8
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
3.
Move the mower outdoors. Check the engine gasoline
level. When filling the tank, stop when the gasoline
reaches one inch from the top. This space must be left
for expansion. Use fresh, clean, unleaded, regular
gasoline.
4.
Move the mower to a “test area” where you can operate
the mower for about half an hour without being
disturbed.
5.
To start the engine:
a.
Shift the transmission to neutral.
b.
Disengage the blade clutch.
c.
Place the neutral latch levers in the neutral lock
position.
d.
Connect the spark plug wire.
e.
Open the fuel shutoff valve.
f.
Move the throttle lever to the “Choke” position.
g.
Put the key in the ignition switch and turn the switch
on. (For electric-start engines: Turn the key to “Start”.
Do not hold the key in the start position for more than
10 seconds or you may damage the starter.)
h.
For recoil-start engines: Grasp the starter grip and
pull slowly until the starter engages and then pull the
cord rapidly to overcome compression, prevent
kickback and start the engine. Allow the cord to recoil
slowly. Repeat if necessary.
i.
Set the throttle at 50% of full engine RPM and allow
the engine to warm up. Then, adjust the throttle to full
engine RPM.
6.
After the engine has warmed up, shut off the ignition
and check the operation of the safety switches. Make
certain that the engine will not start unless the ignition
switch is turned on, the transmission is in neutral and
the blade clutch is disengaged. If the engine will start
with the transmission in any gear other than neutral,
immediately shut off the engine and replace the neutral
safety switch on top of the transmission. If the engine
will start with the blade clutch engaged, immediately
shut off the engine and adjust or replace, if necessary,
the blade safety switch mounted on the engine deck.
Start the engine and hold the left operator presence
control lever down against the left handle and move the
transmission shift lever into first gear. Now take your
hand off the operator presence control lever and the
engine should die. If it does not, immediately shut off the
engine and adjust or replace, if necessary, the operator
presence switch under the control panel. Shift the
transmission into neutral, restart the engine, hold the left
operator presence control down against the left handle
and engage the blade clutch. Now take your hand off of
the operator presence lever and the engine should die.
If it does not, immediately shut off the engine and adjust
or replace, if necessary, the operator presence switch
under the control panel. Disengage the blade clutch.
7.
Restart the engine.
8.
Push the blade clutch lever forward until it engages and
the cutter blades start rotating.
9.
Shift the transmission into first gear. (It is suggested that
you practice mowing in first gear.)
10. Squeeze both steering/brake levers with both hands and
release the neutral latch levers from the neutral lock
position.
11. Slowly release the steering/brake levers and the mower
will move ahead in a straight line. To turn the mower,
squeeze the steering/brake lever on the side to which
you want to turn.
12. To stop the mower’s forward motion, squeeze both
steering/brake levers until the mower stops and place
the neutral latch levers into the neutral lock position.
13. Before shifting into reverse gear, the mower’s forward
motion must be completely stopped. For maximum
traction in reverse, the steering/brake levers should be
pushed downward.
WARNING:
To avoid possible bodily injury
and to prevent damage to the transmission,
the mower must be completely stopped before
attempting to shift from forward to reverse or
reverse to forward.
14. Practice operating the mower and as you gain
confidence, shift the transmission from first to second
and mow for a while and then shift from second to third.
Mow for at least one-half hour and then return the
mower to the shop.
15. To stop and shut off the mower, squeeze both steering/
brake levers and place the neutral latch levers into the
neutral lock position, disengage the blade clutch, shift
the transmission into neutral, turn off the ignition to stop
the engine, close the fuel shutoff valve and disconnect
the spark plug wire.
16. Check that all nuts, bolts and screws are still tight.
17. Check, and adjust if necessary, the tension of the deck
drive belts and the transmission drive belt as described
in items 4 and 5 of the Initial Adjustment section.
18. Readjust the steering control rods and the brake rods.
They may require frequent adjustment until the belts
and brake bands have properly seated. These
adjustments are described in items 7 and 8 of the Initial
Adjustment section.
19. After the first full day of mowing, all nuts, bolt and
screws should be rechecked for proper tightness and
the belts should be rechecked for proper tension.
