Engine Maintenance
Servicing the Air Cleaner
Service Interval:
Before each use or daily
Yearly
1. Press down on the latch tabs on top of the air cleaner
cover and remove the cover (Figure 35).
Figure 35
1.
Air cleaner cover
2.
Latch tab (2)
3.
Air filter
2. Remove the air filter (Figure 35).
3. If the air filter is damaged or is wet with oil or fuel,
replace it.
4. If the air filter is dirty, tap it on a hard surface several
times or blow compressed air less than 30 psi (207
kPa) through the side of the filter that faces the
engine.
Note:
Do not brush the dirt off the filter; brushing
forces dirt into the fibers.
5. Remove dirt from the air cleaner body and cover
using a moist rag.
Do not wipe dirt into the air
duct.
6. Install the filter into the air cleaner.
7. Close the cover.
Changing the Engine Oil
Service Interval:
After the first 5 hours
Yearly
Note:
Run the engine a few minutes before changing
the oil to warm it. Warm oil flows better and carries
more contaminants out of the engine.
1. Perform the pre-maintenance procedures; refer to
Preparing for Maintenance (page 19).
2. Remove the dipstick (Figure 36).
Figure 36
3. Tip the machine onto its side, with oil fill tube down,
to drain the used oil out through the oil fill tube into
a pan (Figure 37).
Figure 37
4. Fill the engine with oil; refer to Setup, step
2 Filling the Engine with Oil (page 9).
5. Install the dipstick and hand tighten it securely.
6. Dispose of the used oil at a local recycling center.
Servicing the Spark Plug
Service Interval:
Every 100 hours
Every 200 hours
Use an
NGK BPR6ES
spark plug or equivalent.
1. Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop.
2. Disconnect the wire from the spark plug (Figure 34).
3. Clean around the spark plug.
4. Remove the spark plug from the cylinder head.
Important:
Replace a cracked, fouled, or
dirty spark plug. Do not clean the electrodes
because grit entering the cylinder can damage
the engine.
5. Set the gap on the plug to 0.030 in. (0.76 mm)
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