COMMERCIAL21
ForSerialNos.
850,000&Higher
PartNo.4500-674Rev.A
WARNING
CALIFORNIA
Proposition65Warning
Theengineexhaustfromthisproduct
containschemicalsknowntotheStateof
Californiatocausecancer,birthdefects,or
otherreproductiveharm.
Important:Theengineinthisproductisnot
equippedwithasparkarrestermufer.Itisa
violationofCaliforniaPublicResourceCode
(CPRC)Section4442touseoroperatethis
engineonanyforest-covered,brush-covered,or
grass-coveredlandasdenedinCPRC4126.
Otherstatesorfederalareasmayhavesimilar
laws.
Toacquireasparkarresterforyourunit,seeyour
EngineServiceDealer.
ThissparkignitionsystemcomplieswithCanadian
ICES-002Cesystèmed’allumageparètincellede
vèhiculeestconformeàlanormeNMB-002du
Canada.
TheenclosedEngineOwner’sManualis
suppliedforinformationregardingTheU.S.
EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EP A)and
theCaliforniaEmissionControlRegulationof
emissionsystems,maintenanceandwarranty.
KeepthisengineOwner’sManualwithyourunit.
ShouldthisengineOwner’sManualbecome
damagedorillegible,replaceimmediately .
Replacementsmaybeorderedthroughthe
enginemanufacturer.
Exmarkreservestherighttomakechangesor
addimprovementstoitsproductsatanytime
withoutincurringanyobligationtomakesuch
changestoproductsmanufacturedpreviously.
Exmark,oritsdistributorsanddealers,accept
noresponsibilityforvariationswhichmaybe
evidentintheactualspecicationsofitsproducts
andthestatementsanddescriptionscontained
inthispublication.
©2010—ExmarkMfg.Co.,Inc.
IndustrialParkBox808
Beatrice,NE68310
Contactusatwww.Exmark.com.
2
PrintedintheUSA
AllRightsReserved
Introduction
CONGRATULATIONSonthepurchaseofyour
ExmarkMower.Thisproducthasbeencarefully
designedandmanufacturedtogiveyouamaximum
amountofdependabilityandyearsoftrouble-free
operation.
Thismanualcontainsoperating,maintenance,
adjustment,andsafetyinstructionsforyourExmark
mower.
BEFOREOPERATINGYOURMOWER,
CAREFULLYREADTHISMANUALINITS
ENTIRETY.
Byfollowingtheoperating,maintenance,andsafety
instructions,youwillprolongthelifeofyourmower,
maintainitsmaximumefciency ,andpromotesafe
operation.
Ifadditionalinformationisneeded,orshouldyou
requiretrainedmechanicservice,contactyour
authorizedExmarkequipmentdealerordistributor.
Exmarkpartsmanualsareavailableonlineat
http://www.exmark.com/manuals.htm.
AllExmarkequipmentdealersanddistributorsare
keptinformedofthelatestmethodsofservicing
andareequippedtoprovidepromptandefcient
serviceintheeldorattheirservicestations.They
carryamplestockofservicepartsorcansecurethem
promptlyforyoufromthefactory.
AllExmarkpartsarethoroughlytestedandinspected
beforeleavingthefactory,however,attentionis
requiredonyourpartifyouaretoobtainthefullest
measureofsatisfactionandperformance.
Figure1
1.Modelandserialnumberlocation
ModelNo.
SerialNo.
Wheneveryouneedservice,genuineExmarkparts,
oradditionalinformation,contactanAuthorized
ServiceDealerorExmarkCustomerServiceandhave
themodelandserialnumbersofyourproductready.
Figure1identiesthelocationofthemodelandserial
numbersontheproduct.Writethenumbersinthe
spaceprovided.
