Yard Pro 917371580 User Manual LAWN MOWER Manuals And Guides 1010458L

User Manual: Yard Pro 917371580 917371580 YARD PRO LAWN MOWER - Manuals and Guides View the owners manual for your YARD PRO LAWN MOWER #917371580. Home:Lawn & Garden Parts:Yard Pro Parts:Yard Pro LAWN MOWER Manual

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Page Count: 36

OPERATO °$

SELF-PROPELLED ROTARY

LAWN MOWER

UAL

Assembmy

Operation

o Maintenance

•Service and Adjustments

oStorage

oTroubleshooting

_,WARNING: This lawn mower is equipped with an internal combustion engine and

should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brush-covered or

grass-covered land unless the engine's exhaust system is equipped with a spark

arrester meeting applicable local or slate laws (if any). If a spark arreeter is used, it

should be maintained in effective working order by the operator

In Ihe state of California the above is required by law (Section 4442 of the California

Public Resources Code). Other states may have similar laws, Federal laws apply

on federal lands_ A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest

authorized service center.

193733 Rev. 9 09.16.10 BY Printed in U.SoA.

SafetyRules......................2-3 Maintenance.............22-26 Storage..........................33-34

Assembly...........................5-B Serviceand Troubleshooting..............35-36

Operation......................9-21 Adjustments..................27-32

IMPORTANT"Thiscuttingmachineiscapableofamputatinghandsandfeetandthrowingob-

jects_Failuretoobservethefollowingsafelyinstructionscouldresultinserious injury or death,

_Look for this symbol to point out impor_ ', Do not pull mower backwards unless

tant safely precaulions. It means absolutely necessary. Always look down

CAUTIONII! BECOME ALERTI!I

YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED_

_, WARNING: In order to prevent accidental

starting when selting up, transporting, ad-

justing or maklng repairs, always disconnect

spark plug wire and place wire where itcannot

come in contact with plug

_,WARNING: Engine exhaust, some of its

constituents, and certain vehicle compo-

nents contain or emit chemicals known to

the State of California to cause cancer and

birth defects or other reproductive harm.

_,WARNING: Battery posts, terminals and

related accessories contain lead and lead

compounds, chemicals known to the State

of California to cause cancer and birth

defects or other reproductive harm_ Wash

hends after handling,

_,CAUTION: Muffler and

olher engine parts become

extremely hot during

operation and remain hot

after engine has stopped

To avoid severe burns on

contact, stay away from these areas,,

I. GENERAL OPERATION

- Read, understand, and follow all

instructions on the machine and in the

manual(s) before starting, Be thoroughly

lamiliar with the controls and the proper

use of the machine before starting.

- Do not put hands or feet near or under

rotatingpads. Keep clear of the dis-

charge opening at all times.,

° Only allow responsible individuals, who

are familiar with the instructions, to oper-

ate the machine.

• Clear the area of objects such as rocks,

toys, wire, bones, sticks, etc., which

could be picked up and thrown by blade,

° Be sure the area is clear of other people

before mowing, Stop machine if anyone

enters the area°

° Do not operate the mower when bare-

foot or wearing open sandals. Always

wear substantial foot wear.

and behind before and while moving

backwards.

,, Never direct discharged material toward

anyOne. Avoid discharging material against

a wall or obstruction. Material may richo-

chet back toward the operator Stop the

blade when crossing gravel surfaces

•Do not operate the mower without

proper guards, plates, grass catcher or

other safety protective devices in place

•See manufacturer's instructions for

proper operation and installation of

accessories. Only use accessories ap-

proved by the manufacturer..

•Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel

drives, walks, or roads,

° Stop the engine (motor) whenever you

leave the equipment, before cleaning the

mower or unclogging the chute.,

° Shut the engine (motor) off and watt until

Ihe blade comes to complete stop before

removing grass catcher.,

• Mow only in daylight /good artificial lighL

. Do not operate the machine while under

the influence of alcohol or drugs,,

° Never operate machine in wet grass,

Always be sure of your footing: keep a

firm hold on the handle; walk, never run,

° Disengage the self-propelled mech-

anism or drive clutch on mowers so

equipped before startfng the engine.

. If the equipment should start to vibrate

abnormally, stop the engine (motor) and

check immediately for the cause, Vibra_

lion is generally a warning of trouble.

• Always wear safety goggles orsafety glass-

es with side shieldswhen operating mowen

II, SLOPE OPERATION

Slopes are a major factor related to slip &

fall accidents which can result in severe in-

jury., All slopes require extra caution,, If you

feeDuneasy on a slope, do not mow it

DO:

• Mow across the face of slopes: never

up and down. Exercise extreme caution

2 when changing direction on slopes_

• Removeobstacles(rocks,treelimbs,etc,,)

• Watchforholes,ruts,orbumps_Tall

grasscanhideobstacles

DO NOT:

,, Do not trim near drop-offs, ditches or

embankments° The operator could lose

footing or balance°

• Do not trim excessively steep slopes,

o Do not mow on wet grass, Reduced foot-

ing could cause slipping,,

III. CHILDREN

Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is

not alert to thepresence of children, Children

are often attracted to the machine and the

mowing activity, Neverassume that children

will remain where you last saw them°

,, Keep children out of the trimming area

and under the watchful care of another

responsible adult,

,, Be alert and turn machine off if children

enter the area°

•Before and while walking backwards,

look behind and down for small children,

.Neveral!ow children to operate the mowero

.Use extra care when approaching blind

corners, shrubs, trees, or other obiects

that may obscure vision_

IV. SAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE

Use extreme care in handling gasollne_

Gasoline is extremely flammable and the

vapors are explosive.

° Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes

and other sources of ignition°

oUse only an approved container,

°Never remove gas cap or add fuel with

the engine running_ Allow engine to cool

before refueling.

oNever refuel the machine indoors,

° Never store the machine or fuel contain-

er where there is an open flame, spark

or pilot fightsuch as a water heater or on

otherappliances,,

° Never fill containers inside a vehicle, on

a truck or trailer bed with a plastic liner.

Always place containers on the ground

away from your vehicle before filling,.

,, Remove gas-powered equipment from the

truck ortrailerand refuelitonthe ground, tf

this isnot possible, then refuel such equip-

ment with a portable container, rather than

from a gasoline dispenser nozzle.

, Keep the nozzle in conlact with the rim

of the fuel tank or container opening at

all times until fueling is completer Do not

use a nozzle lock-open device.

° If fuel is spilled on clothing, change

clothing immediately,

° Never overfill fuel tank. Replace gas cap

and tighten securely.

V, GENERAL SERVICE

° Never run machine inside a closed area_

. Never make adjustments or repairs with

the engine (molor) running. Disconnect the

spark plug wire, and keep the wire away

from the plug toprevent accidentalstading

• Keep nuts and bolts, especially blade

attachment bolts, tight and keep equip-

ment in good condition.

° Never tamper with safety devices,. Check

their proper operation regularly_

.. Keep machine free ofgrass, leaves, orother

debris build-up, Clean oil or fuel spillage_

Allow machine to cool before storing,

• Stop and Inspect the equipment if you

strike an object., Repair, if necessary,

before restarting.

° Never attempt to make wheel height

adjustments while the engine is running°

•Grass catcher components are subject to

wear, damage, and deterioration, which

could expose moving parts or allow objects

to be thrown. Frequently check components

and replace with manufacturer's recom_

mended parts, when necessary,

• Mower blades are sharp and can cut,

Wrap the blade(s) or wear gloves, and

use extra caution when servicing them,

•Do not change the engine governor set-

ting or overspeed the engine,

o Maintain or replace safety and instruc-

tion labels, as necessary.

CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of a new Lawn Mower, it has been designed, engi-

neered end manufactured to give you the best possible dependablltty and performance.

Should you experience any problems you cannot easily remedy, please contact your

nearest authorized service center, They have competent, well trained technicians and

the proper tools to service or repair this unit,

° Read the SAFETY RULES and this Operator's Manual in its entirety before you at-

tempt to assemble or operate your new lawn mower to insure proper operation and to

prevent injury to yourself and others., Save this manual for future reference.,

o Your new lawn mower has been assembled at the factory with the exception of those

paris left unassembled for shipping purposes. To ensure safe and proper operation

of your lawn mower, all parts and hardware you assemble must be tightened securely,

Use the correct tools as necessary to ensure proper tightness°

,, All parts such as nuts, washers, bolts, etc,, necessary to complete the assembly have

been placed in the parts bag° 3

TO REMOVE LAWN MOWER

FROM CARTON

o Remove all loose parts from carton°

•Remove lawn mower housing wilh care,,

Avoid touchingblade under housing_

Always wear gloves or other protection

when working under or lifting mower,,

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU

ASSEMBLE OR OPERATE YOUR

LAWN MOWER

Do I have a side or rear discharge lawn

mower?

Look for the grass discharge opening on

your mower.. If the opening is on the right

side of the mower housing, itis a side

discharge mower. If the opening is at the

back of the mower housing, it is a rear dis-

charge mower, Only rear discharge lawn

mowers have a grass catcher included

wilh the mower. Approved grass catch-

ers for side discharge mowers may be

purchased from your nearest authorized

dealer.,

Do I have a mulching lawn mower?

