Cub Cadet SRA 621 User manual

Operator's Manual ®
/
3-1n-1 Mower
Model SRA 621
IMPORTANT:READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
Warning: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brush-
covered or grass-covered land unless the engine's exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting applicable localor state laws (if any).
If a spark attester isused, it should be maintained in effective working order by the operator. In the State ofCalifornia the above isrequired by law
(Section 4442 of the California Public Resources Code). Other states may have similar laws. Federal laws apply on federal lands. Aspark arrester
for the muffleris available by contacting the service department at Cub Cadet LLC, P.O. Box 361131 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019.
CUB CADET LLC, P.O. BOX 361131, CLEVELAND, OH 44136-0019
PRINTED IN USA FORM NO. 769-00052A
(02/2002)

TABLEOFCONTENTS
Content Page
Calling Customer Support .................................................... 2
Safety ................................................................... 3
Assembly ................................................................. 6
Features and Controls ....................................................... 8
Operation ................................................................ 10
Maintenance .............................................................. 15
Parts List ................................................................. 22
Warrany Information ........................................................ Back Cover
FINDINGMODELNUMBER
This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new Mower. Itwillhelp you assemble, prepare and maintainthe
unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.
Before you start assembling your new equipment, please locate the model plate on the equipment and copy the infor-
mation from it in the space provided below. This information is very important if you need help your Cub Cadet dealer.
You can locate the model number by looking at the rear surface of the cutting deck. A sample model plate is
explained below. For future reference, please copy the model number and the serial number of the equipment
in the space below
Copy Model Number Here
C.UZ) _--0,1_.,_}_, CUB CADET LLC
P. O. BOX 361131
www.cubcadet.com CLEVELAND, OH 44136
• DEALER LOCATOR PHONE NUMBER: 877-282-8684
Copy Serial Number Here
ENGINEINFORMATION
The engine manufacturer is responsible for all engine-related issues with regards to performance, power-rating,
specifications, warranty and service. Please refer to the engine manufacturer's Owner's/Operator's Manual packed
separately with your unit for more information.
CALLINGCUSTOMER SUPPORT
Ifyou have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regardingthe controls, operationor maintenance
of this unit, please call the Customer Dealer Referral Line.
Call 1- [phone] to reachthe Customer Dealer Referral Line. Please have your unit'smodel
number and serial number ready when you call. See previous section to locate this information.

Safety_
SafetyAlertSymbol
d_lb This is asafetyalertsymbol. It isusedinthis
manualand onthe unitto alertyou to potential
hazards.Whenyouseethis symbol, readand
obeythe messagethat follows it. Failureto obey
safetymessagescould resultin personalinjury or property
damage.
This machine meets voluntary safety standard B71.1 -
1998, which is sponsored by the Outdoor Power
EquipmentInstitute, inc.,andis publishedbytheAmerican
NationalStandardsInstitute.
WARNING
The engine exhaustfrom this productcontains
chemicals knownto the State of California to cause
cancer, birth defectsor otherreproductiveharm.
IMPORTANT
SateOperationPracticesforWalk-BehindMowers
Thiscuttingmachineiscapableofamputatinghandsandfeetandthrowingobjects.
Failuretoobservethefollowingsafetyinstructionscouldresultinseriousinjuryordeath.
I. GENERALOPERATION
1. Read,understandandfollow all
instructionson themachineand in
themanualsprovidedwith the unit.
Bethoroughly familiar with the
controlsandthe properuseofthe
mower beforestarting.
2. Donet puthandsorfeet nearor
underrotating parts.Keepclearof
themower bladeanddischarge
openingatalltimes.
3. Onlyallow responsibleindividuals,
whoarefamiliar with theinstruc-
tions,to operatethe mower.
4. Cleartheareaof objectssuchas
rocks,toys, wire, bones,sticks,etc.,
which couldbepickedup andthrown
bytheblade.
5. Besurethe areais clearof other
peoplebeforemowing.Stopmowerif
anyoneentersthearea. Keep
bystandersat least25feet awayfrom
the areaof operation.
6. Donot operatethe mowerwhen
barefootorwearingopensandals.
Alwayswearsubstantialfoot wear.
7. Donot pull mowerbackwardsunless
absolutelynecessary.Lookdownand
behindbeforeandwhilemoving
backwards.
B. Donot operatemowerwithout all
guardsin placeandeithertheentire
GrassCatcher,the MulchingPlugor
the Side-DischargeChuteinstalled.
ROTATINGBLADES-- Donot open
dischargeguard whileengineis
running.
9. Referto providedinstructionsfor
properoperationandaccessory
installation. Useonlyaccessories
approvedbyGardenWayInc.
10. Shutoff enginewhencrossinggravel
drives,walks,or roads.
11. Stopengineanddisconnectspark
plugwirefrom sparkplugwhenever
youleaveunit,beforecleaningmower
or uncloggingchute.
12. Shutthe engineoff andwait untilthe
bladecomesto a completestep
beforeinstallingor removingthe
MulchingPlug,Side-DischargeChute
or theGrassCatcher. Makecertain
that an attachmentisinstalledbefore
operatingthe mower.Emptythe
GrassCatcherafter eachuse-
decomposingdebriscouldgenerate
enoughheatto catchfire.
13. Mow onlyin daylightor in goodarti-
ficial light.
14. Donot operatemewerwhile under
theinfluenceofalcoholor drugs.
15. Neveroperatemowerin wet grass.
Alwaysbesureofyourfooting;keep
afirm holdonthehandleandwalk;
neverrun.
16. BesureWheelDriveBailisdisen-
gagedbeforestartingengine.
17. If the unit shouldstartto vibrate
abnormally,stoptheengineanddis-
connectthesparkplug wire. Then
checkimmediatelyfor thecause.
Vibrationis generallya warningof
trouble.
18. Werecommendthat youwearsafety
gogglesor safetyglasseswhen
operatingthemower.
19. Watchfor traffic whenoperating
near,or whencrossingroadways.
20. Neverattemptto carry childrenor
otherpassengersonthe mower.
Theycouldfall off andbeseriously
injured,or they couldinterferewith
the safeoperationofthe mower.
21. Checktheoperationefthe Operator
PresenceControlBail(tep bail,
mountedon handlebar)beforeeach
use.TheOperatorPresenceControl
Bailis a safetydevicethat is designed
to stopthe mowerbladewithinthree
secondsafter releasingthe bail. The
bailmustoperatefreely whenpulled
backagainstthe handlebarand
returnautomaticallyto thedisen-
gagedposition whenreleased.Ifthe
enginerunslongerthanthree
secondsafter releasingthe bail,the
systemisnotworking properly.
Immediatelycontactan authorized
servicedealeror theFactory
TechnicalServiceDepartmentfor
instructions.Donot usethemower
untilthemechanismis repaired.
22. Neverruntheengineinan enclosed
area.Engineexhaustcontainscarbon
monoxide,a deadlygasthat is
odorless,colorlessandtasteless.
Alwaysrunthe engineoutdoorsand
makesurethereisadequate
ventilation.
3

