3
CONTENTS
LAWN MOWER SAFETY ............................................................................................4
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ................................................................4
IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO PARENTS ..............................................................5
SAFETY LABEL LOCATIONS ..............................................................................6
CONTROLS & FEATURES .........................................................................................7
COMPONENT & CONTROL LOCATIONS ...........................................................7
DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS ..........................................................................8
BEFORE OPERATION ..............................................................................................11
ARE YOU READY TO GET STARTED? ............................................................ 11
IS YOUR LAWN MOWER READY TO GO? .......................................................11
CHECK YOUR WORK AREA .............................................................................12
GET THE LAWN MOWER READY ....................................................................13
OPERATION ..............................................................................................................15
MOWING PRECAUTIONS .................................................................................15
STARTING THE ENGINE ...................................................................................15
OPERATING THE CONTROLS FOR MOWING ................................................16
STOPPING THE ENGINE .................................................................................17
SAFE MOWING PRACTICES ............................................................................17
MOWING TIPS ...................................................................................................19
SERVICING YOUR MOWER .....................................................................................22
THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER MAINTENANCE ..........................................22
MAINTENANCE SAFETY ...................................................................................23
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ............................................................................. 24
BLADES ..............................................................................................................25
GRASS BAG CLEANING AND REPLACEMENT ...............................................28
ENGINE MAINTENANCE ...................................................................................29
CONTROL CABLE ADJUSTMENTS ..................................................................34
FUEL SYSTEM ...................................................................................................35
STORAGE .................................................................................................................37
PREPARING FOR STORAGE ............................................................................37
PLACING IN STORAGE .....................................................................................40
REMOVING FROM STORAGE .......................................................................... 40
TRANSPORTING ......................................................................................................41
BEFORE LOADING ............................................................................................41
LOADING AND UNLOADING .............................................................................41
TAKING CARE OF UNEXPECTED PROBLEMS .....................................................42
ENGINE WILL NOT START ...............................................................................42
LOSS OF POWER ..............................................................................................42
VIBRATION PROBLEMS ....................................................................................43
MOWING AND BAGGING PROBLEMS .............................................................43
SET-UP ......................................................................................................................44
ASSEMBLY ........................................................................................................44
ENGINE OIL ....................................................................................................... 46
BEFORE OPERATION .......................................................................................46
TECHNICAL & CONSUMER INFORMATION ..........................................................47
TECHNICAL INFORMATION .............................................................................47
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM ........................................................................50
SPECIFICATIONS ..............................................................................................53
CONSUMER INFORMATION .............................................................................55
INDEX ........................................................................................................................63
QUICK REFERENCE INFORMATION .............................................. inside back cover