Mtd 54m series User manual

Safety • Assembly • Operation • Tips &Techniques • Maintenance • Troubleshooting • Parts Lists • Warranty

OF AOAL

21=inch Rotary Lawn Mower- Model 54M

iMPORTANT

READ SAFETY RULES AND iNSTRUCTiONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION

Warning: Thisunitisequippedwithan internalcombustionengineandshouldnotbeusedon or nearanyuniiprovedforest-covered,brush-

coveredor grass-coveredlandunlesstheengine'sexhaustsystemisequippedwitha sparkarrestermeetingapplicablelocalor statelaws(if any).

If a sparkarresterisused,it shouldbemaintainedineffectiveworkingorderbytheoperator.IntheStateofCaliforniatheaboveisrequiredbylaw

(Section4442oftheCaliforniaPublicResourcesCode).Otherstatesmayhavesimilarlaws.Federallawsapplyonfederallands.A sparkarrester

forthemufflerisavailablethroughyournearestengineauthorizedservicedealeror contacttheservicedepartment,RO.Box361131Cleveland,

Ohio44136-0019.

PRINTEDIN U.S.A MTD LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019 FORMNO.769-02396A

9/29/2006

This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new lawn mower, it will help you assemble,

prepare and maintain the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.

Table of Contents

Slope Gauge ........................................................ 3

Safe Operation Practices ................................... 4

Setup and Adjustment ....................................... 6

Operating Your Lawn Mower .............................. 8

Maintaining Your Lawn Mower ......................... 10

Trouble Shooting .............................................. 12

Safety Labels .................................................... 13

Engine Appendix .............................................. 14

Engine Safe Operation Practices ................. 14

Operating Your Engine .................................. 16

Maintaining Your Engine ............................... 18

Parts List ........................................................... 22

Warranty ............................................. Back Cover

MTDLLCreservestherighttochangeproductspecifications,designs,andequipmentwithoutnoticeandwithoutincurringobligation.

Finding and Recording Model Number

BEFOREYOUBEGINTOASSEMBLEYOURNEW

EQUIPMENT,pleaselocatethe modelplateon the

equipmentandcopythe informationto thesample

modelplateprovidedto the right.Youcan locatethe

modelplatebystandingat theoperatingpositionand

lookingdownatthe rearofthe deck.Thisinformation

willbe necessaryto usethe manufacturer'sweb

site,to obtainassistancefromthe CustomerSup-

portDepartment,or whencontactingan authorized

servicedealer.

Model Number Serial Number

MTD LLC

P.O= BOX 361131

CLEVELAND, OH 44136

330-220-4683

www.mtdproducts.com 800-800-7310

Customer Support

Please do NOTreturn the unit to the retailer from which it was

purchased, without first contacting Customer Support.

Ifyou havedifficultyassemblingthisproductor haveanyquestionsregardingthe controls,operation,or

maintenanceof this unit,you canseek helpfromtheexperts.Choosefromthe optionsbelow:

= Visitwww.mtdproducts.com

• Calla CustomerSupportRepresentativeat 1-800-800-7310.

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WARNING

Thissymbolpoints

out importantsafety

instructionswhich,if

notfollowed,could

endangerthe personal

i safetyand/or property

I ofyourselfand others.

Readandfollowall

instructionsinthis

manualbeforeat-

temptingto operate

i this machine.Failure

I to complywith these

instructionsmay result

i in personalinjury.When

youseethis symbol.

i HEED ITS WARNING!

i Your Responsibility

Restrictthe use

ofthis powermachine

to personswho read.

i understand

andfollow thewarnings

and instructions

I. =nthis manual

and onthe machine.

WARNING: EngineExhaust,some of its constituents,and certain vehiclecompo-

nentscontain or emit chemicals knownto Stateof Californiato cause cancerand

birth defectsor other reproductiveharm.

DANGER: This machine was builtto be operatedaccordingto the rulesfor safe operation in this

manual.As with anytype of powerequipment,carelessnessor erroronthe part ofthe operator

can resultin serious injury.This machineis capable of amputatinghandsand feet and throwing

objects. Failureto observethe following safety instructionscouldresult in seriousinjury or death.

Children

Tragicaccidentscanoccurifoperatorisnotalertto presence

ofchildren.Childrenareoftenattractedtomowerand mowing

activity.Theydonot understandthe dangers.Neverassume

thatchildrenwill remainwhereyoulastsawthem.

1. Keepchildrenoutofthe mowingareaand underwatchful

careofa responsibleadultotherthanthe operator.

2. Bealertandturnmoweroffif achildentersthearea.

3. Beforeand whilemovingbackwards,lookbehindanddown

forsmallchildren.

4. Useextremecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,

doorways,shrubs,trees,or otherobjectsthatmayobscure

yourvisionofachildwhomayrunintothe mower.

5. Keepchildrenawayfromhotor runningengines.Theycan

sufferburnsfroma hotmuffler.

6. Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsoldto operateapower

mower.Children14yearsoldandovershouldreadand

understandoperationinstructionsandsafetyrulesinthis

manualandshouldbetrainedandsupervisedbyaparent.

General Operation

1. Readthis operator'smanualcarefullyin its entiretybefore

attemptingtoassemblethismachine.Read,understand,

andfollowall instructionsonthe machineandin the

manual(s)beforeoperation.Becompletelyfamiliarwith

thecontrolsandthe properuseofthis machinebefore

operatingit. Keepthis manualin a safeplaceforfuture

andregularreferenceandfor orderingreplacementparts.

2. Thismachineisaprecisionpieceof powerequipment,

nota plaything.Therefore,exerciseextremecautionat all

times.Yourunithas beendesignedto performonejob: to

mowgrass.Do notuseit for anyotherpurpose.

3. Neverallow childrenunder 14yearsoldto operatethis

machine.Children14yearsoldand overshouldreadand

understandthe instructionsinthis manualandshould

betrainedand supervisedbya parent.Onlyresponsible

individualswhoarefamiliarwiththeserulesofsafe

operationshouldbeallowedto usethismachine.

4. Thoroughlyinspectthe areawherethe equipmentisto

beused.Removeall stones,sticks,wire,bones,toys

andotherforeignobjects,whichcouldbetrippedoveror

pickedupandthrownbythe blade.Thrownobjects can

causeseriouspersonalinjury.Planyourmowingpattern

toavoiddischargeofmaterialtowardroads,sidewalks,

bystandersandthe like.Also,avoiddischargingmaterial

againsta wallor obstruction,whichmaycausedischarged

materialto ricochetbacktowardthe operator.

5. Tohelpavoidbladecontactorathrownobjectinjury,

stayinoperatorzonebehindhandlesandkeepchildren,

bystanders,helpersandpetsatleast75feetfrom mower

whileit is inoperation.Stopmachineifanyoneenters

area.

6. Alwayswearsafetyglassesor safetygogglesduringopera-

tionandwhile performinganadjustmentor repairtoprotect

youreyes.Thrownobjectswhich ricochetcancauseserious

injurytothe eyes.