Section1: Safety
II. OPERATINGONA SLOPE
Slopesarea majorfactorrelatedtoslip
andfall accidentswhichcanresultin
severeinjury. Allslopesrequireextra
caution.Ifyoufeel uneasyona slope,
donotmowit.
DO:
Mowacrosstheface ofslopes;never
upanddown, Exerciseextreme
cautionwhenchangingdirectionon
slopes.Avoidslopesgreaterthan15°.
Removeobjectssuch asrocks,tree
limbs,etc.
Watchfor holes,ruts, or bumps.Tall
grasscanhideobstacles.
DONOT:
Donotmowneardrop-offs,ditches,
or embankments.Theoperatorcould
loosefooting or balance.
Donotmow excessivelysteepslopes.
Onnotmow on wetgrass.Reduced
footing couldcauseslipping.
III. CHILDREN
Tragicaccidentscanoccuril the
operatorisnotalerttothepresenceof
children.Childrenareoftenattractedto
themowerandtothe mowingactivity.
Neverassumethatchildrenwill remain
whereyoulastsawthem.
1, Keepchildrenoutofthe mowingarea
and underthewatchful careof a
responsibleadult.
2, Bealertandturnmower off if
childrenenterthearea.
3. Beforeandwhilemovingbackwards,
look behindanddownfor small
children.
4,
5.
Neverallowchildrento operatethe
mower.
Useextracarewhenapproaching
blind corners,shrubs,trees,or other
objectsthat mayobscurevision.
IV. SERVICE
1. Useextracareinhandlinggasoline
andotherfuels.Theyareflammable
andtheirvaporsareexplosive.
,
3.
4,
5,
6.
a)
b) Useonlyanapprovedcontainer.
Neverremovegascaporaddfuel
whentheengineis running.
Allowengineto coolbefore
refueling.Donot smoke.
c) Neverrefuelthe machine
indoors.
d)
7, Afterstrikingan object,stopthe
engineanddisconnectthesparkplug
wire. Inspectthe mowerandrepair,if
necessary,beforerestarting.
8. Neverattemptto makemowercutting
heightadjustmentswhiletheengine
is running.
.Grasscatchercomponentsare
subjectto wear,damageanddeterio-
ration,which couldexposemoving
partsor allowobjectsto bethrown.
Frequentlycheckcomponentsand
replacewith factory recommended
parts,whennecessary.
10. Themowerbladeissharpandcan
cut.Wrapthebladeorweargloves,
anduseextracautionwhenservicing.
11.
Neverstorethemachineor fuel
containerinsidewherethereis an
openflame,suchasa water 12.
heater,etc.
e) Movemower awayfrom any
gasolinefumesbeforestarting
theengine.
Neverrunan engineinsideuclosed
area.
Nevermakeadjustmentsorrepairs
with theenginerunning.Disconnect
thesparkplug wireandmovethe
wireawayfrom the plugto prevent
accidentalstarting.
Keepall nuts andscrews,especially
the bladeattachmentbolts,tight and
keepequipmentin good condition.
Nevertamper with safetydevices.
Checktheir operationregularly.
Keepmowerfreeof grass,leavesor
otherdebrisbuild-up.Cleanupoilor
fuel spillage.Allowmowertocool
beforestoring.
Donot changetheenginegovernor
settingor overspeedtheengine.
Donottouch enginepartswhich may
behotfrom operation.Allowpartsto
coolcompletelybeforeinspecting,
cleaningor repairingthe mower.
13. Maintainor replacesafetyand
instructionaldecals. Referto the
PartsList for replacementdecal
information.

Section1: Safety
SAFETY DECALS
Foryour safetyandthe safetyof others,varioussafetydecalsare locatedonyour unit (below- sizenotto scale).
Keepthe decalscleanandlegibleatalltimes. Contactyourlocalservicedealeror the Factoryfor replacementsif anydecalsare
damagedor missing. Referto thePartsList pagesinthis Manualfor decalpart numbers.
DANGER
Locatedonthebelt
cover. Thisdecal
providesalistof
warningstohelp avoid
seriousinjury.
Locatadonthedischargeoutletguard. Thisdecalwarns
nottooperatethemowerwithoutthedischargeoutlet
guardinplace andeitherthe GrassCatcher,Mulching
PlugorSide-DischargeChuteInstalled. Thisdecalalso ,
warnsthatthereare rotatingblades. Donot openthe
dischargeoutletguardwhiletheengineis running.
Locatedontheleftsideofthe
mowardeck. Thisdecalcautions
tokeephandsaway.

Assembly
Before operating your machine,
carefully read and understand all
safety, controlsand operatinginstruc-
tions in this Manual, the separate
Engine Owner's Manual, and on the
decalsonthemachine.
Failuretofollow theseinstructionscan
resultinseriouspersonalinjury.
INTRODUCTION
ThisSectioncoversunboxingandassem-
blingyour newmower. Pleasecarefully
readall the instructionsbeforeyou
attemptto assemblethe mower. After
youfinish assemblingthe mower,read
Section1: Safety,Section3: Featuresand
Controls,andSection4: Operation,before
usingthe mower.
INSPECTION
Inspectthe mowerimmediatelyafter
delivery. Makesurethat neitherthe
cartonnorthe contentshavebeen
damaged.
If youfind or suspectanydamage,
contactthe carrier(truckingcompany)
rightaway. Informthem ofthe specific
damageandthat you wishto file a claim.
To protectyour rights,be sureto putthis
inwriting tothe carrierwithin 15 days
afteryour machinearrives. Thecarrier
will letyouknow howto proceedwith
your claim.
LOOSEPARTS
Thefollowingitemsare shippedloose
within the container.
NOTE:Themoweris
shippedwith the
MulchingPlug
(B,Figure2-2)
installedin the
d schargeout et
(Figure2-1).
•TheGrass
Catcherattachmenl
(A,Figure2-2).
•Side-DischargeChuteattachment
(C,Figure2-2).
A B
Figure2-2"Attachments
ASSEMBLINGNEWUNITS
Themowerbladeissharpandcancause
seriouspersonalinjury, when working
near the mower blade, wear heavy
leather glovesto protestyourselffrom
thesharpedges.
IMPORTANT:Themowerisshipped
without motor oil inthe enginecrankcase.
Add motor oil to theenginebefore
starting. Followinstructionsinthis
Section.
Step1: UnpackMower
1. Themowercomesfully assembled
with the handlebarsfoldedcompactlyfor
shipment.Removethe mowerfromthe
shippingcontainer.
2. Thecontrolbails(P,Figure2-6) are
securedto thehandlebar(Q)with a cable
tie. Cutthe cabletie off and removethe
protectivepackingmaterial,
3. Followsteps2 through8 to complete
mowerassembly.
Step2: UnfoldHandlebarAssembly
1. Loosenthetwo lowerhandlebar
adjustmentknobs(1,Figure2-5),
2. Carefullyunfoldlowersectionofthe
handlebarassembly(2,Figure2-5).
Watchthecableswhile unfoldingand
makesurethatthey do not pinch,kink, or
over-stretchwhileunfolding.
3. Tightenthetwo lowerhandlebar
adjustmentknobsjust enoughto allow
thetwo handlebarstruts (H, Figure2-3)
to movein andout slightly.
4. Insertthetab (F,Figure2-3) oneach
handlebarstrut intothe slot (G) oneeach
sideofthedeck. Becertainto routethe
cablesinsidethe left sidestrut asshown
inFigure2-4.
5. Tightenbothlowerhandlebaradjust-
ment knobssecurely.
6. Loosenthetwo upperhandlebar
adjustmentknobs (3,Figure2-5).
7. Unfoldthe upperhandlebarassembly
(4, Figure2-5) and alignwith thelower
handlebarassembly. Besurenotto
pinch,kink, or over-stretchthe cables
whileunfolding.
8, Tightenbothupperhandlebaradjust-
ment knobssecurely.
9. Checkthe starterrope,Make sure
that it doesnotcatch underthetop
handlebaradjustmentknob(I, Figure
2-6). Thestarterropeshouldstretch
unobstructedtothe engine.
Figure2-3: Assemblinghandlebar. (Right-
side handlebarstrutshown.)
Figure2-4: Cablescorrectlyroutedinside
handlebarstrut.

