Service Manual

INTRODUCTION
2 Primary Safety Criteria
1 Two-step Operation to
start
2. Blade stops in three
seconds
In 1982 the federal government mandated that all
consumer walk behind mowers with a cut of
25"
(63.5 cm) or less, be equipped with a safety blade
stopping device. There are two primary criteria
which these devices must meet:
A two-step operation must be performed in
order to start the blade rotating.
The blade must come to a stop within three
seconds of the operator leaving the
operator's position.
One of the ways the Tor0 Company met these
requirements was with the “zone start system." This
system utilizes a kill switch and a brake which stops
the engine when the operator releases the blade
control bail. The two-step blade criteria is met by
requiring the operator to pull the bail to the handle
first, then pull the recoil rope from the operator's
position.
OPERATION
The pivoting style zone start brake system has two
main functions. The first function of the system is to
stop the production of spark and the second is to
stop the engine and blade.
Stopping spark production is controlled by a switch.
The switch is closed when the blade control bail is in
the "at rest" position. Raising the bail to the main
mower handle opens the switch.
Service Section 10-3