7. Wearsturdy,rough-soledworkshoesand close-fitting

slacksandshirts. Shirtsandpantsthatcoverthe armsand

legsandsteel-toedshoesarerecommended.Neveroperate

this machinein barefeet,sandals,slipperyor light-weight

(e.g.canvas)shoes.

8. Do notputhandsorfeet nearrotatingpartsor undercutting

deck.Contactwithbladecanamputatehandsandfeet.

9. Amissingor damageddischargecovercancauseblade

contactor thrownobject injuries.

10.Manyinjuriesoccurasa resultofthe mowerbeingpulled

overthefoot duringa fall causedby slippingor tripping.

Do notholdontothe mowerifyouare falling;releasethe

handleimmediately.

11.Neverpullthe mowerbacktowardyouwhileyouare

walking.If youmust backthe mowerawayfroma wallor

obstructionfirstlookdownand behindtoavoidtrippingand

thenfollowthesesteps:

a. Stepbackfrommowertofully extendyourarms.

b. Besureyouarewellbalancedwithsurefooting.

c. Pullthe mowerbackslowly,no morethanhalfway

towardyou.

d. Repeatthesestepsas needed.

12.Do notoperatethe mowerwhileunderthe influenceof

alcoholordrugs.

13.Do notengagetheself-propelledmechanismon unitsso

equippedwhilestartingengine.

14.Thebladecontrolhandleisasafetydevice.Neverattempt

tobypassitsoperation.Doingso makesthe safetydevice

inoperativeandmayresult in personalinjurythrough

contactwiththe rotatingblade.Thebladecontrolhandle

mustoperateeasily in bothdirectionsandautomatically

returntothe disengagedpositionwhenreleased.

15.Neveroperatethe mowerinwetgrass.Alwaysbesureof

yourfooting. A slipand fall cancauseseriouspersonal

injury.If youfeelyouarelosingyourfooting,releasethe

bladecontrolhandleimmediatelyand the bladewillstop

rotatingwithinthreeseconds.

16.Mowonlyin daylightor goodartificiallight.Walk,neverrun.

17.Stopthe bladewhencrossinggraveldrives,walksor roads.

18.If the equipmentshouldstartto vibrateabnormally,stopthe

engineand checkimmediatelyfor the cause.Vibrationis

generallya warningoftrouble.

19.Shutthe engineoffandwaituntilthe bladecomestoa

completestopbeforeremovingthe grasscatcherorunclog-

gingthe chute.

Thecuttingbladecontinuesto rotatefora few secondsafter

the engineisshutoff. Neverplaceany partofthe body in

the bladeareauntilyouaresurethe bladehasstopped

rotating.

20.Neveroperatemowerwithoutpropertrailshield,discharge

cover,grasscatcher,bladecontrolhandleorothersafety

protectivedevicesin placeand working.Neveroperate

mowerwith damagedsafetydevices.Failureto doso can

resultin personalinjury.

21.Mufflerandenginebecomehotandcancausea burn.Do

nottouch.

22.Only usepartsandaccessoriesmadeforthis machineby

manufacturer.Failuretodoso can resultin personalinjury.

23. Ifsituationsoccurwhicharenotcoveredinthis manual,

usecareand goodjudgment.Contactyourdealerfor

assistance.

Slope Operation

Slopesare amajorfactorrelatedtoslip andfall accidents,which

canresultinsevereinjury.Operationonslopesrequiresextra

caution.If youfeeluneasyona slope,do notmowit. Foryour

safety,usetheslopegaugeincludedaspartofthis manualto

measureslopesbeforeoperatingthis uniton aslopedorhilly

area.Ifthe slopeisgreaterthan15degrees,donotmowit.

Do:

1. Mowacrossthefaceofslopes;neverupand down.Exercise

extremecautionwhenchangingdirectiononslopes.

2. Watchfor holes,ruts,rocks,hiddenobjects,or bumps

whichcancauseyouto slipor trip. Tallgrasscan hide

obstacles.

3. Alwaysbesureofyourfooting.A slipandfallcan cause

seriouspersonalinjury.Ifyoufeel youarelosingyour

balance,releasethe bladecontrolhandleimmediately,and

the bladewill stoprotatingwithin3 seconds.

Do Not:

1. Do notmowneardrop-offs,ditchesor embankments,you

could loseyourfootingor balance.

2. Do notmowslopesgreaterthan 15degreesas shownon

the slopegauge.

3. Do notmowonwet grass.Unstablefootingcouldcause

slipping. Service

Safe Handling Of Gasoline:

1. Toavoidpersonalinjuryor propertydamageuseextreme

carein handlinggasoline.Gasolineisextremelyflammable

and thevaporsareexplosive.Seriouspersonalinjury can

occurwhengasolineisspilledonyourselfor your clothes,

which canignite.Washyourskin andchangeclothes

immediately.

2. Use onlyan approvedgasolinecontainer.

3. Neverfillcontainersinsideavehicleor ona truckortrailer

bedwitha plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainersonthe

groundawayfromyourvehiclebeforefilling.

4. Removegas-poweredequipmentfromthe truckor trailer

and refueliton theground.If thisisnot possible,thenrefuel

suchequipmenton atrailer withaportablecontainer,rather

thanfroma gasolinedispensernozzle.

5. Keepthe nozzlein contactwiththe rimofthe fueltankor

containeropeningatall timesuntilfuelingiscomplete.Do

not usea nozzlelock-opendevice.

6. Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipesandothersources

ofignition.

7. Neverfuel machineindoorbecauseflammablevaporswill

accumulatein thearea.

8. Neverremovegascap oradd fuelwhileengineishot or

running. Allowengineto coolatleasttwo minutesbefore

refueling.

9. Neveroverfillfueltank. Filltankto nomorethanY2inch

belowbottomoffiller neckto provideforfuelexpansion.

10.Replacegasolinecapandtightensecurely.

11.If gasolineis spilled,wipe itoff theengineand equipment.

Moveunittoanotherarea.Wait5minutesbeforestarting

engine.

12.Neverstorethe machineorfuel containernearanopen

flame,sparkor pilotlightas ona waterheater,space

heater,furnace,clothesdryeror othergasappliances.

13.Toreducefire hazard,keepmowerfreeofgrass,leaves,

orother debrisbuild-up.Cleanupoil orfuelspillageand

removeanyfuel soakeddebris.

14.Allowamowertocoolat least5 minutesbeforestoring.

GeneralService:

1. Neverrun anengineindoorsorin a poorlyventilatedarea.

Engineexhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,anodorless

anddeadlygas.

2. Beforecleaning,repairing,or inspecting,makecertainthe

bladeandall movingpartshavestopped.Disconnectthe

sparkplugwireandgroundagainstthe engineto prevent

unintendedstarting.

3. Checkthe bladeandenginemountingboltsatfrequent

intervalsfor propertightness.Also,visuallyinspectblade

fordamage(e.g.,bent,cracked,worn)Replacebladewith

theoriginalequipmentmanufacture's(O.E.M.)bladeonly,

listedin thismanual."Useof partswhichdo notmeetthe

originalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto improper

performanceand compromisesafety!"

4. Mowerbladesaresharpandcancut.Wrapthebladeor

weargloves,anduseextracautionwhenservicingthem.

5. Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstightto besurethe equip-

mentis insafeworkingcondition.

6. Nevertamperwithsafetydevices.Checktheirproper

operationregularly.

7. Afterstrikingaforeignobject,stopthe engine,discon-

nectthesparkplugwireandgroundagainsttheengine.

Thoroughlyinspectthe mowerfor anydamage.Repairthe

damagebeforestartingandoperatingthe mower.

8. Neverattemptto makea wheelor cuttingheightadjust-

mentwhilethe engineisrunning.

9. Grasscatchercomponents,dischargecover,andtrail

shieldaresubjecttowear anddamagewhichcould

exposemovingpartsor allowobjectstobethrown.For

safetyprotection,frequentlycheckcomponentsand re-

placeimmediatelywithoriginalequipmentmanufacturer's

(O.E.M.)partsonly,listedin thismanual."Useofparts

whichdo notmeetthe originalequipmentspecifications

mayleadtoimproperperformanceand compromise

safety!"

10.Do notchangetheenginegovernorsettingor over-revthe

engine.Thegovernorcontrolsthe maximumsafeoperating

speedoftheengine.

11.Maintainor replacesafetylabels,asnecessary.

12.Observeproperdisposallawsandregulations.Improper

disposaloffluidsandmaterialscanharmtheenvironment.

Practices

WARNING

This symbol points

out importantsafety

instructions,which if

notfollowed,could

endangerthe personal

safety and/or property

of yourselfand others.

Readand followall

instructions inthis man-

ual beforeattemptingto

operatethis machine.

Failureto comply with

these instructionsmay

result in personalinjury.

Whenyousee this

symbol.

HEED iT'S WARNING!

Your Responsibility

Restrictthe use

of this powermachine

to personswho read.

understand

and followthe warnings

and instructions

in this manua

and onthe machine.

NOTE:ThisOperator's

Manualcoversseveral

models.LawnMower

featuresvaryby

model.Notallfeatures

discussed(orengines

pictured)inthis manual

are applicableto all

LawnMowermodels.

NOTE: Stand behind

themoweras ifyou

were goingto operate

it. Yourrighthand cor-

respondstothe right

sideof the mower;your

left handcorresponds

tothe leftside ofthe

i mower.

NOTE: Makesureto

route cable outsidethe

I lower handle. Do not

i crimpcable while lifting

i the handle up.

IMPORTANT

This unitis shipped

I without gasolineor

oil in the engine.Fill

Lpgasolineand oil

as instructedinthe

accompanyingengine

manual BEFORE

operatingyour mower.

i _ 1. Removeanypackingmaterial.Thefirststepin

,._ ..J

Figure3-1:Attachwheels.

Figure3-2:Unfoldhandleandtightenhardware.

assemblyistoattachthe rearwheels.

a. Placerearof themowerdeckon raisedblocks.

b. Removelocknutandwasher(ifequipped)from

pivotarmassembly,Figure3-1.(On selectmodels,

thesemaybe includedseparatelyin a plasticbag).

c. Slidewasher(ifequipped)followedbythewheel

(bothwithhollowsidein)ontopivotarm.See

Figure3-1.

d. Securewithlock nutremovedearlier.

e. Assembletheothersideinthe samemanner.

Removeblocksand lowerdeckwhencomplete.

2. Followthestepsbelowto setupthehandle.

a. Pullupand backon upperhandleasshownin

Figure3-2.Makecertainthelowerhandleis

seatedsecurelyintothehandlemountingbrackets.

Donotcrimpcablewhileliftingthehandleup.

b. Tightenstarknobstosecureupperhandleto

lowerhandle.Makesurethateachcarriageboltis

seatedproperlyin thehandle.

3. Locatethehairpinclipon theweldpinon eachsideof

lowerhandle.

HardwarePack

Wing Nuts(2)

Figure3-3:Securelowerhandleto mountingbrackets.

Removehairpinclipfromthis hole.Usinga pair

ofpliers,inserthairpinclipintotheholeon pin

closesttothebracket.SeeFigure3-3.Repeaton

otherside.

b. Inserta carriageboltfromthehardwarepackinto

theupperholeonthehandlemountingbracket.

Securewithone plasticwingnut,alsoincludedin

thehardwarepack.Repeaton otherside.

4. Theropeguideisattachedtotherightsideofthe

upperhandle.SeeFigure3-4.Loosenthewingnut

whichsecurestheropeguide.

a. Holdbladecontrolagainstupperhandle.

b. Pullstarterropeoutoftheengine.Releaseblade

control.

Figure 3-4: Pull recoil starter through rope guide and tighten.

c. Slip starterropeintoropeguide.

d. Tightenwingnut.

5. Tosecurecablestothehandle,insertpostsoncable

ties intoholesprovidedon thelowerhandle.Pullcable

ties tightandtrimexcess.

6. Followstepsbelowtoassemblethegrasscatcher.

Makecertainbagisturnedrightsideoutbefore

assembling(warninglabelwillbe ontheoutside)

a. Placebagoverframesothat itsblackplasticside

is atthebottom.

b. Slip plasticchannelofgrassbagoverhooksonthe

frame,Figure3-5.All theplasticchannelsexcept

centertopofbagattachfromoutsideofbag.

c. Attachcentertopofbagfrominsideofbag.

7. Followthestepsbelowtoattachthegrasscatcher:

a. Liftreardischargedoor.SeeFigure3-6.

b. Placegrasscatcheron thepivotrod.Letgo

ofdischargedoorsothat itrestson thegrass

catcher.

_l_j_ll WARNING:Neveroperate mower unless the

hookson the grasscatcherare firmly seated

on the pivotrod and the rear discharge door rests

firmly against top of thegrass catcher.

8. Yourmowerisshippedasa mulcher.Toconvertto

sidedischarge,makesuregrasscatcherisoff ofthe

unitandreardischargedoorisclosed.

a. On thesideofthemower liftthemulchingplug

See Figure3-7below.

b. Slidetwohooksofsidedischargechuteunder

hingepinon mulchingplugassembly.Lowerthe

mulchingplug.Donotremovesidemulchingplug

atanytime,evenwhenyouare notmulching.

Figure3-5:Assemblethe grasscatcher.

Figure3-6:Attachthegrasscatcher.

Figure3-7:Liftmulchplugandinstallsidedischargechute.

Adjustments

An adjustingplateandthumbleverateachwheel

providescuttingheightadjustment.

1. Depresslevertowardswheel.

2. Moveittoanyone ofthepositionsfordesiredcutting

height.SeeFigure3-8.Makesurethateachwheelis

positionedatthesameheight.

3. Releaselevertowardsmowerdeck. Figure3-8:Useleverstoadjustcuttingheight.

WARNING

Never operate mower

w thoutthemu ch ng

plug, thegrass catcher,

or the discharge chute

properly installed,

NOTE:When adjusting

the cutting height,

al wheelsmust be

positionedatthe same

height.

You r LaWn

Mower

WARNING

This blade control

mechanism isasafety

device. Donot bypass

itsoperations,

Use extremecare

when handling

gasoline.Gasoline is

extremely flammable

and the vapors are

explosive. Never fuel

the machine indoors

or while the engine

is hot or running.

