Cordless Electric Mower Safety & Operating Instructions Model: EM 5.1 COUNTRY HOME PRODUCTS®, INC. www.neutonowners.
And congratulations on your purchase of the NEUTON® Cordless Electric Mower EM 5.1 — the Smart Mower for Small Lawns! The NEUTON Mower EM 5.1 is designed with state-of-the-art battery technology to make mowing your lawn as easy and enjoyable as possible. If you haven’t already ordered it, be sure to try the EM 5.1’s Trimmer Attachment, too. This option makes the EM 5.1 the only mower that can also trim and edge your lawn — saving you steps, plus a whole garage full of separately powered equipment.
Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introducing the NEUTON Mower EM 5.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 About this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Chapter 2: Important Safety Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Safety and Information Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 7: Maintaining and Storing Your NEUTON Mower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Cleaning Your Mower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Removing and Attaching the Blade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Sharpening the Blade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 1: Introducing the NEUTON Mower EM 5.1 Congratulations on purchasing your new NEUTON Mower EM 5.1, the Smart Mower for Small Lawns. The advanced technology built into your NEUTON Mower makes lawn care easy and enjoyable, year after year. As you get to know your NEUTON Mower, you’ll discover that it’s strong, light, easy to maintain, and whisper quiet. It’s clean, too, because it runs on a battery. You’ll breathe easy and keep your lawn beautiful the smart, fun way — with your NEUTON Mower.
Chapter 7: Maintaining and Storing your NEUTON Mower • Provides tips on maintaining your Mower. • Describes how best to store your Mower. Chapter 8: Troubleshooting Tips • Lists common problems and their solutions. In addition to these chapters, the manual includes a parts list, schematic drawings of the NEUTON Mower, a section for your notes, the warranty, and a checklist of daily maintenance procedures (on the back cover) to help you keep your Mower performing well for years to come.
Chapter 2: Important Safety Considerations We want you to enjoy years of safe and productive use from your NEUTON Cordless Electric Mower. We don’t want you to get injured, so please take a few moments to read the following instructions for safely operating your new machine. Important: Please read these instructions before using your Mower. Safety and Information Labels You will find the following two labels on your NEUTON Mower. NEUTON Mower Warning and Safety Instructions label (210521) NEUTON EM 5.
Mower Danger label (176701) The following label appears on your NEUTON Battery. NEUTON Battery operating tips label (207911) 4 NEUTON EM 5.
Protecting Yourself and Those Around You Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence of children. Children are often attracted to the Mower and the activity of mowing. Never assume that children will remain where you last saw them. WARNING! This cutting machine is capable of amputating hands and feet, and throwing objects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death. • Be sure the area is clear of other people before mowing.
Preparing to Use Your Mower 6 • Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the Mower and in the manual. Be thoroughly familiar with the controls and the proper use of the Mower before starting. • Never operate the NEUTON Mower without the proper guards, safety switches, or other safety and protective devices in place and properly connected. Inspect the Mower and cutting blade to determine that these safety devices are properly installed, in good repair, and operate properly.
Operating Your Mower WARNING! ALWAYS stop the motor, wait for the blade to stop moving, and remove the safety key whenever you leave the operating position (behind the handlebars) for any reason. In addition, remove the battery when inspecting and cleaning the Mower, performing routine maintenance, clearing grass, making adjustments, repairing the Mower, and removing or attaching the rear bagger or other accessories. • Your Mower can operate either as a discharging, mulching, or bagging mower.
• Do not modify your Mower or over-speed the motor. Remember, modifications to your Mower void your warranty. • Do not use your NEUTON Mower for any job other than those for which it is intended. Mowing on Slopes Slopes are a major factor related to slip-and-fall accidents, which can result in severe injury. All slopes require caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it. Do: • Use caution on slopes. Whenever possible, mow across slopes, not up and down.
Maintaining and Storing Your Mower WARNING! ALWAYS remove the safety key before performing any adjustments or repairs, or when storing your Mower. • Maintain the lawn Mower with care — keep cutting edges sharp and clean for the best and safest performance. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the Mower is in safe operating condition. Follow the instructions in this manual for changing accessories. • Periodically inspect the cords on the charger unit and the handlebar for damage.
Chapter 3: Setting Up Your NEUTON Mower This chapter outlines a few simple steps needed to set up your new Mower. Before beginning assembly, it may be helpful to familiarize yourself with the controls and features on your Mower by reviewing the photograph of the Mower on page 18 (Figure 14) and reading about the Mower’s controls and features. Please check that you have all of the components listed below. If anything is missing, please call Country Home Products toll-free at 1-(866)-NEUTON1 (638-8661).
