Gardener's Choice GSC400 User manual

PREMIUM CUT
4 STROKE LAWNMOWER
Please read this instruction manual carefully
before operating your new
Gardener’s Choice Lawnmower.
GSC400

2 Gardener’s Choice Premium Cut User Guide
Congratulations on choosing a Gardener’s
Choice mower.
Thank you for purchasing a Gardener’s Choice 4-stroke lawnmower. We’re sure that
you’ll enjoy many years of trouble-free performance, plus you have the reassurance of
an industry-leading 2-year domestic warranty as outlined on page 15.
Inside this guide you will nd out all you need to know to correctly operate your new
Gardener’s Choice Premium Cut mower. To ensure that you use your new mower
responsibly and get the best results possible, please read all of the safety and
operating instructions carefully before using your lawnmower.
If after reading this user guide you have any questions on usage, safety, or any other
issue, please call our Customer Help Line on 1800 466 068.
What you get with your Gardener’s Choice
mower.
Note: The mower comes complete - all you have to do is unfold the handles and
tighten the knobs. Putting together the grass catcher takes very little time. Simply
snap together as shown on page 6.
• Petrolenginelawnmower
• Reargrasscatcher
• Basictoolkit
• 600mlcontainerofSAE30engineoil

Gardener’s Choice Premium Cut User Guide 3
Contents.
What you get with your Gardener’s Choice mower...................................................... 2
Tips on mower safety ................................................................................................. 4
Cutting height adjustment........................................................................................... 6
Assemblingthecatcher .............................................................................................. 6
Beforeyoubegin ........................................................................................................ 7
Starting the engine ..................................................................................................... 9
Basicmaintenancemadeeasy ................................................................................. 10
Technical specications ............................................................................................ 12
Fast trouble shooting................................................................................................ 13
Mower features......................................................................................................... 14
Warranty conditions.................................................................................................. 15
Contact us................................................................................................................ 16
What you get with your Gardener’s Choice
mower.
Gardener’s Choice products are monitored and enhanced on an on-going basis to comply with
changingtechnicalstandardsandrequirements.Asaresult,Gardener’sChoicereservesthe
right to alter design and specications at any time without prior notice.

4 Gardener’s Choice Premium Cut User Guide
Tips on mower safety.
WARNING! The information contained within this safety section is
extremely important. Personal injury to the user and to others may
result if this section is not read and acted upon at all times.
1. Beforestartingyourmowerinspectitcarefullytoensurethattherearenoloose
parts and that it is in good working order.
2. Besureofyourfooting.Alwayswalk,neverrun,whenoperatingthelawnmower.
3. Cleartheareatobemowedofanystones,sticks,wireanddebrisbefore
beginning, and always ensure that you mow a safe distance away (over 14 metres)
from adults, children and animals.
4. Keep hands, feet and clothing away from the mower’s moving parts, and always
wear appropriate footwear (avoid sandals or open shoes).
5. Never put your hands or feet underneath the chassis of the lawnmower while the
engine is running.
6. Beawarethatthemachine’sexhaustareaandotherpartsofthelawnmowerget
very hot during, and right after use.
7. Turn off the engine and disconnect the spark plug cap before cleaning,
transporting, or making adjustments, and never leave the mower unattended.
8. Mow across the face of slopes, not up & down, and avoid mowing on very steep
slopes. We recommend you avoid mowing when it is raining, or after nightfall.
9. Do not operate the machine by pulling it towards you as you risk pulling it on to
your feet. Instead, always push and walk behind your lawnmower.

