SECTION 6: OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER
Towards Better Mower Performance
1.Read this manual in its entirety before you start the lawn mower. Instructions given here have been designed for maintaining safety while getting the best performance from your mower. Follow the instructions closely.
2.Pour fresh, clean gasoline into the mower’s gas tank until the tank is full. Do not use gasoline that is more than 30 days old.
3.Always use a fuel stabilizer. It will double the life of the gasoline used.
4.Make sure to connect the mower’s spark plug wire before trying to start the engine.
5.Add engine oil to the oil fill on the mower engine. Check the dipstick and add more if necessary. Remember that the oil level has to touch the fill line.
6.Locate the primer decal near the primer bulb on the engine, and read its instruction. Using your thumb, press the primer bulb slowly as many times as the decal advises.
7.Hold control handle down and pull rope firmly to start the engine.
8.Set cutting height adjustment lever to middle setting and mow a single pass on your lawn; then adjust to desired height for a closer cut.
9.When bagging the grass clippings, remove mulch plug/cover and store.
10.To mulch insert the mulch plug/cover on the mower.
11.In heavy growing season, it may be necessary to mow lawn twice weekly. Clumps of grass clippings left behind on the lawn usually means that the grass is too high to mulch.
12.Before storing the lawn mower for the winter, use
13.Thirty days before start of the new season, check the air filter, spark plug and blade on the lawn mower, and replace if needed.
For more details about proper lawn care, visit our website at www.mtdproducts.com/machines/tips
WARNING: Keep hands and feet away from chute area on the cutting deck. The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects being thrown into the eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields.
NOTE: For shipping purposes your mower is set with the wheels in a low cutting height position. For best results raise the cutting position until it is determine which height is best for your lawn. See the Adjustment Section for details.
Gas and Oil Fill-Up
Service the engine with gasoline and oil as instructed in the separate engine manual packed with your mower. Read instructions carefully.
WARNING: Never fill fuel tank indoors with engine running or until the engine has been allowed to cool for at least two minutes after running.
Starting Engine
•Attach spark plug wire to spark plug. Make certain the metal cap on the end of the spark plug is fastened securely over the metal tip on the spark plug.
•Prime engine as instructed in the separate engine manual packed with your unit.
•Your lawn mower may be equipped with a constant speed throttle, which is set at full throttle for best performance.
•Stand behind the mower and squeeze the blade control handle against the upper handle.
•Grasp recoil starter handle and pull rope out slowly until engine reaches the start of compression cycle (rope will pull slightly harder at this point). Let the rope rewind slowly. Pull rope with a rapid, continuous, full arm stroke. Keeping a firm grip on the starter handle, let the rope return to the starter slowly.
Using Your Lawn Mower
Be sure that the lawn is clear of stones, sticks, wire, or other objects which could damage the lawn mower or the engine. Such objects could be accidently thrown by the mower in any direction and cause serious personal injury to the operator and others.
For best results, do not cut wet grass because it tends to stick to the underside of the mower, preventing proper discharge of grass clippings, and could cause you to slip and fall. New grass, thick grass, or wet grass may require a narrower cut.
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