3
Contents
Introduction...........................................................3
Safety.....................................................................5
SafetyAlertSymbol.........................................5
SafeOperatingPractices..................................5
SafetyandInstructionalDecals.......................9
Specications.......................................................12
ModelNumbers............................................12
Systems.........................................................12
Dimensions...................................................12
ProductOverview................................................13
Operation.............................................................13
Controls........................................................13
Pre-Start........................................................15
OperatingInstructions..................................15
Maintenance.........................................................22
RecommendedMaintenanceSchedule(s)...........22
PeriodicMaintenance.......................................23
CheckEngineOilLevel.................................23
CheckingtheBladeBrakeClutch(Blade
BrakeClutchOnly)....................................23
ChecktheMowerBlade.................................24
CheckforLooseHardware............................25
ChecktheBladeBrakeClutchBail
Operation(BladeBrakeClutchUnits
Only).........................................................25
ServiceAirFilter(KawasakiUnits).................26
ServiceAirFilter(EC21ASHNUnits)............26
ServiceAirFilter(EC21HNBBCand
EC21HNBBCXUnits)..............................27
ChangeEngineOil........................................28
ChangeOilFilter(EC21KA,
EC21KABBC,EC21KAX,
EC21KAY,EC21KABBCX,
EC21KABBCY ,EC21KACA,and
EC21KABBCCA).....................................29
CheckConditionOfBelt(Self-Propelled
UnitsOnly)...............................................29
CheckSparkPlugs.........................................29
EmptyingtheFuelTankandCleaningthe
FuelFilter..................................................29
Adjustments.....................................................30
AdjustingtheSelf-PropelDrive
(Self-PropelledUnitsOnly)........................30
AdjustingtheBladeBrakeCable(Blade
BrakeClutchUnitsOnly)...........................31
Cleaning...........................................................32
CleanGrassBuild-UpUnderDeck................32
CleaningtheDischargeTunneland
Plug...........................................................32
CleaningUndertheBeltCover
(Self-PropelledUnitsOnly)........................33
CleaningtheBladeBrakeClutchShield
(BladeBrakeClutchUnitsOnly)................33
CleaningUndertheCoverPlate
(Non-BladeBrakeClutchUnits
Only).........................................................33
WasteDisposal..............................................34
Storage.................................................................35
PreparingtheFuelSystem..............................35
PreparingtheEngine.....................................35
GeneralStorageInformation.........................35
RemovingtheLawnMowerfrom
Storage......................................................35
Troubleshooting...................................................36
4
Safety
Safety
SafetyAlertSymbol
ThislawnmowermeetsorexceedstheConsumer
ProductSafetyCommissionbladesafety
requirementsforwalk-behindrotarymowersand
theB71.4specicationsoftheAmericanNational
StandardsInstituteineffectatthetimeofproduction.
Exmarkdesignedandtestedthislawnmowertooffer
reasonablysafeservice;however,failuretocomply
withthefollowinginstructionsmayresultinpersonal
injury.
ThisSafetyAlertSymbol(Figure2)isusedbothin
thismanualandonthemachinetoidentifyimportant
safetymessageswhichmustbefollowedtoavoid
accidents.
Thissymbolmeans:ATTENTION!BECOME
ALERT!YOURSAFETYISINVOLVED!
Figure2
1.Safetyalertsymbol
Thesafetyalertsymbolappearsaboveinformation
whichalertsyoutounsafeactionsorsituations
andwillbefollowedbythewordDANGER,
WARNING,orCAUTION.
DANGER:Whitelettering/Redbackground.
Indicatesanimminentlyhazardoussituationwhich,if
notavoided,Willresultindeathorseriousinjury.
WARNING:Blacklettering/Orangebackground.
Indicatesapotentiallyhazardoussituationwhich,if
notavoided,Couldresultindeathorseriousinjury.
CAUTION:Blacklettering/Yellowbackground.
Indicatesapotentiallyhazardoussituationwhich,if
notavoided,Mayresultinminorormoderateinjury.
Thismanualusestwootherwordstohighlight
information.Importantcallsattentiontospecial
mechanicalinformationandNoteemphasizes
generalinformationworthyofspecialattention.
