HOW to USE Your Lawn Mower, Engine Speed

OPERATION

The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects thrown into the eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields while operating your lawn mower or performing any adjustments or repairs. We recommend standard safety glasses or a wide vision safety mask over spectacles.

HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER

ENGINE SPEED

The engine speed was set at the factory for optimum per- formance. Speed is not adjustable.

ENGINE ZONE CONTROL

CAUTION: Federal regulations require an engine control to be installed on this lawn mower in order to minimize the risk of blade contact injury. Do not under any circumstances attempt to defeat the function of the operator control. The blade turns when the engine is running.

•Your lawn mower is equipped with an operator presence control bar which requires the operator to be positioned behind the lawn mower handle to start and operate the lawn mower.

DRIVE CONTROL (See Fig. 3)

•Self-propelling is controlled by holding the operator presence control bar down to the handle and pulling the drive control bar up to the handle. The closer to the handle the bar is pulled, the faster the unit will travel.

•Forward motion will stop when either the operator pres- ence control bar or drive control bar are released. To stop forward motion without stopping engine, release the drive control bar only.Hold operator presence control bar down against handle to continue mowing without self-propelling.

NOTE: If after releasing the drive control the mower will not roll backwards, push the mower forward slightly to disengage drive wheels.

•To keep drive control engaged when turning corners, push down on the handle to lift the front wheels off the ground while turning lawn mower.

DRIVE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT (See Fig. 3)

Over time, the drive control system may become “loose”, resulting in decreased speed. There is a thumbscrew on the underside of the drive control housing to increase ten- sion on the drive cable. Proceed as follows:

1.Turn unit off and disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug.

2.Rotate thumbscrew counter-clockwise to tighten the drive cable.

3.Operate mower to test drive speed.

4.If condition fails to improve after the above steps (for- ward speed remains the same), your drive belt is worn and should be replaced.

NOTE: If mower begins to “creep” forward, the drive cable is too tight. Rotate thumbscrew clockwise to loosen drive cable.

OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROL BAR
THUMB-
SCREW	DRIVE
	CONTROL
DRIVE	BAR
DRIVE	DRIVE
CONTROL	CONTROL
ENGAGED	DISENGAGED

FIG. 3

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT (See Fig. 4)

Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels for high cut, adjust cutting height to suit your requirements. Medium position is best for most lawns.

•To change cutting height, squeeze adjuster lever toward wheel.Move wheel up or down to suit your requirements. Be sure all wheels are in the same setting.

NOTE:Adjuster is properly positioned when plate tab inserts into hole in lever. Also, 9-position adjusters (if so equipped) allow lever to be positioned between the plate tabs.

LEVER BACKWARD TO LOWER MOWER

PLATE

TAB

LEVER FORWARD TO RAISE MOWER

LEVER

FIG. 4

TO CONVERT MOWER

Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be used as a mulcher. To convert to bagging or discharging:

REAR BAGGING (See Fig. 5)

•Lift rear door of the lawn mower and place the grass catcher frame hooks onto the door pivot pins.

•To convert to mulching or discharging operation, remove grass catcher and close rear door.

SIDE DISCHARGING (See Fig. 6)

•Rear door must be closed.

•Open mulcher door and install discharge deﬂ ector under door as shown.

•Mower is now ready for discharging operation.

•To convert to mulching or bagging operation, discharge deﬂ ector must be removed and mulcher door must be closed.