Manual

Section4: Operation
4. Tostartengineusing recoil starter:
A. Standon left side (as viewedfrom
behindhandlebars)of machine.Be
sure your feet aresafelyawayfrom
the undersideof the mowerdeckand
all mowercontrolsare released.
Placeonefoot ontop of tire.
B. Graspstarter ropehandle(Figure3-
7) andpull slowly until ropepulls
slightly harder. Let roperewind
slowly. Thenpull ropewith a rapid,
full arm stroke. Let ropereturn
slowly. If enginefails to start after
three pulls, repeatinstructions start-
ingwith Step2 (try setting throttle at
fast setting).
C. Whenenginestarts, operateinfast
throttle setting (movethrottle from
chokesettingto fastsetting).
5. Tostartengineusing electricstarter:
A. Stand behindthehandlebarsand re-
leaseall mowercontrols.
B.Turnignition key(F, Figure4-2) fully
clockwiseto crank engine. To avoid
damageto starter motor, do not
crank enginefor longerthanfive sec-
ondsat atime.Also, allow 15sec-
onds betweeneachstart attempt. If
enginefails to start afterthree at-
tempts, repeatinstructions starting
with Step2 (try setting throttle at fast
setting).
C. Whenenginestarts, releasekeyandit
will returnto the run (middle) posi-
tion.
D. Operateengineat fast throttle setting
(movethrottle from chokesettingto
fast setting).
NOTE:Ifthe electricstart systemisnot
functioning,theenginecan bestarted
with the recoilstarter. To do so,first put
the ignition keyin the run (middle) posi-
tion. Thenfollow Steps1-4 above.
Leavethe key inthe run position during
engineoperation.
ToStop the Engine
1. Releaseall mowercontrols to stop
wheelsor mower blade.
2. Movethrottle control downto slow
(turtle) position. (Wheneverpossible,
graduallyreduceenginespeed before
stoppingengine.)
3. MoveThrottle Controlall the way
downto stop position orturn ignition
key(electricstart models)fully counter-
clockwise to stop position.
4. Onelectric start models,removethe
ignition key beforeleavingthe mower
unattended.
ENGAGINGTHE BLADES
- Fast). Whenfirst practicingwith
the mower, put lever in No.1 setting.
Selectforward speedsaccordingto
mowingconditionsandterrain. Use
slower speedson roughterrainor
when grass is heavyor thick. The
forward speedcan beincreasedon
smooth terrain or if the grass cover
is light. Allow thewheelsto stop
completelybeforeshifting from one
forward speedinto another.
To avoid injuryfrom rotatingblades,
keep face, hands and feet clear of
mowerbladesat all times.
To Engagethe Blades
1. Startengineasdescribedin "To Start
the Engine"instructions. Putengine
throttle in fast speedsetting.
2. Pressandhold OperatorPresence
Control(A,Figure4-2) againsthandle-
bargrip.
3. Slowly push BladeDriveControl(B,
BeforeengagingtheWheel DriveLever
for the very first time, check that the
neutral(N) positionon the GearSelect
Lever is properly adjusted. See
"Neutral Adjustment" in Section 5:
Maintenance for the procedure to
follow.
Failureto follow this instructioncould
result in personal injury or property
damage.
Figure4-2) fully forward until it staysin C.
the engagedposition. The bladesare
now rotating.
To Stop the Blades
To stop the blades,releasethe Operator
PresenceControl.
TO ENGAGETHEWHEELS
• To avoiddamagingthe transmission,
donotshiftgearswhile in motion.
• To avoid damagingthe wheel brake
mechanism,do notengagethe Wheel
DriveControlwithoutfirst engagingthe
OperatorPresenceControl.
1. Start engineas describedin "To
Startthe Engine"instructions.
2. FORFORWARDTRAVEL:
To start the wheels,slowly squeeze
the Wheel DriveControl(D, Figure4-
2). The harderyou squeeze,the
faster the wheelswill turn. To avoid
sudden acceleration,slowly squeeze
the lever.
D.TOSTOPTHEWHEELS:
• To stopdrive powerto the wheels,
releasethe WheelDriveControl. The
wheelswill graduallyslowto astop.
• To quickly stop the wheels, release
boththe WheelDriveControland
the OperatorPresenceControl.
3. FORREVERSETRAVEL:
Toavoidinjuryorpropertydamage:
• Look behind the mower before
andduringreverseoperation.
• Stopthemowerbladesbeforeeperat-
ingin reverse.
A. Pressand holdOperatorPresence
Control (A, Figure4-2) againsthan-
dlebargrip.
B. Putthe GearSelectLever(C,Figure
4-2) into one of the numberedset-
tings (1 - Slow,2 and3 - Medium,4
A. Stop the mowerbladesandwheelsby
releasingthe OperatorPresence
Control(A, Figure4-2).
B. Pressandhold OperatorPresence
Controlagainsthandlebargrip.
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