Use and Care Manual

8
CAUTION: Under normal usage, the
catcher material is subject to de te ri o ra-
tion and wear and should, therefore, be
checked frequently for replacement. Any
replacement catcher should be checked
to ensure compliance with original man u-
fac tur er's spec i fi ca tions.
CAUTION: Do not run lawn mower
with out the discharge deflector (rear
door), approved grass catcher, clipping
de flec tor or mulcher plate in place. Never
attempt to operate mower with the dis-
charge deflector (rear door) removed or
propped open.
Hinge bracket
Formed tabs
Rear door
Grass
catcher
frame
HINGE BRACKET MOUNTED
DOOR PIVOT PIN MOUNTED
HANDLE BRACKET MOUNTED
DOOR SLOT MOUNTED
Handle bracket hooks Rear
door
Grass
catcher
handle
Catcher frame side hook
Rear door slots
Grass
catcher
han dle
Catcher frame hook
Pivot pins Grass
catcher
handle
Catcher frame hook
Rear
door
Frame
handle
Frame
opening
Vinyl
bindings
“FABRIC TOP” GRASS CATCHERS
TO ASSEMBLE AND ATTACH GRASS
CATCH ER
• Put grass catcher frame into grass bag
with rigid part of bag on the bottom.
• Slip vinyl bindings over frame.
NOTE: If vinyl bindings are too stiff, hold
them in warm water for a few minutes. If
bag gets wet, let it dry before using.
• Lift the rear door on the mower housing.
• For HINGE BRACKET mounted catcher,
place the grass catch er frame onto the
formed tabs on the rear door hinge
bracket.
• For HANDLE BRACKET mounted
catcher, place frame side hooks into
slots in handle brackets.
• For DOOR PIVOT PIN mounted catcher,
place the grass catcher frame hooks
onto the door pivot pins.
• For DOOR SLOT mounted catcher,
place the grass catcher frame hooks
into the slots of the rear door.
NOTE: The grass catcher is secured to the
lawn mower housing when the rear door is
lowered onto the grass catcher frame.
ASSEMBLY
17
MAINTENANCE
LAWN MOWER
Always observe safety rules when per-
forming any main te nance.
TIRES
• Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect
control chemi cals which can harm rubber.
• Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp
objects and other hazards that may
cause tire damage.
BLADE CARE
For best results, blade must be kept
sharp. Re place a bent or dam aged blade.
CAUTION: Use only a replacement blade
approved by the manufacturer of your mower.
Using a blade not approved by the manu-
facturer of your mower is hazardous, could
damage your mower and void your warranty.
TO REMOVE BLADE
1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with plug.
2. Turn lawn mower on its side. Make
sure air filter and carburetor are up.
3. Use a wood block between blade and
mower hous ing to prevent blade from
turning when re mov ing blade bolt.
NOTE: Protect your hands with gloves
and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth.
4. Remove blade bolt by turning counter-
clockwise.
5. Remove blade and attaching hardware
(bolt, lock wash er, hardened wash er).
NOTE: Remove the blade adapter and check
the key inside hub of blade adapter. The key
must be in good condition to work properly.
Replace adapter if damaged.
TO REPLACE BLADE
1. Position the blade adapter on the en-
gine crank shaft. Be sure key in adapter
and crankshaft keyway are aligned.
2. Position blade on the blade adapter
aligning the two (2) holes in the blade
with the raised lugs on the adapter.
3. Be sure the trailing edge of blade (oppo-
site sharp edge) is up toward the engine.
4. Install the blade bolt with the lock
washer and hardened washer into
blade adapter and crankshaft.
5. Use block of wood between blade and
lawn mower housing and tighten the
blade bolt, turning clockwise.
• The recommended tightening torque is
35-40 ft. lbs.
IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is heat treated.
If bolt needs replacing, replace only with
approved bolt.
TO SHARPEN BLADE
NOTE: We do not recommend sharp en ing
blade - but if you do, be sure the blade is
balanced. An un bal anced blade will cause
eventual damage to lawn mower or engine.
• The blade can be sharp ened with a file
or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt
to sharpen while on the mower.
• To check blade balance, drive a nail into
a beam or wall. Leave about one inch of
the straight nail ex posed. Place center
hole of blade over the head of the nail.
If blade is balanced, it should remain in
a horizontal position. If either end of the
blade moves downward, sharpen the
heavy end until the blade is balanced.
ENGINE
Read the maintenance section of your
engine manual.
LUBRICATION
Change the oil after the first two hours of
operation and every 25 hours there af ter or at
least once a year if the mower is not used for
25 hours in one year. Refer to engine manual.
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL
(SEE ENGINE MANUAL)
• Be sure lawn mower is on level surface.
• Oil will drain more freely when warm.
• Catch oil in a suitable container.
• For engines without dipstick, re move
bottom oil drain plug.
• For engines with oil fill cap/dipstick, remove
bottom drain plug or remove engine oil
cap and turn lawn mower on its side.
NOTE: Before tipping lawn mower to
drain oil, empty fuel tank by running en-
gine until fuel tank is empty.
• After oil has drained completely, re place
oil drain plug and tighten se cure ly.
• Refill engine with oil. Pour slowly. Do
not overfill.
• Fill to top of slot inside of filler hole or
to “FULL” line on dipstick on models so
equipped. Keep oil at proper level.
Blade
bolt
Crankshaft
keyway
Hardened
washer
Lockwasher
Blade adapter Key
Blade
Trailing edge
Crankshaft
Belt
retainer