Extinguish cigarettes,

cigars, pipes, and

other sources of

ignition.

Know Your Lawn Mower

Y_ Blade Control

ChokeKnob

Recoil Starter

MulchingPlug

Figure4-1:Themajorcomponentsonthe mower.

Fill Cutting Height

AdjustmentLevers

(one at eachwheel)

Nowthatyouhavesetupyourlawnmowerforoperation,

it'simportantto becomefamiliarwithitscontrols.

Blade Control

Thebladecontrolisattachedtotheupperhandle.

Depressandsqueezeit againsttheupperhandleto

operatetheunit.Releaseittostopengineandblade.

_lL ARNING:Thisblade controlisasafety

device. Donot bypass itsoperations.

Cutting Height Adjustment Levers

Oneadjustmentleveris locatedateachwheelandis

usedtoadjustthecuttingheight.All fourwheelsmustbe

positionedatthesameheighttoensurea uniformcut.

Recoil Starter

Therecoilstarterisattachedtotherightupperhandle.

Standbehindtheunitand pullthe recoilstarterto start

theunit.

Choke Knob

Pullthechokeknobtoactivatethechokeontheengine.

Useofthechokemaynotbe necessaryiftheengineis

warmor theair temperatureishigh.

Mulching Plug

Themulchingplugisusedformulchingpurpose.Instead

ofcollectingthegrassclippingsinthegrasscatcher,your

mowerhastheoptionofrecirculatingtheclippingsback

tothelawn.Makesurethatthereardischargedooris

closedandthegrasscatcherisremovedfromunitwhile

mulching.

Gas and Oil Fill-Up

Referto the enginesection inthis manualfor engine

information.

1. Addoil providedbeforestartingunitforthefirsttime

outofthebox.

2. Servicetheenginewithgasolineasinstructedinthe

enginesectionofthismanual.

,_ WARNING:Useextremecarewhen handling

gasoline. Gasolineisextremelyflammable

and thevapors are explosive.Neverfuel the machine

indoorsor while the engine ishot or running. Extin-

guish cigarettes, cigars, pipesand other sources of

ignition.

_ WARNING:Theoperationof anylawn

mowercan result inforeign objectsbeing

thrownintothe eyes,whichcandamageyoureyes

severely.Nways wearsafetyglasseswhileoperating

the mower,or whileperforminganyadjustmentsor

repairson it.

Starting Engine

,_ WARNING:Besureno one otherthan theoperatorisstandingnear the lawnmower

whilestartingengineor operatingmower.

Neverrunengine indoorsor inenclosed, poorly

ventilatedareas.Engineexhaustcontainscarbon

monoxide,an odorless and deadly gas.Keephands,

feet, hairand looseclothing awayfrom any moving

partson engineand lawnmower.

1. Pulloutthechokeknoblocatedontheleft sideofthe

upperhandle.SeeFigure4-2.

Note: Useof the choke may not be necessary if the

engine iswarm ortheairtemperatureishigh.

2. Standingbehindthemower,squeezeandholdthe

bladecontrolagainstupperhandle.

3. Pulltherecoilstarterlightlyuntilresistanceisfelt,

thenpull rapidlytoovercomecompression,prevent

kickback,and starttheengine.Repeatif necessary.

SeeFigure4-2.

Important: Donot allow the recoil starterto snap

back against the ropeguide.

4. Whenenginewarmsup,pushinthechokeknob.

Stopping Engine

1. Releasebladecontroltostoptheengineandthe

blade.

2. Disconnectsparkplugwirefromsparkplugand

groundagainsttheengine.

,_ WARNING:Waitfor the blade to stop

completelybefore performinganyworkon

the moweror to removethe grass catcher.

Using Your Lawn Mower

Besurethelawnisclearofstones,sticks,wire,orother

objectswhichcoulddamagethelawnmoweror the

engine.Suchobjectscouldbe accidentlythrownbythe

mowerinanydirectionand causeseriouspersonalinjury

totheoperatorandothers.

_ WARNING:Ifyoustrikea foreign object,stopthe engine.Removesparkplugboot

from thesparkplug,thoroughly inspect

the mowerfor anydamage,and repairthe damage

before restartingand operating the mower.Exten-

sivevibration of themower during operation isan

indicationof damage.The unit shouldbe promptly

inspectedand repaired.

Figure4-2:Startingthe mower.

Oncetheengineisrunning,squeezeandholdblade

controlagainstupperhandletoengagetheblade.For

bestresults,do notcutwet grassandnevercutoff

morethanone-thirdofthetotal lengthof thegrass.

Using as a Mulcher

Formulchinggrass,removethegrasscatcher(or side

chutedeflector)fromthemowerandlowerthemulching

baffle.

Using the Grass Catcher

Youcanusethegrasscatchertocollectclippingswhile

youareoperatingthemower.

1. Attachgrasscatcherfollowinginstructionsinsetup

section.Grassclippingswillautomaticallycollectin

bagasyourunmower.Operatemowertillgrassbag

isfull.

2. Stopenginecompletelybyreleasingthebladecontrol.

Makesurethattheunithascometoa completestop.

3. Liftdischargedoorandpullgrassbagupandaway

fromthemowertoremovethebag.Disposeofthe

grassclippingsand reinstallthebagwhencomplete

Operating Tips

•Newgrass,thickgrass,orwet grassmayrequirea

narrowercut.

Foreffectivemulching,donotcutwetgrass.

Adjustgroundspeedaccordingto conditionof lawn.

Ifthegrasshasbeenallowedtogrowinexcessof

fourinches,mulchingisnotrecommended.Mow

usingthesidedischargetoreducethegrassheightto

3-1/4inchesor lessbeforemulching.

WARNING

The operation of any

lawn mower can re-

sult in foreign objects

being thrown into

the eyes, which can

damage your eyes

severely.Alwayswear

safety glasseswhile

operating the mower,

or while performing

anyadjustments or

repairs on it.

Be sure no one other

than the operator is

standing near the

lawn mower while

starting engine or op-

erating mower. Never

run engine indoorsor

in enclosed, poorly

ventilated areas. En-

gineexhaust contains

carbon monoxide, an

ododess and deadly

gas. Keep hands,

feet, hair and loose

clothing away from

any moving parts

on engine and lawn

mower.

Your LaWn

MoWer

IMPORTANT: Do not

use a pressurewasher

orgarden hoseto

cleanyour uniLThese

maycausedamageto

electric components

spindleslpulleys; bear:

ings orthe engine The

Useof waterWillresult

in Shortenedlifeand

reduceSerViceabilityl

Lubrication

1. Lubricatepivotpointson thebladecontrolatleast

oncea seasonwithlightoil.Thebladecontrolmust

operatefreelyinbothdirections.SeeFigure5-1.

2. Lubricatethewheelsatleastoncea seasonwith

lightoil (ormotoroil). If wheelsareremovedforany

reason,lubricatesurfaceofthepivotarmandinner

surfaceof thewheelwithlightoil.SeeFigure5-1.