Look for the grass discharge opening on

your mower.. Raise the discharge guard

(rear door on rear dischargemowers), If

the opening is closed off by a plate, then

your lawn mower is mulcher ready.. To

convert to a discharging mower, see the

Operation section of this manual.

What is the right and left side of the

lawn mower?

When right hand (RH) or lefthand (LH) is

mentioned in this manual, it means when

you are in the operating position (standing

behind the handle),,

FRONT

LEFT

HAND

SIDE

RIGHT

HAND

SIDE

BACK or REAR

(Operating Position)

What kind of engine is on my lawn

mower?

When learning how to operate your new

lawn mower, you will need to know what

kind of engtne powers the mower, A decal

on the engine witl indicate the manu-

facturer and type or brand name of the

engine,,

BR1GGS & STRAT£ON ENGINES

QU HTUm.

OTHER ENGINES

RATO °

_CAUTION" Do not operate this lawn

mower without the discharge guard or an

entire approved grass catcher in place°

These guards are for your protection and

are required by the American National

Standards Institute and Consumer Prod-

ucts Safety Commission°

_GAUTION: Disconnect spark plug wire

from spark plug and place wire where it

cannot come in contact wilh plug

HOW TO SET UP YOUR MOWER

UNFOLD HANDLE

IMPORTANT: Unfold handle carefully so

as not to pinch or damage control cables.

2 POSITION /"ADJUSTABLE" HANDLES

oRaise handles until lower handle section

locks into place in operating position°

"QUICK RELEASE" HANDLES

,, Move height adjustment lever forward to

raise mower to highest position,.

-Tighten handle bolts (on both sides),

Operator MOWING

presence

control

UP handle

Handle

lever

Handle

bolt

Height

adjuster

level

LEVER

FORWARD

TO RAISE

MOWER

3 POSITION "EZ" HANDLES

°Raise lower handle section to operating

position and align hole in handle with

one of three height positioning holes_

,Insert handle bolt through handle and

bracket and secure with knob_

oRepeat for opposite side of handle,

Handle

bracket

Knob

Bolt

3 POSITION "QUICK" HANDLES

•Raise lower handle section to operating

position and squeeze lhe bottom ends

of lower handle towards each other

until the pin in handle can be inserted

into one of the three height adjustment

holes.

p_n

SQUEEZE

Handle

adJ,

bracket

ALL HANDLES

" Raise upper handle section into place on

lower handle, remove protective padding

and tighten both handle knobs.

,, Remove handle padding holding opera-

tor presence control bar to upper handler

• Your lawn mower handle can be ad-

justed lor your mowing comfort. Refer to

"ADJUST HANDLE" in the Service and

Adjustments section of this manual

NOTE: For shipping purposes, the rear

wheels on your lawn mower may not be

adjusted to the same position as the front

wheels. Before operating mower adjust all

5 wheels to the same cutting height,

INSTALL REAR WHEELS "FABRIC TOP" GRASS CATCHERS

("HIGH WHEEL" MOWERS ONLY)

Some high wheel models require washers

which will be provided in a parts bag, If

provided, install washers on the axle first

as shown,

+ Install one (1) rear wheel on the axle of

rear wheel adjuster_

, Install 3/8-16 locknut and tighten se+

curely.

,, Repeat procedure for other rear wheel,

Axle

tocknut assembly

ASSEMBLE GRASS CATCHER

(REAR DISCHARGE MOWERS ONLY)

IMPORTANT: Ifyour model lawn mower

is mulcher ready, the mutcher plate or plug

must be removed before using moweras

a bagger+To converl mower to bagging or

discharging, see the Operation section in

this manual,

Look at the different grass catcher illustra-

tions that follow, Determine which type

of grass catcher you have and follow the

appropriate instructions+,

Frame

handle

Frame

opening

TO ASSEMBLE AND ATTACH GRASS

CATCHER

• Put grass catcher frame into grass bag

with rigid part of bag on the bottom,,

°Slip vinyl bindings over frame+

NOTE: If vinyl bindings are too stiff, hold

them inwarm water for a few minutes° if

bag gets wet, tet it dry before using+

= Lift the rear door on the mower housing,,

,For HINGE BRACKET mounted catcher,

place the grass catcher frame onto the

formed tabs on the rear door hinge

bracket.

"_'---_ Reardoor

Hingebracket

Formed tabs

Grass

catcher

frame

° For HANDLE BRACKET mounted

catcher, place frame side hooks into

slots in handle brackets,

Handte bracket Rear Grass

catcher

handle

Catcherframe sidehook

. For DOOR PIVOT PIN mounted cafcller,

place lhe grass catcher Irame tlooks

onto the door pivot pins

_tns Rear Grass

catcher

handle

Catcher frame hook ",

. For DOOR SLOT mounted catcher,

place the grass catcher frame hooks into

the slots of the rear door.

NOTE: The grass catcher is secured to the

lawn mower housing when the rear door is

lowered onto the grass catcher frame..

__ ._.__ Reardoor slotsGrass

Catcherframe hook "_'_.. ""'-. "" -. t

ALL GRASS CATCHERS

,_CAUTION; Under normal usage, the

catcher material is subjec! to deterioration

and wear and should, therefore, be

checked frequently for replacement° Any

replacement catcher should be checked to

ensure compliance with original manufac*

turer's specilicalions_

_,CAUTION: Do not run lawn mower

without the discharge guard (rear door),

approved grass catcher, clipping deflector

or mulcher plate in place. Never attempt

to operate mower with the discharge guard

(rear door) removed or propped open.

SPARK PLUG BOOT

On some models a spark plug boot is

packed loose in the parts bag.. If your

model has the boot, install on spark plug

wire and reconnect spark plug wire to

spark plug..

\Boot

TO PREPARE BATTERY

(ELECTRIC START MODELS ONLY)

NOTE: Your battery must be charged

before you can start your lawn mower°

= Open battery box (if equipped)°

• Disconnect engine connector (male)

(if equipped) from battery connector

(female),

o Connect battery charger connector

(male) to harness connector (female),.

oPlug battery charger into 110 voll AC_

outlet,,

•Leave battery charger connected for 24

hours before starting your engine lor the

first time,

,Reconnect engine connector (male) (if

equipped) to battery connector (female)_

-After charging, connect engine connector

(male) (if equipped) to battery connector

(female),

Connect your battery charger to charge

battery after each use°

IMPORTANT: The engine will not recharge

your battery_

At lhe end of the mowing season the

battery should be charged for 48 hours to

tect the battery during winter storage_

AUTION: Always disconnect the

engine connector from the battery con-

nector to prevent accidental starting when

transportingor storing your lawn mower

after the season,

HANDLE-MOUNTED KEY SWITCH

Engine Harness

connector connector

ale)

Charger

connector(male)

22PLUS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE

Englne battery Battery

Charger

connector

(male)

Battery connector (female)

DECK-MOUNTED BATFERY

Battery Batlery

box

Harness

connector

(female)

Charger

connector

(m_

Engfne connector (male)

22PLUS REAR WHEEL DRIVE

Battery char!

Harness

connector

hale)

Battery

box

The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects thrown into

the eyes, which can result in severe eye damage, Always wear safety

glasses or eye shields while operating your lawn mower or performing any

adjustments or repairs. We recommend standard safety glasses or a wide

vision safety mask worn over spectacles.

HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER

ENGINE SPEED CONTROL

MODELS WITH REMOTE THROTTLE

Engine speed is controlled by the throttle

control located on the upper handle,,

° Move lever forward to FAST engine

speed for starting and better bagging°

. Move lever backward for SLOW engine

speed.

o Some models have engines equipped

with a choke feature° Move the lever all

the way forward to the CHOKE position

when starling a cold engine,

NOTE: Be sure engine STARTtSTOP

switch(if equipped) is in the ON positiom

SLOW

FAST _ ..

CHOKE _" _ t;' IJ 1€1 .'

{START)// _' ,,/_'/"t'- : C ",_"

I/// \| ./I,,, ,'

\Ill Ih. _/ / t "

emote

_'_( J "throttle

_ff control

MODELS WITH FIXED SPEED ENGINES

Engine speed was set at the factory for

optimum performance,. Engine speed is

not adjustable.

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT

ALL MODELS:

Adjust cutting height to su_tyour require-

mentso Medium position is best for most

lawns° Raise wheels for low cut and lower

wheels for high cut..

NOTE: For shipping purposes, the rear

wheels on your lawn mower may not be

adjusted to the same position as the front

wheels, Before operaling mower adjust aH

wheels to the same cutting height..

"MANUAL" ADJUSTMENT

°Remove wheel, bolt, and hardware and

reassemble indesired adjustment holeo

°Reinstall wheel components in the same

order as they were before removal.

Tighten securely.

= Make sure ait wheels are af same height.

Fiat washer

31B-16

Spacer Locknut

"QUICK" ADJUSTMENT

° To changecutting height, squeeze adjuster

lever toward wheel., Move wheel up or

down to suit your requirements. Be sure

all wheels are in the same setting.

NOTE: Adjuster isproperly positioned when

plate tab inserts into hole in lever, Also, 9-

position adjusters (if so equipped) allow lever

to be positioned between the plate tabs.

