Cub Cadet WE 26 User Manual

Safety • Assembly • Operation • Adjustments • Maintenance • Troubleshooting • Parts Lists • Warranty

OPERATOR’S MANUAL

Two-Stage Snow Thrower — Model WE 26

IMPORTANT

READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION

Warning: This unit 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 state laws (if any). If a spark arrester is used, it should be maintained in effective working order by the operator. In the 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 engine authorized service dealer or contact the service department, P.O. Box 361131 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019.

CUB CADET LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

FORM NO. 769-02601

06/28/2006

This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new snow thrower. It will help you assemble,

prepare and maintain the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.

Table of Contents

Customer Support .............................................. 2

Safety Labels ...................................................... 3

Safe Operation Practices ................................... 4

Setting Up Your Snow Thrower .......................... 6

Operating Your Snow Thrower ........................... 8

Making Adjustments ........................................ 12

Maintaining Your Snow Thrower ...................... 14

Off-Season Storage .......................................... 20

Troubleshooting ................................................ 21

Illustrated Parts List ......................................... 22

Warranty ....................................................... 31-32

Finding and Recording Model Number

BEFORE ASSEMBLING YOUR NEW EQUIPMENT, please locate the model plate on the equipment and copy the information to the sample model plate provided to the right. You can locate the model plate by standing at the operating position and looking down at the rear of the snow thrower. This information will be necessary to use the manufacturer’s web site or when obtaining assistance from an authorized Cub Cadet dealer.

Customer Support

If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation, or maintenance of this unit, you can contact the dealer you purchased the unit from or choose from the options below:

1. Visit cubcadet.com for many useful suggestions. Click on Customer Service or the Service Locator to find the nearest Cub Cadet service dealer in your area.

2. To reach the Customer Dealer Referral Line, please call 1-877-282-8684.

3. The engine manufacturer is responsible for all enginerelated issues with regards to performance, power-rating, specifications, warranty and service. Please refer to the engine manufacturer’s Owner’s/Operator’s Manual, packed separately with your unit, for more information.

Safety

Labels

WARNING

This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed, could endanger the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all instructions in this manual before attempting to operate this machine. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in personal injury. When you see this symbol.

HEED ITS WARNING!

A chute clean-out tool is fastened to the top of the auger housing with a mounting clip. The tool is designed to clear a chute assembly of ice and snow. This item is fastened with a cable tie at the factory. Cut the cable tie before operating the snow thrower.

WARNING: Never use your hands to clear a clogged chute assembly. Shut off engine and remain behind handles until all moving parts have stopped before using the clean-out tool to clear the chute assembly.

Your Responsibility

Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who read, understand and follow the warnings and instructions in this manual and on the machine.

WARNING: Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals known to State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Safe

Operation

Practices

WARNING

HEED ITS WARNING!

Your Responsibility

Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who read, understand and follow the warnings and instructions in this manual and on the machine.

DANGER: This machine was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this manual. As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in serious injury. This machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.

Training

1. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine and in the manual(s) before attempting to assemble and operate. Keep this manual in a safe place for future and regular reference and for ordering replacement parts.

2. Be familiar with all controls and their proper operation. Know how to stop the machine and disengage them quickly.

3. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate this machine. Children 14 years old and over should read and understand the operation instructions and safety rules in this manual and should be trained and supervised by a parent.

4. Never allow adults to operate this machine without proper instruction.

5. Thrown objects can cause serious personal injury. Plan your snow-throwing pattern to avoid discharge of material toward roads, bystanders and the like.

6. Keep bystanders, helpers, pets and children at least 75 feet from the machine while it is in operation. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.

7. Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling, especially

when operating in reverse.

1. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to be

used. Remove all doormats, newspapers, sleds, boards,

wires and other foreign objects, which could be tripped over

or thrown by the auger/impeller.

2. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields during operation

and while performing an adjustment or repair to protect your

eyes. Thrown objects which ricochet can cause serious

injury to the eyes.

3. Do not operate without wearing adequate winter outer

garments. Do not wear jewelry, long scarves or other

loose clothing, which could become entangled in moving

parts. Wear footwear which will improve footing on slippery

surfaces.

4. Use a grounded three-wire extension cord and receptacle

for all units with electric start engines.

5. Adjust collector housing height to clear gravel or crushed

rock surfaces.

6. Disengage all control levers before starting the engine.

7. Never attempt to make any adjustments while engine is

running, except where specifically recommended in the

operator’s manual.