3. Lubricatethetorsionspringandpivotpointontherear

dischargedoorandsidemulchplugperiodicallywith

lightoil topreventrust.SeeFigure5-1.

Figure5-1:Areasto lubricateonmower.

Deck Care

Cleanundersideofthe mowerdeckaftereachuseto

preventbuild-upofgrassclippingsorotherdebris.Follow

stepsbelowforthisjob.

1. Disconnectsparkplugwire.Draingasolinefromlawn

mowerorplacea pieceof plasticunderthegascap.

2. Tipmowersothat itrestsonthe housing.Keepthe

sidewiththeair cleanerfacingup.Holdmowerfirmly.

Figure5-2:Removerearflap.

General Recommendations

• Alwaysobservesafetyruleswhenperforming

anymaintenance.

• Thewarrantyon thislawnmowerdoesnotcover

itemsthathavebeensubjectedtooperatorabuse

ornegligence.Toreceivefullvaluefromwarranty,

operatormustmaintainthelawnmoweras

instructedhere.

• Changingofengine-governedspeedwillvoid

enginewarranty.

• Alladjustmentsshouldbecheckedat leastonce

eachseason.

Periodicallycheckallfastenersand makesurethese

aretight.

_ARNING:Nevertip the mower morethan go°

inanydirection and do not leavethe mower

tipped for any length of time. Oil can drain intothe

upper partof the engine causing a starting problem.

3. Scrapeand cleantheundersideofthedeckwitha

suitabletool.Donotspraywithwater.

4. Putthemowerbackonits wheelsontheground.If

youhad putplasticunderthegascapearlier,make

sureto removeitnow.

Engine Care

NOTE:Refertotheengineoperationandmaintenance

sectionsinthis manualfordetailedinstructions.

Maintainoil level.

Serviceaircleanerevery25 hoursundernormal

conditions.Cleaneveryfewhoursunderextremely

dustyconditions.

Cleansparkplugand resetthegaponcea season.

Cleanengineregularlywitha clothorbrush.Keepthe

coolingsystem(blowerhousingarea)cleantopermit

properaircirculation.Removeall grass,dirt, and

combustibledebrisfrommufflerarea.

Replacing Rear Flap

1. Toremoverearflap,lift reardoor,and pressflapinon

eithersideto removefromhole.SeeFigure5-2.

2. Removeflapfromoppositeholeand replacewithnew

flapintheoppositeorderandmannerof removal.

,_ WARNING:Alwaysstop engine,disconnect

sparkplug, and groundagainst engine

before performing anytype of maintenanceon your

machine.

_, ARNING:Whenremovingthe cuttingblade

for sharpening or replacement, protectyour

hands with a pairof heavy gloves or usea heavyrag

to hold the blade.

Periodicallyinspectthebladeadapterforcracks,

especiallyif youstrikea foreignobject.Replacewhen

necessary.Followthe stepsbelowforbladeservice.

1. Disconnectsparkplugwirefromsparkplug.Turn

moweron itssidemakingsurethattheairfilterand

thecarburetorarefacingup.

2. Removetheboltandthe bladebellsupportwhich

holdthebladeand thebladeadaptertotheengine

crankshaft.See Figure5-3.

3. Removebladeandadapterfromthecrankshaft.See

Figure5-3.

4. Removebladefromtheadapterfortestingbalance.

Balancethebladeona roundshaftscrewdriverto

check.Removemetalfromtheheavysideuntilit

balancesevenly.

Whensharpeningtheblade,followtheoriginalangle

ofgrind.Grindeachcuttingedgeequallyto keepthe

bladebalanced.

_ARNING:Anunbalanced bladewill cause

excessivevibration whenrotating at high

speeds. It may cause damageto mowerand could

break causing personalinjury.

5. Lubricatetheenginecrankshaftandtheinnersurface

ofthebladeadapterwithlightoil.Slidetheblade

adapterontotheenginecrankshaft.Placetheblade

on theadaptersuchthatthesideoftheblademarked

"Bottom"(orwithpartnumber)facesthegroundwhen

themowerisin theoperatingposition.Makesurethat

thebladeisalignedandseatedonthebladeadapter

flanges.

6. Placebladebellsupportonthe blade.Alignnotches

on thebladebell supportwith smallholesinblade.

7. Replacehexboltandtightenhexboltto torque:450

in.Ibs.rain.,600 in.Ibs.max.

Toensuresafeoperationofyourmower,periodically

checkthebladeboltforcorrecttorque.

Blade Bell Support /_,_,_,Bolt

Figure5-3:Removethebolt,support,andadaptertoaccess

theblade.

Off-Season Storage

Thefollowingstepsshouldbetakento prepareyour

lawnmowerforstorage.

• Cleanandlubricatemowerthoroughlyasdescribed

inthe lubricationinstructions.

• Donotusea pressurewasherorgardenhoseto

cleanyourunit.

Coatmower'scuttingbladewithchassisgreaseto

preventrusting.

Storemowerina dry,cleanarea.Donotstorenext

tocorrosivematerials,suchas fertilizer.

Whenstoringanytypeof powerequipmentin a poorly

ventilatedor metalstorageshed,careshouldbetaken

torust-prooftheequipment.Usinga lightoil or silicone,

coattheequipment,especiallycablesandall moving

partsofyourlawnmowerbeforestorage.

Maintaining

WARNING

When removing

the cutting blade

for sharpening or

replacement, protect

your handswith apair

of heavy glovesor use

a heavy rag to hold

the blade.

An unbalanced blade

will causeexcessive

vibration when rotat-

ingat high speeds. It

may cause damage

to mower and could

break causing per-

sonal injury.

"Frouble

For repairs beyond

thembo

merits listed here,

contact anauthorized

service dealer.

Problem Cause Remedy

Engineruns erratic 1. Connectandtightensparkplug

boot.

2. Cleanfuelline;filltankwithclean,

freshgasoline.

3. Clearvent.

4. Drainfueltank.Refillwith

freshfuel.

5. Refertoenginemaintenance

section.

6.UnitrunningwithCHOKEapplied. 6. PushCHOKEknobin.

Engne overheats 1 Engneo eve Ow 1 F crankcasewth propero

I ....

- 2. Airflow restricted• 2. Removeblowerhousing

, and clean•

Occasionalskips

(hesitates)at

highspeed

1. Sparkplugbootloose.

2. Blockedfuellineor stalefuel.

3. Ventingascapplugged.

4. Wateror dirtin fuelsystem.

5. Dirtyair cleaner.

1. Sparkpluggaptooclose. 1. Adjustgapto.030".

1. Tightenbladeandadapter.

Balanceblade.

2. Seeanauthorizedservicedealer.

1. Cuttingbladelooseor unbalanced.

2. Bentcuttingblade.

Excessive

Vibration

Mowerwi Inot I 1. Wetgrass 1. Donotmowwhengrassiswet;

mulhc grass wat unt atertocut.

2. Excessivelyhighgrass. 2. Mowonceata highcuttingheight

thenmowagainatdesiredheight

or makea narrowercuttingpath.

I3 Du bade

••3. Sharpenor replaceblade.

Unevencut 1. Dullblade. 1. Sharpenor replaceblade.

