8
Avoid Slopes
Avoid steep slopes of more than 20
°
.
Mow across slopes, not up and down.
Be careful when changing direction.
Mowing on a slope when the grass is
damp or wet could cause you to slip,
fall, and lose control of the mower.
Never operate the mower in wet grass.
NOTICE
Mowing on steep slopes can starve the
engine of oil, causing engine damage
that is not covered by the
DISTRIBUTOR’S LIMITED
WARRANTY
.
Keep all four wheels on the ground, and be careful to avoid losing
your footing and your control of the mower. Keep a firm grip on the
handlebar, and walk, never run, with the mower. Be very careful when
mowing uneven or rough ground. Do not mow near drop offs, ditches,
or embankments. You could lose your footing or balance.
If stuck, do not kick or shove the mower with your foot. Use the
handlebar to control the mower.
Avoid Obstacles
Gravel, loose stones, and landscaping material can be picked up by
the mower and thrown many feet with enough force to cause serious
personal injury and/or property damage. Never direct discharged
material toward anyone. Avoid discharging material against a wall or
obstruction. Material may ricochet back toward the operator. The best
way to prevent potential injury from thrown objects is to release the
blade control lever to stop the blades before reaching areas with
gravel, loose stones, or landscaping material.
Be careful when mowing over obstacles that stick up above the
surface of the lawn such as sprinkler heads, paving, edging, raised
tree roots, etc.
If the blade hits something, or if the mower starts to vibrate, stop the
engine immediately, disconnect the spark plug cap, and check for
damage (
). Striking objects may damage the blades, bend the
crankshaft, and/or break the mower deck or other components.
Vibration usually indicates serious trouble.
The
DISTRIBUTOR’S LIMITED WARRANTY
(
) does not
cover parts damaged by accidental impact collision.
Operating the Controls
Blade Control Lever
The blade control lever must be
pulled back against the
handlebar to start and run the
engine. The blades start to
rotate when the lever is pulled
back against the handlebar and
the recoil starter grip is pulled.
Continue to hold the lever fully against the handlebar. This will keep
the engine and blades rotating smoothly and prevent premature wear
to the flywheel brake system.
Release the blade control lever to stop the engine and stop blade
rotation whenever you need to leave the mower.
Smart Drive Control
With the engine running
and the blades rotating,
slowly push the Smart
Drive control to propel the
mower forward.
Ground speed will increase
as more pressure is applied
to the Smart Drive control.
After maximum ground speed is obtained, applying additional
pressure will not further increase ground speed. Apply only enough
pressure to achieve the desired speed.
Release the Smart Drive control to disengage the drive when mowing
around trees and other obstacles. Push the mower around obstacles
for better directional control.
Ground speed varies with terrain, grass height, slope, and grass bag
weight. Moving the Smart Drive control allows you to maintain the
desired ground speed under constantly changing mowing conditions.
Release the Smart Drive control to disengage (stop) the rear wheels.
Adjusting the Smart Drive Control
The Smart Drive control can be
adjusted up or down into any one
of five positions for operator
comfort.
Do not attempt to adjust the
position of the Smart Drive
control while the mower is in
motion.
Slide the multi-position adjuster to the left to unlock the control, move
the Smart Drive control up or down into the most comfortable position,
and then release the multi-position adjuster and allow it to engage.
Starting the Engine
The blades turn when you start the
engine. Start the engine in a clear or
mowed area where the blades can
turn freely.
1. Turn the fuel valve to the ON
position (
).
2. Pull back on the blade control lever and hold it against the
handlebar.
3. Pull the starter grip lightly until you feel resistance, and then pull
briskly. Return the starter grip gently.
To ensure easy restarting and maximum performance from the Auto
Choke System, allow the engine to run for at least three minutes after
starting a cold engine before stopping the engine. This minimum run
time will be longer if the temperature is below 70 °F (21 °C).
Continue to hold the blade control lever against the handlebar; the
engine stops when the blade control lever is released.
WARNING
A worn, cracked, or damaged blade can break, and pieces of
the damaged blade can become dangerous projectiles.
Blades thrown from the mower could seriously hurt or kill
someone.
Inspect the blades regularly (see
), and do not operate
the mower with a worn or damaged blade.
BLADE CONTROL LEVER
To prevent thumb fatigue, hold
the Smart Drive control as shown.
MULTI-POSITION
ADJUSTER
BLADE
CONTROL
LEVER