Assembly, HOW to SET UP Your Lawn Mower

TO REMOVE MOWER FROM CARTON

•Remove all loose parts from carton.

•Remove lawn mower housing with care. Avoid touching blade under housing. Always wear gloves or other protection when working under or lifting mower.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU ASSEMBLE OR OPERATE YOUR LAWN MOWER

REAR WHEEL DRIVE MODELS:

•	Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
	plug and place wire where it cannot
	come in contact with plug.
•	Remove screws retaining drive cover
	(not shown); and remove drive cover
	from lawn mower housing.
•	Remove drive cable from anchor, then

•Install new belt by reversing above steps.

NOTE: Always use factory approved belt to assure ﬁt and long life.

• The recommended tightening torque is 35-40 ft. lbs.

IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is grade 8 heat

Do I have a side or rear discharge lawn mower?

Look for the grass discharge opening on your mower. If the opening is on the right side of the mower housing, it is a side discharge mower. If the opening is at the back of the mower housing, it is a rear dis- charge mower. Only rear discharge lawn mowers have a grass catcher included with the mower. Approved grass catchers for side discharge mowers may be purchased from your nearest authorized dealer.

Do I have a mulching lawn mower? Look for the grass discharge opening on your mower. Raise the discharge guard (rear door on rear discharge mowers). If the opening is closed off by a plate, then your lawn mower is mulcher ready. To convert to a discharging mower, see the Operation section of this manual.

What is the right and left side of the lawn mower?

When right hand (RH) or left hand (LH) is mentioned in this manual, it means when you are in the operating position (standing behind the handle).

What kind of engine is on my lawn mower?

When learning how to operate your new lawn mower, you will need to know what kind of engine powers the mower. A decal on the engine will indicate the manu- facturer and type or brand name of the engine.

BRIGGS & STRATTON ENGINES

detach it and return spring (if equipped)

from idler arm assembly.

• Remove idler arm assembly from hous-

ing by removing hex nut; then remove

drive belt from drive pulley, belt keepers

and idler arm assembly.

Drive pulley	Drive cable anchor
	Housing holes

Drive belt

Belt	Hex nut	Return	Idler arm
keepers	Hex nut	spring	assembly

• Turn lawn mower on its side. See engine

manual for proper direction of turning

over the engine.

treated.

ENGINE

CARBURETOR

The carburetor has been preset at the fac- tory and adjustment should not be neces- sary. However, minor adjustment may be required to compensate for differences in fuel, temperature, altitude or load.

•	The air ﬁlter must be assembled to the
	carburetor when running engine.
•	Best carburetor adjustment is obtained
	when fuel tank is 1/4 full.
• In order for the engine to run, the opera-
	tor presence control bar must be held
	in the operating position. Therefore,
	and assistant will be required to hold

FRONT

LEFT	RIGHT	TECUMSEH	HONDA
HAND	HAND
		ENGINES	ENGINES
SIDE	SIDE

BACK or REAR

(Operating Position)

ASSEMBLY

• Use a wood block between blade and

mower housing to prevent blade from

turning when removing blade bolt.

NOTE: Protect your hands with gloves and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth.

•Remove blade bolt.

•Remove blade, attaching hardware (bolt, lock washer, hardened washer), blade adapter and debris shield. Note that the debris shield has a tab which ﬁts into the housing hole.

•Remove drive belt from engine pulley; discard old belt.

Crankshaft	Blade
	Blade
Housing hole	adapter

the control bar in the operating position

when making ﬁnal adjustment to the carburetor.

See the ADJUSTMENT section of your engine manual for further instructions.

ENGINE SPEED

The engine speed has been factory set. Do not attempt to increase engine speed as it may result in personal injury. If you believe the engine is running too fast or too slow, take your lawn mower to an authorized engine service center for repair and adjustment.

THROTTLE CONTROL

CAUTION: Do not operate this lawn mower without the discharge guard or an entire approved grass catcher in place. These guards are for your protection and are required by the American National Standards Institute and Consumer Prod- ucts Safety Commission.

CAUTION: Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place wire where it cannot come in contact with plug.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR LAWN MOWER

UNFOLD HANDLE

IMPORTANT: Unfold handle carefully so as not to pinch or damage control cables.

2 POSITION / “ADJUSTABLE” HANDLES

•Raise handles until lower handle section locks into place in operating position.

		Hardened
		washer
Tab
		Blade
	Debris shield	bolt
	Debris shield
Trailing edge		Lock-washer

If it becomes necessary to adjust or re- place the throttle control, see the ADJUST- MENT section of your engine manual.