53
Maintenance Instructions
CHECKING/SERVICING
CHECKING/SERVICING
DANGER
To prevent accidental starting of the en-
gine when servicing or adjusting the ma-
chine, remove the key from the ignition
switch and disconnect the spark plug
wires.
Security of Air Cleaner System
NOTE:
The following inspection is
only an exter-
nal inspection
and should be done without
“dis-
turbing”
the filtration components.
On a daily basis, visually inspect the external condi-
tion of the complete air cleaner system. The follow-
ing items should be inspected:
1. Check the Cummins/Fleetguard OptiAir™ air
cleaner canister for damage. Make sure the
cover is in place and the cover latch is secure -
do not run the engine without the air cleaner
cover in place and secure.
2. Inspect the air intake hose for cracks, nicks,
cuts, etc., and check the hose clamps for tight-
ness.
3. Check to make sure the air flow indicator is in
place and tight.
Battery
NOTE:
For initial battery service during setup, re fer
to
Battery Service
in
Assembly Instructions
.
IMPORTANT:
Make sure battery is securely mount-
ed in the frame. A loose battery may cause damage
to the case resulting in acid leakage and severe
dam age to the machine. A hazard may be created
by damage to critical working parts and safety sys-
tems.
Cleaning the Terminals
If battery terminals are corroded,
remove battery
from the mower. Using a wire brush, remove corro-
sion with a solution of
one part baking soda and
four parts water.
Rinse with clean water. Coat the
terminals with petroleum jelly or terminal protector
spray to retard further corrosion.
Charging the Battery
DANGER
BATTERIES PRODUCE EXPLOSIVE
GASES
·
Charge the battery in a well-ventilated
area, so that gases produced while charg-
ing can dissipate.
·
Keep sparks, flames, and smoking ma-
terials away from the battery at all times.
·
Make sure the battery cap vents are
open (check manifold vent on each cap).
·
Make sure the battery charger is un-
plugged before connecting or discon-
necting cables to the battery.
Check the battery charge by measuring the specific
gravity of electrolyte; if specific gravity is less than
1.225, the battery will need to be charged as follows:
·
Charge the battery at 15 amps for 10 minutes.
DO
NOT
exceed 20 amps maximum recom mended
charging rate. Charge until specific gravity is at least
1.250. Total charging time should not exceed one (1)
hour.
Tire Pressure
Inflate tires to pressures shown below:
Deck Caster Wheel = 20 PSI (137 kPa)
Drive = 15 PSI (103 kPa)
Rear = 20 PSI (137 kPa)
Wheel Nut Torque
Check
every 100 hours
the eight (8) Drive Tire
mounting nuts. They should each be torqued to
75 to 85 ft-lbs. (101.7 to 115.2 N·m).
Sharpen Mower Blades
Check mower blade(s) for
straightness, sharp-
ness, condition of
the cutting edge,
and
balance
every 10 hours
of operation (or more often when
mowing abrasive type grass or operating on sandy
soils).
Replace blades if worn, bent, cracked, or
otherwise damaged
(refer to
REPLACING/RE-
PAIRING
the
Mower Blades
in this section). Use
the following procedure to check and sharpen
blades: