speed. Move the ground speed control to the Neutral position when you use the lawn mower for trimming or whenever you leave the lawn mower.

4.3.5Operating the Blade Control Lever:

1.Start the engine.

2.Squeeze the blade control bail against the handle (Fig. 5).

3.Move the blade control lever to the full forward Latch position. Blades should engage (Fig. 6).

4.Release the blade control bail to disengage the blades.

NOTE: The blade control lever will release rapidly when the blade control bail is released. To avoid minor injury, keep hands clear of the blade control lever when the blade control bail is released.

4.3.6Checking the Blade Brake Clutch:

Check the Blade Brake Clutch (BBC) system before each use to ensure that it is operating properly.

Normal Test:

1.Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop.

2.Move the lawn mower onto a paved surface in a non-windy area.

3.Set all four wheels in to the 2-1/2 in. (64 mm) cutting height (Fig. 11).

4.Set the ground speed selector to the N (Neutral) position.

5.Take a half sheet of newspaper and crumple it into ball small enough to go under the deck (about three inches or 76 mm in diameter) as shown in Figure 10.

FIGURE 10

6.Place the ball of newspaper five inches (12.7 cm) in front of the lawn mower (Fig. 10).

7.Start the engine.

8.Squeeze the blade control bail against the handle.

9.Move the blade control lever to the full forward Latch position. Blades should engage.

10.Release the blade control bail. You should hear a “bang.” The blade should stop in three seconds.

11.Immediately push the lawn mower over the newspaper ball.

12.Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop.

13.Walk around the lawn mower to check for the newspaper ball. If the ball did not go under the deck, repeat step 7 through 12.

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Exmark Metro 21, Metro 26 manual