8 / 20
SERVICING YOUR ENGINE
THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTENANCE
Good maintenance is essential for safe, economical and trouble-free operation. It will also help
reduce pollution.
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.
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 our technician or other qualified mechanics.
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 unusual wet or dusty conditions, consult your servicing dealer for
recommendations applicable to your individual needs and use.
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.
WARNING
Failure to properly follow the maintenance instructions and precautions can cause you to be
seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures and precautions in this owner's manual.
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.
Remember that an authorized servicing dealer of our company knows your engine best and is
fully equipped to maintain and repair it.
To ensure the best quality and reliability, use only our new genuine parts or their equivalents for
repair and replacement.