LAWN MOWER
Always observe safety rules when perform- ing any maintenance.
TIRES
•Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect control chemicals which can harm rub- ber.
•Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp objects and other hazards that may cause tire damage.
BLADE CARE
For best results, mower blade must be kept sharp. Replace bent or damaged blades.
TO REPLACE BLADE
•Turn lawn mower. See engine manual for proper direction of turning over the engine.
•Use a wood block between blade and mower housing to prevent blade from turning when removing blade bolt.
•Protect your hands with gloves and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth.
•Remove blade bolt, lock washer and flat washer.
•Remove blade and blade adapter.
•Inspect the key inside blade adapter. Replace adapter if damaged.
IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is grade 8 heat treated.
•Install new or sharpened blade with trailing edge up toward the engine.
•Position blade on blade adapter. Align the two (2) holes in blade with raised lugs of adapter.
•Reassemble blade bolt, lock washer and flat washer into blade adapter and crankshaft in exact order as shown.
•Position block of wood between blade and mower housing.
•Tighten blade bolt securely. Recom- mended tightening torque is
NOTE: We do not recommend sharpening blade - but if you do, be sure the blade is balanced.
TO SHARPEN BLADE
Care should be taken to keep the blade balanced. An unbalanced blade will cause excessive vibration and eventual damage to lawn mower and engine.
•The blade can be sharpened with a file or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt to sharpen while on the mower.
•To check blade balance, drive a nail into a beam or wall. Leave about one inch of the straight nail exposed. Place center hole of blade over the head of the nail. If blade is balanced, it should remain in a horizontal position. If either end of the blade moves downward, sharpen the heavy end until the blade is balanced.
ENGINE
Read the maintenance section of your engine manual.
LUBRICATION
Change the oil after the first two hours of operation and every 25 hours thereafter or at least once a year if the lawn mower is not used for 25 hours in one year. Refer to engine manual.
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL (SEE ENGINE MANUAL)
•Be sure lawn mower is on level surface.
•Oil will drain more freely when warm.
•Catch oil in a suitable container.
•For engines without dipstick, remove bottom oil drain plug.
•For engines with oil fill cap/dipstick, remove bottom drain plug or remove en- gine oil cap and turn mower on its side.
•After oil has drained completely, replace oil drain plug and tighten securely.
•Refill engine with oil. Pour slowly. Do not overfill.
•Fill to top of slot inside of filler hole or to “FULL” line on dipstick on models so equipped. Keep oil at proper level.
Blade adapter | Crankshaft | AIR FILTER | |
Key |
| keyway | Your engine will not run properly and may |
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Lockwasher |
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| be damaged by using a dirty air filter. |
Blade |
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| Clean the element after every 25 hours of |
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| operation or every season. Replace the air |
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| filter every 100 hours of operation or every |
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| season, whichever occurs first. Service air |
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| cleaner more often under dusty conditions. |
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| See the maintenance section of your |
Blade |
| Crank | engine manual. |
| shaft |
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bolt Hardened |
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washer | Trailing edge | Blade adapter 17 | |