LEVERBACKWARD Plate tab

TO LOWERMOWER

LEVERFORWARDTO RAISEMOWER Lever

"QUICK+PIN"ADJUSTMENT

.To change cutting height, pull up on

adjuster lever, move wheel up or down

to suit your requirements and release

adjuster lever. Be sure all wheels are in

the same setting.

NOTE: Adjuster is properly positioned

when lever inserts into hote in plate,.

LEVERBACKWARD

TO LOWERMOWER

"DUAL POINT" ADJUSTMENT

Both front wheels are adjusted by a single

lever on the lett front wheel.. Likewise,

both rear wheels are adjusted by a single

lever on the lelt rear wheel+

, Pull adjuster lever toward wheel. To

raise mower, move fever forward to

desired position.. To lower mower, move

the lever toward the rear+.

Be sure to adjust both front and rear

wheels to the same height,

ght fever

LEVER BACKWARD

TO LOWER MOWER

LEVER FORWARD

TO RAfSE MOWER

LEVER

FORWARD

TO RAISE MOWER

"SINGLE POINT" ADJUSTMENT

oPull adjuster lever toward wheel. To

raise mower, move lever forward to

desired position.. To lowermower, move

the lever toward the rear

Height

adjl

LEVER

BACKWARD

TO LOWER

MOWER

LEVER

FORWARD

TO RAfSE

MOWER \

'1o

"THREE POINT" ADJUSTMENT

(18" (45cm) HI-VAC MODELS ONLY)

Both rear wheels are adjusted by a single

lever on lhe left rear wheel,

o Pull adjuster lever toward wheel° To

raise mower, move lever forward to

desired position. To lower mower, move

lhe lever toward the rear.

NOTE; There are seven (7) height adjust-

ment positions for the rear wheels..

Both front wheels are adjusted as follows:

!.. Remove wheel, bolt, and hardware and

reassemble in desired adjustmenl hole..

2o Reinstall wheel components in the

same order as they were before re-

moval. Tighten securely.

NOTE: There are seven (7) height adjust-

ment holes for the front wtleels, Be sure

both front wheels are in the same hole.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to adjust both front

and rear wheels to the same heighL

LEVER BACKWARD

TO LOWER REAR

OF MOWER LEVER FORWARD

TO RAISE REAR

OF MOWER

Bolt

Lockbar

(

postllon)

Wing

Washer

Lockbar

("treowheel"

position)

CASTER WHEEL OPERATION

("THREE POINT" ADJUSTMENT ONLY)

The front wheels can be "locked" into

position or set to "freewheel" for better

maneuverability.. Placing the lockbars in

the outer holes of the adjustment brackets

"locks" the front wheels. Likewise, placing

the !ockbars in the inner holes of the ad-

justment brackets al]ows the front wheels

to spin freely ("freewheeF).

•Lift Iockbar until the frontmost end clears

the adjustment bracket, then pivot lock-

bar to desired position,.

IMPORTANT: Front wheels must be

"locked" into position when operating on

a sloper Mow across the face of slopes:

never up and down.

TO CONVERT MOWER:

Most mowers are shipped ready to be

used as a mulchero

"REAR DISCHARGE ONLY" MOWERS

Some models have a seperate mulcher

plug, other models have the mulcher plug

built into the rear door, To convert to bag-

ging or discharging, lhe plate or plug (if

so equipped) must be removed from the

discharge opening of the lawn mower.

. Open rear door and remove mulcher

plate or plug (if so equipped). Store

mulcher plate or plug in asafe place.

. You can now install grass catcher or

optionat clipping defleclor accessory.

° To return to mulching operation, install

mulcher plate or plug into discharge

opening of mower.

,,_CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower

without mutcher plate/plug in place or ap-

proved clipping defteclor or grass catcher

in place.. Never attempt to operate the

lawn mower with the rear door removed or

propped open,

MULCHER

"PLATE"

Slots

Mutcher

plale tabs

__i_ MULCHER

__ "PLUG"

Mutcher j...J... It{ _.JJ

plugf --/ -,.j_C..I--

MULCHER PLUG BUILT iNTO REAR DOOR

"SIDEDISCHARGE ONLY" MOWERS

MULCHER PLATE

To convert to bagging or discharging,

mulcher plate must be removed from un-

derside of lawn mower_

o Remove thefour (4) screws and locknuts

securing the mulcher plate to the mower,,

* Store mulcher plate and hardware in a

sale place.

o Mower can now be used for side

discharging or optional grass catcher

accessory can be attached

oTo return to mulching operation, simply

reinstall mulcher plate and tighten hard-

ware securely.

locknut

Mulcher

plate

MULCHER PLUG TYPE "A"

To convert to mulching operation, mulcher

plug must be installed into discharge open-

ing o! mower,

•Open discharge guard°

. Insert tab of mulch plug Into housing

opening

• Alignhooksofmulchplugoverhinge

rodofdischargeguard Push mulch plug

down until mulch plug is seated in hous-

_}ing opening.

CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower

without discharge guard, approved grass

catcher or mulcher plug in place.

Hinge

Discharge

MULCHER PLUG TYPE "B"

To convert to bagging or discharging:

,, Lift discharge guard and remove

mulcher plug.

• Mower can now be used for side dis-

charging or optional grass catcher can

be attached.

° To return to mulching operation, simply

reinstall mulcher plug as shown, making

sure tab is seated properly,.

_CAUT1ON: Do not run your lawn mower

without discharge guard, approved grass

catcher or mulcher plug in place.

Lift

dtschar

guard

Install Tab

mulcher

MOWER IS

NOW READY

FOR MULCHING

OPERATION

Mulcher plug 12

"MULTI-CUT" MOWERS

Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be

used as a mutcher To convert to bagging

or discharging:

REAR BAGGING

o Open rear door and remove mulcher

plate or plug (if equipped) Store

mulcher plate or plug in a safe place

• You can now tnslall grass catcher.

= To convert to mulching or discharging

operation, install mulcher plate or plug (if

equipped) into rear discharge opening of

mower, making sure all labs are seated

properly_ Close rear door.

bracket Grass

catcher

handle

catcher

frame :-,:,..

hook equipped)

SIDE DISCHARGING

•Mulcher plate or plug (if equipped) must

be installed into rear discharge opening

of mower. Rear door must be clesed_

o Open mulcher door and installdischarge

deflector under door as shown.

o Mower is now ready for discharging

operation.

oTo convert to mulching or bagging

operation, discharge deflector must be

removed and mulcher door must be

closed and locked..

Open muicher door

Discharge

deliector \

"REAR DOOR PROP" (IF EQUIPPED)

(22PLUS MODELS ONLY)

NOTE: Rear door will remain open until

operator presence control bar is held down

to the handler

,_,CAUTION, Do NOT force rear door to

close° Serious damage to your mower

SIMPLESTEPSTOREMEMBER

WHENCONVERTINGYOUR

"MULTI-CUT"LAWNMOWER:

FORMULCHING-

o Rearmulcherplateorplug(ifequipped)

installedandreardoorclosed.,

. Mulcherdoorclosed,.

FORREARBAGGING-

°Rear mutcher plate or plug (if equipped)

remove&

o Grass catcher installed,

° Mulcher door closed°

FOR SIDE DISCHARGING

° Rear mulcher plate or plug (if eqLlippsd)

18" (45cm) HI-VAC MODELS:

Your lawn mower was shipped ready to

be used as a mulchero To convert to rear

bagging or side discharging:

REAR BAGGING

1o Remove knob securing mulcher door

to lawn mower housing.

2. Open mulcher door and position dis-

charge chute over both threaded studs,

3. Secure discharge chute to lawn mower

housing with both knobs.,

4. Place the grass catcher on the rear

door as shown°

NOTE: Be sure the grass catcher is se-

curely locked in place_

installed and rear door closed.

- Discharge deflector installed.

_CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower

without rear mulcher plate or plug ihplace

or approved grass catcher in place° Ne,_er...

attempt to operate the lawn mower with

the rear door removed oT:'prop.pedopen.

....-,..,; Mower is now ready for rear bagging

bperation,,

Grass catcher

TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER (REAR .......

DISCHARGE AND MULTI-CUT MODELS)If='.'/

•Simply open rear door and lift grass " ,':_._y:':'_

catcher up and away from mower,

NOTE: Do not drag the bag when

emptying, it will cause unnecessary wear. Dts-

_,CAUTION: Under normal usage, the charge

catcher material is subject to deterioration

and wear and should, therefore, be

checked frequently for replacemenL Any

replacement catcher should be checked

to ensure compliance with original

manufacturer's specifications.

&CAUTION: Do not run lawn mower

without the rear door, approved grass

catcher or clipping deflector in place.,

Never attempt to operate mower with lhe

rear door removed or propped open_

j' // Gross

//catcher

//_ \tframe

andle

.......... ;;-";,._jr a

(if equipped) _,_,

Rear door

Knobs

Mutcher

door

Threaded stud

SIDE DISCHARGING

I, Discharge chute must be removed.

