Maintenance

THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS WILL HELP YOU TO OBTAIN OPTIMUM RUN TIME FROM YOUR CORDLESS MOWER:

1.Slow down in areas where the grass is especially long or thick.

2.When mulching, avoid cutting more than 1-1/2 inches off the length at any one time.

3.Avoid mowing when the grass is wet from rain or dew-soaked.

4.Cut your lawn frequently, especially during high growth periods.

NOTE: IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR MOWER BE RECHARGED AFTER USE. FREQUENT CHARGING WILL NOT HARM YOUR BATTERY, AND WILL ENSURE THAT THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED AND READY FOR ITS NEXT USE.

MULCHING MOWING TIPS

Your mower was shipped from Black & Decker with the mulch insert installed.

While mulching, your new mower is designed to cut the grass clippings into small pieces and distribute them back into the lawn. Under normal conditions, the mulched grass will biodegrade quickly to provide nutrients to the lawn.

Please review the following recommendations for optimum mulching performance.

1.Avoid mowing when the grass is wet from rain or dew. Wet grass may form clumps which interfere with the mulching action and reduce run-time. The best time to mow grass is in the late afternoon when the grass is dry and the newly cut area will not be exposed to direct sunlight.

2.For best mulching performance, set the cutting height to remove about one third of the grass blade length, ideally no more than

1-1/2 in. at one time. If the lawn is overgrown, it may be necessary to increase the cut height to reduce the pushing effort and prevent overloading the motor. For extremely heavy mulching, it is advisable to first cut at a high cut height setting, and then re-cut to the final cut height. Otherwise, make narrower cuts and mow slowly.

3.For best performance, keep the mower housing free of built-up grass. From time to time release switch lever to turn mower off and wait for the blade to come to a complete stop. Then remove the safety key and turn mower on its side. Using an object such as a stick, wipe out any accumulation of grass in the blade area. Be careful of the sharp edges of the blade. Clean often in wet, spring grass, and always after every use.

4.Certain types of grass or grass conditions may require that an area be mulched a second time to fully disperse the grass throughout the lawn. If cutting a second time, it is advisable to cut perpendicular (across) the first cut pattern. DO NOT CHANGE CUT PATTERN IN ANY WAY THAT WOULD CAUSE MOWING DOWN A HILL.

5.Change your cutting pattern from week to week. This will help prevent matting of the lawn.

IMPORTANT: To assure product SAFETY and RELIABILITY, repairs, maintenance and adjustment (including brush inspection and replacement) should be performed by BLACK & DECKER Service Centers or other qualified service organizations, always using Black & Decker replacement parts. When servicing use ONLY IDENTICAL REPLACEMENT PARTS.

PLEASE REFER TO DIAGRAMS (A, B, C...) AND ITEM NUMBERS (1, 2, 3...) AS NOTED THROUGHOUT MANUAL. FOR EXAMPLE, A-1 REFERS TO ITEM 1 IN FIGURE A.

REMOVING AND INSTALLING BLADE

1.RELEASE SWITCH LEVER TO TURN MOWER OFF, WAIT FOR THE BLADE TO STOP, AND REMOVE SAFETY KEY.

2.Cut a piece of 2x4 wood N-1 (about 2 feet long) to keep blade from turning while removing flange nut.

3.Turn the mower on its side. Wear gloves and proper eye protection. Be careful of sharp edges of blade. Position wood and remove flange nut N-3 with 3/4 in. (19mm) wrench N-2 as shown in Figure N.

4.Remove square metal blade spacer O-2, square plastic blade insulator O-3, and blade O-4 as shown in figure O. Examine blade insulator for damage and replace if necessary.

5.When replacing sharpened or new blade on shoulder of fan O-5, make sure the “GRASS SIDE” on the blade will be facing the ground when the mower is returned to its normal upright position. After installing blade O-4, place blade insulator O-3 on blade such that the raised lips on one side engage the edges of the blade. Then install the blade spacer O-2 so that it sits inside the raised lips on the other side of the blade insulator. Be sure to align the flats in the hole of the blade spacer with the flats of the shaft, rotating the blade and blade insulator together as necessary. Position piece of wood P-1 to keep blade from turning as shown in figure P. Install flange nut with the flange against the blade spacer and securely tighten.

BLADE SHARPENING

KEEP BLADE SHARP FOR BEST MOWER PERFORMANCE. A DULL BLADE DOES NOT CUT GRASS CLEANLY OR MULCH PROPERLY.

WEAR PROPER EYE PROTECTION WHILE REMOVING, SHARPENING, AND INSTALLING BLADE. ENSURE THAT SAFETY KEY IS REMOVED.

Sharpening the blade twice during a mowing season is usually sufficient under normal circumstances. Sand causes the blade to dull quickly. If your lawn has sandy soil, more frequent sharpening may be required.

REPLACE BENT OR DAMAGED BLADE IMMEDIATELY.

WHEN SHARPENING THE BLADE:

1.Make sure blade remains balanced.

2.Sharpen blade at the original cutting angle.

3.Sharpen cutting edges on both ends of blade, removing equal amounts of material from both ends.

TO SHARPEN BLADE IN A VISE:

1.Be sure the switch lever is released, the blade has stopped and the safety key removed before removing the blade.

2.Remove blade from mower. See instructions for removing and installing blade.

3.Secure blade L-1 in a vise L-2.

4.Wear proper eye protection and gloves and be careful not to cut yourself.

5.Carefully file the cutting edges of the blade with a fine tooth file L-3 or sharpening stone, maintaining the original cutting edge.

6.Check balance of blade. See instructions for blade balancing.

7.Replace blade on mower and tighten securely.

BLADE BALANCING

Check balance of blade by placing center hole in blade M-1 over a nail or round shank screwdriver M-2, clamped horizontally in a vise M-3. If either end of the blade rotates downward, file that end. Blade is properly balanced when neither end drops.

LUBRICATION

No lubrication is necessary. Do not oil the wheels. They have plastic bearing surfaces which require no lubrication.

CLEANING

RELEASE SWITCH LEVER TO TURN MOWER OFF, LET THE BLADE COME TO A STOP AND THEN REMOVE SAFETY KEY. USE ONLY MILD SOAP AND A DAMP CLOTH TO CLEAN THE MOWER. CLEAN OUT ANY CLIPPINGS WHICH MAY HAVE ACCUMULATED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DECK. AFTER SEVERAL USES, CHECK ALL EXPOSED FASTENERS FOR TIGHTNESS.

PREVENTING CORROSION

Fertilizers and other garden chemicals contain agents which greatly accelerate the corrosion of metals. If you mow in areas where