Craftsman 247.29931 - Manual (Page 21)

SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
Check Transmission Gear Oil
Check the transmission gear oil after every 30 hours of operation
or whenever you notice any oil leak. Operating the tiller when the
transmission is low on oil can result in severe damage.
To Check the Transmission Gear Oil Level:
1. Check the gear oil level when the transmission is cool. Gear oil
will expand in warm operating temperatures and this expansion
will provide an incorrect oil level reading.
2. With the tiller on level ground, pull the Depth Regulator Lever all
the way up.
3. Remove the oil fill plug from the transmission housing and look
inside the oil fill hole to locate the main drive shaft situated below
the hole. See Figure 21.
4. The gear oil level is correct it the gear oil is approximately halfway
up the side of the main drive shaft.
5. If the gear oil level is low, add gear oil as described next. If the
gear oil level is okay, securely replace the oil fill plug.
6. If adding only a few ounces of gear oil, use API rated GL-4 or
GL-5 gear oil having a viscosity of SAE 140, SAE 85W-140 or SAE
80W-90. If refilling an empty transmission, use only GL-4 gear oil
having a viscosity of SAE 85W-140 or SAE 140.
7. While checking frequently to avoid overfilling, slowly add gear oil
into the oil fill hole until it reaches the halfway point on the drive
shaft.
8. Securely replace the oil fill plug.
Change Transmission Gear Oil
The transmission gear oil does not need to be changed unless it has
been contaminated with dirt, sand or metal particles. See an autho­
rized Sears Service Center to have the transmission gear oil changed
or to schedule service, simply contact Sears at 1-800-4-MY-HOME®.
LUBRICATION
After every 10 operating hours, oil or grease the lubrication points. Use
clean lubricating oil (#30 weight motor oil is suitable) and clean general
purpose grease (grease containing a metal lubricant is preferred, if
available). See Figure 22.
• Remove the wheels, clean the wheel shaft and apply a thin
coating of grease.
• Grease the back, front and sides of the depth regulator lever.
• Remove the tines and clean the tine shaft. Use a file or sandpa­
per to gently remove any rust, burrs or rough spots (especially
around the holes in the shaft). Apply grease to the ends of the
shaft before installing the tines.
• Oil the threads on the handlebar height adjustment screws and
the handlebar attaching screws.
TIRE PRESSURE
Check the air pressure in both tires. The air pressure should be betwen
15-20 PSI. Keep both tires equally inflated to help prevent machine
from pulling to one side.
HARDWARE
Check for loose or missing hardware after every 10 operating hours
and tighten or replace — as needed — before reusing the tiller. Be
sure to check the screws underneath the tiller hood that secure the
transmission cover and the Depth Regulator Lever to the transmission.
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