73
Maintenance Instructions
CHECKING/SERVICING
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 systems.
CAUTION
Important Battery Service, Installation, and
Charging Tips for Fuel Injection Engines:
● Do not allow the battery cables to touch
opposing terminals. When connecting bat-
tery cables attach the positive (+) cable to
positive (+) battery terminal first, followed
by negative (-) cable to negative (-) battery
terminal.
● Never start the engine when the cables
are loose or poorly connected to the bat-
tery terminals.
● Never disconnect battery while engine
is running.
● Never use a quick battery charger to
start the engine.
● Never “jump start” the engine using an-
other source. Electricity fluctuations can
damage the ECU (Electronic Control Unit).
● Always disconnect negative (-) battery
cable lead before charging battery, and
also unplug harness from ECU before per-
forming any welding on equipment.
Electrolyte Level
The battery electrolyte level should be checked
af-
ter
every 25 hours
of operation. To check electro-
lyte level:
1. Remove battery cell filler caps.
2. Check the electrolyte level. If the level is below
the bottom of the vent well, fill with distilled wa-
ter to the bottom of the vent wells [1/4 to 1/2 in.
(6 to 13 mm) above the plates].
3. Replace filler caps.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT
overfill the battery. Electro-
lyte will overflow through the vented caps onto parts
of the machine and
WILL
result in severe corrosion.
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 disconnect-
ing 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:
IMPORTANT:
Always disconnect the negative (-)
battery terminal before charging. Failure to do so
can result in damage to the ECU.
1. 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.
2. After charging the battery, use distilled water to
adjust the electrolyte level to the bottom of the
vent wells [1/4 to 1/2 in. (6 to 13 mm) above the
plates].