Maintenance Instructions BRIGGS & STRATTON TIPS
48
IMPORTANT TIPS FOR CARE OF THE
BRIGGS & STRATTON ENGINE
Fuel System
● Fuel must be clean—free from water, dirt, and
or ganic material.
● Change the fuel lter on a regular basis or when
contamination is suspected or found in the fuel.
Starting/Stopping
● Start engine with the throttle advanced o idle
(1/4 to 1/2 throttle). This will aid starting, espe-
cially in cold weather.
● Keep the battery fully charged.
● Match crankcase oil viscosity to the ambient
tem perature, allowing the engine to crank faster
and start easier.
● Allow engine to run at idle for a few seconds
be fore stopping engine to avoid run-on or back-
ring.
Cooling System
CAUTION
DO NOT use water or a pressure washer to
clean the cooling system on an air-cooled
engine; mud may form under the cooling
shroud on the cylinder head and cooling
fan resulting in engine overheating.
● Keep engine air intake screen and cylinder head
ns free of grass clippings, cha, and dirt. In-
spect intake screen and cooling ns for cleanli-
ness and no damage.
● Check performance of the cooling system by
starting the engine, holding a hand adjacent to
the cylinder head, and feeling the cooling air-
ow.
DANGER
Make sure to keep hands clear of exhaust
pipe, muer, and moving parts when
checking airow.
● Operate the engine at full speed when mowing.
This allows the engine to produce full horse-
power and move more cooling air through the
engine cool ing ns.
Air Cleaner System
● Use only Cummins/Fleetguard air cleaner ele-
ments. After market elements may not seal in
the air cleaner housing, allowing dirt to enter the
engine. Also, af termarket lters often skimp on
the ltration media and require more frequent
replace ment (see following instructions).
● DO NOT overservice or frequently “disturb”
the air lter. A dirty air lter actually cleans bet-
ter than a new one. Changing and cleaning the
air lter too often can actually reduce lter e-
ciency and increase the opportunity for traces of
dust to enter the engine.
● When the air lter element is removed or re-
placed, make sure all dust is cleaned out of the
air cleaner housing and hose. Use a damp
cloth and wipe the interior of the canister and
hose clean (a lit tle dirt left here will be sucked
into the engine and reduce engine life). When
the lter is reinstalled, make sure the element
is held tight and straight in the canister for
proper seating and sealing.
● Periodically check the air intake hose for cuts,
nicks, etc., and the hose clamps for tightness.
Oil
● Single viscosity or multi-viscosity oils may be
used with the viscosity matching ambient tem-
peratures for the engine operating conditions.
This will aid starting in cold weather and assure
proper lubrication in hot weather.
● Use only Briggs & Stratton oil lters. Aftermar-
ket lters may not seal properly and/or have
the in correct pressure relief valve for proper lu-
brication.