Parts Cleaning, Inspection, and Replacement

^ Use appropriate safety equipment such as:
- Safety glasses.
- Safety shoes.
- Gloves.
^ Keep work area and tools clean. Clean transaxle exterior before removing parts. Do not use wipe cloths or rags.
^ Do not use solvents on:
- Rubber seals.
- Plastic/Teflon(R) thrust washers. Blow out all passages with compressed air. Clean out small passages with fine wire.
^ Handle parts carefully to prevent damage.
^ Lubricate all internal parts with transaxle fluid during assembly.
^ When installing screws, bolts or studs into aluminum, always dip the threads in transaxle fluid (except bolts coated with sealant).
^ Always use a torque wrench for proper torque.
^ Recondition damaged or stripped aluminum threads with thread inserts.
^ Replace all gaskets and O-ring seals.
^ Do not use gasket cement or sealers.
^ Replace Teflon and rubber lip seals only when necessary, and install using the appropriate seal protector.

Inspect
^ Manual linkage for:
- Wear at pivoting points.
- Bent or broken links and rods.
^ All seals, gaskets, O-rings and mating surfaces for:
- Nicks.
- Cuts.
- Damage.
^ Snap rings for:
- Expansion or compression.
- Distortion.
- Nicks.
- Proper ring to groove fit.
^ Bearings and thrust surfaces for:
- Wear.
- Scoring.
- Pitting.