Gardener’s Choice Premium Cut User Guide 5
10. Do not ll the tank, or start the lawnmower indoors, or in a poorly ventilated area,
asexhaustgasescontainpoisonoussubstancesandpetrolfumesareammable
and dangerous.
11. Alwaysuseunleadedpetrolnotmorethan3monthsold.Fillthetankusinga
funnel,butnevercompletely.Cleanupanyoveroworsplashesbeforestarting.
12. To inspect the underside of your mower, only tilt the lawnmower to your right when
standingbehindit(thisisthesidewheretheexhaustisneartheground)otherwise
oil may leak into inappropriate areas of the engine. Never tilt the lawnmower when
the engine is running.
13. Turnofftheenginebeforeemptyingthegrass-catcher,andbeforeclearingany
grasscaughtintherearapwherethecatcherts.
14. Donotalterenginegoverningsettingsorover-revtheengine,asexcessivespeed
is dangerous and can reduce engine life.
15. Neveropenthefuelllercap,orllthetank,iftheengineisstillhotafteruse.And
please ensure that you securely tighten the petrol cap after lling.
16. Do not transport the mower in a vehicle if there is any petrol in the tank.
17. Store fuel and oil in a cool well-ventilated place, away from direct sunlight and not
near gas cylinders or hot water heater systems.
18. Do not smoke when lling the fuel tank, using the machine, or when petrol is in the
immediatearea.Andneveruseorstorethemowernearanakedame.
19. Gardener’s Choice recommends that you wear a safety helmet, ear protectors,
safety goggles and safety boots when using a lawnmower.
20. AllservicingandrepairworkunderwarrantymustbecarriedoutbyanAuthorised
Gardener’s Choice Dealer, otherwise the 2-year warranty may be void. For your
local Gardener’s Choice Dealer phone [phone].

6 Gardener’s Choice Premium Cut User Guide
Cutting height adjustment.
WARNING! Turn mower off before adjusting cutting height lever.
Your lawnmower’s height adjustment is positioned on
the rear right side. There is a single 10-position lever
that adjusts all four wheels at the same time.
The lower the level, the shorter the cut. For very thick
or moist grass, you should select a higher setting than
usual to avoid clogging and stalling the lawnmower
undertheextracuttingload.
Assemblingthegrasscatcher.
1. Join the top half and the bottom half of the catcher, by snapping together the 8
molded clips.
2. Finally, secure the front of the grass catcher with the remaining 2 self-tapping screws.

Gardener’s Choice Premium Cut User Guide 7
Beforeyoubegin.
WARNING! The following procedures must be carried out before you
start the engine of your lawnmower.
1. Fill oil sump with oil.
The mower is NOT supplied with oil in
the engine, however, a container with the
correct amount of oil (600ml) is supplied.
It is essential that this is added before
starting the engine for the rst time.
Firstly, remove the warning label from under
the dipstick, then remove the dipstick
and slowly pour the entire contents of the
container into the engine via the oil ller.
Replacethedipstickandtighten.
Beforeyouusethemowereachtime,check
the oil level and if necessary top up with
SAE30engineoil.Tochecktheoillevel,just
unscrew the yellow dipstick, wipe with a rag
and replace into the oil ller, but do not screw
it back in place, and remove again. The oil
levelmustbebetweentheminandmax
marks on the dipstick.

8 Gardener’s Choice Premium Cut User Guide
2. Fill fuel tank with unleaded petrol.
Petrolishighlyammablesoextremecautionmustbe
takenwhenhandlingit.Alwaysstorepetrolinapproved
containers and you must ensure that you use fresh
petrolthatislessthanthreemonthsold.Donotmixoil
with petrol.
To put petrol in the fuel tank, rstly remove the warning
label from under the petrol cap. It’s best to ll the tank
using a clean funnel, but never ll it completely. Instead,
leaveatleast13mmfromthebottomofthellerneckto
allowforexpansion.Ensurethatyousecurelytightenthe
petrol cap after lling.
3. Attach the grass catcher.
The grass catcher attaches easily
byliftingthemower’srearapand
inserting it.
Justlifttherearapwithonehand
and then gently slide the catcher into
position (as shown in photo on right).

Gardener’s Choice Premium Cut User Guide 9
Starting the engine.
WARNING! Keep hands, feet, and clothing well away from moving parts,
the exhaust, and the engine cowling. Refer to ‘Tips on mower safety’ on
pages 4 and 5 for more information.
1. Makesurethatyourmowerisonasafe,atarea(apavedareaorpathisideal–
avoid thick wet grass and gravel surfaces) to make starting safe.
2. Move the throttle control lever located on the handle to the ‘Cold Start’ position.
3. Slidethe‘Red’petroltaplevertotheleft‘On’position.
4. Firmly hold the top handle with one hand, and then with your other hand pull the
cord slowly until you feel resistance. Then pull vigorously.
5. When the engine has been running for at least 15 seconds (more time on cold days)
adjustthethrottlecontrollevertothe‘Run’position.
6. To re-start a hot engine, move the throttle control lever to the ‘Hot Start’ position
and then refer to ‘Point 4’ above.
7. To turn off your mower, slide the throttle control lever down to the ‘Stop’ position.
Afterithasstopped,slidethe‘Red’petroltaplevertotheright‘Off’position.

