Parts Cleaning, Inspection and Replacement

Important
^ 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/PTFE 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 transmission oil during assembly.
- When installing screws, bolts or studs into aluminum always dip the threads in transmission oil. Use adhesive/sealant on threads where indicated.
^ 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 PTFE (Teflon(R)) and rubber lip seals unless unit is new.

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.