SafeOperatingPractices
Training
•ReadtheOperator’sManualandothertraining
material.Iftheoperator(s)ormechanic(s)can
notreadEnglishitistheowner’sresponsibilityto
explainthismaterialtothem.
•Becomefamiliarwiththesafeoperationofthe
equipment,operatorcontrols,andsafetysigns.
•Alloperatorsandmechanicsshouldbetrained.
Theownerisresponsiblefortrainingtheusers.
•Neverletchildrenoruntrainedpeopleoperate
orservicetheequipment.Localregulationsmay
restricttheageoftheoperator.
•Onlyadultsandmatureteenagersshouldoperate
amower,andevenmatureteenagersshouldhave
adultsupervision.Besureateenager:
1.hasreadandunderstandstheOperator’s
Manualandrecognizestherisksinvolved;
2.issufcientlymaturetousecaution;and
3.isofsufcientsizeandweighttooperate
thecontrolscomfortablyandtomanagethe
mowerwithouttakingrisks.
•Theowner/usercanpreventandisresponsible
foraccidentsorinjuriesoccurringtohimselfor
herself,otherpeopleorproperty.
Preparation
•Evaluatetheterraintodeterminewhataccessories
andattachmentsareneededtoproperlyand
safelyperformthejob.Onlyuseaccessoriesand
attachmentsapprovedbyExmark.
•Wearappropriateclothingincludingsafetyglasses,
substantialfootwear,longtrousers,andhearing
protection.DoNotoperatewhenbarefootor
whenwearingopensandals.Longhair,loose
clothingorjewelrymaygettangledinmoving
parts.
CAUTION
Thismachineproducessoundlevelsin
excessof85dBAattheoperator’searand
cancausehearinglossthroughextended
periodsofexposure.
Wearhearingprotectionwhenoperatingthis
machine.
5
Safety
•Inspecttheareawheretheequipmentistobe
usedandremoveallrocks,toys,sticks,wires,
bones,andotherforeignobjectswhichcanbe
thrownbythemachineandmaycausepersonal
injurytotheoperatororbystanders.
DANGER
Incertainconditionsgasolineisextremely
ammableandvaporsareexplosive.
Areorexplosionfromgasolinecanburn
you,others,andcausepropertydamage.
•Fillthefueltankoutdoorsinanopen
area,whentheengineiscold.Wipeup
anygasolinethatspills.
•Neverrellthefueltankordrainthe
machineindoorsorinsideanenclosed
trailer.
•DoNotllthefueltankcompletely
full.Addgasolinetothefueltankuntil
thelevelis1/4to1/2inch(6–13mm)
belowthebottomofthellerneck.This
emptyspaceinthetankallowsgasoline
toexpand.
•Neversmokewhenhandlinggasoline,
andstayawayfromanopenameor
wheregasolinefumesmaybeignitedby
spark.
DANGER
Incertainconditionsduringfueling,static
electricitycanbereleasedcausingaspark
whichcanignitegasolinevapors.Areor
explosionfromgasolinecanburnyouand
othersandcausepropertydamage.
•Alwaysplacegasolinecontainersonthe
groundawayfromyourvehiclebefore
lling.
•DoNotllgasolinecontainersinsidea
vehicleoronatruckortrailerbedbecause
interiorcarpetsorplastictruckbedliners
mayinsulatethecontainerandslowthe
lossofanystaticcharge.
•Whenpractical,removegas-powered
equipmentfromthetruckortrailerand
refueltheequipmentwithitswheelson
theground.
•Ifthisisnotpossible,thenrefuelsuch
equipmentonatruckortrailerfroma
portablecontainer,ratherthanfroma
gasolinedispensernozzle.
•Ifagasolinedispensernozzlemustbe
used,keepthenozzleincontactwiththe
rimofthefueltankorcontaineropening
atalltimesuntilfuelingiscomplete.