8. Let engine and machine adjust to outdoor temperature

before starting to clear snow.

9. To avoid personal injury or property damage use extreme

care in handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable

and the vapors are explosive. Serious personal injury can

occur when gasoline is spilled on yourself or your clothes,

which can ignite. Wash your skin and change clothes

immediately.

a. Use only an approved gasoline container.

b. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources

of ignition.

c. Never fuel machine indoors.

d. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine is hot

or running.

e. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before refuel

ing.

f. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½ inch

below bottom of filler neck to provide space for fuel

expansion.

g. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.

h. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it of f the engine and equip

ment. Move machine to another area. Wait 5 minutes

before starting the engine.

i. Never store the machine or fuel container inside where

there is an open flame, spark or pilot light (e.g. furnace,

water heater, space heater, clothes dr yer etc.).

j. Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes before storing.

Preparation

Operation

1. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts, in the

auger/impeller housing or chute assembly. Contact with the

rotating parts can amputate hands and feet.

2. The auger/ impeller control lever is a safety device. Never

bypass its operation. Doing so makes the machine unsafe

and may cause personal injury.

3. The control levers must operate easily in both directions

and automatically return to the disengaged position when

released.

4. Never operate with a missing or damaged chute assembly.

Keep all safety devices in place and working.

5. Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area.

Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless and

deadly gas.

6. Do not operate machine while under the influence of alcohol

or drugs.

7. Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do

not touch.

8. Exercise extreme caution when operating on or crossing

gravel surfaces. Stay alert for hidden hazards or traffic.

9. Exercise caution when changing direction and while operat

ing on slopes.

10. Plan your snow-throwing pattern to avoid discharge towards

windows, walls, cars etc. Thus, avoiding possible property

damage or personal injury caused by a ricochet.

11. Never direct discharge at children, bystanders and pets or

allow anyone in front of the machine.

12. Do not overload machine capacity by attempting to clear

snow at too fast of a rate.

13. Never operate this machine without good visibility or light.

Always be sure of your footing and keep a firm hold on the

handles. Walk, never run.

14. Disengage power to the auger/impeller when transporting or

not in use.

15. Never operate machine at high transpor t speeds on slippery

surfaces. Look down and behind and use care when

backing up.

16. If the machine should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the

engine, disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it against

the engine. Inspect thoroughly for damage. Repair any

damage before starting and operating.

17. Disengage all control levers and stop engine before you

leave the operating position ( behind the handles). Wait

until the auger/impeller comes to a complete stop before

unclogging the chute assembly, making any adjustments, or

inspections.

18. Never put your hand in the discharge or collector openings.

Always use the clean-out tool provided to unclog the dis-

charge opening. Do not unclog chute assembly while engine

is running. Shut off engine and remain behind handles until

all moving parts have stopped before unclogging.

19. Use only attachments and accessories approved by the

manufacturer (e.g. wheel weights, tire chains, cabs etc.).

20. If situations occur which are not covered in this manual,

use care and good judgment. Contact your dealer for

assistance.

Maintenance & Storage

1. Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper

operation regularly. Refer to the maintenance and adjust-

ment sections of this manual.

2. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting machine disen

gage all control levers and stop the engine. Wait until the

auger/impeller come to a complete stop. Disconnect the

spark plug wire and ground against the engine to prevent

unintended starting.

3. Check bolts and screws for proper tightness at frequent

intervals to keep the machine in safe working condition.

Also, visually inspect machine for any damage.

4. Do not change the engine governor setting or over-speed

the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe

operating speed of the engine.

5. Snow thrower shave plates and skid shoes are subject to

wear and damage. For your safety protection, frequently

check all components and replace with original equipment

manufacturer’s (OEM) par ts only. “Use of parts which do

not meet the original equipment specifications may lead to

improper per formance and compromise safety !”

6. Check controls periodically to verify they engage and

disengage properly and adjust, if necessary. Refer to the

adjustment section in this operator’s manual for instructions.

7. Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as neces

sary.

8. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas, oil,

etc. to protect the environment.

9. Prior to storing, run machine a few minutes to clear snow

from machine and prevent freeze up of auger/impeller.

10. Never store the machine or fuel container inside where

there is an open flame, spark or pilot light such as a water

heater, furnace, clothes dryer etc.

11. Always refer to the operator’s manual for proper instructions

on off-season storage. onment.

Do not modify engine

To avoid serious injury or death, do not modify engine in any way. Tampering with the governor setting can lead to a runaway engine and cause it to operate at unsafe speeds. Never tamper with factory setting of engine governor.

