Product Manual

16
LAWN MOWER
Always observe safety rules when per-
forming any main te nance.
TIRES
• Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect
control chemi cals which can harm rub-
ber.
• Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp
objects and other hazards that may
cause tire damage.
BLADE CARE
For best results, mower blade must be
kept sharp. Re place a bent or dam aged
blade.
CAUTION: Use only a replacement
blade approved by the manufacturer of
your mower. Using a blade not approved
by the manufacturer of your mower is
hazardous, could damage your mower and
void your warranty.
TO REMOVE BLADE
1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with plug.
2. Turn lawn mower on its side. Make
sure air fi lter and carburetor are up.
3. Use a wood block between blade and
mower hous ing to prevent blade from
turning when re mov ing blade bolt.
NOTE: Protect your hands with gloves
and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth.
4. Remove blade bolt by turning counter-
clockwise.
5. Remove blade and attaching hard-
ware (bolt, lock wash er and hardened
wash er).
NOTE: Remove the blade adapter and
check the key inside hub of blade adapter.
The key must be in good condition to work
properly. Replace adapter if damaged.
TO REPLACE BLADE
1. Position the blade adapter on the en-
gine crank shaft. Be sure key in adapter
and crankshaft keyway are aligned.
2. Position blade on the blade adapter
aligning the two (2) holes in the blade
with the raised lugs on the adapter.
3. Be sure the trailing edge of blade (op-
posite sharp edge) is up toward the
engine.
4. Install the blade bolt with the lock
washer and hardened washer into
blade adapter and crankshaft.
5. Use block of wood between blade and
lawn mower housing and tighten the
blade bolt, turning clockwise.
• The recommended tightening torque is
35-40 ft. lbs.
IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is heat treated.
If bolt needs replacing, replace only with
approved bolt shown in the Repair Parts
section of this manual.
Blade
bolt
Crankshaft
keyway
Hardened
washer
Lockwasher
Blade adapter Key
Blade
Trailing edge
Crankshaft
TO SHARPEN BLADE
NOTE: We do not recommend sharp en ing
blade - but if you do, be sure the blade
is balanced. An un bal anced blade will
cause eventual damage to lawn mower or
engine.
• The blade can be sharp ened with a fi le
or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt
to sharpen while on the mower.
• To check blade balance, drive a nail into
a beam or wall. Leave about one inch of
the straight nail ex posed. Place center
hole of blade over the head of the nail.
If blade is balanced, it should remain in
a horizontal position. If either end of the
blade moves downward, sharpen the
heavy end until the blade is balanced.
DRIVE COVER
Clean under the drive cover at least twice
a season. Scrape underside of cover with
a putty knife or similar tool to remove any
buildup of trash or grass.
DRIVE WHEELS
Check drive wheels each time before you
mow to be sure they move freely.
The wheels not turning freely means trash,
grass cuttings, etc. are in the drive wheel
area and must be cleaned to free drive
wheels.
If necessary to clean the drive wheels,
check both drive wheels.
• If after cleaning, the drive wheels do not
turn freely, contact your nearest autho-
rized service center.
9
Slots
Mulcher
plate tabs
FOR MULCHING MOWERS ONLY
Most mulching mowers are shipped ready
to be used as a mulcher.
“REAR DISCHARGE ONLY” MOWERS
Some models have a seperate mulcher
plug, other models have the mulcher plug
built into the rear door. To convert to bag-
ging or discharging, the plate or plug (if
so equipped) must be removed from the
dis charge open ing of the lawn mower.
• Open rear door and remove mulcher
plate or plug (if so equipped). Store
mulcher plate or plug in a safe place.
• You can now install grass catcher or
optional clipping defl ector accessory.
• To return to mulching operation, install
mulcher plate or plug into discharge
opening of mower.
CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower
without mulcher plate/plug in place or ap-
proved clipping defl ector or grass catch er
in place. Never attempt to op er ate the
lawn mower with the rear door removed or
propped open.
MULCHER "PLUG"
Mulcher
plug
MULCHER "PLATE"
MULCHER PLUG BUILT INTO REAR DOOR
“SIDE DISCHARGE ONLY” MOWERS
MULCHER PLATE TYPE
To convert to bagging or discharging,
mulcher plate must be removed from un-
derside of lawn mower.
• Remove the four (4) screws and lock nuts
securing the mulcher plate to the mower.
• Store mulcher plate and hardware in a
safe place.
• Mower can now be used for side
discharging or op tion al grass catcher
accessory can be attached.
• To return to mulching operation, simply
reinstall mulcher plate and tighten hard-
ware securely.
Mulcher plate
Screw and
lock nut
MULCHER PLUG TYPE “A”
To convert to mulching operation, mulcher
plug must be installed into discharge open-
ing of mower.
• Open discharge guard.
• Insert tab of mulch plug into housing
opening.
• Align hooks of mulch plug over hinge
rod of discharge guard. Push mulch plug
down until mulch plug is seat ed in hous-
ing opening.
CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower
without discharge guard, ap proved grass
catcher or mulcher plug in place.
Hooks
Housing
opening
Mulcher plug
Hinge rod
Tab
Discharge
guard