Section2: Assembly
\\ \\ _
Figure2-5:Unfoldingthe handlebar,
Step3: AdjustHandlebarHeight
1. Loosenone ofthe lowerhandlebar
adjustmentknobs(K, Figure2-6) and give
the knobatapinwardto freethe square
shaftonthe screw(N,Figure2-7) from
the keyedslot (0) inthe handlebarstrut.
Repeatthis stepfor the otherside.
2. Movethe handlebarstrut up or down
to alignthe squareshaft(N, Figure2-7)
with oneof thethreesquarekeyedslots
(0). Themiddleslot isthe medium
heightsetting.
3. Tightenthehandlebaradjustment
knobsverysecurely.
NOTE:Makesurethat thesquareshaft
seatssquarelyintothe slot beforetight-
eningtheadjustmentknobs.
Step4: AddMotorOil to Engine
1. Movethe mowertoa levelarea.
2. Add motor oil accordingto thespecifi-
cationsand instructionsprovidedinthe
separateEngineOwner'sManual.
• Keepoil levelatthe FULLmarkon the
dipstickto avoidenginedamage.
• Changeoil accordingto scheduleand
instructionsin EngineOwner'sManual.
Figure2-6: Fullyassembledhandlebar
assembly.
Step 5: Perform
Final AssemblyCheck
1. Checkall nuts,screws,and handlebar
adjustmentknobsfor tightness.
2. Besureto readSection1: Safety,
Section3: Featuresand Controlsand
Section4: Operationbeforeusingthe
mower.
Figure2-7" Adjustinghandlebarheight.
Step6: Set UpMowingMode
Your mowercanbeset upfor anyof
threemowing modes. Thesemowing
modescanbagclippings,mulch
clippings,or dischargeclippingsoutthe
side. SeeSettingUpMowing Modesin
Section4 for detaileddescriptionsand
instructionsonhowto set up eachmode.
NOTE:Themower isshippedin Mulching
Mode. This meansthat the Mulching
Plugis installedinto thedischargeoutlet
(Figure2-1) andthat the moweris ready
to mulchgrassclippings.
7

FeaturesandControls
\\\
H
/
//
/
/
P
I
H
G
A:OperatorPresenceControlBail
R:WheelSpeedControl
C:WheelDriveRail
D:RecoilRopeStarter
E:UpperHandlebarAdjustmentKnob(2)
F:GrassGaugaTMGrassFill Indicator
Figure3-1
G:GrassCatcher
H:DischargeOMletGuard
I:LowerHandlebarAdjustmentKnob(2)
J:HandlebarHeightAdjuster(2)
K:CuttingHeigMAdjustmentLever
L:BeltCover
Before operating your machine,
carefully read and understand all
safety, controlsand operatinginstruc-
tions in this Manual, the separate
Engine Owner's Manual and on the
decalsonthemachine.
Failuretofollow theseinstructionscan
resultinseriouspersonalinjury.
INTRODUCTION
ThisSectionintroducesthe featuresand
controlsfoundonthelawn mower.
Carefullyreviewtheinformationin this
Section,then readSection4, Operation
beforeusingthe mower.
MOWERATTACHMENTS
Themoweris suppliedwiththreeeasily
changedattachments--the Grass
Catcher(I, Figure3-1), Mulching Plug(N)
andSide-DischargeChute(M)-- which
providethreedifferentmowingmodes.
SeeSettingUpMowingModesin Section
4 for detailedinformationon howto
installandusetheattachments.
A uniquefeature,the CubCadetRapid
AttachTM System,isincorporatedintothe
designoftheattachments.This system
enablesyouto quicklyandeasilyinstall
theattachmentswithout usingtools.
M: Side-DischargeChute
N:MulchingPlug
O:DischargeOutlet
P: ClutchCableAdjuster
GrassCatcherAttachment
Usethe CrassCatcher(G,Figure3-1)to
collectclippingsfor disposal. Thebag
canholdovertwo bushelsofclippings.
TheGrassCatcheris equippedwith the
CubCadet_GrassGaugnTMfeature(F,
Figure3-1). TheGrassGaugefeatureisa
grassfill indicatorthat providesa visual
alertwhenthe bagisfull. SeeBagging
Modein Section4 for detailedinforma-
tien.
Side-DischargeChuteAttachment
UsetheSide-DischargeChute(M, Figure
3-1)to directgrassclippings outthe left
side(from operator'sposition)ofthe
mower. SeeSide-DischargeModein
Section4.
8

Section3: FeaturesandControls
MulchingPlugAttachment
UsetheMulchingPlug(N,Figure3-1) to
mulchlawnclippings.SeeMulching
Modein Section4.
MOWER CONTROLS
Thefollowing informationidentifiesand
describesthe controlsfor all mower
models,
OperatorPresence ControlBail
TheOperatorPresenceControlBail
(A,Figure3-1) must bepulledback
againstthe handlebarand heldthere
whilestartingthe engineandoperating
the unit. Releasingthe bailwill shut off
theengineandstop themowerblade.
Theenginewill not restartunlessthe bail
ispulled backagainstthe handlebar.
NOTE:This control disengagesanengine
brakewhenpulled backagainstthe
handlebarandengagestheenginebrake
whenreleased.Themowerbladeis
bolteddirectlyto theengineshaft,
thereforeit stopswhenthe enginestops.
Theenginewill not restartunlessthe bail
ispuffedbackagainstthe handlebar.See
StoppingtheEngineandMower Bladein
Section4 for moreinformation.
WheelDriveBail
TheWheelDriveBail(C,Figure3-1)
engagesthe poweredrearwheelswhen it
ispulledupagainstthe handlebar,and
disengagesthewheelswhenreleased.
SeeMowingand TurningtheMowerin
Section4 for moreinformation.
To movethemowerwithoutengine
power,releasethe controlsand pushor
pull the mower.
NOTE:Thepiniongearsinsidethe rear
wheelsmayproducean occasional
knockingsoundwhenpushingor pulling
the mowermanually.This soundis
harmless. Donot lubricatethedrive
wheels.Servicethedriveassemblyonly
asinstructedin Section5.
Wheel SpeedControl
TheWheelSpeedControl (B,Figure3-1)
providesthreedifferentwheelspeeds.
Selectionsare:
•1 for lowspeed
• 2 for mediumspeed
• 3 for highspeed
SeeMowing in Section4 for moreinfor-
mation.
CuffingHeightAdjustmentLever
Thiscontrol(K,Figure3-1) providessix
cuttingheights,enablingyouto choose
the mostappropriateheightfor thelawn
condition.Cuttingheightsrangefrom
approximately1-1/4-inchesto 4 inches.
SeePreparationfor Mowingin Section4
for moreinformation.
NOTE:Actualcuttingheightwillvary
accordingto turf conditions.
RecoilRopeStart
Therecoilropestart(D,Figure3-1) is
usedtopulFstartthe engine.Seethe
EngineOwner'sManualforstartinginfor-
mationspecifictoyour engine.Alsosee
StartingtheEngineinSection4.
AdjustableHandlebarHeight
Themowerprovidesthreehandlebar
heightsettings(J,Figure3-1). SeeStep
5:AdjustHandlebarHeightinSection2.
ENGINECONTROLS
Throttle
ModelsSRA621 hasanenginethat is
equippedwithafixedthrottle speedfor
the mostefficientengineperformance
undervaryingloads.
PrimerBulb
ThePrimerBulbisusedto startacold
engine.SeetheEngineOwner'sManual
fur informationspecificto yourengine.
FuelShut-OffValve
TheFuelShut-OffValve(if soequipped)
opensandclosesthefuelline. Seethe
EngineOwner'sManualfor information
specifictoyourengine.

