12
AIR FILTER
Your engine will not run properly and may be damaged
by using a dirty air fi lter. Replace the air fi lter every 100
hours of operation or every season, whichever occurs fi rst.
Ser vice air cleaner more often under dusty conditions. See
the main te nance section of your engine manual.
MUFFLER
Inspect and replace corroded muffl er as it could create a
fi re hazard and/or damage.
SPARK PLUG
Replace spark plug at the beginning of each mowing season
or after every 100 hours of operation, whichever occurs
fi rst. Spark plug type and gap setting are shown in the
“PROD UCT SPEC I FI CA TIONS” section of this manual.
CLEANING
IMPORTANT: FOR BEST PERFORMANCE, KEEP MOWER
HOUSING FREE OF BUILT-UP GRASS AND TRASH. CLEAN
THE UNDERSIDE OF YOUR MOWER AFTER EACH USE.
CAUTION: Disconnect spark plug wire
from spark plug and place wire where it
cannot come in contact with plug.
• Clean the underside of your lawn mower by scraping
to remove build-up of grass and trash.
• Clean engine often to keep trash from accumulating. A
clogged engine runs hotter and shortens engine life.
• Keep fi nished surfaces / wheels free of gasoline, oil, etc.
• We do not recommend using a garden hose to clean
lawn mower unless the electrical system, muffl er, air
fi lter and carburetor are covered to keep water out.
Water in engine can result in shortened engine life.
CLEAN UNDER DRIVE COVER
Clean under drive cover at least twice a season. Scrape un-
derside of cover with putty knife or similar tool to remove any
build-up of trash or grass on underside of drive cover.
MAINTENANCE
OIL FILL CAP /
DIPSTICK
LOWER
MARK
UPPER
MARK
FIG. 17
LUBRICATION
Use only high quality detergent oil rated with API service
classifi cation SG–SL. Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade
according to your expected operating temperature.
7. Continue adding small amounts of oil and rechecking
the dipstick until it reads full. DO NOT overfi ll, or engine
will smoke on startup.
8. Always be sure retighten dipstick before starting engine.
9. Re con nect spark plug wire to spark plug.
NOTE: Multi-viscosity oils (5W30, 10W30 etc.) improve
starting in cold weather, and you should check your engine
oil level frequently to avoid possible engine damage from
running low on oil.
Change the oil after every 25 hours of operation or at least
once a year if the lawn mower is not used for 25 hours in
one year.
Check the crankcase oil level before starting the engine
and after each fi ve (5) hours of continuous use. Tighten oil
plug securely each time you check the oil level.
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL (See Figs. 16 & 17)
NOTE: Before tipping lawn mower to drain oil, empty fuel
tank by running engine until fuel tank is empty.
1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place
wire where it cannot come in contact with plug.
2. Remove engine oil cap; lay aside on a clean surface.
3. Tip lawn mower on its side as shown and drain oil into
a suitable container. Rock lawn mower back and forth
to remove any oil trapped inside of engine.
CONTAINER
FIG. 16
4. Wipe off any spilled oil from mower or side of engine.
5. Fill engine with oil. The engine oil capacity is 18.5 oz.
If oil is not com plete ly drained from engine, you may
not need the entire container of a 20 oz. bottle of oil.
Slowly pour 3/4 of the oil from the container down the
oil fi ll spout into the engine.
6. Wait one minute to allow oil to settle. Use guage on oil
fi ll cap/dipstick for checking level. Insert dipstick into
the tube and rest the oil fi ll cap on the tube. DO NOT
thread the cap into the tube when taking reading.