Package Contents (Figure 1) 3a. Lockwashers 1. NEUTON Mower 2. Upper handlebar assembly 3. Quick-connect knobs, green Cord clip 4. Lower handlebars with black connector knobs 5. Side discharge chute 7. Battery 8. Battery charger 9. Safety key NEUTON EM 5.1 Cordless Electric Mower Safety & Operating Instructions 6. Rear Bagger 10.
Assembling Your NEUTON Mower To allow you to quickly begin using your NEUTON Mower, it is shipped to you partially assembled. The assembly process is easy and does not require any special tools, knowledge, or strength. Assembling your NEUTON Mower takes just a few steps: Step 1: Read these “Safety and Operating Instructions” before proceeding. Step 2: Remove the battery. Step 3: Charge the battery before your first use. Step 4: Attach the lower handlebar sections.
Step 2: Remove the Battery You can quickly and easily remove the battery from your Mower. 1. Open the battery cover (Figure 2). Remember to press down on the Mower body next to the battery cover handle before pulling the cover open. 2. Turn the battery retainer arm until it is no longer blocking the battery (Figure 3). Figure 2. Lift the battery cover To help keep the Mower from rolling while removing the battery, put one foot behind a wheel for stability. 3. Pull the battery straight up to remove it.
Mower body (Figure 4). This makes it easier to reach the slots on the Mower frame. 2. Position the lower handlebar with the smooth side against the frame of the Mower. Slide it down fully into the slot on the frame until the holes line up (Figure 5). Be sure you slide the handlebar all the way down to the bottom of the slot. When you do this, the cutout notch on the end of the handlebar aligns with the base of the channel in the Mower’s frame. Figure 5.
with the holes in the lower handlebar sections. 3. The handlebars have three height adjustments (three holes in the upper handlebars). Connect the handlebars at the height that is most comfortable for you. 4. Slide the connector bolts (from inside to outside) through the holes in the upper and lower handlebar sections on each side of the Mower. Screw on the black connector knobs, then hand-tighten them just enough to hold the upper and lower handlebar sections together on each side. 5.
Step 7: Attach the Side Discharge Chute or Rear Bagger The side discharge allows the cut grass to be properly discharged, which prevents clogging. 1. Raise the hinged discharge guard on the back of the mower.(Figure 12a) 2. Orient the chute as shown in (Figure 12). Position the top front groove of the chute over the support rod (Figure 12a) and lower the chute into place. (Figure 12b) 3. Lower the hinged discharge guard. Other discharge options are available for your NEUTON Mower.
Step 8: Insert the Battery After It Has Been Fully Charged 1. Correctly orient the battery. Align the black edge of the battery with the side of the housing where the label reads “Insert battery with black side along this edge.” The indentations on the bottom of the battery must line up with the metal tabs in the bottom of the housing. 2. After confirming the correct orientation of the battery, insert the battery into the battery opening (Figure 13). 3.
Your Fully Assembled NEUTON Mower Start knob Control bar Mower/Auxiliary switch Cable guide Indicator light Key slot Battery cover Cutting height lever Figure 14. Your NEUTON Mower! 18 NEUTON EM 5.
Controls and Features Make certain that you are familiar with the controls, parts, and operation of your NEUTON Mower before using it. Key Slot The key slot is used for both the external battery charger and the safety key. You can never connect both the external battery charger and insert the safety key at the same time. Safety Key The safety key, after being inserted into the Mower, allows the motor to start and run. The safety key can be inserted either way — it has no front or back.
Indicator Light The status indicator light on the lower crossbar (Figure 15) lights up when a charged battery is installed and the safety key inserted. The light is green. Indicator light Note: A green indicator light does not guarantee that the battery is fully charged, only that it has some charge, the safety key has been inserted, that the electrical system is ready, and that the Mower can be started. Figure 15.
Chapter 4: Operating Your NEUTON Mower This chapter explains how to start, stop, and adjust the cutting height of your Mower. Note: If the Mower battery is not fully charged or if you are unpacking a new Mower for the first time, read “Chapter 5: Charging and Caring for the Battery” before operating the Mower. You should charge the battery for a minimum of 12 hours before using it in the Mower.
