apping tool/feeler
g aug e to c hec k and adjust the air g ap . Install a new
spark plugs if necessar y .
T ype: Champion® R CJ8Y or equi v alent Air Gap:
0.030 inc h (0.75 mm)
Removing the Spark Plugs
1. Diseng ag e the PTO and set the parking brak e .
2. Stop the engine , remo v e the k ey , and w ait for
all mo ving par ts to stop before lea ving the
operating position.
3. Disconnect the wires from the spark plugs
( Figure 37 ).
Figure 37
1. Spark-plug wire/spark plug
4. Clean around the spark plugs to prev ent dir t
from falling into the engine and potentially
causing damag e .
5. R emo v e the spark plugs and the metal w ashers .
Checking the Spark Plugs
1. Look at the center of the spark plugs
( Figure 38 ). If y ou see light bro wn or g ra y on
the insulator , the engine is operating properly .
A blac k coating on the insulator usually means
that the air cleaner is dir ty .
2. If needed, clean the spark plug with a wire
br ush to remo v e carbon de posits .
Figure 38
1. Center electrode insulator
3. Air gap (not to scale)
2. Side electrode
Important: Al w ays r eplace the spar k
plugs when it has a black coating , w or n
electr odes, an oil y film, or cracks.
3. Chec k the g ap betw een the center and side
electrodes ( Figure 38 ). Bend the side electrode
( Figure 38 ) if the g ap is not cor rect.
Installing the Spark Plugs
1. Install the spark plugs and the metal w asher .
Ensure that the air g ap is set cor rectly .
2. Tighten the spark plugs to 16 ft-lb (22 N•m).
3. Connect the wires to the spark plugs
( Figure 38 ).
Fuel System
Maintenance
Replacing the Fuel Filter
R e place the fuel filter after ev er y 200 operating
hours or yearly , whic hev er occurs first.
Nev er install a dir ty filter if it is remo v ed from the
fuel line .
1. Diseng ag e the PTO , mo v e the motion control
lev ers to the neutral loc k ed position, and set
the parking brak e .
2. Stop the engine , remo v e the k ey , and w ait for
all mo ving par ts to stop before lea ving the
operating position.
3. Allo w the mac hine to cool do wn.
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