Bolens 13885-8, 13875-8 manual ~Caution, Toengagecuttingblades, Enginetips, Mowing Suggestions

To shift into Reverse or Forward when the rider is moving in the opposite direction, fully depress the foot pedal to stop the tractor and to disengage the drive belt. Move the shift lever to Neutral, release the foot pedal to the half-way position, move the shift lever to the desired position and slowly release the foot pedal.

~CAUTION

A slow foot pedal release will give you a smooth engagement of power. A fast release will jerk the rider and should be avoided.

A new rider may jerk when power is engaged until the belt is fully seated in the pulley groove. This is normal and to be expected.

The cl utch I brake foot pedal gives you positive control in tight places and when you want to slow down momentarily through a difficult area without moving the throttle control or down shifting.

5.If the engine misses, check the spark plug and plug wire. Dirty plugs should NOT be cleaned. They should be replaced.

If the engine continues to misfire with a new plug, the problem can be loose engine bolts, a leaky head gasket, sticky valves, etc. For

these conditions it is suggested a certified service center be contacted for advice.

6.If the engine overheats, the cooling fins may be clogged. Also, a too-lean fuel mixture can cause overheating.

7.Don't put the engine under full power as soon as It starts. Fast APM before the engine warms up can cause excessive engine wear.

8.Do not idle the engine at too slow a speed for

extended periods. Oil will not circulate properJy and excessive wear can result. ..also the engine can overheat.

MOWING SUGGESTIONS

TOENGAGECUTTINGBLADES

Mowing

of lawns

should

be done

frequently,

on a

The cutting blades are powered directly off the

systematic

basis. If grass is allowed to grow

excessively tall before cutting, the under part of

lower portion of the engine pulley via the mower

the grass, which has been protected from the sun,

drive belt. Engine speed directly determines blade

will be exposed and possibly damaged. This grass

speed.

For

fast

blade rotation,

move

the

engine

then tends to become coarse and often loses its

throttle

to

FAST.

For

slow

rotation,

move the

deep green color. Frequent cutting promotes new

throttle

to SLOW.

more finely textured blade growth.

To engage the power to the cutting blades, the lift

The root system of Kentucky Bluegrass renews

disengagement

lever

should

be moved out of the

itself every Spring. If mowing is done before the

OFF position and allowed to move forward by

roots have had a chance to grow, the root system

itself. DO NOT FORCE THE LEVER FORWARD.

won't develop fully and the quality of the glass

The forward movement of the lever tightens the

will suffer,

as

will

its

ability

to withstand

the

drive belt across the mower deck pulleys and the

demands of a tough summer. With this grass the

engine pulley and thus powers the blades. An

first mowing should not be done until new growth

engagement

spring

in

the

mower

assembly

is at least two inches.

applies

proper

pressure

to

the

drive

beltautomatically.

A common error is to let grass grow longer in hot

The shift lever should be used to control ground

weather to protect it from the sun and heat. When

long

grass

is

finally

cut,

it

will

be

brown

or

speeds and the throttle lever should be kept at 3/4

gray. ..and the tender bottom growth wi II not be

to full speed for best cutting quality.

able

to

battle

the

weather

and

will

lose

quality.

ENGINETIPS

Twice

a

week

cutting

is

best

throughout

the

1.

If the

engine

won't start,

check

the

fuel

tank

summer,

hot

or

not,

right up

to

the

time

growth

to make

sure

it

is

full

and

check

the

spark

stops

in the late

Fall.

plug

for

spark

When cutting tall heavy grass or on rough ground,

2.

Be sure

the

holes

in

the

gas

cap

are

open

and

place

the

cutting

unit

in

the

highest

cut

position

will

allow

air

to

enter

the

gas

tank.

and

the

rider

in

the

slowest

ground

speed.

3. Be sure the air filter is kept in good condition.

Gradually reduce tne cutting height over several

passes.

Any

dust

which

gets

past the

filter

can

damage

the

engine.

Also

a dirty

air

filter

will

IMPORTANT

reduce the engine's operating efficiency and

Keep the underside of the mower

can

cause

hard

starting.

deck clean and keep the blades

4.

Never

use

old

gasoline

in

the

engine.

In

sharp

for

good

quality

cutting.

Dull

addition to bringing on problems with gum:	blades will bruise and tear the grass
and varnish, old gas makes for hard starting.
	and cause a yellowing appearance.

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