2. Open mulcher door and installside dis-

charge deflector beneath it as shown.

door

14 Side discharge deflector

3. Secure rear of side discharge deflector

to lawn mower housing with knob_

= Mower is now ready for side discharging

operation,

SIMPLE STEPS TO REMEMBER WHEN

CONVERTING YOUR 18" HI-VAC:

FOR MULCHING -

1- Grass catcher, discharge chute and

side discharge deflector removed

2. Mulcher door secured to mower hous-

ing with knob

FOR REAR BAGGING -

1. Side discharge deflector removed.

2. Grass catcher and discharge chute

installed with discharge chute secured

to lawn mower housing with knob,

FOR SIDE DISCHARGING -

1_ Grass catcher and discharge chute

removed

2. Side discharge deflector installed and

secured to mower housing with knob_

,_CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower

wllhout mulcher door closed; side dis-

charge deflector installed, or discharge

chute and approved grass catcher in

place,, Never attempt to operate the lawn

mower with mulcher door removed or

propped open.

TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER

1. Remove grass catcher with clippings

from lawn mower using both front and

center of handle as shown°

2 Empty clippings from grass catcher,

3, Reinstall grass catcher on rear door,

NOTE: Do not drag the bag when empty-

ing; it will cause unnecessary wear,

Handle

21" (53cm) HI-VAC MODELS:

Your lawn mower was shipped ready to

be used as a mulcher., To convert to rear

bagging or side discharging:

REAR BAGGING

1, Remove knob securing mulcher door to

lawn mower housing°

handle

,Crossbar

Grass

Round

door

chute

_%_Knob

Threaded

stud

Mulchor door

2_ Open mulcher door and inserttabs

of discharge chute into hinge bracket

opening and position rear of chute over

threaded stud,,

Hinge bracket Muicher door

3,,Securerearofdischargechute;tolawn........

mowerhousingwithknob,

4, Placerearhandleofgrasscatcheron

thecrossbarofthelawn mower's tower

handle as shown.

5,, Lift the round door of the discharge

chute and place the grass catcher _nto

place on the discharge chute,

NOTE: Be sure the grass catcher is se-

curely locked in place and the round door

of the discharge chute rests on the grass

catcher as shown°

•Mower is now ready for rear bagging

operation,.

° To convert to mulchtng operation,

remove grass catcher and discharge

chute_ Secure mulcher door to mower

housing with knob,,

° To convert to side discharging operation,

remove grass catcher and discharge

chute, Install side discharge deflector

and secure it to lawn mower housing

with knob°

SIDE DISCHARGING

1. Grass catcher and discharge chute

must be removed,,

2. Open mulcher door and install front of

side discharge deflector beneath it as

shown,

3. Secure rear of side discharge deflector

to lawn mower housing with knob°

,, Mower is now ready for side discharging

operation°

° To convert to mulching operation, side

discharge deflector must be removed

and mulcher door secured to mower

housing with knob.

,, To convert to rear bagging opera-

tion, side discharge deflector must be

removed; discharge chute and grass

catcher installed and discharge chute

secured to mower housing with knob.,

SIMPLE STEPS TO REMEMBER

WHEN CONVERTING YOUR 21" HI-VAC:

FOR MULCHING -

1, Grass catcher, discharge chule and

stde discharge deflector removed,

2, Mulcher door secured to mower hous-

ing with knob.

FOR REAR BAGGING -

1. Side discharge deflector removed

2., Grass catcher and discharge chule

installed with discharge chute secured

to lawn mower housing with knob

3o Round door of discharge chute resting

on top of grass catcher.

FOR SIDE DISCHARGING -

1, Grass catcher and discharge chute

removed_

2- Side discharge deflector _nstal]edand

secured to mower housing with knob,

,_CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower

without mulcher door closed; side dis-

charge deflector installed, or discharge

chute and approved grass catcher in

place° Never attempt to operate the lawn

mower with mulcher door or round door

removed or propped open.

TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER

1. Open round door of discharge chute to

move starter rope out and away from

grass catcher,,

'_\. Front

OPEN

Mulcherdoor\

Side

discharge

deflector

stud Round Starter

door rope

2, Remove grass catcher with clippings

from lawn mower using both front and

rear handles,

3, Empty clippings from grass catcher

using rear handle° The weight of the

grass will open the door°

4. Snap door shut over frame before

installing grass catcher on mower.

NOTE: Do not drag the bag when empty-

16ing; il will cause unnecessary wear.

OPERATORPRESENCE CONTROL

BAR (ALL MODELS)

Your lawn mower is equipped with an op-

erator presence control bar which requires

the operator to be positioned behind the

lawnmower handle in order to start and

erate the lawn mower_

AUTION: Federal regulations require

an engine control to be installed on this

lawn mower in order to minimize the risk

of blade contact injury, Do not under

any circumstances attempt to defeat the

function of the operator control. The blade

turnswhen the engine is running,

DRIVE CONTROL

"STANDARD" DRIVE CONTROL

° Self-propelling is controlled by holding

the operator presence control bar down

to the handle and pushing the drive

controllever forward until itclicks;then

re_easing the lever,

oForward motion will stop when the op-

erator presence control bar is released,,

To stop forward motion without stopping

engine, release the operator presence

control bar slightly until the drive control

disengages_ Hold operator presence

control bar down against handle to con-

tinue mowing without self-propelling,

o To keep drive control engaged when

turning corners, push down on handle

and lift front wheels off ground while

turning lawn mower,,

TO ENGAGE DRIVE CONTROL

Operator

presence

contro_bar

DRIVE CONTROL DISENGAGED

"DUALBAIL" DRIVE CONTROL

. To start forward motion, lift drive control

bar up to handle°

° To stop forward motion, release drive

control bar_

Operator

presence

control bar

DRIVE CONTROL ENGAGED

"AUTOWALK" DRIVE CONTROL

oSelf-propelling is controlled by holding

the operator presence control bar down

to the handle and pulling the ddve con-

trollever(s) rearward to the handle. The

farther toward the handle the lever(s)

are pulled, the faster the unit will travel.

. Forward motion will stop when either

the operator presence control bar or a

drive control lever are released° To stop

forward motion without stopping engine,

release the drive control lever(s) only.

Hold operator presence control bar

down against handle to continue mowing

withoutself-propelling,

NOTE: If after releasing thedrive control the

mowerwili not rollbackwards, push the mower

forward slightly to disengage drive wheels,,

DRIVE CONTROL DISENGAGED

control presence

lever(s) control ba_

TO ENGAGE DRIVE CONTROL

turnbuckle

DRIVE CONTROL DISENGAGED

FRONT WHEEL DRIVE MODELS ONLY:

- To keep drive control engaged when

turning corners, push down on the

handle to lift the front wheels off the

ground while turning lawn mower,

Overtime,thedrivecontrolsystemmay

become"loose",resultingindecreased

speed°Thereisatumbucldeonthe

undersideofthedrivecontrolhousingto

increasetensiononthedrivecable.Pro-

ceedasfollows:

- Turnunitoffanddisconnectspad(plug

wirefromsparkplug.

,, Turn nut on underside of drive control to

increase drive speed.

,' Operate mower to test drive speed°

Readjust as required

,If condition fails to improve after the

above steps (forward speed remains

the same), your drive bait is worn and

should be replaced.

turnbuckEe

"VARI-SPEED"DRIVECONTROL

o Serf-propelling is controlled by hold-

ing the operator presence control bar

down to the handle and pulling the drive

control bar up to the handle. The closer

to the handle the bar is pulled, the faster

the unit wilt travel..

o Forward motion will stop when either the

operator presence control bar or drive

control bar are released, To stop forward

motion without stopping engine, release

the drive control bar only Hold operator

presence control bar down against

handle to continue mowing without self-

propelling.

NOTE: If alter releasing the drive control the

mowerwi!l not rollbackwards, push the mower

forward slightly to disengage drive wheels.

FRONT WHEEL DRIVE MODELS ONLY:

- To keep drive control engaged when

turning corners, push down on the

handle to lift the front wheels off the

ground while turning lawn mower,.

oratorpresencecontrolbar

control bar

DRIVE

CONTROL

DISENGAGED

TO ADJUST,

MOVE DOWN

TO NEXT HOLE

Over time, the drive control system may

become "loose", resulting in decreased

speed.. There are holes in the drive control

housing to increase tension on the drive

cable. Proceed as follows:

,Turn unit off and disconnect spark plug

wire from spark plug.

°Loosen nut, move drive control hous-

ing down handle to the next hole and

retigh|en nut.

,, Operate mower to test drive speed.

° If condition falls to improve after the

above steps (forward speed remafns

the same), your drive belt is worn and

should be replaced.

BEFORE STARTING ENGINEI:' :::::::::::::::::::::::If your mower has a primer, to start a

Read the engine manual packed with your

mower,,

FILL ENGINE WITH OIL

Your lawn mower is shipped without oil in

the engine.

oBe sure mower is level and area around

oil fill is clean,

o Remove engine oil rifler plug (oil fill 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 filler hole (to

"FULL" line on dipstick on models so

equipped). Do not overfill

•Replace plug (oil fill cap/dipstick on

models so equipped) and tighten.

o Ctteck oil level before each use,, Add oil

as needed.

o To change oil, see Maintenance section

of this manual,

FILL GASOLINE TANK

• Fill gasoline tank with fresh, clean,

unleaded gasoline, DO NOT USE PRE-

MIUM GASOLINE, BE CAREFUL NOT

TO OVERFILL TANK,

WARNING: Alcohol blended tuels (called

gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can

attract moisture which leads to separation

and formation of acids during storage. Acidic

gas can damage the fuel system of an engine

whiEein storage,, To avold engine problems,

the fuel system should be emptied before

storage of 30 days or longer° Drain the fuel

tank, start the engine and let it run until fuel

lines and carburetor are empty. Use fresh

fuel next season, See Storage Instructions

for additional Information. Never use engine

or carburetor cleaner products inrue!tankor

permanent damage may occur,

TO START ENGINE

_CAUTION: The mower blade rotates

whenever the engine is running_

NOTE: Due to protective coatings on the

engine, a small amount of smoke may be

presentduring the initial use of the product

and should be considered normal,

,, Place engine START/STOP switch (if

equipped) in the ON position.,

• Move engine speed control to FAST

position (or to CHOKE/START position

on models equipped with choke feature),

cold engine, push primer as many times

as instructed in the engine manual

packed with your mower_ Use a firm

push_This step is not usually necessary

when starting an engine which has

already run for afew minutes

•Hold operator presence control bar

down against handle.

MODELS WITH RECOIL STARTER

o Pull starter handle quickly, Do not allow

starter rope to snap back.

MODELS WITH ELECTRIC STARTER

• Push the engine start button (or turn the

key on models so equipped).

IMPORTANT: Do not crank engine more

than five continous seconds each time you

tnj to start,, Wait 5 to !0 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 and/or place engine

START/STOP switch (it equipped) in the

OFF position..

NOTE: For engines with a primer, it may

be necessary to repeat priming steps

incooler weather, In warmer weather,

overpriming may cause flooding and

engine will not start,, If you do flood

engine, wait a few minutes before

attempting to start and DO NOT repeat

priming steps,,

MOWING TIPS

CAUTION: Do not use de-thatcher

blade attachments on your mower, Such

attachments are hazardous, will damage

your mower and could void your warranty_

°For most cutting conditions and better

bagging performance, the engine speed

should be set in the FAST position,,

oUnder certain conditions, such as when

mowing very tal_grass, raise the mower

height on the first cut to reduce pushing

effort, to avoid overheating the engine,

and to avo+dleaving clumps of grass

c}ippings,. Make the second cut to the

desired height,

•For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the

width of cuL

.For side discharge lawn mowers, cut in

a counterclockwise direction, starting at

the outside o! the area to be cut, in order

to spread grass clippings more evenly

and to put less load on the engine. To

keep clippings off of walkways+ flower

beds, elc. make the first cuts in a clock-

wise direction,

,When using a rear discharge lawn

mower in moist, heavy grass, clumps

of cut grass may not enter the grass

catcher. Reduce ground speed (pushing

speed) and/or run the lawn mower over

the area a second time,,

otfatrail of grass clipping is left on the

right side of a rear discharge lawnmow-

er, mow in a clockwise direction with a

small overlap to collect the clippings on

the next pass,

Pores in cloth grass catchers can

become filled with dirt and dust with use

and the catcher will collect less grass,

To prevent this, regularly hose catcher

off with water and let dry' before use+

FOR MULCHING MOWERS ONLY

+ MULCHING MOWING TIPS

IMPORTANT; For best performance, keep

mower housing free of built-up grass and

trash, See '*CLEANING" in the Mainte-

nance section of this manual.

, The special mulching blade wilt recut the

grass clippings many times and reduce

them in size so that as Ihey fall onto the

lawn they will disperse into the grass

and not be noticed., Also, the mulched

grass will biodegrade quickly to provide

nutrients for the lawn. Always mulch with

your highest engine (blade) speed as

thiswilt provide the best recutting action

of the blades°

.Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet

Wet grass tends to form clumps and

interferes with the mulching action. The

best time to mow your lawn is the early

afternoon, At this time the grass has

dried, yet the newly cut area will not be

exposed to direct sunlight,

•For best results, adjust the lawn mower

cutting height so that the lawn mower

cuts off only the top one-third of the

grass blades, tf the lawn is overgrown it

will be necessary to raise the height of

cut to reduce pushing effort and to keep

from overloading the engine and leaving

clumps of mulched grass. For extremely

heavy grass, reduce your width of cut

by overlapping previously cut path and

mow slowly.

MAX tt3

,tl

Certain types of grass and grass

conditions may require that an area be

mulched a second time to completely

hide the clippings. When doing a second

cut, mow across (perpendicular) to the

first cut path+

Change your cutting pattern from week

to week, Mow north to south one week

then change to east to west the next

week, This will help prevent matting and

graining of the lawn..

MAINTENANCE ieEFORE

EACH

SCNEDILILIE USE

Check {orLoose Fasteners V'

L Clean /inspect G'mss Catcher" t/

_i_ec_T.es ......................V'

W Check DriveWheels "" '............

CieanLawnMower"_';; J

, J,, :

AFTER ! EVERY EVERY EVERY

EACH !0 25 HOURS 100 BEFORE

USE HOURS OR SEASON HOURS STORAGE

V' .................. v'

l,,n'_'i'ean'underDrivecowr'" .... [ ..............I' 'F' ....

0 Check Drb'_ Be'li'7'Pulreye"'* " ........................ ti/ ..............

wCheck/Sharpa./.epla_,;'Bi_d;' V'_ '

Lubrication ............... _ .............

IR Clean and Recharge Batlery '" 1_ l_

Check Engine OIl level V_ .........

E Eo, n,Oii .......... '..... ................

NClean ,_ir Fiiie'i;................ J .......... _/2' '

?_=p,ciMu,,er...................... I _iii'7'iii"ii'ii'

NI--'RePleCe_§paik Plug ........... l ...... V

E RePlace Air Filler.Paper Cartridge I_

Empty fuef system or add Slabllizer 1_ .....

'r:

*(If so equipped} 1- Change more often if operating under a heavy load or In t_,Ighoutdoor temperatures

** Eleclrlc-Slart mowers 2- Service more ellen IIoperating indilly or dusty cof_ditions

*** Power-Propelled mowers 3 - Replace bLRdes more alton whsn mowing tn sandy soil

**** Use a scraper 4-Charge 4B hours at end el season

to cteen trader deck 5- And after each 5hours el use,

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

The warranty on this lawn mower does not

cover items that have been subjected to op-

erator abuse or negligence., To receive fu_l

value from the warranty, operator must main-

tain mower as instructed in this manual..

Some adjustments will need to be made

periodically to properly maintain your uniL

All adjustments in the Service and Adjust-

ments section of this manual should be

checked at least once each season°

•Once a year, replace the spark plug,

clean or replace air tilter element, and

check blade for wear. A new spark plug

and clean/new air filter elemenl assures

proper airfuel mixture and helps your

engine run better and last longer.

• Fol!ow the Maintenance Schedule in this

manual.

BEFORE EACH USE

• Check engine olilevel..

•Check for loose fasteners.

LUBRICATION

Keep unil well lubricated

(See "LUBRICATION CHART"),.

IMPORTANT: Do not oil or grease plastic

wheel bearings. Viscous lubricants will

LUBRICATION CHART

Wheel

adjusler (on

each wheel)

Engine oil

Side dis-

charge mower

guard hinge rod

Rear dis-

charge mower

rear door

hinge rod

_') Handle bracket mounting ptns

_) Spray lubricant

(_) See "ENGINE" tn Maintenance section,

attract dust and dirt thai wilt shorten the life

of the self-lubricating bearings., If you feel

they must be lubricated, use only a dry,

22Powdered graphite type lubricant sparingly°

LAWN MOWER

Always observe safety' rules when per-

forming any maintenance

TIRES

o Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect

control chemicals which can harm rub-

ber_

oAvoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp

objects and other hazards that may

cause tire damage

BLADE CARE

For best results, blade must be kept sharp_

eplace a bent or damaged blade.

CAUTION: Use only a replacement

blade approved by the manufacturer of

your mower. Using a blade not approved

by the manufacturer of your mower is

hazardous, could damage your mower and

void your warranty.

TO REMOVE BLADE

1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark

plug and place wire where itcannot

come incontact with plug

2. Turn lawn mower on its side. Make

sure air filter and carburetor are up.

3Use a wood bFockbetween blade and

mower housing to prevent blade from

turningwhen removing blade bOlto

NOTE: Protect your hands with gloves

and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth,

4. Remove blade bolt by turning counter-

c/ockwise_

5. Remove blade and attaching hard-

ware (bolt, lock washer and hardened

washer).

6. Remove debris shield (if equipped)

NOTE: Remove the blade adapter and

check the key inside hub of blade adapter.

The key must be in good condition to work

properly,. Replace adapter if damaged.

Belt

Ing edge

Debris shield Hardened

(if equfpped) washer

Blade Blade bolt

TO REPLACE BLADE

1. Position the blade adapter on the en-

gine crankshaft. Be sure key in adapter

and crankshaft keyway are aligned;

and that the drive belt is inside the tabs

of the belt retainer (if equipped).

