Craftsman 917.271142 - Manual (Page 20)

CLEAN AIR SCREEN
Air screen must be kept free of dirt and
chaff to prevent engine damage from
overheating. Clean with a wire brush or
compressed air to remove dirt and
stubborn dried gum fibers.
CLEAN AIR INTAKE/COOLING
AREAS
To insure proper cooling, make sure the
grass screen, cooling fins, and other
external surfaces of the engine are kept
clean at all times.
Every 100 hours of operation (more often
under extremely dusty, dirty conditions),
remove the blower housing and other
cooling shrouds. Clean the cooling fins
and external surfaces as necessary. Make
sure the cooling shrouds are reinstalled.
NOTE: Operating the engine with a
blocked grass screen, dirty or plugged
cooling fins, and/or cooling shrouds
removed will cause engine damage due
to overheating.
AIR FILTER
Your engine will not run properly using a
dirty air filter. Clean the foam pre-cleaner
after every 25 hours of operation or every
season. Service paper cartridge every
100 hours of operation or every season,
whichever occurs first.
Service air cleaner more often under
dusty conditions.
• Remove knob and cover.
• Remove wing nut and air cleaner from
base.
TO SERVICE PRE-CLEANER
• Slide foam pre-cleaner off cartridge.
• Wash it in liquid detergent and water.
• Squeeze it dry in a clean cloth. Allow it
to dry.
• Saturate it in engine oil. Wrap it in
clean, absorbent cloth and squeeze to
remove excess oil.
TO SERVICE CARTRIDGE
• Replace a dirty, bent, or damaged
cartridge.
NOTE: Do not wash the paper cartridge
or use pressurized air, as this will damage
the cartridge.
• Reinstall the pre-cleaner (cleaned and
oiled) over the paper cartridge.
• Reassemble air cleaner, wing nut,
cover and tighten knob securely.
MUFFLER
Inspect and replace corroded muffler and
spark arrester (if equipped) as it could
create a fire hazard and/or damage.
SPARK PLUGS
Replace spark plugs at the beginning of
each mowing season or after every 100
hours of operation, whichever occurs first.
Spark plug type and gap setting are
shown in “PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS”
section of this manual.
ENGINE OIL FILTER
Replace the engine oil filter every season
or every other oil change if the tractor is
used more than 100 hours in one year.
• Drain oil from engine crankcase (See
“TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL” in this
section of this manual, through step
remove drain plug).
• Remove oil filter and wipe off filter
adapter.
• Apply a thin coating of new engine oil
to the rubber gasket on replacement oil
filter.
• Install replacement oil filter on filter
adapter. Turn oil filter clockwise until
rubber gasket contacts the filter
adapter, then tighten filter an additional
1/2 turn.
• Fill crankcase with new oil (See 'TO
CHANGE ENGINE OIL” in this section
of this manual). For approximate
capacity see “PRODUCT SPECIFICA­
TIONS" section of this manual.
• Start the engine and check for oil leaks.
Correct any leaks before placing
engine into full operation.
IN-LINE FUEL FILTER
The fuel filter should be replaced once
each season. If fuel filter becomes
clogged, obstructing fuel flow to carbure­
tor, replacement is required.
• With engine cool, remove filter and plug
fuel line sections.
• Place new fuel filter in position in fuel
line with arrow pointing towards
carburetor.
• Be sure there are no fuel line leaks and
clamps are properly positioned.
Immediately wipe up any spilled
Clamp