then tighten the filter an additional 1/2 tur n
( Figure 22 ).
12. R emo v e the oil fill cap and slo wly pour
appro ximately 80% of the specified amount of
oil in through the v alv e co v er .
13. Chec k the oil lev el; refer to Chec king the Oil
Lev el, Operation , pag e 17 .
14. Slo wly add additional oil to bring the lev el to
the F (full) mark on the dipstic k.
15. R e place the fill cap .
Servicing the Spark Plugs
Chec k the spark plugs after ev er y 200 operating
hours . Ensure that the air g ap betw een the center
and side electrodes is cor rect before installing eac h
spark plug . Use a spark plug wrenc h for remo ving
and installing the spark plugs and a g apping
tool/feeler g aug e to c hec k and adjust the air g ap .
Install new spark plugs if necessar y .
T ype: Champion Premium Gold 2071, R C12Y C ,
or equi v alent. Air Gap: 0.030 inc h (0.76 mm)
Removing the Spark Plugs
1. Lo w er the loader ar ms , stop the engine , and
remo v e the k ey .
2. Pull the wires off of the spark plugs ( Figure 23 ).
Figure 23
1. Spark plug wire 2. Spark plug
3. Clean around the spark plugs .
4. R emo v e both spark plugs and metal w ashers .
Checking the Spark Plugs
1. Look at the center of both spark plugs
( Figure 24 ). If y ou see light bro wn or g ra y on
the insulator , the engine is operating properly .
A blac k coating on the insulator usually means
the air cleaner is dir ty .
Important: Nev er clean the spar k plugs.
Al w ays r eplace the spar k plugs when they
ha v e a black coating , w or n electr odes, an
oil y film, or cracks.
Figure 24
1. Center electrode insulator
3. Air gap (not to scale)
2. Side electrode
2. Chec k the g ap betw een the center and side
electrodes ( Figure 24 ).
3. Bend the side electrode ( Figure 24 ) if the g ap
is not cor rect.
Installing the Spark Plugs
1. T hread the spark plugs into the spark plug
holes .
2. Tighten the spark plugs to 20 ft-lb (27 N ⋅ m).
3. Push the wires onto the spark plugs ( Figure 23 ).
Fuel System
Maintenance
Changing the Fuel Filter
R e place the fuel filter yearly .
Important: Nev er install a dir ty filter .
1. Lo w er the loader ar ms , stop the engine , and
remo v e the k ey .
2. Shut off the fuel v alv e on the bottom of the
fuel tank ( Figure 26 ).
3. Clamp the fuel line betw een the fuel tank and
the fuel filter to bloc k the fuel flo w .
4. Squeeze the ends of the hose clamps tog ether
and slide them a w a y from the filter ( Figure 25 ).
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