Removing Chute Retainer, Installing Mulching Baffle

Removing Chute Retainer

For shipping purposes, the chute deflector on your mower is held in an upright position by a retainer . Remove the retainer, by following the steps below, before running the mower for the first time.

•Push the chute deflector up and towards the engine. Holding the deflector in this position, remove the retainer. See Figure 6.

•Lower the chute deflector carefully to its operating position keeping your fingers out of the way.

		Retainer
	Raise chute	Remove
	deflector	Remove
	deflector	retainer
		retainer

Figure 6

Installing Mulching Baffle

If your mower is equipped with the optional mulching baffle, install it on the right side of the deck following these instructions. Make sure to follow the correct sequence as indicated here.

•Lift up and hold the side-discharge chute deflector.

•Insert bottom lip of the mulching baffle inside the chute opening. See Figure 7.

•Snap hooks of the mulching baffle over the hinge pin of the chute deflector. See Figure 7. The hooks must snap into place on the hinge pin, locking the mulching baffle firmly onto the mower. For a close- up of the hinge pin location, see Figure 7 inset.

•Release the chute deflector.

NOTE: Install bottom lip inside chute opening (indicated by 1 in the figure below) before placing hooks over the hinge pin (indicated by 2 in the figure below).

Hinge

Chute

Deflector

Hooks

Mulching	2
Baffle

Chute

Opening

Lip of Mulching Baffle

(install inside chute opening)

Figure 7

IMPORTANT: This unit is shipped without gasoline or oil in the engine. Be certain to service engine with gasoline and oil as instructed in the separate engine manual before operating your mower.