basic questions: ammeter & oil change

Terry:

Are you sure that you have connected the battery the right way around?

Ref #1: when you are seeing the positive charge is the engine running?

If it is showing positive charge when the engine is not running either the battery is connected wrong or the connections to the ammeter are backwards.

Ref #2 Oil change is as simple as it can be.

1. start the engine and let it warm up, then shut it off

2. put pan or catch basin under engine and remove the sump plug and let it drain.

3. Pull the drain plug from the oil tank and let it drain.

4. put plugs (both crankcase drain plug and reservoir drain plug) back in and re-fill the oil tank with correct number of quarts of oil as per your manual.

5. Replace oil tank cap

Job done.

There is a mesh filter screen on the oil tank union where it leaves the tank to go to the engine. When the oil has drained from the tank,remove this and clean it. You will probably also discover that there is a layer of gunge at the bottom of the oil tank. It would be a good idea to clean this out. You may have to remove the oil tank to do this. Do not add any abrasives, they will be impossible to ensure they are all gone. If the gunge does not respond to thinners, add some nuts and bolts to help break up the gunge. When it's nice and clean inside, refit the oil tank, replace the oil lines and sump plug, and fill with good quality oil. About 2/3 fill on the tank is probably good, but there may be advisory lines on the tank