10 Gardener’s Choice Premium Cut User Guide
Basicmaintenancemadeeasy.
WARNING! If your mower is not serviced correctly, you could reduce
your mower’s ability to operate and void warranty.
1. Spark plug.
Firstly, wait until the engine has cooled
before disconnecting the spark plug cover
and then removing the spark plug with the
boxspannersupplied.Ifitisdirty,youcan
clean the plug with a wire brush.
For best results we advise you to replace
the spark plug after 100 hours of use. The
replacementsparkplugisNGKBPR6ES.
When retting the spark plug do not over-
tighten. If adjusting yourself, note the spark
plug gap must be set to 0.75mm.
2. Air lter.
Ensuretheengineiscool,unscrewthetop
air lter nut, lift up the cover and remove the
air lter element. Put the cover back on the
housing immediately to prevent any objects
falling into the air intake.
Eithercarefullybrushoffanyexcessdirt
particles, or replace the air lter with a new
one. To protect your warranty, only use a
genuine Gardener’s Choice air lter. We
recommend that you replace the air lter
after every 12 months of regular usage.
When the air lter has been cleaned or
replaced, screw-in the cover, taking care not
to over-tighten.

Gardener’s Choice Premium Cut User Guide 11
3. Oil changing.
Gardener’sChoicerecommendsthatyouchangeyouroilatleastonceayear.Also
check your oil level before mowing every time to ensure that the engine is being fully
protected.Gardener’sChoicemowersrunonSAE30engineoil.
4. Using and storing petrol.
Afterthreemonths,unleadedpetrol
begins to break down and may make your
lawnmower difcult to start. If during the
colder months you have not mowed in a
while, you should drain the remaining fuel
and replace with fresh unleaded.
Removethefuelcap,thenreleasethespring
clip on the black hose leading into the fuel
lter and then disconnect the hose ensuring
you squeeze it together rmly. Then release
your grip on the hose to allow the fuel to
drain out into an appropriate container.

12 Gardener’s Choice Premium Cut User Guide
5. Blades and cutting system.
Extremecareshouldbetakenwithblades.
Ensurethemowerisoffandthesparkplug
lead disconnected from the spark plug, to
prevent accidental ignition.
Removethecatcherandsetthecutting
height lever to the highest level, and then
holduptherearapinordertoinspectyour
blades. Check every few months to make
sure they are not damaged, loose, or overly
worn. If loose, tighten, but not over-tighten,
the nuts and bolts.
If you are planning to change the blades
yourself, use thick work gloves and take
extremecareatalltimes.Afullrangeof
partsisavailablefromyourAuthorised
Gardener’s Choice Dealer.
Technical specications.
Model number GCS400
Petrol engine 4.0hp(2.75kW)OHV4stroke
Enginespeed 3,000rpm
Enginepower 2.35kW@3,000rpm
Spark plug NGKBPR6ES
Engineoil SAE30–600ml
Chassis Heavy duty steel
Cutting width 46cm
Adjustablecuttingheights 10
Grass collection capacity 50 litres
Noise level 75dB(A)
Weight (including catcher) 36kg

