TM Maintenance

[CleanEvo]

I have a Legend XL... I've always taken it in for service every 100 hours. I have not done any service myself except checking fluid levels. It has been off warranty for a while and I also am having a harder time getting it in for service due to being busy and the fact that my dealer is 1.5 hours away, I always have to free up at least half a day for the service.

I'm not very mechanically inclined but am considering starting to do my own maintenance because I can do it in the evenings or weekends when the dealer is closed. Besides a socket set, which I have and some other basic tools...what do I need? And what do I need to look for when I do the basic service (I'll still take it to the dealer for larger service jobs)

 

[Bucey]

Follow the maintenance requirements in your operation manual, all the scheduled time and general maintenance checks are there. most is check belts for tention, change eng oil every 100 hrs, blower and pump every 500 with specific required oils. filter check fuel, oil filter change with oil, any screens filters in your dirty water tank. not to hard if your not a greeser. Im not! And never hesitate to call your distributor with mechanical questions

 

[Doug Cox]

Tools are secondary. If you are going to start tearing the machine apart to make repairs, you need to learn to be a problem solver and be able to think on the fly to make repairs when new parts aren't available.

 

[Dolly Llama]

Tools are secondary. If you are going to start tearing the machine apart to make repairs, you need to learn to be a problem solver and be able to think on the fly to make repairs when new parts aren't available.

I "think" he's just asking about routine maintenance as start, Doug

basic tools you'll need
a crescent wrench, oil filer wrench and a grease gun
maybe a couple/few other tools too...but you get the picture

and read rstick's post



..L.T.A.

 

[hogjowl]

No screwdrivers!

 

[Doug Cox]

Just wait til you find out how much money you save doing things yourself. And you'll feel good at the same time.

 

[Ron Werner]

good set of wrenches, might want to get the ratchet wrenches, take a look and see what the largest size fitting is on your unit. I needed 1" and 1 1/16" wrenches on my old unit.
perhaps even some stubby wrenches. I've been thinking of getting a set of those.
screw drivers
pliers, side cutters, linesman pliers, needle nose, channel lock pliers
adjustable wrench
telfon thread seal tape
electrical tape
a good socket driver set, one with deep sockets

does it have drain hoses, ie hoses on the oil drain fittings so you can just open a valve and drain the oil without making a mess.
I put a remote oil filter on mine, as well as oil drain hoses. Changing oil is really easy now.

Buy a bag of Oil Gator, it will absorb any oil spill and you can just throw it safely in the garbage or on your lawn. The distributor is on the mainland, in Van I think. www.gatorinternational.com Janitor's Warehouse sells it.

oil filter wrench, or one of the adjustable rubber strap things that works like a oil filter wrench.
pry bar and hammer come in handy sometimes. If it doesn't fit, force it. If it breaks it was meant to be replaced

 

[Lee Stockwell]

A cheap VOM meter, about $10. If not able to afford that, just a 12v lightbulb socket with leads for simple trouble-shooting.

Thanks,
Lee

 

[CleanEvo]

Thanks guys,

What type of grease should i be using with the grease gun?

Ron, it does have a drain hose to make draining the oil easier, I did have to drain a little oil the last time because the dealer had way overfilled it...that's another reason I'm going to start doing it myself.

Regarding the belt tension, how tight should they be?

 

[Dolly Llama]

Thanks guys,

What type of grease should i be using with the grease gun?

I've always used hi-temp wheel bearing grease
pump it in til it squishes out the vent hole on the bottom of blower bearing housing .
don't freak when the first time you run the unit you see a pile of grease under the blower.
It's normal

when changing fluids, engine oil, blower oil, etc, change fluids on a warmed up unit, they flow better, faster and more complete .

Regarding the belt tension, how tight should they be?

about 1/2" to 1" flex when you push down "somewhat" hard on it
too tight and you can cook bearings
not tight enough and it'll slip and glaze belts under load.



..L.T.A.

 

[Art Kelley]

The next time you are in for 100 hr maintenance ask to talk to the mechanic and watch what he is doing, what tools he uses, what lubes etc. Ask about the blower lube ports, drain plugs. He will understand you can't take a 1/2 day off each month to do this simple servicing. On my direct drive unit the only 100 hr servicing I do is change the van engine oil and lube the two vacuum ports (if I remember). The pump and blower oil isn't changed but every 2 to 3 thousand hours. I haven't touched the machine belts for 8000 hrs. That's one of the huge advantages of a direct drive over a slide in.

 

[joe harper]

Aris, are you sure you want to do your own maintaince....?

You do realize that theses are FACTORY trained professionals... :roll: "that you can trust"

I personally LOVE...when you spend $40,000.00 with a Disty...that PROMISES you
Great service...! And ASSURES you!!!!! That you scheduled maintaince will ALWAYS take
presidence over a NEW INSTALL... :roll: They will even GIVE you a "Worry Free" maintaince
agreement.. FREE service every 100 hrs for a YEAR...

So..1st 100 hrs service ..takes 6 HOURS...
2nd..100hr service...Can't work you in for a WEEK... :x
300hr service is due...4 INSTALLs this week...call back NEXT week..

SCREW-IT....I call the compeditor..Bring it in Mr.Harper...We will HONOR their warranty...

SO the mechanic ask me to come back to the service area..He shows me the "ORIGONAL"
oil filter.that came on the machine.."Its in Japanese"..The filter was NEVER changed..

NOW.."I know Iam in the hands of a TRUE professional.." RIGHT.............................. :roll:


He forgets to tIgHtEn The FILTER.... :roll:

If you want it done RIGHT....."DO IT YOURSELF".....Save the $85.00 a hour.. :wink:

 

[Bob Savage]

What type of grease should i be using with the grease gun?

I use Lucas Hi-performance, high-temp grease.

I get it at Advanced Auto stores.

 

[hogjowl]

Why does a pissy electric weenie machine need high performance grease?

Not that there's anything wrong with pissy machines.

 

[CleanEvo]

Art, I asked and they are not very "helpfull" in that area...seems they'd rather you bring it in.

Harper, I hear ya... that's another reason I want to do it myself... the last time they put almost half a litre too much oil (it's only a 20HP Kohler)... I'm sure they didn't change the filter.

I'm actually looking forward to getting to know my machine up close and personal.