Notice regarding Emissions

Engines which are certiﬁed to comply with California and federal EPA emission regulations for SORE (Small Off Road Equipment) are certiﬁed to operate on regular unleaded gasoline, and may include the following emission control systems: Engine Modiﬁcation (EM) and Three Way Catalyst (TWC) if so equipped.

Your Responsibility

Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who read, understand and follow the warnings and instructions in this manual and on the machine.

Safe

Operation

Practices

WARNING

This symbol points out important safety instructions, which if not followed, could endanger the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all instructions in this manual before attempting to operate this machine. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in personal injury. When you see this symbol.

HEED IT’S WARNING!

Your Responsibility

Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who read, understand and follow the warnings and instructions in this manual and on the machine.

Setting Up

Your Snow

Thrower

All references in this manual to the left or right side of the snow thrower is from the operating position only. Exceptions, if any, will be specified.

IMPORTANT: This unit is shipped with the engine full of oil. After assembly, refer to the Tecumseh Engine manual packed separately with your snow thrower for fuel and oil fill-up details.

This Operator’s Manual may cover a range of product specifications for various models. Characteristics and features discussed and /or illustrated in this manual may not be applicable to all models.

Figure 1

Figure 2

This Operator’s Manual may cover a range of product specifications. Characteristics and features discussed and/or illustrated in this manual may not be applicable to all models.

IMPORTANT: Two replacement auger shear pins are included with this manual (or stowed in the plastic handle panel). Refer to “Augers” section in the Maintenance section for more information regarding shear pin replacement.

1. Remove the unit from the crate or carton.

2. Observe the lower area of the snow thrower to be sure both cables are aligned with roller guides before pivoting handle upward.

a. Pull up and back on upper handle as shown in

Figure 1. Align upper handle with the lower handle.

b. Tighten hand knobs securing upper handle to

lower handle.

3. Certain units may require assembly of the chute. If this is the case, follow steps 4-7 to install the chute. If the chute on the unit is attached, proceed to step 8.

4. Remove wing nut and hex screw from chute control assembly and clevis pin and cotter pin from chute support bracket. See Figure 2. Position the chute assembly (forward-facing) over the chute base.

5. Place the 4-way chute control in a centered position. See Figure 3.

6. Place chute assembly onto chute base and secure chute control assembly to chute support bracket with clevis pin and cotter pin removed earlier. See Figure 4.

7. Finish securing chute control assembly to chute support bracket with wing nut and hex screw removed earlier. See Figure 5.

8. Check that all cables are properly routed through the cable guide on top of the engine. See Figure 6.

9. The extension cord is fastened with a cable tie to the rear of the auger housing for shipping purposes. Cut the cable tie and remove it before operating the unit.

Figure 3

Figure 4

CAUTION: Prior to operating your snow thrower, refer to Auger Control Test in Operation section. Read and

follow all instructions carefully, and perform all adjustments to verify your snow thrower is operating safely and properly.

Shear Pin Storage

Holes are located in the plastic dash panel for convenient shear pin storage. See Figure 7.

IMPORTANT: This unit is shipped with

the engine full of oil. After assembly,

refer to engine manual for fuel and oil

fill-up details.

Chute Clean-Out Tool

The clean-out tool is conveniently fastened to the rear of the auger housing with a mounting clip. See Figure 8.

1. Release both the auger control and the drive/auger

control lock.

2. Stop the engine by moving the throttle to the stop

position.

3. Remove the clean-out tool from the mounting clip.

4. Use the shovel-shaped end of the clean-out tool to

remove any snow and ice in the chute assembly.

5. Re-fasten the clean-out tool to the mounting clip on

the rear of the auger housing and restart engine.

6. While standing in the operator’s position (behind the

snow thrower), engage the auger control for a few seconds to clear any remaining snow or ice from the chute assembly before continuing to clear snow.

Setting Up

Your Snow

Thrower

Figure 5

WARNING

Prior to operating your snow thrower, refer to Auger Control Test in Operation section. Read and follow all instructions carefully and perform all adjustments to verify your unit is operating safely and properly.

Figure 6

Never use your hands to clean snow and ice from the chute assembly or auger housing.

WARNING: Never use your hands to

clean snow and ice from the chute

assembly or auger housing.