2. Position blade on the blade adapter

aligning the two (2) holes in the blade

with the raised lugs on the adapter,

3,. Be sure the trailing edge of blade (op-

posite sharp edge) is up toward the

engine,,

4, Inslalt the blade bolt with the lock

washer and hardened washer into

blade adapter and crankshaft,

5, Use block of wood between blade and

lawn mower housing and tighten the

blade bolt, turning clockwise..

•The recommended tightening torque is

3540 frolbs..

IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is heat treated,.

If bolt needs replacing, replace only with

approved bolt shown in the Repair Parts

section of this manual.

TO SHARPEN BLADE

NOTE: We do not recommend sharpening

blade -but if you do, be sure the blade

is balanced. An unbalanced brade will

cause eventual damage to fawn mower or

engine°

• The blade can be sharpened with a file

or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt

to sharpen while on the mower..

BLADESWITH ROUND HOLE:

" To check blade balance, drive a nail into

a beam or wall. Leave about one inch of

tl_estraight nail exposed.. Place center

hole of blade over the head of the nail..

II blade is balanced, it should remain in

a horizontal position, If either end of the

blade moves downward, sharpen the

heavy end until the blade is balanced..

BLADES WITH "STAR" HOLE:

.To check blade balance, you will need

a 5/8" diameter steel boll, pin, or a cone

balancer. (When using a cone balancer,

follow the instructions supplied with

balancer..)

NOTE: Do not use a nail for balancing

blade The lobes ol the center hole may

appear to be centered, but are noL

o Slide blade on to an unthreaded portion

of the steel bolt or pin and hold the bolt

or pin parallel wilh the ground. If blade

is balanced, it should remain in a hori-

zontal position. If either end of the blade

moves downward, sharpen the heavy

end until the blade Is balanced

DRIVE WHEELS

Check drive wheels each time before you

mow to be sure they move freely.

The wheels not turning freely means trash,

grass cuttings, etc. are in the drive wheel

area and must be cleaned to free drive

wheels.

If necessary to clean the drive wheels,

check both drive wheels

. If after cleaning, the drive wheels do not

turn freely, contact your nearest autho-

rized service center,.

18" (45cm) HI-VAC MODELS ONLY:

I. Remove hubcaps (if equipped) and

locknuts=

2. Remove wheels from wheel adjuster

axles,

3o Remove any trash or grass cuttings

from inside the dust cover, pinion gear

and drive wheel gear teeth..

4. If you remove the pinion gears, wipe

clean with dry cloth Reassemble

dry. Do not lubricate. Do not use oil or

grease.

IMPORTANT: The pinion gears (on both

sides of the mower) are the same, how-

ever, they must be installed correctly_ If

installed incorrectly, the drive system will

not work_

5o There are arrows embossed on both

sides of the pinion gear_ Wilh the ar-

row at the top of the pinion, the arrow

must point towards the front of the

mower., If the arrow points to the rear

of the mower, turn the pinion around,

then assemble it to the mower.

6. Place wheels back on adjuster axles,.

7. Replace locknuts and hubcaps.

FRONT

MOWER

CORRECT INCORRECT

Plnton

gear

Locknut

Washer Dust

Cover

•If after cleaning, the drive wheels do not

turn freely, contact your nearest autho-

rized service center..

GEARCASE

oTo keep your drive system working

properly, the gear case and area around

the drive should be kept clean and free

of trash build-up. Clean under the drive

cover twice a season.

o The gear case is filled with lubricant to

the proper level at the factory, The only

time the lubricant needs attention is if

service has been performed on the gear

case,

ENGINE

Read the maintenance section of your

engine manual

LUBRICATION

Change the oil after the first two hours of

operation and every 25 hours thereafter or

at least once ayear if the lawn mower is

not used for 25 hours in one year. Refer to

engine manual,,

TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL

(SEE ENGINE MANUAL)

,Be sure lawn mower is on level surface.

,, Oil will drain more freely when warm°

,, Catch oil in a suitable container.

. For engines without dipstick, remove

bottom oil drain plug,

° For engines with oil fill cap/dipstick,

remove bottom drain plug or remove en-

gine oil cap and turn mower on its side.

. After oil has drained completely, replace

oil drain plug and tighten securely°

.Refill engine with oil. Pour slowly. Do

not overfill.

= Fill to top of slot inside of filler hole or

to "FULL" line on dipstick on models so

equipped. Keep oil at proper level

AIR FILTER

Your engine willnot runproperlyand may

be damaged by using a dirty air filter.

Clean the element after every 25 hours

of operation or every season_ Replace

the air filter every 100 hours of operation

or every season, whichever occurs first.

Service air cleaner more often under dusty

conditions° See the maintenance section

of your engine manual°

IN-LINE FUEL FILTER

(KOHLER ENGINES ONLY)

The fuel filter should be replaced once

each season, If fuel filler becomes

clogged, obstructing fuel flow to carburetor,

replacement is required.

1.. With engine cool, remove filter and plug

fuel line sections.

2. Place new fuel filter in position in tuel

line with arrow pointing towards carbu-

retor,

3, Be sure there are no fuel line leaks and

clamps are properly positioned.

4 Immediately wipe up any spilled gaso-

line.

MUFFLER

inspect and replace corroded muffler as it

could create a fire hazard and/or damage

SPARK PLUG

Replace spark plug at the beginning of

each mowing season or after every 100

hours of operation, whichever occurs first.

Set spark plug gap according to engine

manual specifications°

CLEANING

IMPORTANT: Forbest performance, keep

mower housingfree of grass build-up and

trash.Clean the underside of your mower

after each use°

° Clean the underside of your lawn mower

by scraping to remove buildup of grass

and trash.

,, Clean engine often to keep trash from

accumulating,. A clogged engine runs

hotter and shortens engine life.

°Keep finished surfaces and wheels free

of all gasoline, oil, etc

We do not recommend using a garden

hose to clean your lawn mower unless the

electrical syslem, muffler, air filter, and

carburetor are covered to keep water out

Water in engine can shorten engine life.

CLEAN UNDER DRIVE COVER

Clean under the drive cover at least twice

a season,. Scrape underside of cover with

a putty knife or similar tool to remove any

buildup of trash or grass°

WATER WASHOUT FEATURE

(IF EQUIPPED)

Your lawn mower may be equipped with a

fitting that allows quick and easy cleaning

of the underside of the housing° To use

this feature, proceed as follows:

1• Move lawn mower to an area of cut

grass or another hard surface

NOTE: Water, grass and other debris will

drain from beneath the mower housing

during the washout process,

2,, Remove grass catcher and discharge

chute assembly from lawn mower°

3, Close mulcher door (if equipped).

4, Connect a garden hose to the fitting

where shown,

IMPORTANT: Be sure the garden hose is

nol routed under the lawn mower housing

or entangled in the wheels,

5, Turn on water supply and check for

leaks at the fitting,

If no leaks are present, start engine (as

described in the Operation section of this

manual) and let engine run until the under-

side of the lawn mower is clean.

_, WARNING: Do not engage the drive

system during the washout process,

6, Shut off the engine.

7. Shut off water supply and remove hose

from fitting,

CAUTION: Do not remove hose from

tilting while engine is running,, Water in

engine can result inshortened engine life

& Start engine (as described in the Op-

eration section of this manual) and let

engine run for a full minute to remove

excess water from mower.,

Fitting

GRASS CATCHER (IF EQUIPPED)

Grass catcher may be hosed withwater

but must be dry when used°

_,CAUTION: Under normal usage, the

catcher material is subject to deterioralion

and wear and should therefore be checked

to ensure compliance with original

manufacturer specifications

,_CAUTION:Beforeperforminganyser-

viceoradjustments:

o Releaseoperatorpresencecontrolbar

. Makesurethebladeandallmoving

parishavecompletelystopped.

,' Disconnectsparkplugwirefromspark

p)ugandplacewirewhereitcannot

comeincontactwithplug,

LAWN MOWER

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT

See "TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT" in

the Operation section of this manual,

REAR DEFLECTOR

The rear deflector, attached between the

rear wheels of your mower, is provided to

minimize the possibility that obiects will

be thrown out of the rear of the mower

into the operator's mowing position If the

deflector becomes damaged, it should be

replaced,

DISCHARGE GUARD (IF EQUIPPED)

The discharge guard, attached to the side

discharge opening of your lawn mower, is

provided to prevent the possibility of injury'

resulting from objects being thrown out of

the discharge opening into the operator

mowing position,. If the discharge guard

becomes damaged, itshould be replaced,

TO ADJUST HANDLE

"2 POSITION" HANDLES

The handle can be mounted in a high or

low position, The mounting holes in the

bottom of lower handle are off center for

raising or towering the handle,

) Remove upper handle and a)l parts at-

tached to lower handle,

•Remove hairpin cotters from lower

handle bracket mounting pin.

° Squeeze lower handle in to remove it

from mounting pins_

-Turn lower handle over to raise or lower

handle_

oSqueeze lower handle in and posilion

holes onto mounting pins on handle

bracket.

-Reassemble hairpin cotters onto pins,

° Reassemble upper handle and all parts

removed from lower handle,,

TURN LOWER

HANDLE OVER

TO ADJUST HEIGHT

3 POSITION "EZ" HANDLES

The handte on your lawn mower has three

(3) height positions +adjust to height that

suits you.

