Operating the Blade and the
Self-Propel Drive
1. Have the blade control bar in the A position
Figure 15
2. Slide the blade control bar to the right and
raise it to the B position to engage the blade
(Figure 15).
3. Squeeze the blade control bar against the
handle to the C position to drive (Figure 15).
Note:
To disengage the traction drive but keep
the blade engaged, gradually release the blade
control bar to the B position. To self-propel with
the blade disengaged, squeeze the blade control
bar against handle to the C position without sliding
the blade control bar to the right.
The lawn mower has 3 ground speeds. 1 is slow, 2
is medium, and 3 is fast. The ground speed control
is located at the rear of the belt cover (Figure 14).
Note:
You can vary the ground speed by
increasing or decreasing the distance between the
control bar and the handle. Lower the control
bar to slow the lawn mower when making a turn
or if the lawn mower is moving too fast for you.
If you lower the control bar too far, the lawn
mower stops self-propelling. Squeeze the control
bar closer to the handle to increase the ground
speed. When you hold the control bar tight against
the handle, the lawn mower self-propels at the
maximum ground speed. Move the ground speed
control to the Neutral position when you use the
lawn mower for trimming and whenever you leave
the lawn mower.
Using the Discharge Tunnel
Plug
1. Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts
to stop.
2. Insert the plug; refer to Installing the Discharge
Tunnel Plug.
3. To remove the plug, move the discharge door
handle rearward and lift up the spring clip
on the bottom of the plug. When the plug is
unlocked, pull it out of the discharge tunnel.
Note:
When grass is thick and lush, clippings
may collect on and around the discharge
tunnel plug. This may make removing the plug
difficult. Clean the plug thoroughly after each
use.
Checking the Blade Brake
Clutch
Check the blade control bar before each use
to ensure that the blade brake clutch system is
operating properly.
Normal Test
1. Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts
to stop.
2. Move the lawn mower onto a paved surface in
a non-windy area.
3. Set all 4 wheels in to the 2-1/2 inches (64 mm)
cutting height setting (Figure 21).
4. Set the ground speed selector to the Neutral
(N) position.
5. Take a half sheet of newspaper and crumple
it into a ball small enough to go under the
deck (about 3 inches or 76 mm in diameter)
as shown in Figure 16.
15
