Operator's Manual

8
Important Do not use gasoline that is more than 30
days old.
Danger
In certain conditions, gasoline is extremely
flammable and highly explosive. A fire or
explosion from gasoline can burn you and others
and can damage property.
• Fill the fuel tank outdoors, in an open area, and
when the engine is cold. Wipe up any gasoline
that spills.
• Do not fill the fuel tank completely full. Add
gasoline to the fuel tank until the level is 1/4 to
1/2 in. (6 to 13 mm) below the bottom of the
filler neck. This empty space in the tank allows
the gasoline to expand.
• Never smoke when handling gasoline, and stay
away from an open flame or where a spark may
ignite the gasoline fumes.
• Store gasoline in an approved fuel container and
keep it out of the reach of children.
• Never buy more than a 30-day supply of
gasoline.
Danger
When fueling, under certain circumstances, a
static charge can develop, igniting the gasoline. A
fire or explosion from gasoline can burn you and
others and damage property.
• Always place gasoline containers on the ground
and away from your vehicle before filling.
• Do not fill gasoline containers inside a vehicle or
on a truck or trailer bed because interior
carpets or plastic truck bed liners may insulate
the container and slow the loss of any static
charge.
• When practical, remove gasoline-powered
equipment from the truck or trailer and refuel
the equipment with its wheels on the round.
• If this is not possible, then refuel such
equipment on a truck or trailer from a portable
container, not from a gasoline dispenser nozzle.
• If you must use a gasoline dispenser nozzle, keep
the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel
tank or container opening at all times until
fueling is complete.
Use a fuel stabilizer/conditioner regularly during operation
and storage. A stabilizer/conditioner cleans the engine
during operation and prevents gum-like varnish deposits
from forming in the engine during periods of storage.
Important Do not use fuel additives other than a fuel
stabilizer/conditioner. Do not use fuel stabilizers with an
alcohol base such as ethanol, methanol, or isopropanol.
1. Clean around the fuel tank cap (Fig. 8).
1
1626
Figure 8
1. Fuel tank cap
2. Remove the cap from the tank.
3. Fill the fuel tank with unleaded gasoline to within 1/4 to
1/2 inch (6 to 13 mm) from the top of the tank. Do not
fill into the filler neck.
4. Install the fuel tank cap and wipe up any spilled
gasoline.
Reviewing the Maintenance
Schedule
Review the Recommended Maintenance Schedule on
page 12. You may need to perform one or more additional
procedures before or soon after you begin operating the
lawn mower.
Operation
Note: Determine the left and right sides of the machine
from the normal operating position.
Each time before you mow, ensure that the self-propel drive
and the blade control bail operate properly. When you
release the blade control bail, the engine and the self-propel
drive should stop. If they do not, contact an Authorized
Service Dealer.
Controls
The starter handle and the blade control bail are on the
upper handle as shown in Figure 9.
m-4207
3
2
1
Figure 9
1. Blade control bail
2. Upper handle
3. Starter handle