• Remove knob and carriage bolt on one

side of the lower handle.,

•While holding handle assembly, remove

knob and carriage boil from opposite

side, align hole in handle with desired

hole in handle bracket and reassemble

bolt and knob and tighten securely.

" Align opposite side of handle with same

positioning hole and secure with bolt and

knob+

Hi -_ Boll

Knob

J/Handte

ustment

_\\iii cket

3POSITION "QUICK" HANDLES _'.... ;__'::TO REMOVE/REPLACE DRIVE BELT

The handle on your lawn mower has three FRONT WHEEL DRIVE MODELS:

(3) height positions - adjust to height that

suits you.

,, Squeeze the bottom ends of lower

handle towards each other until the pin

in handle can be inserted into one of the

three height adjustment holes,

Mediurr

Handle

adjustment

brackel

Low

:"STANDARD" OR "DUAL BAIU' MODELS:

° Remove drive cover., Remove belt from

gearcase pulley by pushing down on

pulley and rolling belt off it,

* Turn lawn mower on its side., See

engine manual for proper direction of

turningover the engine,,

o Remove blade.,

° Remove belt from engine pulley on

crankshaft°

° Install new belt by reversing above steps,

NOTE; Always use factory approved belt

to assure fit and long life.

PUSH

DOWN-..

Drive

cover Pull

"QUICK RELEASE" HANDLES

The upper handle may be adjusted to

three (3) different height positions.,

1_ Loosen both handle levers enough to

allow the upper handle to pivotto the

desired adjustment posilion,

24 Tighten both handle levers securely_

LEVERS '._

DOWN

TOADJUST

HANDLE

levers

"AUTO WALK" or'_/ARI-SPEED" MODELS:

° Remove drive cover and belt keeper°

° Remove beltfrom gearcase pulley by push-

ing down on pulley and roiling belt off it,

•Turn lawn mower on its side,. See

engine manual for proper direction of

turning over the engine.

. Remove blade and debris shield°

° Remove belt from engine pulley on

crankshaft.

. Install new belt by reversing above

steps°

NOTE: Always use factory approved belt

to assure fit and long life. Drive

cover

Bell ", PUSH

DOWN

28 %

MODELS WITH GEARCASE-MOUNTED

BELT KEEPER:

o Remove drive cover and belt keeper.

o Remove belt from gearcase pulley°

• Turn lawn mower on its side. See

engine manual for proper direction of

turning over the engine,

o Remove blade and blade adapter.

, Remove belt from pulley of blade

adapter..

° Install new belt by reversing above

steps,

NOTE: Always use factory approved belt

to assure fit and long life.

o Remove drive cable from anchor, then

detach it and return spring (if equipped)

from idler arm assembly,.

o Remove idler arm assembly from hous-

ing by removing hex nut; then remove

drive bell from drive pulley, belt keepers

and idler arm assembly..

Drive anchor

ng holes

Bladeadapter

Lockwasher _.

bolt Hardened

washer Tralltn edge

Crankshaft

ielt

retainer

REAR WHEEL DRIVE MODELS:

MODELS WITH IDLER ASSEMBLY:

• Disconnect spark plug wire from spark

plug and place wire where it cannot

come in contact with plug.

• Remove screws retaining drive cover

(not shown); and remove drive cover

from lawn mower housing.

Belt a_m

Hex nut spring assembly

• Turn lawn mower on its side See engine

manual for proper direction of turning

over the engine°

• Use a wood block between blade and

mower housing to prevent blade from

turning when removing blade bolt.

NOTE: Protect your hands with gloves

and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth°

° Remove blade bolt.

= Remove blade, attaching hardware (bolt,

lock washer, hardened washer) and

blade adapter.

,Remove drive belt from engine pulley;

discard old belt,.

, Install new belt by reversing above

steps,

NOTE: Always use factory approved belt

to assure fit and long file.

o The recommended tightening torque is

35-40 ft. tbs.

IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is grade 8 heat

treated_

Blade adapteL Key

_J_',L°ckwasher _'_, !

Blade Hardenec

bolt washer

Trailing edge"

Crankshaft

t_ "_ .keyway

r,,_._ Belt

Crankshaft retafnsr

MODELSWITHGEARCASE-MOUNTEDRoutetheotherendofthenewdrivebelt

BELTKEEPER:

,, Removedrivecover,

• Removespringandbeltkeeper,

o Removebe_tfromgearcasepulley,,

Gearcase Drive

coVer

Belt

,, Turn Dawnmower on its side. See

engine manual for proper direction of

turning over the engine.

,' Remove blade and blade adapter_

o Remove belt from blade adapter..

• Position the blade adapter on the engine

crankshaft° Be sure key in adapter and

crankshaft keyway are aligned; and that

the drive belt is inside the tabs of the

belt retainer.

Btade ada Crankshaft

Lockwasher

Blade

boff Hardened

washer Belt

edge retainer

through hole in housing.

• Return mower to upright position.

• Install new belt on gearcase pulley.

• Reinstall belt keeper and spring.

_i. Reinstall drive cover.

NOTE; Always use factory approved belt

to assure proper fit and long lifeo

. Turn lawn mower on its side with air filter

and carburetor down,.

. Reinstall blade and blade adapter

HFVAC MODELS:

1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark

plug and place wire where it cannot

come in contact with plug.

2, Remove screws retaining drive cover

and remove drive cover from lawn

mower housing.

3. Remove drive cable from anchor, then

detach it and return spring from idler

arm assembly..

t8" (45cm) HI-VAC MODELS:

Drivecable anchor \ Returnspring

_' /Housing:hole

__"_" _&-B_biy

21" (53cm) HI-VAC MODELS:

_ _ ..,.j.*. Drivecable Housing

/l i/"7"_4V ':'_ _W Idlerarm

DriVe _;_ r)_ assembly

pu_l_ybet_..'v_OT

4, Pivot idler arm assembly to slacken

drive belt, then remove drive belt from

drive pulley, belt keepers and idler arm.

5. Turn lawn mower on its side, Make

sure air filter and carburetor are up.

6 Remove screw securing debris shield,,

Note that the debris shield has a tab

which fits into a gap in the housing,,

Crankshaft Tab

Housing

hole _ Blade

shield

Hardened

washer

TraIIlngedge Lock-washer

7. Use a wood block between blade and

mower housing to prevent blade from

turning when removing blade bolt,

NOTE: Protect your hands with gloves

and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth

8. Remove blade bolt.

9. Remove blade, altaching hardware

(boll, lock washer, hardened washer),

blade adapter and debris shield as one

assembly_

10.Remove drive belt from blade adapter

and debris shield; discard old bell

TO REPLACE DRIVE BELT

1o Place new drive belt in the belt retainer

of the debris shield,_ Be sure lo route

belt between belt keepers and through

slol as shown_

18" (45cm) HI-VAC MODELS:

Drive Debris

belt _. shield

etalners

21" (53cm) HI-VAC MODELS:

2. Route the other end of the new drive

belt through hole in housing.

3. Reattach debris shield to housing with

screw previously removed, Be sure tab

of debris shield ts in gap of housing°

4. Position blade on the blade adapter

aligning the two (2) holes in the blade

with the raised tugs on the adapter.

5 Be sure the trailing edge of blade (op-

posite sharp edge) ts up toward the

engine as shown,.

6 Install the blade boll with the lock

washer and hardened washer into

blade adapter and crankshaft,

7. Use block of wood between blade and

lawn mower l_ousing and tighten the

blade bolt, turning clockwise.

o The recommended tightening torque is

35-40 IL lbso

IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is grade 8 heat

treated.

8. Return mower to upright position.

9, Instalt new drive belt into idler arm as-

sembly, then around the drive pulley,,

Be sure belt is inside of belt keepers,

NOTE; Pulling on the drive belt (to install

iton the drive pulley) wilt cause the other

end of the belt to free itself from the debris

shield retainer and come into contact with

the pulley end of the blade adapter.

10oReattach drive cable and return spring

to the idlerarm assembly, then realtach

drive cable to anchor.

11.Realtach drive cover with screws prevl-

ously removed.

!2.Connect spark plug wire to spark plug

22PLUS REAR WHEEL DRIVE MODELS: "ENGINE

1, Remove screws securing rear baffle,

2,, Turn lawn mower on its side with air

filler and carburetor down.,

3., Remove rear baffle from mower,

4., Remove blade bolt, lockwasher, hard-

ened washer and blade_

5o Remove debris shield,

6o Remove gearcase belt keeper,

7., Remove drive belt.

Rear

Gearcase

belt keeper

Bel!

retainer

Blade

bolt

CARBURETOR

The carburetor has been preset at the fac-

tory and adjustment should not be neces-

sary, However, minor adjustment may be

required to compensate for differences In

fuel, temperature, altitude or load,

.The air filter must be assembled to the

carburetor when running engine,,

.Best carburetor adjustment is obtained

when fuel tank is 1/4 full.,

.In order for the engine to run, the opera-

tor presence control bar must be held

in the operating position. Therefore,

and assistant will be required to hold

the control bar in the operating position

when making final adjustment to the

carburetor.

See the ADJUSTMENT section of your

engine manual for further instructions.

