Craftsman 917.273134 - Manual (Page 20)

2. Remove wing nut and air cleaner from
base.
TO SERVICE PRE-CLEANER
3. Slide foam pre-cleaner off cartridge.
4. Wash it in liquid detergent and water.
5. Squeeze it dry in a clean cloth. Allow it
to dry.
6. Saturate it in engine oil. Wrap it in
clean, absorbent cloth and squeeze to
remove excess oil.
TO SERVICE CARTRIDGE
1. Replace a dirty, bent, or damaged
cartridge.
NOTE: Do not wash the paper cartridge
or use pressurized air, as this will damage
the cartridge.
2. Reinstall the pre-cleaner (cleaned and
oiled) over the paper cartridge.
3. Reassemble air cleaner, wing nut,
cover and tighten knob securely.
Air Cleaner Cover
Foam Pre
Cleaner
Air
Screen
Cover Knob
Wing Nut
Rubber
Grommet
Air Cleaner
Paper
Cartridge
Air Cleaner
Base
Oil Fill Cap/
Dipstick
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 stub­
born dried gum fibers.
CLEAN AIR INTAKE/COOLING AREAS
To insure proper cooling, make sure the
grass screen, cooling fins, and other exter­
nal 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 cool­
ing 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.
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.
MUFFLER
Inspect and replace corroded muffler and
spark arrester (if equipped) as it could cre­
ate a fire hazard and/or damage.
SPARK PLUG(S)
Replace spark plug(s) 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.
in - line fuel filter
The fuel filter should be replaced once
each season. If fuel filter becomes
clogged, obstructing fuel flow to carbu­
retor, replacement is required.
1. With engine cool, remove filter and
plug fuel line sections.
2. Place new fuel filter in position in fuel
line with arrow pointing towards carbu­
retor.
3. Be sure there are no fuel line leaks and
clamps are properly positioned.
4. Immediately wipe up any spilled gaso­
line.
Clamp
Fuel Filter
Clamp
CLEANING
• Clean engine, battery, seat, finish, etc.
of all foreign matter.
• Keep finished surfaces and wheels free
of all gasoline, oil, etc.
• Protect painted surfaces with auto­
motive type wax.
We do not recommend using a garden
hose or pressure washer to clean your
tractor unless the engine and transmis­
sion are covered to keep water out. Water
in engine or transmission will shorten the
useful life of your tractor. Use compressed
air or a leaf blower to remove grass,
leaves and trash from tractor and mower.
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