Adjusting the Cutting Height Using the cutting height lever (Figure 18), adjust the cutting height so that you cut off only 1 to 2 inches of grass at a time. 1. Remove the safety key. 2. Make sure all four wheels are level. 3. Pull the lever (toward the wheel) out of its position notch. (The cutting height lever is spring-loaded.) To easily adjust the cutting height, hold the handlebars with your right hand to keep the Mower steady and adjust the lever with your left hand. 4.
Starting the Motor and Engaging the Blade WARNING! Starting, stopping, and restarting an electric motor repeatedly within a few seconds can generate a great deal of heat and damage the motor. To protect the life of your NEUTON Mower, always wait at least five seconds after stopping before restarting the Mower. Important: The cutting blade always turns when the motor is running; there is no clutch to allow the blade to stop rotating while the motor is running. 1.
Stopping the Motor and Blade Simply releasing the orange control bar stops the motor and blade. Important: The blade continues to rotate for a few seconds after the motor is shut off. When Finished Mowing Remove the safety key when the Mower is unattended and the motor is shut off. Remember to recharge the battery after each use, no mater how short a time it was used. See “Charging the Battery” on page 26 for details.
Chapter 5: Charging and Caring for the Battery Important: Before charging the battery, read all instructions and cautionary markings in this manual and on your Mower. Do not operate your Mower until you have read and understand all instructions and the battery has been fully charged. The Battery The NEUTON Mower comes with a sealed, lead acid battery, already installed at the factory. The battery is rated for 24 volts and 10 amp-hours.
Charging the Battery You must charge your battery before using your Mower for the first time and in between every use. You can charge the battery in the Mower or removed from the Mower. The performance of your Mower is the same, regardless of which charging method you choose. Important: While the battery in your Mower has been charged at the factory, you must recharge it fully (at least 12 hours) before first using your Mower. Otherwise, the battery’s charging capacity may be decreased.
Charging with the Battery Removed from the Mower 1. Remove the battery from the Mower. 2. Connect the charger plug to the charger receptacle on the battery (Figure 23). 3. Plug the charger into a wall outlet. The red light on the battery lights up. Note: The red light on the battery only indicates that the charger is plugged in and the battery is charging — the charger and the light will not automatically turn off or change color when charging is complete.
Important: If a depleted battery is stored, the battery’s charging capacity might decrease. Recharging to a Full Charge for Off-Season Storage When storing the battery for periods up to six months, Country Home Products recommends that you leave the battery connected to the charger. It is important that the battery be stored in a dry location and that the temperature remains between –4°F (–20°C) and +104°F (+40°C). For off-season storage of the battery, it is important that the battery is fully charged.
• When storing the battery after removing it from the Mower, follow the storage guidelines in “Chapter 7: Maintaining and Storing Your NEUTON Mower.” • For long term storage, please refer to “Recharging to a Full Charge for Off-Season Storage” on page 28. • If the motor will not run after you have fully charged the battery, consult the techniques in “Chapter 8: Troubleshooting Tips.
Chapter 6: Optional Attachments You can purchase several optional attachments for your NEUTON Mower. To order any of these optional attachments, please call Country Home Products toll free at 1-(866)-NEUTON1 (638-8661). Your NEUTON Mower is shipped with the rear discharge plate, allowing you to discharge grass clippings as the standard mowing mode. To mulch or to collect clippings, you must order the appropriate optional attachments. NEUTON Trimmer The NEUTON Trimmer (MA 3.
Installing the Mulching Kit To mulch your grass, install both the mulching plug and blade. 1. If necessary, remove the Rear Bagger or side discharge chute from the Mower. 2. Install the mulching plug (Figure 27). Be sure to push the plug all the way in until the notch in its bottom is engaged. There’s a slight knack to installing the plug: push with a slightly arcing motion. Align the plug in the Mower, start to push the top of the plug first then put pressure towards the bottom and slide in the plug. 3.
Spare Battery Owning a spare battery (MA 2.0) can be a wonderful time saver. A spare battery allows you to quickly insert a fully charged battery when the one you are using to mow loses its charge. Utility Shelf The utility shelf attaches to the handlebar frame (Figure 29) and is a convenient place to hold small tools or a water bottle while you are mowing. Figure 29. Utility shelf attached to the Mower Spare Cutting Blade Owning a spare cutting blade can make mowing more efficient.
Chapter 7: Maintaining and Storing Your NEUTON Mower This chapter explains how to clean your Mower; change, sharpen, and balance blades; and store your Mower for the long-term. WARNING! ALWAYS remove the safety key and battery before performing any adjustments, maintenance, blade change, or repairs to your Mower. Cleaning Your Mower Periodically clean your Mower to ensure peak performance.
