Maintenance Instructions

CHECKING/SERVICING

CHECKING/SERVICING

DANGER

To prevent accidental starting of the engine when servicing or adjusting the ma- chine, remove the key from the ignition switch and disconnect the spark plug wires.

Battery

Charging the Battery

Limit initial charging current to 1000mA. Charge until battery voltage (under charge) reaches 14.40 to

14.70volts at 68°F (20°C). Hold at 14.40 to 14.70 volts until current drops to approximately 50mA. Battery is fully charged under these conditions, and charger should be disconnected.

NOTE: Due to the self-discharge characteristics of this type of battery, it is imperative that it be charged after 6-9 months of storage, otherwise permanent loss of capacity might occur as a result of sulfation.

Tire Pressure

Inflate tires to pressures shown below:

Deck Caster Wheel = 20 PSI (137 kPa)

Drive

=

15 PSI (103 kPa)

Rear

=

20 PSI (137 kPa)

Sharpen Mower Blades

Check mower blade(s) for straightness, sharp- ness, condition of the cutting edge, and balance every 10 hours of operation (or more often when mowing abrasive type grass or operating on sandy soils). Replace blades if worn, bent, cracked, or otherwise damaged (refer to REPLACING/RE- PAIRING the Mower Blades in this section). Use the following procedure to check and sharpen blades:

NOTE: Keep blades sharp - cutting with dull blades not only yields a poor mowing job but slows the cutting speed of the mower and causes extra wear on the engine and blade drive by pulling hard.

1.Stop the engine, remove ignition key, and dis- connect the spark plug wires before raising the mower deck to service blades.

2.Raise the deck and secure it in the TILT-UPpo- sition. Refer to CLEANING the Grass Buildup in Mower Housing in this section for deck rais- ing instructions.

DANGER

NEVER operate cutter blades with the deck in the raised position.

3.Check the blades for straightness by marking the blade tip position inside the deck housing, and then rotating the opposite end of the blade to the same position and comparing. If the dif- ference in blade tip track is more than 1/8 in. (3 mm), the blade is bent and should be re- placed.

WARNING

DO NOT try to straighten a blade that is bent. NEVER weld a broken or cracked blade. ALWAYS replace with a new blade to assure safety.

4.If the blade cutting edge is dull or nicked, it should be sharpened. Remove blades for sharpening by grasping the end of the blade us- ing a rag or a thick, padded glove, while loosen- ing and removing the nut, lock washer, and flat washer that mounts the blade.

5.Grind cutting edge at the same bevel as the original. Sharpen only the top of the cutting edge to maintain sharpness.

NOTE: Blades can be sharpened with an elec- tric blade sharpener, conventional electric grind- er, or a hand file.

CAUTION

ALWAYS wear eye protection and gloves when sharpening a blade.

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