Craftsman 21AB40M1099 Operator's Manual

21SERVICE AND MAINTENANCEcheck Transmission gear oilCheck the transmission gear oil after every 30 hours of operationor whenever you notice any oil leak. Operating the tiller when thetransmission is low on oil can result in severe damage.To Check the Transmission Gear Oil Level:Check the gear oil level when the transmission is cool. Gear oil1.will expand in warm operating temperatures and this expansionwill provide an incorrect oil level reading.With the tiller on level ground, pull the Depth Regulator Lever all2.the way up.Remove the oil fill plug from the transmission housing and look3.inside the oil fill hole to locate the main drive shaft situated belowthe hole. See Figure 21.The gear oil level is correct if the gear oil is approximately halfway4.up the side of the main drive shaft.If the gear oil level is low, add gear oil as described next. If the5.gear oil level is okay, securely replace the oil fill plug.If adding only a few ounces of gear oil, use API rated GL-4 or6.GL-5 gear oil having a viscosity of SAE 140, SAE 85W-140 or SAE80W-90. If refilling an empty transmission, use only GL-4 gear oilhaving a viscosity of SAE 85W-140 or SAE 140.While checking frequently to avoid overfilling, slowly add gear oil7.into the oil fill hole until it reaches the halfway point on the driveshaft.Securely replace the oil fill plug.8.change Transmission gear oilThe transmission gear oil does not need to be changed unless it hasbeen contaminated with dirt, sand or metal particles. See an autho-rized Sears Service Center to have the transmission gear oil changedor to schedule service, simply contact Sears at 1-800-4-MY-HOME®.lUbricaTionAfter every 10 operating hours, oil or grease the lubrication points. Useclean lubricating oil (#30 weight motor oil is suitable) and clean generalpurpose grease (grease containing a metal lubricant is preferred, ifavailable). See Figure 22.Remove the wheels, clean the wheel shaft and apply a thin•coating of grease.Grease the back, front and sides of the depth regulator lever.•Remove the tines and clean the tine shaft. Use a file or sandpa-•per to gently remove any rust, burrs or rough spots (especiallyaround the holes in the shaft). Apply grease to the ends of theshaft before installing the tines.Oil the threads on the handlebar height adjustment screws and•the handlebar attaching screws.Tire PreSSUreCheck the air pressure in both tires. The air pressure should be betwen15-20 PSI. Keep both tires equally inflated to help prevent machinefrom pulling to one side.Figure 21Figure 22HandlebarHardwarewheel shafttine shaftDepth regulatorleverharDWareCheck for loose or missing hardware after every 10 operating hoursand tighten or replace — as needed — before reusing the tiller. Besure to check the screws underneath the tiller hood that secure thetransmission cover and the Depth Regulator Lever to the transmission.