Operation
Beforeoperatingthe mower, carefully
read and understandall safety, control
and operating instructions in this
Manual, the separate EngineOwner's
Manualandthedecalsonthemachine.
Failureto followtheseinstructionscan
resultinseriouspersonalinjury.
• Never operate the mower with the
discharge outlet guard removed or
proppedopen.
•Do not operate mower without the
GrassCatcher,MulchingPlugor Side-
DischargeChuteinplace.
•Never change mowing modes or
empty the GrassCatcher while the
engineisrunning.
•Check the condition of the Grass
Catcherfor excessivewearordeterio-
ration. If damaged,contactan autho-
rized dealer or the factory for a
replacement.
INTRODUCTION
Readthis Sectionthoroughlybeforeyou
starttheengine. Thentakethetimeto
familiarizeyourselfwith themower's
basicoperation.
Findanopen,levelareaandpractice
usingthemowercontrols. Onlyafteryou
becomefamiliar with the mowershould
you useit in smallerareasor onuneven
terrain.
CUB CADET ®
RAPID ATTACHTM SYSTEM
TheRapidAttachSystem(Figure4-1) is a
featuredesignedinto themowerdeck
which enablesyouto install andremove
the GrassCatcher,theSide-Discharge
Chuteandthe MulchingPlug quicklyand
easily.
10
TheGrassCatcherandtheSide-Discharge
Chutebothusethesamesystem. This
systemconsistsofan elongatedtab (A,
Figure4-1) onthetop ofthe discharge
outletanda receptacle(B) builtinto the
topof theGrassCatcherdoor andthe
Side-DischargeChute.
Attachingthe MulchingPlugis just as
easy.Holdopenthe dischargeoutlet
guard(K,Figure4-1) andinsertthe plug
(L),with the word"TOP"facingup, into
thedischargeoutlet.
Figure4-1: CubCade_ RapidAttachTM
System.
SETTING UP MOWING MODES
Thelawnmowerhasthreemowing
modes:baggingmode,mulching mode
andside-dischargemode. Thefollowing
providesdescriptionsofthethreemodes
andhowto implementthem.
BaggingMode
Themowerisset upfor baggingmode
whenthe GrassCatcherisattachedto the
dischargeoutlet.
TheGrassCatcherisequippedwith two
handlesanda swing-opendoorthat
makesemptyingeasy.Usethewire-
formed handleto helpattach,remove,
transportandemptythebag. Usethe
rearcloth handleto lift the bottomofthe
bagwhenemptying.
TheGrassCatcheralsohasa
GrassGaugeTMgrass-fillindicator(Figure
4-3) which makesiteasytotell whenthe
bagis full. Theindicatorisa rectangular
pieceof clothsewnto thetop ofthe bag.
Theindicator laysflat againstthe bag
whenthe bagisfull (F,Figure4-3) and
billows(G)whenthe bagis notfull.
NOTE:Windy conditionsmayaffectthe
indicator'sabilityto providean accurate
bagfill reading.
SettingUpBaggingMode
1. Withtheengineandbladestopped,
removethe MulchingPlugor Side-
DischargeChute.
2. Graspthe GrassCatcherbythe wire-
formed handle.With theother hand,hold
openthedischargeoutletguard (C,Figure
4-2).
Figure4-2: AttachingGrassCatcher.
3. Lower(atanangle)the bagdoor (D,
Figure4-2) ontothetab (E)onthe
dischargeoutlet. Makesurethe bagdoor
seatssquarelyontothetabandcovers
thetabcompletely.
Removingthe GrassCatcher
1. Whenmowing,theGrassCatcheris
full whenthe grassfill indicatorlaysflat
againstthe bag(F,Figure4-3).
Analternativemethodfor judging bag
fullnessis to nudgethebagwith your
foot. Thebagwill giveeasilywhennot
full, andwill resistwhenfull.

Section4: Operation
[
Figure4-3: GrassGaugeTMindicaieswhenbag isfull (F)and notfull (G).
2. With theengineand bladestopped,
ho_dopenthe dischargeoutletguard (C,
Figure4-2). With the otherhand,grasp
the wire-formedhandleand guidethebag
up and offthe dischargeoutlet.
MulchingMode
Themulchingmodecutsandrecutsgrass
clippingswithin themower housing
beforerecyclingthefinely cut clippings
intothe lawn. Mulchingmakesiteasier
for thethelawnto absorbthe grass
nutrientsbackintothe soil,
SettingUpMulchingMode
1. With theengineand bladestopped,
removethe GrassCatcheror theSide-
Dischargeattachment.
2. Lift openthodischargeoutlet guard
(K,Figure4-1).
3. Positiontheplugwith theword "TOP"
facing up andpushthe Mulching Plug
firmly intothedischargeoutlet(Figure
4-4).
4. Theplug's flange(rim) mustfit snugly
againstthe edgeof thedischargeoutletto
ensureefficientmulching (Figure4-4).
Figure4.4: InstalledMulchingPlug.
2. Graspthe MulchingPlug'shand-grip
with onehandandpull backuntilthe plug
clearsthe dischargeoutlet.
Side-Discharge Mode
UsetheSide-DischargeChuteto disperse
grassclippings ontothelawn.
SettingUptheSide-DischnrgeChute
1. With theengineandbladestopped,
removetheGrassCatcheror Mulching
Plug.
2. Lift openthedischargeoutlet guard
(K,Figure4-1) and lowerthe Side-
DischargeChuteopening(B,Figure4-1)
ontothedischargeoutlettab (A). Make
sureit coversthetabcompletely.
RemovingtheSide-DischargeChute
1. Withtheengineandbladestopped,lift
openon thedischargeoutletguard (K,
Figure4-1).
2. With theotherhand,graspthe Side-
DischargeChuteandguideit up andoff
thedischargeoutlettab.
PREPARATIONFORMOWING
ReviewSection1: SafetyandSection3:
FeaturesandControls. Thenreadthis
Sectioncompletelybeforestartingthe
mower.
1. Movelawnmowertoa clear,level
area- ifon agrassyarea,makesurethe
grassislowenoughasto notinterfere
withbladerotationwhenstarting.
2. Inspectareatobecut-Checkfor and
removedebrissuchasrocks,toys, wire,
bones,sticks, etc.,which couldbepicked
up andthrown bythe blade.Alsoinspect
theterrainfor holesor otherobstacles.
Removingthe MulchingPlug
1. Withtheengineandbladestopped,lift
openthedischargeoutletguard.
3. Checkmower-
• Checkthe mowerfor looseor missing
hardware,Tightenor replacebefore
startingthemower.
•ChecktheOperatorPresenceControl
Bailfor freedomof movement.
•ChecktheWheelDriveControlBailfor
freedomof movement.
• Checkbladefor excessivewearor
damage. Donotoperatethe mower
with a damagedblade.
•S_curelyconnectthesparkplugwireto
thesparkplug.
4. Adjusthandlebarheight- Themower
hasthreehandlebarheightswhichcanbe
adjustedasfollows:
a. Loosenoneofthe lowerhandlebar
adjustmentknobs (H,Figure4-5) and
givethe knobatapto freethe
handlebarstrut (K)for adjustment.
Repeatfor the otherside.
Figure4-5: Adjustinghandlebarheight.
b. Adjust thehandlebarstothe
desiredheightandthentightenthe
handlebaradjustmentknobs. Make
surethat the squareshankonthe
screw(J,Figure4-5) seatssquarely
intooneof thesquareslots(I).
To avoidpersonalinjury, never adjust
cuttingheightwhile engineis running.
Releaseall handlebarcontrolsandwait
for all motionto stopbefore adjusting
cuttingheight.
5. Setcuttingheight- You cansot the
mowertoanyof six cuttingheights.
Cuttingheightsrangefromapproximately
1/1/4"to 4".
NOTE:Actualcuttingheightwill vary
accordingto grass,terrain,andsoilcon-
ditions.
11