WARNIN

DO NOTremovesafety

(or any)labels from

mower for any reason.

ii i _iI_ ii

NOTE: Safety labels

varyby model.Not all

labelsshown onthis

pageare applicable

to all Lawn Mower

models.

WARNING

Gasolineand itsvapors

areextremelyflam-

mableand explosive.

Fireor explosioncan

causesevereburns

ordeath.If gasolineis

spilledonyourselfor

yourclothes,washyour

I skinand changeclothes

i immediately.

i Starting enginecreates

sparking.Sparkingcan

ignitenearbyflamma-

b e gases. Explosion

and fire could result.

Unintentionalsparking

can resultin fire or

electric shock. Unin-

tentional start-up can

, result in entanglement,

traumaticamputation,

i or laceration.

WARNING: Gasoline and itsvapors are extremelyflammableand explosive.Fireor

explosioncancause severeburns ordeath. Ifgasoline isspilled onyourself oryour

clothes,wash yourskin and change clothes immediately.

Gasolineand its vaporsare

extremely flammable and

explosive.Fire or explosioncan

cause severe burns or death, if

gasoline isspilled on yourself

or yourclothes, wash your skin

and change clothes immediately.

Whenaddingfuel,turnengineOFFandletengine

coolat least2 minutesbeforeremovinggascap.

Fillfueltankoutdoorsor inwellventilatedarea.

Useonlyanapprovedgasolinecontainer.

Neverfillcontainersinsideavehicleor ona truckor

trailerbedwitha plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontain-

ersonthegroundawayfromyourvehiclebefore

filling.

• If possible,removegas-poweredequipmentfromthe

truckor trailerandrefueliton theground.Ifthis is

notpossible,thenrefuelsuchequipmentona trailer

witha portablecontainer,ratherthanfroma gasoline

dispensernozzle.

• Keepthenozzlein contactwiththerimof thefuel

tankorcontaineropeningat alltimesuntilfuelingis

complete.Donotusea nozzlelock-opendevice.

• Donotoverfillfueltank.Filltanktoapproximately

2 cmbelowlowestportionof necktoallowforfuel

expansion.

• Keepgasolineawayfromsparks,openflames,pilot

lights,heat,andotherignitionsources.

• Neverfuelequipmentindoorsbecauseflammable

vaporswillaccumulatein thearea.

• Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipes,andother

sourcesofignition.

• Checkfuelline,tank,cap,andfittingsfrequentlyfor

cracksor leaks.Replaceif necessary.

• Whenstartingengine,makesuresparkplug,muffler,

fuelcapandaircleanerarein place.

• Donotcrankenginewithsparkplugremoved.

• If fuelspills,wait untilitevaporatesbeforestarting

engine.

• Whenoperatingequipment,donottipengineor

equipmentatanglewhichcausesgasolinetospill.

• Donotchokecarburetorto stopengine.

• Whentransportingequipment,transportwithfueltank

EMPTY.

Whenstoringgasolineorequipmentwithfuelin tank,

storeawayfromfurnaces,stoves,waterheatersor

otherappliancesthathavepilotlightorotherignition

sourcebecausetheycanignitegasolinevapors.

,_ Starting engine creates spark-

ing. Sparking can ignite nearby

__ flammable gases. Explosion and

fire could result.

If thereisa naturalor LPgasleakageinarea,donot

startengine.

• Donotusepressurizedstartingfluidsbecausevapors

areflammable.

_ ngines give off carbon mon-

oxide, an odorless, colorless,

poisonous gas. Breathing carbon

monoxide can cause nausea,

fainting, or death.

Startandrunengineoutdoors.

• Donotstartor runengineinenclosedarea,evenif

doorsor windowsare open.

_ nintentional sparking can result

infire or electric shock. Unin-

tentional start-up can result in

entanglement, traumatic amputa-

tion, or laceration.

Beforepeformingadjustmentsor repairs,disconnect

sparkplugwireand keepitawayfromsparkplug.

• Whentestingforspark,useapprovedsparkplug

tester.

Donotcheckforsparkwithsparkplug removed.

Runningengineproduces heat.

Engineparts, especially muffler,

become extremely hot. Severe

thermal burns canoccur on

contact. Combustibledebris,

suchas leaves,grass, brush, etc.,

cancatchfire.

*Allowmuffler,enginecylinder,andfinstocoolbefore

touching.

.Keepchildrenawayfromhotor runningengines.They

cansufferburnsfroma hotmuffler.

Removeaccumulatedcombustiblesfrommufflerand

cylinderarea.

_ Rotating engine partscan

contactor entangle hands, feet,

hair, clothing,or accessories.

Traumaticamputation or severe

lacerationcan result.

*Operateequipmentwithguardsin place.

*Keephandsandfeetawayfromrotatingparts.

SafetyAlert

• Tieuplonghairand removejewelry.

•Donotwearloose-fittingclothing,danglingdraw-

stringsor itemsthatcouldbecomecaught.

,__ Rapid retractionof starter cord

(kickback) will pull hand and

arm toward engine faster than

you can let go. Brokenbones,

fractures, bruisesor sprains

could result.

• Whenstartingengine,pullcordslowlyuntilresis-

tanceisfelt,thenpullrapidly.

•Removeall externalequipment/engineloadsbefore

startingengine.

•Directcoupledequipmentcomponentssuchas, but

notlimitedtoblades,impellers,pulleys,sprockets,

etc.,mustbesecurelyattached.

Safety Label Location

Thislabelwarnsyouofpotentialhazardsthat can

causeseriousinjury.Readitcarefully.SeeFigure1for

explanationof symbols.

If thelabelcomesoffor becomeshardtoread,contact

thedealerforreplacement.

International Symbols and Meanings

Hot Surface ToxicFumes GasolineIs

Flammable

ReadOwner's UnleadedFuel Start Run

Manual Figure 1

WARNING

Runningengine

produces heat.Engine

parts,especially muf-

fler, become extremely

hot. Severethermal

burnscan occuron

contact.Combustible

debris,suchas leaves,

grass,brush, etc., can

catch fire.

Rotatingengineparts

can contactorentangle

hands,feet. hair.cloth-

ing,or accessories.

Traumaticamputation

orseverelaceration

can result.

Rapidretractionof

startercord (kickback)

will pull handand

armtowardengine

fasterthan you can

let go. Broken bones.

fractures, bruisesor

sprainscould result.

Know Your Engine

f"- Fuel Cap -'_

IMPORTANT:This

engineisshipped

without gasolineor oil

inthe engine. Running

the enginewith insuf-

ficientoilcan cause

seriousenginedamage

andvoid the engine

warranty.

iMPORTANT:Using

nondetergentoilor 2-

stroke engineoil could

shortenthe engine's

service life.

Be sureto checkthe

engineon a level

surface withthe engine

stopped.

Starter

Gri

Air Cleaner

Oil Fiii Cap

Oil Drain-----_

Muffler Spark Plug!%5Eng!neSh°wn t

Figure9-1:Themajorcomponentsoftheengine.Theshroudonyourenginemaydiffer.

