10
5
Maintaining
Your Lawn
Mower
WARNING
Always stop engine,
disconnect spark plug,
and ground against
engine before clean-
ing, lubricating, or
performing any kind of
maintenance on your
machine.
IMPORTANT:
The use
of a pressure washer
or garden hose to
clean your unit is not
recommended. These
may cause damage to
electric components,
spindles, pulleys, bear-
ings, or the engine. The
use of water will result
in shortened life and
reduce serviceability.
General Recommendations
• Always observe safety rules when performing
any maintenance.
• The warranty on this lawn mower does not cover
items that have been subjected to operator abuse
or negligence. To receive full value from warranty,
operator must maintain the lawn mower as
instructed here.
• Changing of engine-governed speed will void
engine warranty.
• All adjustments should be checked at least once
each season.
• Periodically check all fasteners and make sure these
are tight.
WARNING: Always stop engine, discon-
nect spark plug, and ground against
engine before cleaning, lubricating or
doing any kind of maintenance on your machine.
Lubrication
1. Lubricate pivot points on the blade control at least
once a season with light oil. The blade control must
operate freely in both directions. See Figure 5-1.
2. Lubricate the wheels at least once a season with
light oil (or motor oil). If wheels are removed for any
reason, lubricate surface of the axle and inner surface
of the wheel with light oil.
3. Lubricate the torsion spring and pivot point on the rear
discharge door and side mulch plug periodically with
light oil to prevent rust. See Figure 5-1.
4. The transmission is pre-lubricated and sealed at the
factory and does not require lubrication.
5. Follow the accompanying engine manual for lubrica-
tion schedule and instruction for engine lubrication.
Deck Care
1. Disconnect spark plug wire. Drain gasoline from lawn
mower or place a piece of plastic under the gas cap.
2. Tip mower so that it rests on the housing. Keep the
side with the air cleaner facing up. Hold mower firmly.
WARNING: Never tip the mower more
than 90 degrees in any directions and do
not leave the mower tipped for any length
of time. Oil can drain into the upper part of the engine
causing a starting problem.
3. Scrape and clean the underside of the deck with a
suitable tool. Do not spray with water.
4. Put the mower back on its wheels on the ground. If
you had put plastic under the gas cap earlier, make
sure to remove it now.
Engine Care
• Maintain oil level as instructed in engine manual.
• Service air cleaner every 25 hours under normal
conditions. Clean every few hours under extremely
dusty conditions. Refer to engine manual.
• Clean spark plug and reset the gap once a season.
Check engine manual for correct plug type and gap
specifications.
• Clean engine regularly with a cloth or brush. Keep the
cooling system (blower housing area) clean to permit
proper air circulation. Remove all grass, dirt and
combustible debris from muffler area.
Replacing Rear Flap
1. Lift up rear door.
2. Bend (bow) the rear flap inward on each side to
release tabs from the holes in the handle mounting
brackets. See Figure 5-2.
3. Replace with new flap by bending the rear flap and
sliding into place.
Figure 5-1: Lubrication areas on the mower.
Figure 5-2: Replacing the rear flap.
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