48
Maintenance Instructions
LUBRICATION
Transaxle Oil and Filter Change
Change the transaxle oil after the initial
break-in pe-
riod
of
75-100 hours.
Thereafter, change oil
every
400 hours
of operation as follows:
1. Thoroughly clean the exterior of the transmission
housing before servicing. Remove expansion
tank cap to allow venting. Using a 1/4 in. hex
wrench, remove the plug on the lower inside of
each transaxle allowing the oil to drain.
2. Remove the oil filter guard, remove and replace
the oil filter using an oil filter wrench. Tighten
filter by turning filter 3/4 to 1 turn after gasket
contacts the filter base surface. Reinstall the oil
filter guard. (Refer to
Transaxle Oil Drain Plug,
Filter, and Guard Location
illustration.)
Oil Filter
Guard
Oil Drain
Plug
Oil Filter
Transaxle Oil Drain Plug, Filter, and
Guard Location
(Shown with Deck Support Arms
Removed for Clarity)
3. Reinstall drain plug.
4. Remove the oil reservoir hose attached to the
elbow on top of the transaxle. Remove the elbow
to access the oil fill opening.
5. Fill the transaxles with 20W-50 (API Service
Class SL or higher) oil through the opening where
the elbows were. Fill up to the opening.
6. Before reinstalling the elbows, screw the locking
nut on the elbows down until they are snug (the
o-ring on the elbow will be to the bottom of the
o-ring groove).
Elbow
Screw Locking
Nut Down
Reinstall Transaxle Elbows
7. Reinstall the elbows. When the elbow begins to
be snug, position the elbow as it was when re-
moved and tighten the locknut. Reinstall reser-
voir hoses to elbows.
8. Fill both reservoirs 1/4-1/2 in. (6-13 mm) using
20W-50 (API Service Class SL or higher) oil.
9. Start and drive the unit for 1- 2 minutes.
10. If the transaxle sounds noisy or has poor steering
response, there may be air trapped in the trans-
axle. Follow purge instructions below.
11. To purge air from transaxle, raise unit and block
with tires off the ground. With engine running,
slowly move Forward Speed Control forward and
backward 5 to 6 times. Turn off engine and check
oil level and add if needed. Repeat procedure
until transaxle operate at normal noise levels and
move smoothly in forward and reverse.