•Storegasolineinanapprovedcontainer
andkeepitoutofthereachofchildren.
•Addfuelbeforestartingtheengine.
Neverremovethecapofthefueltankor
addfuelwhenengineisrunningorwhen
theengineishot.
•Iffuelisspilled,DoNotattempttostart
theengine.Moveawayfromtheareaof
thespillandavoidcreatinganysourceof
ignitionuntilfuelvaporshavedissipated.
•DoNotoperatewithoutentireexhaust
systeminplaceandinproperworking
condition.
WARNING
Gasolineisharmfulorfatalifswallowed.
Long-termexposuretovaporshascaused
cancerinlaboratoryanimals.Failuretouse
cautionmaycauseseriousinjuryorillness.
•Avoidprolongedbreathingofvapors.
•Keepfaceawayfromnozzleandgas
tank/containeropening.
•Keepawayfromeyesandskin.
•Neversiphonbymouth.
•Checkthattheoperator’spresencecontrols,
safetyswitches,andshieldsareattachedand
functioningproperly .DoNotoperateunlessthey
arefunctioningproperly .
6
Safety
Operation
WARNING
Operatingengineparts,especiallythe
mufer,becomeextremelyhot.Severeburns
canoccuroncontactanddebris,suchas
leaves,grass,brush,etc.cancatchre.
•Allowengineparts,especiallythemufer,
tocoolbeforetouching.
•Removeaccumulateddebrisfrommufer
andenginearea.
•Installandmaintaininworkingordera
sparkarresterbeforeusingequipment
onforest-covered,grass-covered,or
brush-coveredunimprovedland.
WARNING
Engineexhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,
whichisanodorlessdeadlypoisonthatcan
killyou.
DoNotrunengineindoorsorinasmall
connedareawheredangerouscarbon
monoxidefumescancollect.
•Operateonlyindaylightorgoodarticiallight,
keepingawayfromholesandhiddenhazards.
•Starttheenginecarefullyaccordingtoinstructions
withfeetwellawayfromtheblade.
•Neverraisedeckwithbladesrunning.
•Neveroperatethemowerwithdamagedguards,
shields,orcovers.Alwayshavesafetyshields,
guards,switchesandotherdevicesinplaceandin
properworkingcondition.
•Nevermowwithoutthedischargedoor.DoNot
operateunlessthedischargedoor,grasscatcher,
mulchplug,orreardischargechutekitareinplace
andworkingproperly.
•Grasscatchercomponentsaresubjecttowear,
damageanddeterioration,whichcouldexpose
movingpartsorallowobjectstobethrown.
Frequentlycheckthecomponentsandreplace
themwiththemanufacturer’srecommendedparts
whennecessary.
•DoNotchangetheenginegovernorsettingor
overspeedtheengine.
•Neverattempttomakewheelheightadjustments
whiletheengineisrunning.
•Stopengine,waitforallmovingpartstostop,
removethesparkplugwire(s).
–Beforechecking,cleaningorworkingonthe
mower.
–Afterstrikingaforeignobjectorabnormal
vibrationoccurs(inspectthemowerfor
damageandmakerepairsbeforerestarting
andoperatingthemower).
–Beforeclearingblockages.
–Wheneveryouleavethemower.
•Stopengine,waitforallmovingpartstostop:
–Beforerefueling.
–Beforedumpingthegrasscatcher.
–Beforemakingheightadjustments.
WARNING
Hands,feet,hair,clothing,oraccessoriescan
becomeentangledinrotatingparts.Contact
withtherotatingpartscancausetraumatic
amputationorseverelacerations.
•DoNotoperatethemachinewithout
guards,shields,andsafetydevicesin
placeandworkingproperly.
•Keephands,feet,hair,jewelry,orclothing
awayfromrotatingparts.
•Keepclearofthedischargeopeningatalltimes.
•Thismowerwasdesignedforoneoperator
only.Keepallothersawayfrommowerduring
operation.