Gardener’s Choice Premium Cut User Guide 13
Fast trouble shooting
Often,adepleted,loose,ordirtysparkplugisresponsibleforamowernotbeingable
tostart,buttherecanbeanumberofotherreasons.Referbelowtothelistofpotential
problems you may encounter, along with suggested remedies. For servicing and all
warrantywork,contactyourlocalAuthorisedGardener’sChoiceDealer.
Problem Likely cause Suggested remedy
Enginedoes
not start.
Throttle lever not set properly
Out,oralmostout,offuel
Spark plug depleted
Spark plug dirty
Spark plug not connected
Flooded engine
Oldpetrolinthetank
Water in the fuel tank
Set to ‘Cold Start’ for cold or a little lower when warm
Fill tank with unleaded petrol
Replacewithasuitablenewsparkplug
Clean or replace with a new spark plug
Press rmly on the terminal cover
Turn fuel ‘off’ then zip until it starts, then turn ‘on’
Drain stale fuel and replace with new unleaded
Contact an authorised Gardener’s Choice dealer
Enginestops
often
Blockedfuelsupply
Fuel cap is not venting
Wrong type of fuel
Ensurethefuellineisnotpinchedorblocked
You may need to slightly loosen the fuel cap
Drain petrol tank and ll with new unleaded
Engineloses
power
Dirty air cleaner lter
Incorrect height adjustment
Blockedfuelcapventholes
Clean or replace with a new Gardener’s Choice air-lter
Raisethemower’scuttingheightlever
Ensurethe3holesinthefueltankcapareclear
Mower
vibrates
too much
Loose cutting blade
Bentorbrokendisc/blades
Excessivegrass/dirtbuild-up
Check and tighten bolts and nuts
Replacediscorblades
Clean and ensure underside clear of build up
Poor cutting
catching
Discorbladesworn/damaged
Catcher not tted correctly
Incorrect cutting height set
Blockedgrasscatchervents
Replacediscorblades
Reattachcarefullyandalsocheckfordamage
Adjustthecuttingheight
Clear and clean the vents

14 Gardener’s Choice Premium Cut User Guide
Mower features.
1 Handle assembly 7 Petrol cap
2 Throttle control lever 8 Height adjustment lever
3Warning labels 9 Petrol tap
4 Grass catcher 10 Oilller
5 Handle tightening knob 11 Spark plug cap
6Grassdischargeap
8
10
5
11
9
4
1
2
7
6
3

Gardener’s Choice Premium Cut User Guide 15
Warranty conditions
Pleasenotethatyourwarrantyisaffectedbytermsandconditions.Readontofully
understand what is covered by the warranty and what is not covered. Those items not
covered by the warranty are the responsibility of the owner and any repairs will be at
theowner’sexpense.
The warranty does not affect your statutory rights or remedies as outlined in applicable
consumer legislation.
Gardener’sChoiceprovidesanexpresswarrantyforthisproductforaperiodof2
yearsfromyouroriginalpurchasedatewiththeexceptionofcommercial-usewhichis
for a period of 90 days. The warranty is not transferable and is only applicable to the
original purchaser that can provide original proof of purchase.
DefectivepartswillbereplacedorrepairedbyanAuthorisedGardener’sChoiceDealer
withoutchargeforlabourormaterials,subjecttoconditions.Repairsoradjustments
required by failure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions are chargeable to the
owner.
Thisexpresswarrantydoesnotcover;
 • Intentionalorunintentionalmisuse,abuseorbreakages
 • Normalwearandtear
 • Oiledaircleanerorstartingdifcultycausedbymowerincorrectlytippedonits
side
 • Consumableitems(includingoil,bladesandsparkplugs)
 • Defectsorfaultscausedbyanactoromissionafterleavingmanufacture
 • Incorrect,contaminatedorpoorqualityfuel(olderthan3months)oroil
 • Incorrectmaintenanceorstorageoftheproduct
 • Waterdamageorenvironmentalconditions
 • Failuretoobservesafetyrequirements
 • Anylossordamagearisingfromfaultypartsorworkmanship
The warranty will become void if any unauthorised person dismantles, repairs, or
modies the product.
To claim warranty, please
  • CalltheGardener’sChoiceCustomerServiceDeskon1800466068

© KMART AUSTRALIA LTD 2009
GARDENER’S CHOICE AND THE GARDENER’S CHOICE LOGO ARE TRADE MARKS OF
KMART AUSTRALIA LTD. THEY ARE USED IN NEW ZEALAND BY COLES GROUP NEW ZEALAND
HOLDINGS TRADING AS KMART NEW ZEALAND.
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KMART NEW ZEALAND REGIONAL OFFICE C/O KMART PAPATOETOE STORE HUNTERS PLAZA
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CALL THE GARDENER’S CHOICE CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK ON 1800 466 068
EMAIL: [email protected]