•Lift and stabilize the front of the deck.
•Loosen the center hex bolt and lower the blade and engine pulley until there is adequate clearance to move the belt past the belt keeper.
•Remove the belt from the engine pulley and around the blade. See Figure 21.
•Reassemble in reverse order with new belt (part #
IMPORTANT: Torque center hex bolt to between 450 and 600 in. lbs.
Right Front
Wheel
Engine
Pulley
Center
Hex Bolt
Left Front
Wheel
Remove belt from around pulley and blade
Figure 21
Maintaining Engine
Refer to the separate engine manual for engine maintenance instructions.
•Maintain engine oil as instructed in the separate engine manual packed with your unit. Read and follow instructions carefully.
•Service air cleaner every 25 hours under normal conditions. Clean every few hours under extremely dusty conditions. Poor engine performance and flooding usually indicates that the air cleaner should be serviced. To service the air cleaner, refer to the separate engine manual packed with your unit.
•The spark plug should be cleaned and the gap reset once a season. Spark plug replacement is recommended at the start of each mowing season; check engine manual for correct plug type and gap specifications.
•Clean the engine regularly with a cloth or brush. Keep the cooling system (blower housing area) clean to permit proper air circulation which is essential to engine performance and life. Be certain to remove all grass, dirt and combustible debris from muffler area.
SECTION 13: OFF-SEASON STORAGE
The following steps should be taken to prepare lawn mower for storage if it will not be used for 30 days or more. Compliance with these instructions will ensure that your mower will work properly when it is reused next season.
•Clean and lubricate mower thoroughly as described in the lubrication instructions.
•Refer to engine manual for correct engine storage instructions.
•Coat mower’s cutting blade with chassis grease to prevent rusting.
•Store mower in a dry, clean area. Do not store next to corrosive materials, such as fertilizer.
NOTE: When storing any type of power equipment in a poorly ventilated or metal storage shed, care should be taken to
21