•DONOToperatethemowerwhenpeople,
especiallychildren,orpetsareinthearea.
•Bealert,slowdownandusecautionwhenmaking
turns.Lookbehindandtothesidebefore
changingdirections.
•Stoptheblades,slowdown,andusecautionwhen
crossingsurfacesotherthangrassandwhen
transportingthemowertoandfromtheareato
bemowed.
•Beawareofthemowerdischargepathanddirect
dischargeawayfromothers.
7
Safety
•DoNotoperatethemowerundertheinuence
ofalcoholordrugs.
•Useextremecarewhenloadingorunloadingthe
machineintoatrailerortruck.
•Usecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,shrubs,
trees,orotherobjectsthatmayobscurevision.
SlopeOperation
UseExtremecautionwhenmowingand/orturning
onslopesaslossoftractionand/ortip-overcould
occur.Theoperatorisresponsibleforsafeoperation
onslopes.
DANGER
Operatingonwetgrassorsteepslopescan
causeslidingandlossofcontrol.Lossof
controland/orlossofoperator’sfooting
couldresultinafallwithanarmorleg
gettingunderthemowerorenginedeck
whichmayresultinseriousinjury,deathor
drowning.
•Mowacrossslopes,neverupanddown.
•DoNotmowslopeswhengrassiswet.
•DoNotmowneardrop-offsornearwater.
•DoNotmowexcessivelysteepslopes.
•Reducespeedanduseextremecaution
onslopes.
•Avoidsuddenturnsorrapidspeed
changes.
•Whenfeasible,avoidoperatingtheequipmentin
wetgrass.
•Progressivelygreatercareisneededastheslope
increases.
MaintenanceandStorage
•Stoptheengineandremovethesparkplug
wire(s).Waitforallmovementtostopbefore
adjusting,cleaningorrepairing.
•Keepengineandengineareafreefrom
accumulationofgrass,leaves,excessivegrease
oroil,andotherdebriswhichcanaccumulate
intheseareas.Thesematerialscanbecome
combustibleandmayresultinare.
•LetenginecoolbeforestoringandDoNotstore
nearameoranyenclosedareawhereopenpilot
lightsorheatappliancesarepresent.
•Shutofffuelwhilestoringortransporting.Do
Notstorefuelnearamesordrainindoors.
•Parkmachineonlevelground.Neverallow
untrainedpersonneltoservicemachine.
•Removesparkplugwirebeforemakingany
repairs.
•Usecarewhencheckingblades.Wraptheblade(s)
orweargloves,andusecautionwhenservicing
them.Onlyreplacedamagedblades.Never
straightenorweldthem.
•Keephandsandfeetawayfrommovingparts.
Ifpossible,DoNotmakeadjustmentswiththe
enginerunning.
•Keepallguards,shieldsandallsafetydevicesin
placeandinsafeworkingcondition.
•Checkallboltsfrequentlytomaintainproper
tightness.
•Frequentlycheckforwornordeteriorating
componentsthatcouldcreateahazard.
•Allreplacementpartsmustbethesameas
orequivalenttothepartssuppliedasoriginal
equipment.
•Removeormarkobstaclessuchasrocks,tree
limbs,etc.fromthemowingarea.Tallgrasscan
hideobstacles.
•Watchforditches,holes,rocks,dipsandrisesthat
changetheoperatingangle,asroughterraincould
overturnthemachine.
•Useextremecarewithgrasscatchersor
attachments.Thesecanchangethestabilityofthe
machineandcauselossofcontrol.
8
SafetyandInstructionalDecals
Safety
•Keepallsafetysignslegible.Removeallgrease,
dirtanddebrisfromsafetysignsandinstructional
labels.
•Replaceallworn,damaged,ormissingsafety
signs.
•Whenreplacementcomponentsareinstalled,be
surethatcurrentsafetysignsareafxedtothe
replacedcomponents.
