16
AIR FILTER
Your engine will not run properly and may
be damaged by using a dirty air fi lter.
Replace the air fi lter cartridge every 100
hours of op er a tion or every season, which-
ev er occurs fi rst. Service air cleaner more
often under dusty conditions.
TO CLEAN AIR FILTER
1. Loosen screw and tilt cover to re move.
2. Carefully remove cartridge.
3. Clean by gently tapping on a fl at sur-
face. If very dirty, replace car tridge.
CAUTION:
Pe tro leum solvents, such as
ker o sene, are not to be used to clean car-
tridge. They may cause de te ri o ra tion of the
cartridge. Do not oil car tridge. Do not use
pres sur ized air to clean or dry car tridge.
4. Install cartridge, then replace cover
making sure the tabs are aligned with
the slots in the back plate. Fasten
screw securely.
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 spark 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 recom-
mend 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 short-
ened 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.
Back plate
Slot
Lip
Cover
tab
Cartridge
Cover
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 screws securing rear baffl e.
2. Turn lawn mower on its side with air
fi lter and car bu re tor up.
3. Remove rear baffl e from mower.
4. Disconnect return spring from rear baffl e
/ rear gearcase belt keeper.
5. Remove blade bolt, lockwasher, hard-
ened washer and blade.
6. Remove debris shield.
7. Remove gearcase belt keeper.
8. Remove drive belt.
TO REPLACE DRIVE BELT
1. Place new drive belt on gearcase pulley.
NOTE:
Always use factory approved belt
to assure proper fi t and long life.
2. Reinstall gearcase belt keeper. Be
sure the new drive belt is inside the
tabs of the gearcase belt keeper.
3. Position the blade adapter on the en-
gine crank shaft. Be sure key in adapter
and crankshaft keyway are aligned;
and that the new drive belt is inside the
tabs of the belt retainer.
4. Reattach return spring to rear baffl e / rear
gearcase belt keeper.
5. Place rear baffl e in mower housing.
6. Reinstall debris shield.
7. Reinstall blade. The recommended
tightening torque is 35–40 ft. lbs.
(47–54 Nm).
8. Return mower to upright po si tion.
9. Reinstall rear baffl e screws.
Handle
bracket
Low
Knob
High
Medium
Bolt
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.
Blade
bolt
Hardened washer
Lockwasher
Blade
adapter
Blade
Belt retainer
Gearcase
belt keeper
Return spring
Debris shield
Idler pulley
Rear
baffl e
Gearcase
pulley
