16
Recoil
starter handle
(side mount type)
Recoil
starter
handle
(center
mount
type)
Operator
presence
control bar
“VARI-SPEED” ADJUSTMENT
Over time, the drive control system may
become “loose”, resulting in decreased
speed. There is a thumbscrew on the
un der side of the drive control housing to
increase tension on the drive cable. Pro-
ceed as follows:
• Turn unit off and disconnect spark plug
wire from spark plug.
• Rotate thumbscrew counter-clockwise to
tighten the drive cable.
• Operate mower to test drive speed.
•
If condition fails to improve after the
above steps (forward speed remains
the same), your drive belt is worn and
should be re placed.
NOTE:
If mower begins to "creep" forward,
the drive cable is too tight. Rotate thumb-
screw clockwise to loosen drive cable.
BEFORE STARTING EN GINE
Read the engine manual packed with your
mower.
FILL ENGINE WITH OIL
Your lawn mower is shipped without oil in
the engine.
• Be sure mower is level and area around
oil fi ll is clean.
• Remove engine oil fi ller plug (oil fi ll cap/
dipstick on models so equipped).
• Slowly add oil. For type and grade of
oil to use, see “ENGINE” in the Mainte-
nance section of this manual.
• Fill to the top of slot in fi ller hole (to
“FULL” line on dipstick on models so
equipped). Do not overfi ll.
• Replace plug (oil fi ll cap/dipstick on
models so equipped) and tighten.
• Check oil level before each use. Add oil
as needed.
• To change oil, see Maintenance section
of this manual.
FILL GASOLINE TANK
• Fill gasoline tank with fresh, clean, un-
leaded gaso line. DO NOT USE PRE-
MIUM GASOLINE. BE CARE FUL NOT
TO OVERFILL TANK.
WARNING:
Experience indicates that
al co hol blended fuels (called gaso hol or
using ethanol or metha nol) can at tract
mois ture which leads to sepa ra tion and
for ma tion of acids during storage. Acidic
gas can damage the fuel system of an
en gine while in stor age. To avoid engine
prob lems, the fuel system should be
emptied before stor age of 30 days or
longer. Drain the fuel tank, start the
engine and let it run until fuel lines and
car bu re tor are empty. Use fresh fuel next
season. See Stor age In struc tions for
ad di tion al in for ma tion. Never use en gine or
car bu re tor clean er prod ucts in fuel tank or
per ma nent dam age may occur.
TO START ENGINE
CAUTION:
The mow er blade rotates
whenever the engine is running.
• Move engine speed control to FAST
position (or to CHOKE/START position
on models equipped with choke feature).
• If your mower has a primer, to start a
cold engine, push primer as many times
as in struct ed in the engine manual
packed with your mower. Use a fi rm
push. This step is not usually nec es sary
when start ing an engine which has
already run for a few minutes.
• Hold operator presence control bar
down against han dle.
MODELS WITH RECOIL START ER
• Pull starter handle quickly. Do not allow
starter rope to snap back.
MODELS WITH ELECTRIC START ER
• Push the engine start button (or turn the
key on models so equipped).
IMPORTANT:
Do not crank engine more
than fi ve continous seconds between each
time you try to start. Wait 5 to 10 seconds
between each attempt.
ALL MODELS
• For engines equipped with choke, slowly
move engine speed control lever to
FAST after engine starts.
TO STOP ENGINE
• To STOP engine, release operator pres-
ence control bar.
NOTE:
For engines with a primer, it may
be nec es sary to repeat priming steps
in cooler weather. In warmer weath er,
overpriming may cause fl ood ing and
en gine will not start. If you do fl ood
engine, wait a few minutes before
attempting to start and DO NOT repeat
priming steps.