Section4: Operation
12
a. Toadjust cuttingheight,pullthe
CuttingHeightLever(A,Figure4-6)
awayfrom the mowerto releasethe
tab from theslot. Besureto grip the
leverfirmly to preventthe mowerdeck
from dropping downrapidly.
Figure4-6: Cuttingheightadjustment.
b. Whilepulling theleverawayfrom
the mower,movethe levertowardsthe
backofthe mower(B, Figure4-6) for a
highercut or towardsthefront ofthe
mower (C)for a lowercut.
c. Seatthe lever'stab squarelyinto
the slot.
IMPORTANT:Themoweris equipped
with asafetyflap locatedonthe rearof
themowerdeck.Aftersettingthecutting
height,becertainthattheflap hangs
freelyand isnotcaughtunderthedeck.
6. PrepareEngine-
•Checkoil level-If this isa newmower,
addmotor oil asdescribedintheEngine
Owner'sManual;otherwise,checkoil
levelandaddasrecommendedin the
EngineOwner'sManual.
GASOLINEIS HIGHLYFLAMMABLEAND
ITSVAPORSAREEXPLOSIVE.
Followthe gasolinesafety rulesin this
Manual (Section 1) and in the separate
EngineOwner'sManual.
Failuretofollowgasolinesafetyinstruc-
tions can result in serious personal
injuryandpropertydamage.
• Addfuel - Fillthefueltank with gasoline
accordingto the directionsin the
separateEngineOwner'sManual.
Followall instructionsand Safetyrules
carefully.
• Checkair filter - Theengineis
equippedwith anair filtration system.
Whenclogged,itcausesstartingdiffi-
cultiesandoperatesinefficiently. See
the EngineOwner'sManualfor infor-
mationon howto maintaintheair
filter system.
OPERATINGTHE MOWER
Thefollowing proceduresexplainhowto
start, stopand operatethemower.
Startingthe Engine
Do not operate the engine in an
enclosedarea. Engineexhaustcontains
carbonmonoxide,a deadlygasthat is
odorless, colorless and tasteless.
Always run the engine outdoors and
makesurethereisadequateventilation.
1. Openthefuel shut-off valve,if so
equipped.
2. Primethe engineby pushingthe
primerbulbfirmly 3 times.
NOTE:Primingmaynot benecessary
whenrestartinga warmengine.
However,coolweathermay require
primingagain. Seethe EngineOwner's
Manualfor priming information.
To avoid injury or property damage,
thoroughlyinspectareawheremoweris
to be used and remove all stones,
sticks, wires, bones, nails and other
foreignobjects.
3. Standbehindthemower handlebar
andpull theOperatorPresenceControl
Bail(A,Figure3-1) backagainstthe
handlebarandhold.
4. Checkbehindyoufor obstacles,then
slowlypull therecoilrope (E,Figure3-1)
until resistanceisfelt. Pulltheropeout
rapidlyto startengine.Lettherope
returnslowly. If theenginefails to start
afterthreepulls, repeatsteps2-4.
Stoppingthe
EngineandMower Blade
1. ReleasetheOperatorPresenceControl
Bail(A,Figure3-1) tostopthe engineand
blade,
To avoid personal injury, keep hands
and feet clear of mowerbladeor other
rotatingparts.
EmergencyStopping
Releaseall controls.Thisstopsthe
engine,wheelmovementandtheblade.
IMPORTANT:Themowerisequipped
with a BladeControlSystemwhich is
designedto stopthemowerbladewithin
three(3) secondsafterreleasingthe
OperatorPresenceControlBail. This
systemalsostopstheengine.
If the Blade Control System does not
operate properly, the blade could
continueto rotatefor longerthan three
(3) secondsafter releasingtheOperator
PresenceControl Bail. If this occurs,
discontinueusingthemowerandimme-
diately contact your local authorized
dealer or the factory for instructions.
Do not operate the mower until the
BladeControlSystemisrepaired.
Failure to do this could result in
personalinjuryorpropertydamage.
Mowing
1. Starttheengine. SeeStartingthe
Engineinthis Section.
2. UsetheWheelSpeedControlto select
awheelspeed. Themowerhasthree
wheelspeeds. Selectaslowerspeed
whenfirst startingout(or whenlearning
howto usethe mower),thenmoveinto
fasterspeedsif needed.
• LowSpeed(1)- isengagedwhenthe
leveris pulledalltheway back. Low
speedprovidesthemostefficientcut.
•MediumSpeed(2)- isengagedwhen
theleverismovedto themiddledetent
position (thecontrol leverwill click into
place). This speedisa goodcompro-
misefor speedand cuttingperfor-
mance.
• HighSpeed(3)- isengagedwhenthe
leveris pushedallthewayforward.
Highspeedenablesyouto coverthe
cuttingareamorequickly, butmay
result ina lessefficientcut.

Section4: Operation
This speedis mosteffectiveonshort,
thin grass.
3. PulltheWheelDriveBail (B,Figure
4-7) up againstthe handlebarto power
therearwheelsand moveforward.
NOTE:Releasethe WheelDriveBailand
continueto holdtheOperatorPresence
ControlBail(A,Figure4-7) to pause
during mowingwith the enginerunning,
or to maneuverintight or difficult
conditions.
TurningtheMower
1. Forshortturns, releasetheWheel
DriveBail(B,Figure4-7) butcontinueto
holdthe OperatorPresenceControlBail
(A). This disengagesthewheeldrive,but
theenginecontinuesto run.
2. Pressdownonthe handlebarto raise
thefront endslightly.
3. Pushthehandlebaroppositethe
directionto whichyouwantto turn.
4. Forlonger,widerturns,thereisno
needto disengagethe poweredwheels.
Figure4-7: Disengagingthe wheelswith
enginerunning.
MOWINGTIPSANDHINTS
Mow WhenLawnIs Dry
Donotmow grasswhenitiswet. Wet
grassisdifficult to mowandclumps
togetherinsidethe mowerhousing. This
causesinefficientoperationandan
unevencut. Additionally,wet clippings
stick togetherinunsightlyclumpsontop
ofthelawnwhich causesinefficient
absorptionof nutrientsbackintothesoil.
AvoidMiddayMowing
If possible,mow inthe lateafternoonor
earlyeveningtoavoidexposingnewlycut
grasstothedryingeffectsofdirect
sunlight.
NeverCut LowerThanOne-ThirdGrass
HeightIn OnePass
If possible,mow 1
oftenenoughor .... _-
highenoughto _. U\\|L_,__
avoidcuttingoff __'
morethan1/3 of
thegrass height.
Forexample,if you
are maintainingyour lawnat2", mow
beforeit reaches3".
Removingmorethan1/3of total grass
bladelengthmayexposetender,shaded
stemsto thedrying effectsofthe sunand
wind andproducea dull,brown-looking
lawn. Cuttingoff too muchleafareais
alsoa shockto the rootsystemandit
maytakeweeksto repairthedamage.
CleonMower Frequently
Cleanthemowinghousingfrequentlyto
removeanygrass build-up. Referto the
cleaninginstructionsin Section5.
VaryCuttingPattern
Varythecutting
patternfrom week
to week. Oneweek
mow horizontally.
Mowverticallythefollowing week. This
helpspreventwearpatternsand soilcom-
paction.
Side-DischargeMowing
Whenin Side-Dischargemode,try cutting
in a circularpatternwiththechute
inward,facingthe uncutarea. This
resultsinlessclumpingbyrecuttingthe
clippingsfor a finer,cleanerappearance.
AvoidSharpTurns
Sharpturns mayproducean unevencut.
If possible,follow naturalground
contoursor usegentle,sweepingturns
for a betterlookinglawn.
Mow Long6rassTwice
ifthe grass
is5" long or "" ="'"%.
oncem°re'atCUtitthe_ '' "''' '' ''''I"_
highest
settingandthenmow it againatthe
desiredheight. This methodmay
producetoo manyclippingsto usethe
mulchereffectively. Usethe Grass
Catcherto removethe grassclippings.
UseExtremeCautiononSlopes
Whenoperatingon
slopingground,
exerciseextreme
cautionand usegood
commonsenseto
avoidpossible
personalinjuryor propertydamage.
Toavoidinjuryorpropertydamage:
• Maximumsafeoperatingangleis15o.
•Exceedingmaximum safe operating
angle may cause tipping or loss of
footing.
•Donotmowwetslopes.
• Mowacrossslopes,notupanddown.
• Exercise extreme caution when
changingdirectiononslopes.
Donot mowsteepslopes! Avoidslopes
greaterthan 15degrees,orwherever
footing is unsure. If aslopeis difficult to
stand on,it is probablytoosteepto mow
(in sucha case,it maybe bestto
establisha groundcoverthat doesn't
requiremowing).
Donot mowon slopeswhentheground
iswet. Mowacrossthe faceofslopes,
neverupand down. Slowdownand
exerciseextremecautionwhenchanging
directionon slopes. KeeptheWheel
DriveBailengagedto ensureeasier
operationand bettercontrol ofthemower
EmptyGrassCatcherWhenFull
Emptyingthe GrassCatcherwhenitisfull
resultsin bettercollectionandmower
performance.Emptythe bagassoonas
the bagisfilled. SeeBaggingModefor
moreinformationonthe GrassGauge
feature.
13

Section4: Operation
Match Speed
To Terrain and Conditions
Adjust thespeedto grass conditionsand
terrain. UseLewand Mediumspeedsfor
normalmowingconditions. You'll get
betterresultsat slowerspeeds,especially
ifthe grassistall or lush. UseHighspeed
to transportthe moweror whengrass
conditionsarelight andappearanceis not
asimportant.
KeepMowerBladeSharp
A sharpbladecutsthegrasscleanly,
resultingin a smooth,evenlycut lawn. A
dull bladetearsatthe grassandwill fray
thetips sothat theydry out quickly
resultingin a dull, brown-lookinglawn.
SeeBladeSharpeningandBalancingin
Section5 ofthis manualfor moreinfer-
mation.
MulchingLeaves
A light coveringof leavescanbeeffec-
tivelymulchedintotheturf. Asthe leaves
decompose,theyprovidevaluableorganic
matterandmineralsto thesoil.
Toensureeffectivemulching,besurethe
leavesaredry. Usea slow travelspeed
anddon't try to mulcha deeplayerof
leaves.
NOTE:Oakleavesareacidic andmay
affectthesoil pHlevelwhenmulched. A
pHsoiltest shouldbeusedifoakleaves
areabundanton your property.
14