ENGINE SPEED

The engine speed has been factory set,

Do not attempt to increase engine speed

as it may result inpersonal injury. If you

believe the engine is running too fast

or too slow, take your lawn mower to an

authorized engine service center for repair

and adjustment,,

THROTTLE CONTROL

Ifit becomes necessary to adjust or re-

place the throttle control, see the ADJUST-

MENT section of your engine manual,

TO REPLACE DRIVE BELT

1o Place new drive belt on gearcase pul-

ley,,

NOTE: Always use factory approved bel!

to assure proper fit and long life_

2, Reinstall gearcase belt keeper. Be

sure the new drive belt is inside the

tabs of the gearcase belt keeper.

3, Position the blade adapter on the en-

gine crankshaft. Be sure key in adapter

and crankshaft keyway are aligned;

and that the drive belt is inside the tabs

of the belt retainer,

4_, Place rear baffle in mower housing,

5o Reinstall debris shield,

6. Reinstall blade.

7_ Return mower to upright position

8., Reinstall rear baffle screws. 32

tmmediatemyprepareyourlawn mower for

storage at the end of the season or if the

unit will not be used for 30 days or more.

_CAUTtON: Never store the lawn mower

with gasoline in the tank inside a building

where fumes may reach an open flame

or spark. Allow the engine to cool before

storing in any enclosure_

LAWN MOWER

When lawn mower is to be stored for a pe-

riod of time, clean it thoroughly, remove all

dirt, grease, leaves, etc.. Store in a clean,

dry area.,

, Clean entire lawn mower (See "CLEAN-

ING" in the Maintenance section of this

manual)..

•Lubricate as shown in the Maintenance

section of this manual.

,Be sure that al! nuts, bolts, screws, and

pins are securely fastened. Inspect

moving parts for damage, breakage and

wear. Replace if necessary..

•Touch up all rusted or chipped paint

surfaces; sand tightly before painting..

HANDLE

Your handle may be folded for storage as

shown..

° Squeeze the bottom ends of lower

handle towards each other until handle

clears the handle brackets and swing

handles forward over mower.

• Loosen upper handle mounting hard-

ware enough to allow upper handle to be

folded back..

IMPORTANT; When folding handles for

storage or transportation, be sure to fold

handles as shown or you may damage the

control cables.

Operator MOWING

F _. POSITION

cenlrolbar

,f?,

FOLD "._'_"_

FORWARD Upper

FOR handle

STORAGE

Handle

knob

Lower handle

2 POSITION /"ADJUSTABLE" HANDLES

When setting you handles up from the

storage position, the lower handle will

automatically lock into mowing position.

3 POSITION HANDLES

When setting up your handle from the stor-

age position, the lower handle will require

manually locking into the mowing position..

3 POSITION "EZ"

J Handle

adjustment

bracket

Handle

bracket

3 POSITION "QUICK"

Handlepin

"QUICK-RELEASE"HANDLES

Youcanfoldyourlawnmowerhandlefor

storage,

1..Loosenthetwo(2)handleleverson

sidesoftheupperhandleandallow

handletofolddowntotherear.

2_Moveheightadjustmenlleverforward

toraisemowertohighestposition°

3. Loosenhandlebolts(onbothsides),

thenpivotentirehandleassembly

forwardandallowitto rest on mower°

• When setting up your handle from the

storage position, 1he lower handle will

automatically lock into the mowlng

position.

IMPORTANT: When folding the handle for

storage or transportation, be sure to fold

the handle as shown or you may damage

the control cables,,

Operator MOWING

Acidic gas can damage the fuel system of

an engine while in storage,

• Drain the fuel tank.

o Slart the engine and let tt run until the

fuel lines and carburetor are empty,,

° Never use engine or carburetor cleaner

products in the fuel tank or permanent

damage may occur.

° Use fresh fuel next season

NOTE: Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable al-

ternative in minimizing the formation of fuel

gum deposits during storage. Add stabilizer

to gasoline in fuel tank or storage container,

Always follow the mix ratio foundon stabilizer

container. Run engine at least 10 minutes

after adding stabilizer to allow lhe stabilizer

to reach lhe carburetor° Do not drain the gas

tank and carburetor if using fue! stabilizer°

ENGINE OIL

Drain oil (with engine warm) and replace

with clean oil (See "ENGINE" in the Main-

tenance section of this manual)._

FOLD

FORWARD

FOR

STORAGE handle

Handle

lever

handle

Height

adjuster

lever

LEVER

FORWARD

TO RAISE

MOWER

ENGINE

FUEL SYSTEM

IMPORTANT: it is importantto preventgum

CYLINDER

,' Remove spark plug

• Pour one ounce (29 ml) of oil through

spark plug hole into cylinder,,

•Pull starter handle slowly to distribute oil

•Replace with new spark plugo

BATTERY (IF EQUIPPED)

Disconnect the battery from the engine

connector and charge battery 48 hours°

OTHER

.Do not store gasoline from one season

to another_

-Replace your gasoline can if your can

starts to rust,, Rust and/or dirt in your

gasoline wiilcause problems.

=If possible, store your unit indoorsand

cover itto protect it from dust and dirt,

,Cover your unit with a suitable protective

cover that does not retain moisture_ Do

not use plastic,, Plastic cannot breathe,

which allows condensation to form and

will cause your unit to rust,

IMPORTANT: Never cover mower while

deposits from formingin essentialluelsystem engine and exhaust areas are still warm

parts such as carburetor, fuelfilter, fuelhose, ,_CAUTION: Never store the lawn mower

or tank during storage° Alcohol blended fuels with gasoline in the tank insidea building

(cal_edgasoholorusingethanolormethanol) where fumes may reach an open flame

can attract moisture which leads to separa- or spark° Allow the engine to cool before

tion and formation of acids during st°rage°3"st°ring4 in any enclosure.

See appropriate section in manual unless directed to an authorized

Service Center.

CORRECTIONPROBLEM CAUSE

Does not start 1_

Dirty air filter

Out of fuel

Stale fuel,

Water in fuel

Spark plug wire is

disconnected.

Bad spark plug,

Loose blade or broken

blade adapter,

Control bar in released

position.

9. Control bar defective.,

!0_ Fuel valve lever (if so

equipped) in OFF position,

11,Weak battery (if equipped).

12. Disconnected battery

connector (if equipped),

13 Blown fuse (if equipped).,

1o Cleanlreplace air filter_

2o Fill fuel tank,,

3, Drain fuel tank and refill tank

with fresh, clean gasoline.,

4o Drain fuel tank and refill tank

with fresh, clean gasoline_

5, Connect wire to plug_

6,. Replace spark plug,

7., Tighten blade bolt or

replace blade adapter.,

8. Depress control bar to

handle.

9. Replace control bar.,

tO,,Turn fue! valve lever

to the ON position

! I. Charge battery°

12.Connect batter:/to engine,,

! 3, Replace fuse..

Loss of power 1, Rear of lawn mower

housing or cutting blade

dragging in heavy grass.,

2, Cutting too much grass,

3,, Dirty air filter,

4, Buildup of grass, leaves,

and trash under mower°

5 Too much oil in engine

6, Walking speed too fast.,

1_ Raise cutting height.

2. Raise cutting height

3,, Clean!replace air filter°

4.. Clean underside of mower

heusing_

5, Check oil level,

6_ Cut at slower walking speed°

Poor cut -

uneven

Excessive

vibration

Starterrope

hard to pull

1_ Worn, bent or loose blade,, 1_, Replace blade° Tighten

blade bolt,,

2. 2. Set al! wheels at same

height,

3o 3. Clean underside of

mower housing

_. I. Replace blade.Tighten

blade boil

2. 2_ Contact a qualified service

center.

Wheel heights uneven°

Buildup of grass, leaves

and trash under mower,.

Worn, bent or loose blade,

Bent engine crankshaft.

1o Engine flywheel brake is on

when controlbar is released.

2. Bent engine crankshafL

3. Blade adapter broken°

4. Blade dragging in grass.

1., Depress control bar to

upper handle before

pulling starter rope.

2_ Contact a qualified service

center,

3. Replace blade adapter_

4., Move lawn mower to cut

grass or to hard surface.

See appropriate section in manual unless directed to an authorized

Service Center.

CAUSE CORRECTION

PROBLEM

Grass catcher

not filling

(if so equipped)

Hard to push

Loss of drive t_

or slowing of 2_

drive speed 3_

1, Cutting height too low, 1,,

2o Lifton brade worn oil 2,,

3 Catcher not venting air. 3.,

t_ Grass is too high or wheel t,

height is too low,,

2_ Rear of lawn mower 2o

housing or cutting blade

dragging in grass.

Grass catcher too full 3,

Handle height position not 4,

rightfor you°

Belt wear_ 1

Belt off of pulley. 2o

Drive cable worn or broken° 3,

"Loose" drive control system 4o

Raise cutting height°

Replace blade°

Crean grass catcher_

Raise cutting height.

Raise rear of lawn mower

housing one (1) setting

higher°

Empty grass catcher,

Adjust handle height to suiL

Check/replace drive belt,

Check/reinstall drive belt,

Replace drive cable_

Adjust drive conlrol,

Yard Pro 917371580 User Manual LAWN MOWER Manuals And Guides 1010458L

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