Before Starting Engine, To Start Engine

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

Read the engine manual packed with your mower.

FILL ENGINE WITH OIL

Your lawn mower is shipped without oil in the engine.

•Be sure mower is level and area around oil ﬁll is clean.

•Remove engine oil ﬁller plug (oil ﬁll cap/ dipstick on models so equipped).

•Slowly add oil. For type and grade of oil to use, see “ENGINE” in the Mainte- nance section of this manual.

•Fill to the top of slot in ﬁller hole (to “FULL” line on dipstick on models so equipped). Do not overﬁll.

•Replace plug (oil ﬁll cap/dipstick on models so equipped) and tighten.

•Check oil level before each use. Add oil as needed.

•To change oil, see Maintenance section of this manual.

FILL GASOLINE TANK

•Fill gasoline tank with fresh, clean, unleaded gasoline. DO NOT USE PRE-

MIUM GASOLINE. BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVERFILL TANK.

WARNING: Alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture which leads to separation and formation of acids during storage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel system of an engine while in storage. To avoid engine problems, the fuel system should be emptied before storage of 30 days or longer. Drain the fuel tank, start the engine and let it run until fuel lines and carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage Instructions for additional information. Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in fuel tank or permanent damage may occur.

TO START ENGINE

MODELS WITH RECOIL STARTER

•Pull starter handle quickly. Do not allow starter rope to snap back.

Operator presence control bar

Recoil starter handle

MODELS WITH ELECTRIC STARTER

•Push the engine start button (or turn the key on models so equipped).

IMPORTANT: Do not crank engine more than ﬁve continous seconds each time you try to start. Wait 5 to 10 seconds between each attempt.

ALL MODELS

•For engines equipped with choke, slowly move engine speed control lever to FAST after engine starts.

TO STOP ENGINE

•To STOP engine, release operator pres- ence control bar.

NOTE: For engines with a primer, it may be necessary to repeat priming steps

in cooler weather. In warmer weather, overpriming may cause ﬂooding and engine will not start. If you do ﬂood engine, wait a few minutes before attempting to start and DO NOT repeat priming steps.

MOWING TIPS

CAUTION: Do not use de-thatcher blade attachments on your mower. Such attachments are hazardous, will damage your mower and could void your warranty.

•For most cutting conditions and better bagging performance, the engine speed should be set in the FAST position.

•Under certain conditions, such as when mowing very tall grass, raise the mower height on the ﬁrst cut to reduce pushing effort, to avoid overheating the engine, and to avoid leaving clumps of grass clippings. Make the second cut to the desired height.

•For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the width of cut.

•For side discharge lawn mowers, cut in a counterclockwise direction, starting at the outside of the area to be cut, in order to spread grass clippings more evenly and to put less load on the engine. To keep clippings off of walkways, ﬂower beds, etc., make the ﬁrst cuts in a clock- wise direction.

•When using a rear discharge lawn mower in moist, heavy grass, clumps of cut grass may not enter the grass catcher. Reduce ground speed (pushing speed) and/or run the lawn mower over the area a second time.

•If a trail of grass clipping is left on the right side of a rear discharge lawn mow- er, mow in a clockwise direction with a small overlap to collect the clippings on the next pass.

FOR MULCHING MOWERS ONLY

-MULCHING MOWING TIPS

IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep mower housing free of built-up grass and trash. See "CLEANING" in the Mainte- nance section of this manual.

• The special mulching blade will recut the grass clippings many times and reduce them in size so that as they fall onto the lawn they will disperse into the grass and not be noticed. Also, the mulched grass will biodegrade quickly to provide nutrients for the lawn. Always mulch with your highest engine (blade) speed as this will provide the best recutting action of the blades.

• Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet. Wet grass tends to form clumps and interferes with the mulching action. The best time to mow your lawn is the early afternoon. At this time the grass has dried, yet the newly cut area will not be exposed to direct sunlight.

• For best results, adjust the lawn mower cutting height so that the lawn mower cuts off only the top one-third of the grass blades. If the lawn is overgrown it will be necessary to raise the height of cut to reduce pushing effort and to keep from overloading the engine and leaving clumps of mulched grass. For extremely heavy grass, reduce your width of cut by overlapping previously cut path and mow slowly.

MAX 1/3

• Certain types of grass and grass

CAUTION: The mower blade rotates whenever the engine is running.

• Move engine speed control to FAST position (or to CHOKE/START position on models equipped with choke feature).

• If your mower has a primer, to start a cold engine, push primer as many times as instructed in the engine manual packed with your mower. Use a ﬁrm push. This step is not usually necessary when starting an engine which has already run for a few minutes.

• Hold operator presence control bar

•Pores in cloth grass catchers can become ﬁlled with dirt and dust with use and the catcher will collect less grass. To prevent this, regularly hose catcher off with water and let dry before use.

conditions may require that an area be

mulched a second time to completely

hide the clippings. When doing a second

cut, mow across (perpendicular) to the

ﬁrst cut path.

• Change your cutting pattern from week

to week. Mow north to south one week

then change to east to west the next

week. This will help prevent matting and

graining of the lawn.

down against handle.