Maintenance
_eforeinspecting,cleaningorservicingthemachine,shutoftengine,waitfor movingpartstostop,dis- J
connectsparkplugwire andmovewire awayfromsparkplug.
Failuretofollowtheseinstructionscanresultinseriouspersonalinjuryorpropertydamage.
REQUIREDMAINTENANCESCHEDULE
PROCEDURE Before Every10 Every25
Using Hours Hours
Checkeflgineoil level •
Changeengineoil
Servicesparkplug
Checknutsandscrews
Servicefoam pre-cleanerairfilter
(ifsoequipped)
Servicepaperairfilter
(ifsoequipped)
Inspectsparkarrester(if soequipped)
Cleanengine
Cleanmowerhousing
Cleanunderbeltcover
Checkclutchspringextension
Cleandrive-wheelpiniongears
AsNoted
Aftereach5
operatinghours
,A
Aftereachfog
operatinghours
1"
Annually
After eachuse
1"
Aftereach50
operatinghours
REMOVINGAND
II, Changemorefrequentlyindusty or dirtyconditions.Changeafterfirst2 hoursof
break-inoperation.
1" Checkafterfirst 2 hoursof break-inoperation.
• SeeEngineOwner'sManualfor servicerecommendations.
• Beforeandafterstoring unitfor 3weeksormore.
REPLACING THE BELTCOVER
Removingthe Belt Cover
1. Usea3/8"wrenchto removeboth
screws(D, E,Figure5-1).
Figure5-1: Beltcover
2. Liftthe backendofthecoverthen
carefullypullout.
Do notoperatethe mowerwithoutthe
belt cover in place. Doing so could
result in personalinjuryor damageto
components.
When working near the blade, wear
heavyleatherglovesto protectyourself
fromthesharpedgesontheblade.
ENGINEOILSERVICE
Checktheengineoil levelbeforestarting
theengineeachdayand aftereach5
hoursofcontinuousoperation. Running
theenginewhentheoil levelis lowwill
quicklyruin the engine.
Changeengineoilafter thefirst 2hours
of break-inoperation,thereafter,inaccor-
dancewith your EngineOwnersManual.
Changemoreofteninextremelydirty or
dustyconditions. Refertothe Engine
Owner'sManualfor detailedinformation
onchangingoil.
SERVICINGTHEAIRCLEANER
Theengineair cleanerfilters dirt anddust
outoftheair beforeitentersthe carbure-
tor. Operatingtheenginewith adirty,
cloggedaircleanercancausepoorper-
formanceanddamageto theengine.
Neveroperatetheenginewithout theair
cleanerinstalled. Inspectandservicethe
air cleanermoreoftenifoperatinginvery
dustyor dirty conditions.
Servicethe aircleanerasinstructedinthe
separateEngineOwner'sManual.
Replacingthe Belt Cover
1. Seatthe rearendofthe cover. Make
surethatbothcontrolcablesarerouted
throughthecutoutintherearof the
cover.Thiswillhelppreventdamage
causedbypinchingthecablesunderthe
coverorcontactwiththetransmission
pulleyor belt.
2. Tightenscrewssnugly.Donot ever-
tighten(D,E,Figure5-1).
TIPPINGTHEMOWERFOR
SERVICE
1. Beforetippingthe mower,makesure
thatthefuel tankis emptyto preventthe
possibilityof gasolinespillage. See
"DANGER"statementthat follows. 15

Section5: Maintenance
Beforeinspecting,cleaningorservicingthemachine,shutoftengine,waitformovingpartstostop,dis- I
connectsparkplugwire andmovewireawayfromsparkplug.
Failuretofollowtheseinstructionscanresut nserouspersona n uryorpropertydamage.
2. Whenservicingtheundersideofthe
mower,the mowershouldbetippedonly
in thedirection ofthe muffler. Tipping
the mowerawayfrom the mufflercould
resultin enginedamageor difficult
starting.
SPARKPLUGSERVICE
Inspectand cleanor replacethe spark
plug afterevery100operatinghoursor
annually. Setthegapasdescribedin the
separateEngineOwner'sManual.
in someareas,locallawrequiresusing
resistorsparkplugsto suppressignition
signals. If theenginewas originally
equippedwith a resistorsparkplug,
replacewith the sametype.
GLEANINGTHEENGINE
Theenginemustbe keptcleanto insure
smoothoperationandto preventdamage
from overheating. Referto theEngine
Owner'sManualfor moreinformation.
CLEANING UNDER
THE MOWER HOUSING
Checkthe mowerregularlyfor grass
build-up. Cleaningunderthe mowerdeck
shouldbedoneafter (ratherthanbefore)
operatingthe mower,asgrassis moist
and removedmoreeasily.
1. "lipmowertowardsthe muffler onto
its side. SeeTippingtheMowerfor
Servicein this Section.
2. Brushor scrapeoff grassbuild-up.
CLEANINGTHEGRASSCATCHER
Bagcleanlinessaffectscollectionperfor-
manceasa dirty bagwill restrict airflow.
CleantheGrassCatcherbag annually,
moreoften in dustyenvironments.
IMPORTANT:Donot washor dry the
GrassCatcherin a washingmachineor
dryer.
1. Tocleanthe bag,removeit from the
mowerand handwashthefabric with
mild detergent.
16
Before servicingthe underside of the
mower:
MOVINGPARTSHAZARD!
Stopengine,waitforall partstostop
moving,and disconnectspark plug
wire.
• FIRE- EXPLOSIONHAZARD!
Gasolineishighlyflammableand its
vaporsareexplosive.
1. Drainfuel intoan approvedcon-
tainer outdoors, away from open
flame.
2. Be sure engine and mufflerare
coolbeforedraininggasoline.
3. Donotsmoke.
Failure to complywith the above can
result in serious personal injury and
propertydamage.
2. Rinsethe bagthoroughlywith clean
waterandallowto dry completelybefore
using. Donot usea dampbag.
CLEANINGUNDERBELTCOVER
Checkundersideof beltcoverfor grass
clippingsevery10 hoursof use.
1. Removethebeltcover. See
RemovingtheBeltCoverinthis Section.
2. Removeanygrassclippings ordebris.
3. Replacebeltcover. SeeReplacingthe
BeltCoverin this Section.
SPARK ARRESTER
SCREENSERVICE
Ifthe enginemufflerisequippedwith a
sparkarrosterscreen,removeand cleanit
accordingto thetime intervalsand
instructionsin theseparateEngine
Owner'sManual.
CARBURETOR/GOVERNOR
CONTROLADJUSTMENTS
Thecarburetorwasadjustedatthe
factoryfor bestoperatingspeed. Referto
theseparateEngineOwner'sManualfor
anyadjustmentinformationor seeyour
authorizedengineservicedealer.
Thegovernorcontrolsthe maximumsafe
operatingspeedand protectsthe engine
andall movingpartsfrom damagecaused
by overspending.Donottampor with the
enginegovernorsettings. Seekautho-
rizedserviceifa problemexists.
MOWERBLADEMAINTENANCE
BladeInspection
1. Tipmowertowardsthemuffleronto
its side. See TippingtheMower for
Serviceinthis Section.
Never reach under mower deckwhile
the engine is running. Mower blade
rotates at all times while engine is
runningand up to 3 secondsafterit is
shutoft.
2. Inspectperiodicallyfor a dull or
slightlynickedblade. Sharpenif needed.
Also checkfor a deformed,cracked,or
excessivelyworn blade(Figure5-2). Do
not usethe mowerif anyofthesecondi-
tions exist. Replacethe bladeimmedi-
ately.
3. Checkthe bladescrewfor tightness.
If loose,tightento35 ft-lbs witha 3/4"
torquewrench.
NewBlade
DamagedBlade
Replacebladeimmediatelyif cracked,
deformedor badlynicked.
Figure5-2: Mowerbladeinspection.

