Assembly Instructions
24
PREOPERATING CHECKLIST
Before operating the mower for the first time, and as
a routine before daily operations, it is important to
make sure the mower is properly prepared and
ready for operation. The following is a list of items
to be checked. (For a mower with frequent opera
tion, some of these items will not need to be checked
every day, but the operator should be aware of the
condition of each.)
For proper fuel and lubricants refer to
Specifications.
FILL FUEL TANK
Raise the grass catcher and locate the fuel tank on
top of the engine.
Fill the fuel tank using clean, fresh automotive grade
unleaded
gasoline (87 octane minimum, 10% etha
nol maximum).
DANGER
Handle gasoline with care. Gasoline is
highly flammable and its vapors are explo
-
sive. Use safe refueling procedures:
●
DO NOT fill fuel tank with the engine
running.
●
If the engine is hot, allow to cool before
refueling.
●
Use an approved fuel container.
●
Fuel the mower outdoors.
●
DO NOT smoke while refueling.
●
Avoid spilling fuel; use a funnel or
spout.
●
DO NOT overfill the fuel tank; fill up to
about 1 in. (25 mm) below the top of
tank.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT
permit dirt or other foreign
matter to enter the fuel tank. Wipe dirt from around
the filler cap before removing. Use a clean fuel stor
age container and funnel.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT mix oil with gasoline.
Al
ways use fresh, automotive grade unleaded gaso
line.
DO NOT
use gasoline containing greater than
10% ethanol.
DO NOT
use additives, such as car
buretor cleaners, deicers, or moisture removing
agents.
DO NOT
use gasoline blended with methyl
alcohol.
CHECK ENGINE CRANKCASE OIL LEVEL
Check the engine crankcase oil level before use and
after each 8 hours
of continuous operation. Refer
to
LUBRICATION
for
Checking Engine Crankcase
Oil Level
in
Maintenance Instructions.
CHECK AND SERVICE ENGINE AIR CLEAN
ER SYSTEM
Check condition, cleanliness, and security of the
complete air cleaner system (inspect air filter paper
element
every 100 hours
). For detailed proce
dures, refer to
CLEANING
the
Engine Air Cleaner
System
in
Maintenance Instructions.
CHECK ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM
Check that the engine cooling air intake screen is
free of obstruction by grass clippings or debris and
clean if required. Also, cylinder head cooling fins
should be inspected and cleaned if any build-up of
debris is noted. Refer to
CLEANING
the
Cylinder
Head Cooling Fins
in the
Maintenance Instructions
for this procedure.
Check performance of the cooling system by start
ing the engine, holding a hand adjacent to the cylin
der head (cooling air duct), and feeling the cooling
airflow.
DANGER
Make sure to keep hands clear of exhaust
pipe, muffler, and moving parts when
checking airflow.
CHECK HYDROSTATIC TRANSAXLE OIL
LEVEL
Refer to
LUBRICATION
for
Check
Transaxle Fluid
Level
in
Maintenance Instructions.
INSPECT THREE (3) DRIVE BELTS
Engine, PTO, and Hydrostatic Ground Drive.
