MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS

Adjust Idle Speed Screw

WARNING: This unit will need to be running during idle speed adjustment. Wear protective clothing and observe all safety instructions to prevent serious personal injury.

Also, DO NOT set unit on any surface except a clean, hard area while starting or performing any adjust- ments. Debris, such as gravel, sand, dust, grass, etc., could be thrown by the blower tube and damage property or cause serious injury to bystanders or operator.

If, after checking the fuel and cleaning the air filter, the engine still will not idle, adjust the idle speed screw as follows:

1.Start the engine and let it run at a high idle for a minute to warm up. Refer to Starting/Stopping Instructions.

2.Move the throttle control to the idle position ( ) and let the engine idle. If the engine stops, insert a small phillips screwdriver in between the Air Filter Cover and the Engine Cover (Fig. 32). Turn the idle speed screw in, clockwise, 1/8 of a turn at a time (as needed) until the engine idles smoothly.

Checking the fuel, cleaning the air filter, and adjusting the idle speed should solve most engine problems. If not and all of the following are true:

•the engine will not idle

•the engine hesitates or stalls on acceleration

•there is a loss of engine power

Have the carburetor adjusted by a qualified service dealer.

ROCKER ARM CLEARANCE

1.Remove the 2 handle screws with flat blade or T20 torx head screwdriver, while holding the nuts with 3/8” nut driver (Fig. 33).

Remove

Screws

Fig. 33

2.Remove top bolt located near starter rope handle with tools mentioned in step 1 (Fig. 33).

3.Loosen screw located near top of door hinge with same tools mentioned in step 1.

4.Open vacuum door, prop open with hand.

5.Remove handle.

6.Remove the six (6) screws on the back of the engine cover with a Flat-head or T-25 Torx screwdriver (Fig. 34).

View Of The Rear Engine Cover

Remove

Remove

Screws

Screws

Fig. 34

7.Disconnect the spark plug wire.

8.Clean dirt from around the spark plug. Remove the spark plug from the cylinder head by turning a 5/8 in. socket counterclockwise.

9.Remove the engine cover (Fig. 34).

10.Clean dirt from around the

rocker arm cover. Remove

Rocker

the screw holding the rocker

Arm

Cover

arm cover with a large flat

 

blade screwdriver or Torx T-

 

25 bit (Fig. 35). Remove the

 

rocker arm cover and gasket. Spark

11. Pull the starter rope slowly to

Plug

bring the piston to the top of

Hole

its travel (known as top dead

 

center). Check that:

 

 

• The piston is at the top of

 

its travel while looking in the

 

spark plug hole (Fig. 36).

Fig. 35

Rocker Arms

INTAKE

Adjusting Nuts

 

 

 

EXHAUST

Feeler Gauge

Spark Plug

Hole

Fig. 36

•Both rocker arms move freely, and both valves are closed. If these statements are not true, repeat this step.

12.Slide the feeler gauge between the rocker arm and the valve return spring. Measure the clearance between the valve stem and rocker arm (Fig. 36 & 37). Measure both the intake and exhaust valves.

Adjusting Nut

Rocker Arm

.003–.006 in.

(.076–.152 mm)

Feeler Gauge

Valve Stem

Fig. 37

The recommended clearance for both intake and exhaust is .003 – .006 in. (.076 – 0.152 mm). Use a standard automotive .005 in. (0.127 mm) feeler gauge. The feeler gauge should slide between the rocker arm and valve stem with a slight amount of resistance, without binding. See Figures 36 and 37.

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