42" Briggs & Stratton 17.5 hp Gas Powered Riding Lawn Tractor Operator's Manual

Spark Plug
1. Cleanareaaroundthe sparkplugbase.Do notsandblastspark
plug,Sparkplugshouldbecleanedby scrapingorwire brushing
andwashingwitha commercialsolvent
Removeandinspectthe sparkplug.Checkgap to makesureit is
setat .030".See Figure12.
Electrode Porcelain
_.030 (.76 mm) gap
\
Figure12
3. Replacethesparkplug(Champion®RC12YC)once a season.
Muffler
Temperatureof mufflerandnearbyengineareasmayexceed150° F
(65°0).Avoidcontactwiththeseareas.
• inspectmufflerperiodically,and replaceif necessary.Replace-
mentpartsfor the mufflermustbethesameand installedin the
samepositionas the originalparts.
Clean Engine
Do notuse waterto cleanengineparts.Watercouldcontaminatefuel
system.Usea brushordry cloth.
Dailyor beforeeveryuse,cleangrass,chaff oraccumulated
debrisfromengine.Keeplinkage,spring,andcontrolsclean.
Keepareaaroundandbehindmufflerfreeof any combustible
debris.
Keepingenginecleanallowsair movementaroundengine.
• Enginepartsshouldbe keptcleanto reducethe riskof overheat-
ingandignitionof accumulateddebris.
Carburetor Adjustment
• Thecarburetoron thisengineis not adjustable.
LUBRICATION
Beforelubricating,repairing,or inspecting,alwaysdisengagePTO
(BladeEngageLever),moveshiftleverinto neutralposition,set
parkingbrake,stopengineand removekeyto preventunintended
starting.
Pivot Points & Linkage
Lubricateallthepivotpointsonthe drivesystem,parkingbrakeandlift
linkageat leastonce a seasonwithlightoil.
Rear Wheels
The rearwheelsshouldberemovedfromtheaxlesoncea season.
Lubricatetheaxlesandtherimswellwithan all-purposegreasebefore
re-installingthem.
Front Axles
Eachend of thetractor'sfrontpivotbar maybeequippedwitha grease
fitting.Lubricatewitha greasegunafterevery25hoursof tractor
operation.
Battery
The batteryis sealedandis maintenance-free.Acidlevelscannotbe
checked.
Alwayskeepthe batterycablesandterminalscleanandfree of
corrosivebuild-up.
Aftercleaningthe batteryandterminals,applya lightcoatof
petroleumjelly orgreaseto bothterminals.
Alwayskeepthe rubberbootpositionedoverthe positiveterminal
to preventshorting.
iMPORTANT: if removingthe batteryfor any reason,disconnectthe
NEGATIVE(Black)wirefromitsterminalfirst,followedby the POSi-
TIVE(Red)wire.When re-installingthe battery,alwaysconnectthe
POSITIVE(Red)wire to its terminalfirst,followedbythe NEGATIVE
(Black)wire.Becertainthatthe wiresareconnectedto the correct
terminals;reversingthemcouldchangethepolarityandresultin
damageto yourengine'salternatingsystem.
Cleaning Battery
Cleanthe batteryby removingit fromthe tractorandwashingwith
a bakingsodaandwatersolution.Ifnecessary,scrapethe battery
terminalswitha wirebrushto removedeposits.Coatterminalsand
exposedwiringwithgreaseor petroleumjellytopreventcorrosion.
Battery Failures
Somecommoncausesfor batteryfailureare:
incorrectinitialactivation
Overcharging
Freezing
Undercharging
Corrodedconnections
Thesefailuresare NOTcoveredbyyourtractor'swarranty.
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