11
SECTION 5: OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER
Gas & Oil Fill-Up
•
Check oil level and add oil if necessary. Follow
relevant instructions in the engine manual for this.
•
Service the engine with gasoline as instructed in
the engine manual.
Before Starting Mower
•
Attach spark plug wire to spark plug. Make certain
the metal cap on the end of the spark plug wire
(inside the rubber boot) is fastened securely over
the metal tip on the spark plug.
•
Check for proper drive clutch operation using the
neutral adjustment test described below:
Neutral Adjustment Test
To perform the neutral adjustment test answer the
following questions:
•
With the drive clutch control released, push mower
forward and pull it backward. Does it move freely?
•
Squeeze the drive clutch control and pull the
mower backward. Do the rear wheels lock?
•
Is the drive clutch control cable free of kinks or
sharp bends?
•
If you answered “yes” to all three questions, your
mower passed the test and you can start it.
•
If you answered “no” to any of the three questions,
you will have to adjust the drive clutch control as
instructed in the adjustment section.
Throttle Speed
Your lawn mower engine is equipped with a constant
speed throttle, which is set at full throttle for best
performance.
Starting Engine
•
On
model 569,
push the primer three times. Wait
about two seconds between each push. In cold
weather around 55
o
F or below, prime five times.
Do not prime to restart a warm engine after a short
shutdown.
Model 566
has no primer and requires
no priming.
•
Standing behind the mower, depress the blade
control handle and hold it against the upper handle.
•
Grasp starter handle and pull rope out slowly until
engine reaches the start of compression cycle
(rope will pull slightly harder at this point). Keeping
a firm grip on the starter handle, let the rope rewind
slowly.
NOTE:
See your engine manual packed with your unit
for more detailed instructions.
To Stop Engine
•
Release the blade control handle to stop the engine
and blade.
•
Disconnect spark plug wire and ground it against
the engine to prevent accidental starting while
equipment is unattended.
Using Your Lawn Mower
•
You can use your mower as a mulcher or a rear
bagger or for side discharge of grass.
•
Be sure that the lawn is clear of stones, sticks, wire,
or other objects which could damage lawn mower
or engine. Such objects could be accidently thrown
by the mower in any direction and cause serious
personal injury to the operator and others.
•
For best results, do not cut wet grass
because it
tends to stick to the underside of the mower.
•
For a
healthy lawn
, always cut off one-third or less
of the total length of the grass. Lawn should be
trimmed in fall as long as there is growth.
WARNING:
Read and understand all
instructions and warnings on the machine and
in this manual before operating.
WARNING:
Use extreme care when
handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely
flammable and the vapors are explosive. Never
fuel the machine indoors or while the engine is
hot or running. Extinguish cigarettes, cigars,
pipes and other sources of ignition.
WARNING:
Be sure no one other than the
operator is standing near the lawn mower while
starting engine or operating mower.
WARNING:
Never run engine indoors or in
enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an
odorless and deadly gas.
WARNING:
Keep hands, feet, hair and
loose clothing away from any moving parts on
engine and lawn mower.
WARNING:
When starting the unit for the
first time, face the mower against a wall or a
fence. Start the unit and if it shows any signs of
motion while the drive clutch control is still
disengaged, shut engine off immediately.
WARNING:
If the mower strikes a foreign
object, stop the engine. Remove spark plug
wire from the spark plug and thoroughly inspect
for any damage. Repair the damage promptly
before restarting and operating the mower.
