Rev: 8/2008
15 of 21
36B, 36BX, 36H, 36HX, 52H, 52HX
DEK
®
is exclusively distributed by GXi International, LLC
Heavy Duty Power Equipment
General Maintenance
Maintenance
The Importance of Maintenance
Good maintenance is essential for your DEK lawn mower for
upkeep of safety and quality.
To help you properly care for your lawn mower, the following
pages include a maintenance schedule, routine inspection proce-
dures, and simple maintenance procedures using basic hand
tools. Maintenance is the responsibility of the owner and must
be performed regularly. Other service tasks that are more diffi-
cult, or require special tools, are best handled by professionals
and are normally performed by a DEK technician or other quali-
fied mechanic.
The maintenance schedule applies to normal operating condi-
tions. If you operate your lawn mower under severe conditions,
such as sustained prolonged use or high-temperature opera-
tions, or use it in unusually wet, dusty or rocky conditions, con-
sult your servicing dealer for recommendations applicable to your
individual needs and use.
Please be sure to use genuine DEK mower replacement parts
when servicing your mower to assure the best quality, safety and
performance for your mower.
Item Procedure
Time Interval
Break-in
(first 5 hrs)
Every
8 hrs
(daily)
Every
40 hrs
(weekly)
Every
100 hrs
(Bi-weekly)
Every
200 hrs
(monthly)
Belts Inspect
(adjust if
needed)
X X
Blades Inspect
and
Sharpen
X
Engine Air Filter
Inspect
(see Engine
Owner’s Manual)
X
Engine Cooling
Areas
Clean
(see Engine
Owner’s Manual)
X
Engine Oil
Check
(see Engine
Owner’s Manual)
X
Change
(see Engine
Owner’s Manual)
X X
Engine Oil Filter
Change
(see Engine
Owner’s Manual)
X
X
Engine Spark Plug Inspect
(see Engine
Owner’s Manual)
X
Fuel Filter
Replace
X
Fuel Line
Check
X
Grease Fittings
Refer to page 16
Hardware
Check for proper
tightness
X X
Mower Main
Frame
Remove debris
from under belt
cover
X
Safety Interlock
System
Check Operations
and Switches
X
Tires
Check Air Pres-
sure
X
Maintenance Schedule
WARNING
DANGER: Before making any adjustments and/or servicing to
your DEK Mower, make sure the mower is on level ground,
blades disengaged, key removed, and the engine off with the
spark plug wire(s) removed from the spark plug(s) to prevent
accidental contact. If adjustment or maintenance is being
performed after operation of the mower, allow the unit to cool
since heat build up could cause severe burns.
WARNING
DANGER: Gasoline is highly flammable and explosive. Do not add
fuel while the engine is running or is hot. Keep open flames, sparks,
and heat away from the fuel and store fuel in containers specifically
designed for that purpose. Add fuel outdoors only and if the fuel is
spilled, do not start the engine. Manually push the mower away
from the spill and wipe up immediately.
Fuel
Refer to the Engine Owner’s Manual for the type of fuel to use.
A fuel shut off valve is located on the bottom of the fuel tank. (Figure
1, page 7). It is recommended that the fuel be shut off when transport-
ing between job sites and when storing the mower for the extended
periods of time.
Engine Oil
CHECK ENGINE OIL BEFORE EACH USE. Refer to the Engine
Owner’s Manual for the type of oil, oil change intervals, and the proper
procedures to check and change oil.
Air Filter
Refer to the Engine Owner’s Manual for the recommended maintenance.
Tire Pressure
The recommended tire pressure for all four wheels is 28 PSI. Incorrect
tire pressure may cause the mower to pull to one side and/or uneven cut.
Always use caution when filling the tire and never exceed the recom-
mended tire pressure.
WARNING
DANGER: Before working on the blades, make sure the engine is
off, key removed, and the spark plug(s) wires removed from the
spark plug(s) to prevent accidental contact.
Blades
CAUTION
Beware of the cutting edges on the blades. Always wear work
gloves when performing blade maintenance.
Blades should be inspected on a daily basis for nicks, bends, and/or ex-
cessive wear. If the blades are worn, cracked, bent, or damaged, replace
immediately before using the mower. Use only genuine DEK lawn mower
replacement blades when changing blades to ensure quality and perform-
ance.
To remove blades, refer to page 14, section “Removing the Blades.”
When sharpening the blades, sharpen only the cutting edges and try to
maintain the original angle of the blade. Do not make the cutting edge
razor sharp. Remove the same amount from each side of the blade so
that balance in maintained.
Cleaning the Mower
It is recommended that the DEK lawn mower be cleaned on a daily basis.
Excessive accumulation of dirt, debris, oil, etc. causes premature wear on
the components and may present a potential safety hazard.
