Maintenance Instructions
LUBRICATION
37
3.
Remove the dipstick and oil drain plug, and drain
oil into a suitable container. Be sure to allow
ample time for complete drainage.
4.
Before removing the oil filter, clean the area
around the filter to keep dirt and debris out of the
engine.
5. Remove the old oil filter and wipe off the filter
mounting surface on the engine.
Dipstick and Oil Fill
(view from above left side of tractor)
Oil Drain and Oil Filter Locations
(view from above right side of tractor)
6. Apply a thin coating of new oil to the rubber gas-
ket on the replacement oil filter.
IMPORTANT: Use ONLY oil filters from the
engine manufacturer. Aftermarket oil filters may
not seal properly and/or may not have the cor-
rect pressure relief valve for proper lubrication.
7. Install the new oil filter on the engine. Turn the
oil filter clockwise until the rubber gasket con-
tacts the sealing surface, then tighten the filter
an additional 1/2 to 3/4 turn.
8. Reinstall the drain plug.
9. Fill the crankcase with new, clean oil. Use only
crankcase lubricants recommended by the
engine manufacturer. Refer to
Specifications
in
this manual or the engine owner’s manual. Use
the recommended oil viscosity for the expected
ambient temperature. Oil with the correct vis-
cosity will aid starting in cold weather and assure
proper lubrication in hot weather. Fill to FULL
mark on the dipstick; crankcase capacity is 1.5
quarts (1.4 liters) when changing oil and filter.
IMPORTANT: Check the dipstick reading be-
fore pouring in the last 1/2 pint of oil and fill only
to the FULL mark. The oil level should never be
over the FULL mark on the dipstick; overfilling
can result in engine overheating and loss of
power.
10. Start the engine and check for oil leaks around
the oil filter. Stop the engine, recheck the oil lev-
el, and add oil if necessary. (When the engine
is first operated with a new oil filter, the oil level
will drop slightly as the filter is filled with oil.)
Grease Fitting and Oil Point Lubrication
Lubricate the grease fittings and oil points after
every 25 hours of operation. Lubricate more often
when operating in dusty or dirty conditions. Use
SAE general purpose lithium or molybdenum base
grease for grease fittings and light machine oil (SAE
10) to lubricate oil points. Lubricate the locations
shown in the Chassis and Deck Lubrication
Points illustration.
NOTE: PTO universal joints (on the deck and trac-
tor) require routine lubrication after every 8 hours of
running time.
NOTE: The best way to lubricate the PTO tube half
of the universal joint assembly is to remove it from
the tractor. See instructions for removing and install-
ing PTO quick coupler, refer to Deck Installation in
Mower Deck Installation on Tractor in the
Assem-
bly Instructions.
Oil Fill
Dipstick
Oil Drain
Oil Filter