Readthissectionbeforestartingyourlawnmowerengine.Comparetheillustrationsin Figure9-1withyourlawn

mowerenginetofamiliarizeyourselfwiththelocationofvariouscontrolsandadjustments.

Pre-Operation Check

Oil Recommendations

IMPORTANT:Thisengineis shippedwithoutgasolineor

oil intheengine.Runningtheenginewithinsufficientoil

cancauseseriousenginedamageandvoidtheengine

warranty.

•Beforestartingengine,fillwithoil. Donotover-fill.Oil

capacityisabout20oz.

Usea 4-stroke,oran equivalenthighdetergent,

premiumqualitymotoroilcertifiedtomeetorexceed

U.S.automobilemanufacturer'srequirementsforservice

classificationSG,SE MotoroilsclassifiedSG,SFwill

showthis designationon thecontainer.

SAE10W-30is recommendedforgeneral,alltem-

peratureuse.If singleviscosityoil isused,selectthe

appropriateviscosityfortheaveragetemperaturein your

areafromthecharttotheright.

20w40,

15w40,

__ 20w

m__ 20

mmlmml lil_l m3o

!0w50 _____ v

0 _ mmmm mJlml _ _ _ v

I P"

10W30_____1

(°C)-30 ° -20° -10° 0° 10° 200 300 400

("F)-20 ° 0° 200 400 600 800 1000

Ambient Temperature

1. SingleViscosity

2. MultiViscosity

iMPORTANT:Usingnondetergent oilor 2-stroke

engineoil could shortenthe engine'sservicelife.

Check Oil Level

IMPORTANT:Besuretochecktheengineona level

surfacewiththeenginestopped.

Removetheoil fillercapandwipethedipstickclean.

SeeFigure9-2.

Insertthedipstickintotheoil fillerneck,butdo not

screwitin.

ifthelevelislow,slowlyaddoil totheupperlimiton

thedipstick.

Tightendipstickfirmlybeforestartingengine.

IMPORTANT:Donotoverfill.Overfillingwithoil may

causesmoking,hardstarting,sparkplugfouling,oroil

saturationof aircleaner.

Fuel Recommendations

Useautomotivegasoline(Unleadedor Iowleadedto

minimizecombustionchamberdeposits).Neverusean

oil/gasolinemixtureor dirtygasoline.Avoidgettingdirt,

dust,or waterinthefueltank.

_ARNING:Gasolineisextremelyflam-

mableand isexplosiveunder certain

conditions.

Refuel inawell-ventilatedarea with theengine

stopped.Donot smoke or allow flames or sparks

inthe areawhere the engineisrefueledor where

gasoline isstored.

Donot overfill thefuel tank (thereshould be no fuel

inthe filler neck). After refueling, makesurethetank

cap isclosed properly and securely.

Be careful notto spillfuel when refueling. Spilled

fuel or fuel vapormayignite,if anyfuel isspilled,

makesurethe areaisdry beforestartingthe engine.

Avoid repeatedor prolongedcontact with skinor

breathing of vapor.

Check Fuel Level

1. Cleanaroundfuelfill beforeremovingcaptofuel.

2. Filltankto approximatelyoneinchbelowlowest

portionofnecktoallowforfuelexpansion.Becareful

notto overfill.

IMPORTANT:Beforerefueling,allowenginetocooltwo

minutes.

Starting The Engine

_ARNING:Alwayskeephandsand

feet clearof equipmentmovingparts.

Donot usea pressurizedstartingfluid.

Vaporsare flammable.

1. Pulloutthechokeknoblocatedontheleft sideofthe

upperhandle.SeeFigure9-3.

Figure9-2:Checkingtheoil level.

Figure9-3:Startingthe mower.(Yourmowermaydifferfrom

thatshown)

NOTE:Useofthechokemaynotbenecessaryifthe

engineiswarmor theairtemperatureishigh.

2. Standingbehindthemower,depressthebladecontrol

andholditagainsttheupperhandle.

3. Pullthe startergrip lightlyuntilresistanceisfelt,

thenpull rapidlytoovercomecompression,prevent

kickbackandstartengine.Repeatifnecessary.

IMPORTANT:Donotallowthestartergriptosnap

backagainsttheropeguide.Returnitgentlyto prevent

damagetothestarter.

4. Whenenginewarmsup,pushinthechokeknob.

Stopping The Engine

1. Releasethebladecontrol.

WARNING

Always keep hands

and feet clearof equip'

ment moving parts:Do

notuse a pressurized

starting fluid, Vapors

IMPORTANT: Donot

allowthe starter gripto

snap baCkagainstthe

enginel Returnitgently

to reventdamageto

the starter:

WARNING

Shut off the engine

beforeperforming

type ofmaintenance,

ro.roveo ,oo!doo o!

start-upidisconnect

t,e parkpboot:

Beforetipping engine

drain oil, drain fuel

from tank by running

engine untilfuel tank

is empty;

iMPORTANT:Besure

to check engineona

levelsurfaceWth the

engine stopped Drain i

the oilwhile the engine

isstillwarm to assure

rapidand complete

draining:

WARNING:Shut off theengine before

performingany maintenance.To

preventaccidental start-up, disconnect

the spark plugboot.

IMPORTANT:Ifenginemustbe tippedtotransport

equipmentorto inspector removegrass,keepspark

plugsideofengineup.Transportingor tippingengine

sparkplugdownmaycausesmoking,hardstarting,

sparkplugfouling,or oil saturationofaircleaner.

Maintenance Schedule

Periodicinspectionandadjustmentof theengineis

essentialifhighlevelperformanceisto bemaintained.

Regularmaintenancewillalsoensurea longservicelife.

Therequiredserviceintervalsandthekindofmainte-

nancetobe performedare describedin thetablebelow.

Followthehourlyor calendarintervals,whicheveroccur

first.Morefrequentserviceis requiredwhenoperatingin

adverseconditions.

Tasks

ChangeEngine

Oil

ServiceAir

Cleaner

First5 hours

ServiceSpark

Plug

CleanFinger ........

Guard

Eachuseor

every5 hours

CleanAround

Muffler

Everyseason

or 25hours Everyseason

or50 hours

Everyseason

or 100hours

Service Dates

1-Servicemorefrequentlywhenusedindustyareas.

ff Ifoperatingunderheavyloador highambienttemperature.

fOil FillCap

Drain

Figure10-1:Changingtheoil.

Oil Service

•Checkoil levelregularly.

Besurecorrectoil levelismaintained.Checkevery

fivehoursordailybeforestartingengine.Seeoil

checkingprocedureintheOperationsection.

Oil Change

IMPORTANT:Be suretocheckengineona levelsurface

withtheenginestopped.Draintheoilwhiletheengineis

stillwarmto assurerapidandcompletedraining.

Removeoilfillcapanddrainoilbyeitherremoving

drainplugor turningmoweron itsside(aircleanerside

up)andallowingoil todrainintoa suitablecontainer.

SeeFigure10-1.

WARNING:Beforetipping engineor

equipmentto drain oil, drain fuel from

tank byrunningengine until fuel tank is

empty.

2. Reinstallthedrainplug(if removed),andtightenit

securely.

