16
WATER WASHOUT FEATURE
Your lawn mower is equipped with a fi tting
that allows quick and easy cleaning of
the underside of the housing. To use this
feature, proceed as follows:
1. Move lawn mower to an area of cut
grass or another hard surface.
NOTE:
Water, grass and other debris will
drain from beneath the mower housing
during the washout process.
2. Remove grass catcher and discharge
chute assembly from lawn mower.
3. Close mulcher door (if equipped).
4. Connect a garden hose to the fi tting
where shown.
IMPORTANT:
Be sure the garden hose is
not routed under the lawn mower housing
or entangled in the wheels.
5. Turn on water supply and check for
leaks at the fi tting.
If no leaks are present, start engine (as
described in the Operation section of
this manual) and let engine run until the
underside of the lawn mower is clean.
WARNING:
Do not engage the drive
system during the washout process.
6. Shut off the engine.
7. Shut off water supply and remove
hose from fi tting.
CAUTION:
Do not remove hose from
fi tting while engine is running. Water in
engine can result in shortened engine life.
8. Start engine (as described in the Op-
eration section of this manual) and let
engine run for a full minute to remove
excess water from mower.
Back plate
Slot
Lip
Cover
tab
Cartridge
Cover
MUFFLER
Inspect and replace corroded muffl er as it
could create a fi re hazard and/or dam age.
SPARK PLUG
Replace spark plug at the beginning of
each mowing season or after every 100
hours of operation, whichever occurs fi rst.
Spark plug type and gap setting are shown
in the “PROD UCT SPEC I FI CA TIONS”
section of this manual.
CLEANING
IMPORTANT:
For best performance, keep
mower housing free of built-grass and
trash. Clean the underside of your mower
after each use.
CAUTION:
Disconnect spark plug wire
from spark plug and place wire where it
cannot come in contact with plug.
• Clean the underside of your lawn mower
by scraping to remove build-up of grass
and trash.
• Clean engine often to keep trash from
accumulating. A clogged engine runs
hotter and shortens engine life.
• Keep fi nished surfaces and wheels free
of all gasoline, oil, etc.
• With the exception of the water washout
port (if equipped), we do not recommend
using a garden hose to clean the outside
of your lawn mower unless the elec tri cal
system, muffl er, air fi lter and carburetor
are covered to keep water out. Water
in engine can result in shortened engine
life.
CLEAN UNDER DRIVE COVER
Clean under drive cover at least twice a
season. Scrape underside of cover with
putty knife or similar tool to remove any
build-up of trash or grass on underside of
drive cover.
Hose
Fitting
17
SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS
WARNING:
To avoid serious injury, before performing any service and adjustments:
1. Release control bar and stop engine.
2. Make sure the blade and all moving parts have completely stopped.
3. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place wire where it cannot come in
contact with plug.
LAWN MOWER
TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT
See “TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT” in
the Operation sec tion of this manual.
REAR DEFLECTOR
The rear defl ector, attached between the
rear wheels of your mower, is provided to
minimize the possibility that objects will
be thrown out of the rear of the mower
into the operator mowing position. If the
defl ector becomes dam aged, it should be
replaced.
TO REMOVE DRIVE BELT
1. Remove drive cover and belt keeper.
2. Remove belt from gearcase pulley.
3. Turn lawn mower on its side with air
fi lter and car bu re tor down.
4. Remove blade and blade adapter.
5. Remove belt from engine pulley.
4. Return mower to upright po si tion.
5. Install new belt on gearcase pulley.
6. Reinstall belt keeper and drive cover.
NOTE:
Always use factory approved belt
to assure proper fi t and long life.
Belt
Drive
cover
Belt
keeper
Gearcase
pulley
Blade
bolt
Crankshaft
keyway
Hardened
washer
Lockwasher
Blade adapter
Key
Blade
Trailing edge
Belt
retainer
TO REPLACE DRIVE BELT
1. Place new drive belt on engine pulley,
inside tabs of belt retainer.
2. Route the other end of the new drive
belt through hole in housing.
3. Reinstall blade adapter and blade.
The recommended tightening torque is
35–40 ft. lbs. (47–54 Nm).
TO ADJUST HANDLE
Your handle has three (3) height positions
- adjust to a height that suits you.
1. Remove knob and carriage bolt on one
side of the lower handle.
2. While holding handle assembly,
remove knob and car riage bolt from
opposite side, align hole in handle with
desired hole in handle bracket and
reassemble bolt and knob and tighten
securely.
3. Align opposite side of handle with
same positioning hole and secure with
bolt and knob.
Handle
bracket
Low
Knob
High
Medium
Bolt