Servicing your engine, The importance of maintenance, Maintenance safety – HONDA GCV160 User Manual
Page 8: Safety precautions, Maintenance schedule, Refueling, Warning
8
ENGLISH
SERVICING YOUR ENGINE
THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTENANCE
Good maintenance is essential for safe, economical and trouble-free
operation. It will also help reduce pollution.
To help you properly care for your engine, the following pages include
a maintenance schedule, routine inspection procedures, and simple
maintenance procedures using basic hand tools. Other service tasks
that are more difficult, or require special tools, are best handled by
professionals and are normally performed by a Honda technician or
other qualified mechanic.
The maintenance schedule applies to normal operating conditions. If
you operate your engine under severe conditions, such as sustained
high-load or high-temperature operation, or use in unusually wet or
dusty conditions, consult your servicing dealer for recommendations
applicable to your individual needs and use.
Remember that an authorized Honda servicing dealer knows your
engine best and is fully equipped to maintain and repair it.
To ensure the best quality and reliability, use only new Honda
Genuine parts or their equivalents for repair and replacement.
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of the emission control
devices and systems may be performed by any engine repair
establishment or individual, using parts that are “certified” to
EPA standards.
MAINTENANCE SAFETY
Some of the most important safety precautions follow. However, we
cannot warn you of every conceivable hazard that can arise in
performing maintenance. Only you can decide whether or not you
should perform a given task.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
• Make sure the engine is off before you begin any maintenance or
repairs. This will eliminate several potential hazards:
– Carbon monoxide poisoning from engine exhaust.
Be sure there is adequate ventilation whenever you operate
the engine.
– Burns from hot parts.
Let the engine and exhaust system cool before touching.
– Injury from moving parts.
Do not run the engine unless instructed to do so.
• Read the instructions before you begin, and make sure you have
the tools and skills required.
• To reduce the possibility of fire or explosion, be careful when
working around gasoline. Use only a nonflammable solvent, not
gasoline, to clean parts. Keep cigarettes, sparks and flames away
from all fuel related parts.
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
(1)
For commercial use, log hours of operation to determine proper
maintenance intervals.
(2)
Service more frequently when used in dusty areas.
(3)
Change engine oil every 25 hours when used under heavy load or in high
ambient temperatures.
(4)
These items should be serviced by an authorized Honda servicing dealer,
unless you have the proper tools and are mechanically proficient. Refer
to the Honda shop manual for service procedures.
*
See your equipment manual or Honda engine shop manual.
Failure to follow this maintenance schedule could result in non-warrantable
failures.
REFUELING
This engine is certified to operate on unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane rating of 86 or higher.
Refuel in a well-ventilated area with the engine stopped. If the engine
has been running, allow it to cool first. Never refuel the engine inside
a building where gasoline fumes may reach flames or sparks.
You may use regular unleaded gasoline containing no more than 10%
ethanol (E10) or 5% methanol by volume. In addition, methanol must
contain cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors. Use of fuels with content
of ethanol or methanol greater than shown above may cause starting
and/or performance problems. It may also damage metal, rubber, and
plastic parts of the fuel system. Engine damage or performance
problems that result from using a fuel with percentages of ethanol or
methanol greater than shown above are not overed by warranty.
If your equipment will be used on an infrequent or intermittent basis,
please refer to the fuel section of the STORAGE chapter (page 11) for
additional information regarding fuel deterioration.
B
WARNING
Improper maintenance, or failure to correct a problem
before operation, can cause a malfunction in which you
can be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection and maintenance
recommendations and schedules in this owner’s manual.
B
WARNING
Failure to properly follow maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures and precautions in this
owner’s manual.
Item (1)
Action
Before
Each
Use
First
Month
or
5 Hrs.
Every Season
Every
100
Hrs.
Every
150
Hrs.
Page
or
25
Hrs.
or
50
Hrs.
Engine oil
Check
O
Change
O
O (3)
Air cleaner
Check
O
O
Clean
O (2)
Replace
O
(
200
Hrs
.)
Spark plug
Check-
Adjust
O
Replace
O
(
200
Hrs
.)
Blade brake
clutch
Check
O
*
Flywheel
brake pad
Check
O
Spark arrester
(optional)
Clean
O
Idle
speed
Adjust
O (4)
Shop
manual
Fuel tank and
filter
Check
O (4)
Shop
manual
Valve
clearance
Check-
Adjust
O (4)
Shop
manual
Fuel line
Check
Every 2 years (4)
Shop
manual
Combustion
chamber
Clean
After every 250 hours (4)
Shop
manual
B
WARNING
Gasoline is highly flammable and explosive, and you can
be burned or seriously injured when refueling.
• Stop engine and keep heat, sparks, and flame away.
• Refuel only outdoors.
• Wipe up spills immediately.
POM31Z8B022.book Page 8 Monday, November 17, 2008 3:50 PM