3. Refillwiththe recommendedoil (seeOperation

section)andchecktheoil level.See Figure10-1.

4. Reinstalltheoilfillcapsecurely.

IMPORTANT:Usedmotoroilmaycauseskincancer

if repeatedlyleft incontactwiththeskinforprolonged

periods.Althoughthisisunlikelyunlessyouhandleused

oilon a dailybasis,itis stilladvisabletothoroughlywash

yourhandswithsoapandwaterassoonaspossible

afterhandlingusedoil.

NOTE:Pleasedisposeofusedmotoroil in a mannerthat

iscompatiblewiththeenvironment.Wesuggestyoutake

itin a sealedcontainertoyourlocalservicestationfor

reclamation.Donotthrowit inthetrashor pouriton the

ground.

PaperElement

Air Cleaner Service

Adirty aircleanerwillrestrictairflowtothecarburetor.

Topreventcarburetormalfunction,servicetheaircleaner

regularly.Servicemorefrequentlywhenoperatingthe

enginein extremelydustyareas.

__k ARNING:Neveruse gasolineorlow

flash pointsolventsfor cleaningthe

air cleanerelement.Afire or explosion

couldresult.

IMPORTANT:Neverruntheenginewithouttheair

cleaner.Rapidenginewearwillresult.

1. Removethewingboltandtheaircleanercover.

Removetheelementsandseparatethem.SeeFigure

10-2.Carefullycheckbothelementsforholesortears

andreplaceifdamaged.

2. Foamelement:Washtheelementin a solutionof

householddetergentandwarmwater,thenrinse

thoroughly,or washin nonflammableorhighflash

pointsolvent.Allowtheelementtodrythoroughly.

Soaktheelementin cleanengineoil andsqueezeout

theexcessoil.Theenginewillsmokeduringinitial

start-upif toomuchoil isleft inthefoam.

3. Paperelement: Taptheelementlightlyseveraltimes

ona hardsurfaceto removeexcessdirt,or blow

compressedair throughthefilterfromtheinsideout.

Nevertry tobrushthedirtoff; brushingwillforce

dirtintothefibers.Replacethepaperelementifit is

excessivelydirty.

Foam Element

Figure10-2:Servicingtheaircleaner.

Spark Plug

Figure10-3:Thesparkplugandboot.

Spark Plug Service

__i= ARNING:DONOTcheck for spark

with spark plugremoved. DONOTcrank

enginewith spark plugremoved.

Toensureproperengineoperation,thesparkplugmust

beproperlygappedandfreeofdeposits.

1. Removethesparkplugbootandusea sparkplug

wrenchto removetheplug.See Figure10-3.

,_ WARNING:ifthe engine hasbeen

running, the muffler will be very hot. Be

carefulnot to touch the muffler.

2. Visuallyinspectthesparkplug.Discardthesparkplug

ifthereisapparentwear,or iftheinsulatoriscracked

orchipped.Cleanthe sparkplugwitha wirebrushif it

istobe reused.

WARNING

Never usegasoline

or lowflash point sol-

vents for cleaningthe

air cleaner element.

Afire or explosion

could result.

DONOTcheck for

spark with spark plug

removed. DO NOT

crank engine with

spark plug removed.

if the engine has

been running, the

muffler will be very

hot. Be careful not to

touch the muffler.

Maintaining

WARNING

Accumulation of

debris around muffler

cause afire:

Inspect and clean

b fo ooveryo

IMPORTANT:DOnot

sprayengineWithwater

to clean becausewater

could contaminatefuel

Using agarden hose

orpressureWashing

equipment Canaso

force waterintothe

aircleaner ormuffler

opening:Water in the

air cleane! will soak

the paper e!emen

and water that Passes

throughthe element

or muffler canenter

the cylinder;causing:

damage: i

Electrode

--,,- *-- 0.030 in.

Figure10-4:Measurethepluggapwithafeelergauge.

3. Measurethepluggapwitha feelergauge.Correct

asnecessarybybendingsideelectrode.SeeFigure

10-4.Thegap shouldbe setto0.030in.

4. Checkthat thesparkplugwasherisingoodcondi-

tionandthreadthesparkpluginbyhandto prevent

cross-threading.

5. Afterthe sparkplugisseated,tightenwitha spark

plugwrenchtocompressthewasher.

NOTE:Wheninstallinga newsparkplug,tighten1/2

turnafterthesparkplugseatsto compressthewasher.

Whenreinstallinga usedsparkplug,tighten1/8-1/4turn

afterthesparkplugseatstocompressthewasher.

IMPORTANT:Thesparkplugmustbe securelytight-

ened.Animproperlytightenedsparkplugcanbecome

veryhotand maydamagetheengine.

Clean Engine

If theenginehasbeenrunning,allowit tocoolforat

leasthalfan hourbeforecleaning.Periodicallyremove

grassanddirt build-upfromengine.Cleanfingerguard

andaroundmuffler.Cleanwitha brushor compressed

air.

Storage

Enginesstoredover30 daysneedtobedrainedoffuel

topreventdeteriorationandgumfromforminginfuel

systemor onessentialcarburetorparts.Ifthegasolinein

yourenginedeterioratesduringstorage,youmayneedto

havethecarburetor,andotherfuelsystemcomponents,

servicedor replaced.

1. Removeallfuelfromtankby runningengineuntilit

stopsfromlackoffuel.

2. Changeoil.SeeOilChangesection.

3. Removesparkplugandpourabout1/2anounceof

engineoil intocylinder.Replacesparkplugandcrank

slowlytodistributeoil.

4. Cleangrassanddebrisfromaroundengine,under

fingerguard,and under,aroundandbehindmuffler.

Touchupanydamagedpaint,andcoatotherareas

thatmayrustwitha lightfilmofoil.

5. Storeina clean,dryandwellventilatedareaawayfrom

anyappliancethatoperateswithaflameor pilotlight,

suchasafurnace,waterheater,or clothesdryer.Also

avoidanyareawitha sparkproducingelectricmotor,

orwherepowertoolsare operated.

6. If possible,alsoavoidstorageareaswithhighhumidity,

becausethat promotesrustandcorrosion.

7. Keeptheenginelevelin storage.Tiltingcancausefuel

oroil leakage.

Removing From Storage

1. Checkyourengineasdescribedin thePre-Operation

Checksectionofthis manual.

2. If thefuelwasdrainedduringstoragepreparation,fill

thetankwithfreshgasoline.Ifyoukeepa container

ofgasolineforrefueling,makecertainitcontainsonly

freshfuel.Gasolineoxidizesanddeterioratesover

time,causinghardstarting.

3. If thecylinderwascoatedwithoil duringstorage

preparation,theenginewillsmokebrieflyatstartup.

Thisisnormal.

IMPORTANT: Do not spray engine with water to clean

because water could contaminate fuel. Using a garden

hose or pressure washing equipment can also force

water into the air cleaner or muffler opening. Water in

the air cleaner will soak the paper element, and water

that passes through the element or muffler can enter the

cylinder, causing damage.

__lk ARNING:Accumulationof debris

around muffler could causea fire.

Inspect and cleanbefore every use.

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