Troy-Bilt 12087 - Manual (Page 58)

BATTERY CARE
AND MAINTENANCE
DANGER
POISON-CAUSES SEVERE BURNS
• Electrolyte is a sulfuric acid
solution.
• Avoid contact with skin,
eyes and clothing.
• To prevent accidents, wear
protective
clothing, rubber
gloves, and shield eyes with
safety goggles.
• Neutralize acid spills with
baking soda and water solu­
tion. Neutralize empty con­
tainer with baking soda and
rinse with water.
ANTIDOTE: External- Flush
with water. Eyes- Flush with
water for 15 minutes and get
prompt medical attention.
ANTIDOTE: Internal- Drink
large quantities of water or
milk. Follow with milk of
magnesia, beaten eggs or
vegetable oil. Call physician
immediately.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
DANGER — BATTERIES
PRODUCE EXPLOSIVE GASES
• Keep sparks, flame,
cigarettes away at all times.
• Only charge or use the bat­
tery in a well-ventilated area.
• Make sure venting path (vent
tube) of battery is always open.
DANGER
Never touch the positive (+)
battery post and any other
surrounding metal with tools,
jewelry, or other metal ob­
jects. Doing so can cause a
short circuit that could result
in electrical burns, an electri­
cal shock, or explosion of
battery gas.
A. Battery Care in Service
1. Every month or every ten (10)
operating hours, whichever comes
first, check the level of electrolyte
solution in the battery cells:
a) If the battery case has UPPER
and LOWER level lines on it, the
solution should be maintained at
the UPPER level line.
b) If the battery does not have level
lines on the case, maintain the
solution level at the lowest part
of the filler well within each cell.
Only use distilled or demineral­
ized water to refill each battery
cell. After filling, replace the bat­
tery caps securely, then wash off
any spilled solution with a baking
soda and water mixture. Next, run
the engine outdoors for about 20
minutes (at 3/4 throttle) to help
recharge and recirculate the elec­
trolyte solution. For safety, do not
leave the tiller unattended while
the engine is running.
2. Keep the battery clean. If ter­
minals are corroded, remove bat­
tery and clean terminals with a
wire brush, sandpaper or steel
wool. {Avoid getting any of this
corrosive material on your skin or
in your eyes.) Rinse battery with a
solution of baking soda and water.
Coat the terminals with petroleum
jelly or silicone grease to prevent
further corrosion.
3. Periodically check entire elec­
trical system for loose connections
or loose hardware.
4. Check hardware securing the
battery holddown clamp. It should
be secure, but not overly tight.
5. Check the vent tube. It must
not be crimped or bent.
WARNING
To help avoid personal injury,
be sure the battery vent tube
is not crimped or pinched
anywhere aiong its iength.
Improper venting could result
in an explosion of battery
gases.
B. Battery Care in Storage
Your engine has a recharging
circuit that will properly maintain
the battery’s state of charge during
the normal tilling season.
However, prior to storing your
tiller away during the off-season,
we recommend the battery be fully
charged. At the end of the storage
period, the battery should be
recharged again.
DANGER
• While the battery is being
charged, do not leave it unat­
tended. Charging time does
not have to be continuous.
• Carefully follow all charg­
ing instructions and safety
rules provided by the manu­
facturer of the charging
equipment.
• Never attempt to “jump
start” the battery with an au­
tomobile battery or its charg­
ing system. This could result
in serious personal injury or
property damage from causes
such as a battery explosion,
or acid or eiectrical burns.
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