Poulan PO18H42STA User Manual - Page 17

MAINTENANCE TO CLEAN BATTERY AND TERMINALS Corrosion and dirt on the battery and terminals can cause the battery to "leak" power. • Disconnect BLACK battery cable first then RED bat- tery cable and remove battery from tractor. • Rinse the battery with plain water and dry. • Clean terminals and battery cable ends with wire brush until bright. • Coat terminals with grease or petroleum jelly. • Reinstall battery (See "REPLACING BATTERY" in the SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS section of this manual). 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. Change the oil after every 50 hours of operation or at least once a year if the tractor is not used for 50 hours in one year. Check the crankcase oil level before starting the engine and after each eight (8) hours of operation. Tighten oil fill cap/dipstick securely each time you check the oil level. TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL (See Figs. 12 and 13) Determine temperature range expected before oil change. All oil must meet API service classification SF-SJ. • Be sure tractor is on level surface. • Oil will drain more freely when warm. • Catch oil in a suitable container. • 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. TRANSAXLE COOLING The transmission fan and cooling fins should be kept clean to assure proper cooling. OIL DRAIN VALVE Do not attempt to clean fan or transmission 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. CLOSED AND LOCKED POSITION • Inspect cooling fan to be sure fan blades are intact and clean. • Inspect cooling fins for dirt, grass clippings and other materials. To prevent damage to seals, do not use compressed air or high pressure sprayer to clean cooling fins. YELLOW CAP DRAIN TUBE TRANSAXLE PUMP FLUID The transaxle was sealed at the factory and fluid maintenance is not required for the life of the transaxle. Should the transaxle ever leak or require servicing, contact your nearest authorized service center/department. ENGINE LUBRICATION Only use high quality detergent oil rated with API service classification SF-SJ. Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade according to your expected operating temperature. SAE VISCOSITY GRADES FIG. 13 • Unlock drain valve by pushing inward and turning counterclockwise. • To open, pull out on the drain valve. • 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 to the bottom fitting of the drain valve. • Refill engine with oil through oil fill dipstick tube. Pour slowly. Do not overfill. For approximate capacity see "PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS" section of this manual. 5W-30 SAE 30 • Use gauge on oil fill cap/dipstick for checking level. Be sure dipstick cap is tightened securely for accurate reading. Keep oil at "FULL" line on dipstick. F -20 0 30 32 40 60 80 100 C -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 CLEAN AIR SCREEN TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE Air screen must be kept free of dirt and chaff to prevent FIG. 12 engine damage from overheating. Clean with a wire brush or compressed air to remove dirt and stubborn dried gum NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils (5W30, 10W30 etc.) fibers. improve starting in cold weather, these multi-viscosity oils will result in increased oil consumption when used above 32°F. Check your engine oil level more frequently to avoid possible engine damage from running low on oil. 17