Machines

Starter key upper left, choke lower right. To engage alternator, increase throttle (after engine is warmed up) until needle on guage shows a charge.

It is OK to decrease the throttle to normal operating RPMs after the alternator engages. Alternator will continue to charge.

It pays to let the oil drain out slowly--since the drain plug is so large, the oil will splash outside of the collecting pan if you try to hurry things too quickly.

Oil filter (PH 8A) to the left, air filter (tray of oil) to the right. Replace engine oil every 30-40 hours. Place a thin coat of oil on the rubber seal of the new oil filter before replacing. Tighten only hand-tight. Replace air filter oil once a year (unscrew bolt by hand, tray drops down. Empty old oil, wipe inside of pan clean, and replace oil to fill line).

Oil Fill (right) and dipstick (left) To fill oil, pull on blue cap (it will slide off). Do NOT remove wingnut. Fill oil with 20W-50 (five quarts, I believe--check under the hood). When replacing oil fill cover, make sure to point arrow towards front of tractor (as shown)

Summer grill. Replace with winter grill (solid black plywood in polebarn). There are 4 finger-tight bolts (one on each corner).

Engine cooling fins must be blown out with an air compressor periodically (more often in dry weather conditions--if they get clogged, which they are prone to do, the engine can overheat rapidly, causing severe engine damage). Also, the air cleaner should be cleaned (air compressor) at least 3 times a year. Remove the air cleaner cover (at the top of the picture), the wingnut holding the air cleaner to the carburetor, and remove the air cleaner. The foam cover can be removed from around the air cleaner and blown out. The air cleaner itself can be blown out as well.

(From the back of the mower) Remove the oil plug (red circle) and the oil filter (yellow circle) every 30 hours. To replace filter, apply a thin coat of oil to the rubber seal then turn the filter on, taking care not to over-tighten (should be hand tight).

Grease zircs by engine (under the seat) (red circles). There are two control arms (circled in blue) that need to be greased (only one control arm is pictured). Also, check that the retaining bolts (circled in yellow) are tight.