Maintenance

Maintenance (Continued)

!

WARNING

!

1. Visually check the engine drive belt for cracking, fraying,

severed or belt strands exposed. Replace the belt before

DO NOT attempt any maintenance, adjustments or service

operating the mower.

with engine and blade running. STOP engine and blade.

2. Check for proper drive belt tension:

Disconnect spark plug wire and secure away from spark

STOP the engine.

plug. Engine and components are HOT. Avoid serious

 

Shift the ground speed control to 1st and engage

burns, allow sufficient time for all components to cool.

 

the wheel drive control.

Wear heavy leather gloves when handling or working

 

With the wheel drive control (A, Figure 14)

around cutting blades. Blades are extremely sharp and can

engaged, pull the mower handles, moving the

cause severe injury.

 

 

 

 

mower rearward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Observe the rear wheels. If the rear wheels slide

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blade Sharpening (Continued)

 

on the surface (no rotation) the belt is properly

 

tensioned and the control does not require

4. Sharpen the blade on a grinding wheel at an angle of 22

adjustment.

 

to 28 degrees (B, Figure 13). DO NOT sharpen the blade

 

3. If the rear wheels rotate, increase belt tension by

 

beyond the original cutting edge (A).

 

 

 

rotating the thumb screw (B) COUNTER-CLOCKWISE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Turn the thumb screw one turn at a time and recheck

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

tension.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. When proper belt tension has been set, operate the

 

 

 

 

 

 

machine and verify proper wheel drive control function.

 

A

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT: DO NOT over-tighten the wheel drive control.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DO NOT operate if the control or drive does not function

 

 

 

 

 

 

properly. Contact your local SNAPPER Dealer for assistance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT: If the machine creeps forward after the wheel

 

 

 

 

 

 

drive control is released, the cable is too tight and must be

 

 

 

 

 

 

readjusted to eliminate all forward movement. The machine

 

 

 

 

 

 

must not have any forward movement when the wheel drive

 

Do not sharpen

B

 

 

 

control is disengaged. If the wheel drive control fails to

 

22-280

 

 

return quickly to the “OFF” position when released, check for

 

 

 

 

beyond original

 

 

 

 

a broken, binding, or kinked cable.

 

cutting edge

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 13: Sharpening the mower blade

 

5. Check blade for balance. If necessary, correct balance by

A

grinding heavy end of blade.

6. Reinstall blade (B, Figure 12). Note the correct

 

assembly order:

 

(A) Blade hub

 

(B) Blade (flange facing down)

 

(C) Capscrews

 

(D) Nuts

 

7. Check torque of blade retaining cap screw.

 

Recommended torque should be 40 ft. lbs.

 

Wheel Drive Control Adjustment

B

(Engine To Transmission Drive Belt)

Figure 14: Wheel drive control adjustment

The wheel drive control requires periodic adjustment to

 

maintain proper engine to transmission drive belt tension.

 

The adjustment is located on the right handle and requires

 

no tools.

 

IMPORTANT: DO NOT operate the engine when inspecting or adjusting the drive belt.

14

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Snapper ELP21703BDV Operating the mower, Check for proper drive belt tension, Stop the engine, Wheel drive control