Section5: Maintenance
_eforeinspecting,cleaningorservicingthemachine,shutoffengine,waitformovingpartstostop,dis-
connectsparkplugwire andmovewire awayfromsparkplug.
Failuretofollowtheseinstructionscanresultinseriouspersonalinjuryorpropertydamage.
Mowerbladeissharp.
• Wear heavy leather gloves when
workingnear or withbladefor protec-
tionfromsharpedges.
• Wear safety approvedeye protection
whensharpeningbladetoprotecteyes
fromflyingmetaldebris.
RemovingMowerBlade
IMPORTANT:Thebladecoupler
(D,Figure5-5) may comeoff theengine
shaftwhenremovingthe blade. If it does,
do notlosethe squarekey(C). Thekey
fits intoa squareslot insidethe blade
coupler. Without it, thebladewill not
rotate.
1. Removethesparkplugwirefrom the
spark plugand moveit away.
2. Tipmowertowardsthe muffleronto
itsside. SeeTippingtheMowerfor
Serviceinthis Section.
3. Usea3/4"wrenchto loosenthe blade
screw (A,Figure5-5). Holdtheblade
with a glovedhandto preventtheblade
from rotating.
Figure5-3: Removingorinstallingblade.
4. RemovebladescrewandBolleville
washer(A, B,Figure5-5).
5. Removeblade.You mayhaveto give
the bladeatapto jar itloosefrom the
mountingtabs.
17
Curved end down Curved end clown
Mower Deck \
r Il! \
Lawn
Figure 5-4: Correct blade installation,
Figure5-5: Mowerbladcassembly.
InstallingMowerBlade
1. Removethesparkplug wirefrom the
sparkplugand moveitaway.
2. Tip mowertowardsthemuffler onto
its side. See TippingtheMower for
Servicein this Section.
3. If thebladecoupler(D, Figure5-5)
and/orsquarekey(C)cameoff theengine
shaftduring bladeremoval,reinstallthose
partsbackontotheengineshaft.
4. Positionthebladewith thecurved
endsfacingdownward(Figure5-4).
5. SliptheBeilevillewasher(B,Figure
5-5) ontothescrew(A). Facethe dished-
in sideto theblade.
6. Mountthe bladeontothetwo tabsof
the bladecoupler. Makesurethat you
seatthe bladecompletelyontothe
coupler.
7. Insertthescrewandwasherthrough
the bladeand intothebladecoupler.
Tightenwith atorquewrenchto 35 ff-lbs.
Sharpeningand
BalancingMower Blade "
IMPORTANT:Werecommendthat the
bladebesharpenedbya professional
sharpeningservice. Replacea crackedor
severelyworn bladewith anewone.
1. Removebladefrom the mower. See
RemovingMowerBlade.
2. Clampthe bladein a vise. Usea metal
file or grinderto sharpenthebladewhile
maintainingtheoriginal cuttingangle. It
isvery importantto maintaintheoriginal
cuttingbevelto insurethe mosteffective
cut.
3. To retainbladebalance,removethe
sameamountof materialfrom bothends
of theblade.
4. To checkbladebalance,placethe
bladeon a roundedpivotsuchasa pencil
or penunderthecenterhole. Holdblade
parallelto groundthenrelease. See
Figure5-6. If bladeis unbalanced,the
heaviersidewill leandownward.
5. Useafile to lightlyremovematerial
from the heaviersideoftheblade.
6. SeeInstallingMowerBladeforinfor-
mationon howto re-install.theblade.
REMOVINGAND
REPLACINGDRIVEBELT
This procedurecanbe madeeasierby
removingthe blade(seeRemoving
MowerBlade);however,bladeremovalis
notabsolutelynecessary.
I
Figure5-6: Balancebladeonpivotto checkbladebalance.

Section5: Maintenance
_Beforeinspecting,cleaningorservicingthemachine,shutoffengine,waitfor movingpartstostop,dis- I
connectsparkplugwire andmovewireawayfromsparkplug. I
Failuretofollowtheseinstructionscanresultin seriouspersonalinjuryorpropertydamage. I
Figure5-7: Pressdownonpoint "A"to
removeorinstall belt.
1. Removethe beltcover, See
RemovingtheBeltCoverinthis Section.
2. Pressfirmly downwardon thecable
mounting bracket(A, Figure5-7) untilit
tilts andthe beltslackens.
3. Removebelt (B,Figure5-7) from
transaxlepulley.
4. Tipthemower ontoitsside(towards
the muffler)andpull the beltthroughthe
cutout in thehousing.
5, Dothis step onlyif you did not
removethemowerblade-- otherwise,go
onto step6.
a. Makesurethesparkplug wireis
removedfrom thesparkplug and
movedawayfrom theplug. Rotatethe
bladesothat oneendis somewhere
within thefront ofthe mowerhousing.
h. Workthe beltaroundandoverthat
endofthe blade(Figure5-8).
c. Rotatethe bladesothat the other
endis somewherewithin thefront of
the mower housingandwork the belt
aroundandoff the mower.
d. Work the newbeltaroundandover
the sameendofthe blade.
e. Rotatethe bladesothat theother
endofthe bladeissomewherewithin
the front areaofthe mowerhousing
andworkthenewbeltaroundand over
the sameend.
6. Seatthe newbelt intothegrooveon
the enginepulleythat islocatedon the
bladedriveshaft.
7. Grasponeendofthe newbeltand
insertit in andthroughthecutout inthe
housing.
Figure5-8: Removeorinstallher around
blade.
8. Tipthe mowerbackdownto its
normalposition.
9. Applyfirm pressureagainstthecable
mounting bracketon thetransaxle
assembly(A,Figure5-7) until ittilts
forward,
10. Pullthebeltoverthetransaxlepulley
andinto thegroove.
11. Releasepressureon thetransaxle
bracketslowly. Makesurethat thebelt
seatsproperlyintothe pulleygroove.
12. Checktheotherendofthe belt
(enginepulley)to insurethat it is seated
properlyintothe groove.
13. Reinstallthe beltcover. See
ReplacingtheBeltCoverinthis Section.
ADJUSTING
WHEELDRIVECONTROL
Lossofwheeldriveindicatesthat the
WheelDriveControlmay needadjust-
ment. Thisconditioncouldalsobethe
resultof notcompletelyengaginga wheel
speedgearsetting. Beforeyouadjustthe
wheeldrivecontrol cable,movetheWheel
SpeedControlLeverto 1 (alltheway
back)or to 3 (all thewayforward). If the
wheelsstill do notengage,adjustthe
wheeldriveclutchspring.
1. Removethe beltcover(SeeRemoving
and ReplacingtheBeltcover)andlocate
thewheeldriveclutchspring.
2. Measurethe lengthofthe bodyofthe
wheeldriveclutchspring (Figure5-9).
Figure5-9: Firstmeasurementwithdrive
clutchspringdisengaged.
3. EngagetheWheelDriveControlBail
andmeasurethe extendedlengthof the
springbodyagain(Figure5-10).
Figure5-10: Secondmeasurementwith
driveclutchspringengaged,
4. Thedifferencebetweenthetwo mea-
surementsshouldbeapproximately1/4".
Adjust ifthe resultdoesnotmeetthis
specification. Springextensionis
adjustedwith a cableadjuster(R, Figure
3-1) onthewheeldrivecable. Toadjust,
holdtheturnbuckle(A,Figure5-11) while
turning eachadjuster (B,Figure5-11)
awayfrom theturnbuckle1/2turn each.
Figure5-11: Drivecableadjustment.
18