Tire Pressure

The tires are over-inflated for shipping purposes. Check the tire pressure before operating the snow thrower. Refer to the tire side wall for tire manufacturer’s recommended psi and deflate (or inflate) the tires as necessary. NOTE: If the tire pressure is not equal in both tires, the unit may not travel in a straight path and the shave plate may wear unevenly.

Under any circumstance do not exceed manufacturer’s recommended psi. Equal tire pressure should be maintained at all times. Excessive pressure when seating beads may cause tire /rim assembly to burst with force sufficient to cause serious injury. Refer to sidewall of tire for recommended pressure.

Figure 7

IMPORTANT: Under any circumstance do not exceed manufacturer’s recommended psi. Equal tire pressure should be maintained at all times. Excessive pressure when seating beads may cause tire/rim assembly to burst with force sufficient to cause serious injury. Refer to sidewall of tire for recommended pressure.

Figure 8

Engine Controls

Recoil Starter

Handle

Electric Starter Outlet

Primer

Ignition

Key

Choke

Control

Throttle

Control

Drive Control

Gas Cap

Oil Fill

Electric Start Button

Chute

Assembly

Clean-Out Tool

Auger Control

Shift Lever

Four-Way

Chute Control™

Skid Shoe

Operating

Your Snow

Thrower

WARNING

Know Your Snow Thrower

Read, understand, and follow all instructions and warnings on the machine and in this manual before operating.

Use extreme care when handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive. Never fuel the machine indoors or while the engine is hot or running. Extinguish cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition.

Figure 12

Now that you have setup your snow thrower, it’s important to become acquainted with its controls and features.

NOTE: For detailed starting instructions and more information on all engine controls, refer to the Tecumseh Engine manual packed separately.

Shift Lever

The shift lever is located on the right side of the handle panel. Place the shift lever into any of eight positions to control the direction of travel and ground speed.

Forward

Your snow thrower has six forward (F) speeds, with position number one (1) being the slowest speed.

Reverse

Your snow thrower has two reverse (R) speeds, with position number one (1) being the slower speed.

Choke Control

The choke control is found on the rear of the engine and is activated by rotating the knob clockwise. Activating the choke control closes the choke plate on the carburetor and aids in starting the engine.

Throttle Control

The throttle control is located on the engine. It regulates the speed of the engine and will shut off the engine when pushed down completely.

Primer

Depressing the primer forces fuel directly into the engine’s carburetor to aid in cold-weather starting.

Oil Fill

Engine oil level can be checked and oil added through the oil fill.

Auger Control

Four-Way Chute Control™

Operating

Your Snow

The auger control is located on the left handle. Squeeze the control grip against the handle to engage the augers and start snow throwing action. Release to stop.

Drive Control/ Auger Control Lock

The drive control is located on the right handle. Squeeze the control grip against the handle to engage the wheel drive. Release to stop. The drive control also locks the auger control so you can operate the chute directional control without interrupting the snow throwing process. If the auger control is engaged simultaneously with the drive control, the operator can release the auger control (on the left handle) and the augers will remain engaged. Release both controls to stop the augers and wheel drive.

IMPORTANT: Always release the drive control before changing speeds.

The chute directional control is located on the left side of the dash panel.

• To change the direction in which snow is thrown, squeeze the button on the joy-stick and pivot the joy-stick to the right or to the left.

• To change the angle /distance which snow is thrown, pivot the joy-stick forward or backward.

Ignition Key

The ignition key must be inserted and snapped in place in order for the engine to start. Remove the ignition key to prevent unauthorized use of equipment. Do NOT attempt to turn the key.

Clean-Out Tool

WARNING: Never use your hands to clear a clogged chute assembly. Shut off engine and remain behind handles until all moving parts have stopped before unclogging.

The clean-out tool is mounted to the rear of the auger housing and is designed to clear a clogged chute. Refer to the Setup section for instructions on how to properly use it.

NOTE: This item is fastened with a cable tie to the rear of the auger housing at the factory. Cut the cable tie before operating the snow thrower.

Skid Shoes

Position the skid shoes based on surface conditions. Adjust upward for hard-packed snow. Adjust downward when operating on gravel or crushed rock surfaces.

Thrower

WARNING

The operation of any snow thrower can result in foreign objects being thrown into the eyes, which can damage your eyes severely. Always wear safety glasses while operating the snow thrower, or while performing any adjustments or repairs on it.

Be sure no one other than the operator is standing near the snow thrower while starting engine or operating snow thrower. Never run engine indoors or in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas. Keep hands, feet, hair and loose clothing away from any moving parts on engine and snow thrower.

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