4. Place the ¾ inch socket wrench over the blade nut. 5. While holding the steel hex adapter in place, loosen the blade nut by turning counterclockwise. Be careful; hold the steel hex adapter in place so the blade does not spin and strike your hand (Figure 30). 6. Remove the blade nut, steel hex adapter, blade, plastic spacer, and steel blade adapter, in that order (Figure 31). 7. To replace a sharpened blade or to install a new blade, reverse steps 1 to 6.
3. Remove the blade. (See “Removing and Attaching the Blade”on page 33 for details.) 4. Secure the blade in a sturdy vise. 5. While wearing safety glasses, carefully file the cutting edges of the blade using even strokes. Be sure to file both sides of the blade equally. 6. Check the blade after sharpening to be sure it is still balanced. Balancing the Blade An out-of-balance blade causes your machine to vibrate excessively. Excessive vibration may cause damage to the Mower, especially to its motor.
Storing Your NEUTON Mower Whether you store the Mower for a short or long period of time, always remember these important guidelines: • Always store the Mower with a full battery charge and follow the recharging instructions in “Chapter 5: Charging and Caring for the Battery.” • Always store the Mower in an environment where the temperature is between –4°F (–20°C) and +104°F (+40°C). Make sure the storage temperatures will never be outside these limits.
Chapter 8: Troubleshooting Tips Most difficulties are easy to fix. Consult the troubleshooting table for common problems and their solutions. If you continue to experience problems or need repairs beyond these minor adjustments, call Country Home Products, Inc. toll free at 1-(866)-NEUTON1 (638-8661) for assistance. WARNING! Always remove the safety key and battery before performing any adjustments, maintenance, or repairs.
Problem Excessive vibration or noise Mower runs, but cutting performance is unsatisfactory, or there is a loss of power Mower is hard to push Battery loses its charge quickly Mower rear bagger is collecting grass poorly 38 Corrective Action • The blade may be loose. Remove the safety key and the battery, turn the Mower over, and check that the blade is tightly attached. • The blade may be unbalanced, bent, or damaged.
Addendum A: Parts List and Schematic Drawing The item number for each part corresponds to the numbers in the schematic drawings. Handlebar Set (A) Item # Description Qty.
B11 Hinge fixed base 1 175911 B12 Housing screws 4 175921 B14 Screws 7 196911 B15 Discharge bar, Chute & Bagger 1 210421 B16 E-Clip 2 210901 1 175931 1 206511 B17 B18 Safety key Safety key strap Deck & Motor Assembly (C) 40 Item # Description Qty.
C33 Mower relay cover 1 196771 C34 Terminal 1 196781 C35 Ground wire 1 196791 C36 Main cable 1 196801 C37 Contact piece 1 196511 C38 Rear Flap bar 1 210471 Wheel Assemblies (D) Item # Description Qty.
Battery Set (F) Item # Description Qty. Part Number F1 Battery charger 1 196081 F2 Battery 1 178781 F3 Mower Safety & Operating Instructions 1 210511 Label Set (G) 42 Item # Description Qty. Part Number G1 Mower Danger label 1 176701 G2 Warning and Safety Instructions label 1 210521 G3 Neuton label,small 1 210531 G4 Small Neuton label 1 196241 G5, G6 PC label (right and left) 1 196931 G7 Battery operating tips label 1 207911 NEUTON EM 5.
NEUTON EM 5.
Schematic Drawings 44 NEUTON EM 5.
NEUTON EM 5.
NEUTON Mower Product Specifications Model EM 5.
LIMITED TWO-YEAR WARRANTY Terms and Conditions The NEUTON® EM 5.1 Cordless Electric Mower is warranted for two (2) years against defects in materials or workmanship when put to personal residential household use. For the purposes of the warranty, “personal residential household use” refers to non-commercial residential use and further excludes misuse, accidents, or damage due to inadequate maintenance. Country Home Products, Inc. certifies that the NEUTON® EM 5.
Daily Checklist for your NEUTON Mower To help maintain your NEUTON Mower for optimum performance, we recommend you follow this checklist each time you use your machine. [ ] Be sure the battery is fully recharged before each use. [ ] Before inserting the safety key, inspect the mower blade and clean it to remove any materials (such as grass or twigs) that might be clinging to the blade from its last use.
