Maintenance & Adjustments
Maintenance
General Recommendations
•
Always observe safety rules when performing any
maintenance.
•
The warranty on this lawn mower does not cover items that
have been subjected to operator abuse or negligence. To
receive full value from warranty, operator must maintain
the lawn mower as instructed here.
•
Changing of engine-governed speed will void engine
warranty.
•
All adjustments should be checked at least once each
season.
•
Periodically check all fasteners and make sure these are
tight.
WARNING:
Always stop engine, disconnect spark
plug, and ground against engine before performing
any type of maintenance on your machine.
Lubrication
1.
Lubricate pivot points on the blade control at least once
a season with light oil. This control must operate freely in
both directions. See Fig. 6-1.
2.
Lubricate the wheels at least once a season with light oil (or
motor oil). If wheels are removed for any reason, lubricate
surface of the axle bolt and inner surface of the wheel with
light oil. See Fig. 6-1.
3.
Follow the accompanying engine manual for lubrication
schedule and instruction for engine lubrication.
Figure 6-1
Deck Care
Clean underside of the mower deck after each use to prevent
build-up of grass clippings or other debris. Follow steps below
for this job.
1.
Disconnect spark plug wire. Drain gasoline from lawn
mower or place a piece of plastic under the gas cap.
2.
Tip mower so that it rests on the housing. Keep the side
with the air cleaner facing up. Hold mower firmly.
WARNING:
Never tip the mower more than 90º in
any direction and do not leave the mower tipped for
any length of time. Oil can drain into the upper part
of the engine causing a starting problem.
3.
Scrape and clean the underside of the deck with a suitable
tool. Do not spray with water.
IMPORTANT: Do not use a pressure washer or garden hose
to clean your unit. These may cause damage to the engine.
The use of water will result in shortened life and reduce
serviceability.
4.
Put the mower back on its wheels on the ground. If you had
put plastic under the gas cap earlier, make sure to remove it
now.
Engine Care
•
Maintain oil level as instructed in engine manual.
•
Service air cleaner and carbon canister filter every 25 hours
under normal conditions. Clean every few hours under
extremely dusty conditions. Poor engine performance
and flooding usually indicates that the air cleaner should
be serviced. To service the air cleaner and carbon canister
filter, refer to the engine manual.
•
Clean spark plug and reset the gap once a season. Spark
plug replacement is recommended at the start of each
mowing season. Check engine manual for correct plug
type and gap specifications.
•
Clean engine regularly with a cloth or brush. Keep the
top of the engine clean to permit proper air circulation.
Remove all grass, dirt, and combustible debris from muffler
area.
•
Engines stored between 30 and 90 days need to be treated
with a gasoline stabilizer such as STA-BIL® to prevent
deterioration and gum from forming in fuel system or on
essential carburetor parts.
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