Section5: Maintenance
Beforeinspecting,cleaningorservicingthemachine,shutoffengine,waitfor movingpartstostop,dis-
connectsparkplugwireandmovewire awayfromsparkplug.
Failuretofollowtheseinstructionscanresultinseriouspersonalinjuryor propertydamage.
5. Measureagain,asinsteps2,3 and4
to determineifyouneedto continue
adjusting. Adjust untilthetwo spring
measurementsdiffer in lengthbyapproxi-
mately1/4".
6. Reinstallthe beltcover. See
ReplacingtheBeltCover.
GRASSCATCHER
PARTS REPLACEMENT
TheGrassCatcherismadeupofthree
parts:thedoor,theframe,andthecloth
bog. Thefollowing procedureexplains
howto removeandreplaceeachofthe
parts.
Replacingthe GrassCatcherDoor
1. RemovetheGrassCatcherfrom the
2. Removethe GrassCatcherdoor. See
ReplacingtheGrassCatcherDoor.
3. Thebagis mountedoverthewire
frame andunderthedoor,and isheldin
placewith four plasticclips (E,Figure
5-13). Removeeachofthe clipsby
pulling from an endand off theframe(F).
Figure 5-13
• Never store mowerwith fuel in fuel
tankinsidea buildingwherefumescan
reachan openflame orspark,or where
ignitionsourcesare presentsuchas hot
water and space heaters, furnaces,
clothesdryers,stoves,electricmotors,
etc. Make sure engine is cool before
storing.
•Drain gasoline outdoors into an
approvedcontainer.
•Do not smokeand keep away from
openflame.
Failureto followthese instructionswill
result in serious personal injury or
propertydamage.
mower.
2. Thedoor ismountedontorodsat both
endsofthewire-formedhandle. Squeeze
the handlewith onehandwhilepullingthe
top-side ofthedoor (C,Figure5-12) out
andoff theendof therod (D).
Figure5-12: Replacingbagdoor.
3. Toreplacethe door,insert oneofthe
endsofthe wire-formedhandle(D, Figure
5-12) intothe holeinthetop-sideofthe
door (C).
4. Squeezethe handlewith onehand
whileyou pullthe othersideofthedoor
(C,Figure5-12) upand overtheendof
the otherrod (D). Thedoor shouldswing
freelywhendone.
Replacingthe ClothBagor Frame
1. RemovetheGrassCatcherfrom the
mower.
4. Pullthe bagoffthe frame.
5. Toreplacetheframeor bag,position
thetop ofthe bag(long side)up.
Positionthetop oftheframe (wire-
formed handleside)up. Pulltheopen
end ofthebagovertherearend ofthe
frameand underthe handle.
6. Presseachof thebag'sfour plastic
clips (E,Figure5-13) ontothe frame
opening(F).
7. Installthedoor. Seestep3,
Replacingthe GrassCatcherDoor.
EXTENDEDSTORAGE
Usethefollowing suggestionswhen
storingthe mowerfor extendedperiodsof
time.
•Storemowerinalevelposition.
•Thoroughlyinspectthe
mowerfor anyloose,
broken,or missingparts.
Repairor replaceas
necessary.
• Removeall fuelfrom fuel
tank or useafuel stabilizer
additiveasdirectedin
EngineOwner'sManual.
• Performenginemaintenanceas
describedin theStorageinstructionsof
the EngineOwner'sManual.
• Checkall nutsand screwsfor tightness.
• Onelectricstart modelsremovekey
from keyswitch.
• Chargethe batteryfor 24to 48 hours
beforeandafterseasonalstorage.
• Disconnectsparkplugwirefrom spark
plug.
Foldingthe HandlebarAssembly
IMPORTANT:Toavoiddamagetothe
cablesandwiring, alwaysfoldthetop
sectionofthehandlebarassembly
backward. Cablescanbeseverelybentif
foldedincorrectly.
1. Loosenthetop two handlebaradjust-
ment knobs(1,Figure5-16)while sup-
portingtheassemblywith one hand.
19 Figure5-16: Foldingthemowerforstorage.

Section5: Maintenance
_eforeinspecting,cleaningorservicing themachine,shutoffengine,waitformovingpartstostop,dis- I
connectsparkplugwire andmovewire awayfromsparkplug.
Failuretofollowtheseinstructionscanresultin seriouspersonalnjuryor propertydamage.
Figure5-17: Dislodginghandlebarstruts.
2. Foldthetop sectionoftheassembly
backward(2,Figure5-16). Guidethe
cablescarefullywhilefolding. Besure
notto bend,pinch, or stretchthecables.
IMPORTANT:Toavoiddamageto cables,
alwaysfoldthe top sectionof the
handlebarassemblybackwardandthe
bottomsectionforward.
3. Still supportingthehandlebar
assemblywith onehand,loosenthetwo
lowerhandlebaradjustmentknobs
(3, Figure5-16) just enoughto dislodge
bothhandlebarstruts (L,Figure5-17)
from the slots (K) inthewheelbracket
assembly.
NOTE:Thehandlebarheightcould inad-
vertentlychangeif theloweradjustment
knobsareloosenedexcessivelyduring
this step.
4. Carefullyfold the bottomsectionof
the handlebarassemblyforward overthe
engine(4, Figure5-16). Guidethecables
carefullywhilefolding. Besurenotto
bend,pinch, or stretchthecables;also,
keepcablesawayfrom muffler-- the
outercablecoveringcanbe burnedifthe
engineisstill hot.
5. To unfoldhandlebarassembly,
performfolding stepsin reverseorder.
PINIONGEARSERVICE
Themowerdrivewheels(rearwheels)
eachcontaina pinion gear. Thisgear
transfersdrive powerto thewheelswhich
propelsthemowerforward. It isvery
importantto keeptheseinternalparts
clean. Thefollowing procedureexplains
howto disassemble,cleanand reassem-
blethemowerdrivewheels. Conductthis
maintenanceonthe pinion gearsafter
every50 operatinghours.
Figure5-18: Drivewheelassembly.
Toolsand Materials
•9/16"SocketandRatchet
• SmallSnap-RingPliers
• CleaningRags
Procedure
NOTE:Thisprocedureisdoneonly on
the drivewheels(rearwheels).
1. Placeasturdy, stableblockunderthe
mowerto elevatea rearwheeloff the
ground.
2. Usea 9/16"wrenchto removewheel
assembly(A,8, C,D,E,Figure5-18).
3. Removesnap-ring(J, Figure5-18)
from axle.
4. Removeshim(s) (I, Figure5-18). The
numberofshimsvaryfrom mowerto
mower. Putthem nextto thesnap-ring.
5. Pulloff piniongear(H, Figure5-18).
6. Removedrivepin (G,Figure5-18).
7. Removeplasticwasher/seal
(F,Figure5-18).
8. Thoroughlycleanoff debrisfrom the
drivepin,axle,holein axle(for drive pin)
andthewasher/seal.
9. Reinstallwasher/seal(F,Figure5-18).
Besureto installflat sideofwasher
againstbearing(mowerdeck).
10. Insertthedrivepin (G,Figures5-18)
intothe holein theaxle.
NOTE:Thepin shouldslidefreelywithin
the hole.
11. Thoroughlycleanpinion gear,
includingsurfaceareaand cavity.
12. Slidethepinion gear(H,Figure5-18)
ontotheaxlewith the cavitytowardthe
mower. Pressthegearfirmly againstthe
washer/seal(F,Figure5-18). Becertain
that thegearLsflush againstthesurface
ofthe washer/sealandthat the
washer/sealisflush againstthewheel
mountingbracket.
13. Slidetheshims (I, Figure5-18) onto
the axleandagainstthe piniongear. Be
sureto installthesamenumberofshims
aswereremovedfrom the unit.
14. Installthe snap-ringontotheaxle
(J,Figures5-18) andintothe groovein
the axle. Pullthe piniongearoutwardto
besurethatthe snap-ringseatsproperly.
NOTE:If youcan't getthe snap-ringinto
theslot in theaxle,pressthepinion gear
morefirmly againstthewasher/seal.Do
not leaveoff shims.
15. Insertwheelscrew(A,Figure
5-18) throughwheel(B),flat washer(C),
centerholein wheelshield(D), and
spacer(E). Thewheelshieldhasadouble
edgeonthe rim. Positionthis side
towardthewheel.
16. Align piniongearwith the holeinthe
wheelshield.Atthesametime,alignthe
wheelscrewwith theweldednuton the
wheelbracketandtightensecurely. 2O