•Ifanattachmentoraccessoryhasbeeninstalled,
makesurecurrentsafetysignsarevisible.
68-7410
•Newsafetysignsmaybeobtainedfrom
yourauthorizedExmarkequipmentdealeror
distributororfromExmarkMfg.Co.Inc.
•Safetysignsmaybeafxedbypeelingoffthe
backingtoexposetheadhesivesurface.Apply
onlytoaclean,drysurface.Smoothtoremove
anyairbubbles.
•Familiarizeyourselfwiththefollowingsafetysigns
andinstructionlabels.Theyarecriticaltothesafe
operationofyourExmarkcommercialmower.
103-6328
EC21KABBCX
1.Choke4.Slow
2.Fast5.Engine—stop
3.Continuousvariable
94-8072
setting
109-8191
EC21KABBC,EC21KAY,EC21KA,EC21KABBCCA,
EC21KACA,EC21KAX,EC21KABBCY
9
Safety
1.Fast
2.Continuousvariable
109-8194
EC21KABBCY ,EC21KABBCCA
3.Slow
4.Engine—stop
setting
116-1922
109-9317
116-2685
117-2718
116-1900
10
Safety
116-2737
11
Specications
Specications
ModelNumbers
SerialNos:850,000andHigher
EC21ASHN;EC21ASKA;EC21ASKAP;EC21HNBBC;EC21HNBBCX;EC21KA;EC21KACA;EC21KAX;
EC21KAY;EC21KABBC;EC21KABBCCA;EC21KABBCX;EC21KABBCY
Systems
Engine
•EngineSpecications:SeeyourEngineOwner’s
Manual
•RPM:3000(NoLoad):EC21ASHN
•RPM:3300(NoLoad):Allunitsexcept
EC21ASHN
FuelSystem
•Capacity:
EC21ASHN,EC21KACA,EC21KABBCCA,
EC21ASKAandEC21ASKAPUnits:
2.0qt(1.9L)
Allotherunits:4.0qt(3.8L)
•TypeofFuel:Regularunleadedgasoline,87
octaneorhigher;containingnomorethan10%
methanolorethanol.
CuttingDeck
•CuttingWidth:21inches(53.3cm)
•BladeBrake:Whenthebladeengagementcontrol
ismovedtothedisengagedpositionafriction
brakepadstopstherotationoftheblades.
•BladeSize:(1ea.):20.88inches(53.0cm)
•Deck:21inchesrigid.Deckdesignallowsfor
bagging,mulchingorreardischarge.
•CuttingHeightAdjustment:
Adjustsfrom1inch(2.5cm)to41/2inches(11.4
cm)in1/2inch(1.3cm)increments.
•MulchingKit:StandardonEC21KA,
EC21KABBC,EC21HNBBC,EC21KACA,
EC21KABBCCA,EC21KAX,EC21KAY,
EC21KABBCX,andEC21KABBCYUnits
•RearDischargeKit:Optional
Dimensions
•FuelFilter:Non-replaceable,intank
•FuelShut-OffValve:
EC21KACA,EC21KABBCCA,EC21ASKAand
EC21ASKAPUnitsDoNothaveashut-offvalve.
Allotherunitshaveashut-offvalve.
SafetyInterlockSystem
ForunitswithoutaBladeBrakeClutch:Operator
musthavethebladecontrolbaildepressedtostart
theengine.Releasingthebladecontrolbailwillcause
theenginetostop.
Transmission(SelfPropelledUnits)
Variable
SpeedRange:0–4.2mph(6.8km/hr)
CurbWeight:
98-122lb(44-55kg)Weightsmayvaryslightly
dependingonengineoption.
OverallWidth:
22inches(55.9cm)
OverallLengthandHeightat
21/2inchCuttingHeight:
HandleSettingLengthHeight
High61.00inches
(154.9cm)
Medium
Low
12
63.00inches
(160.0cm)
64.50inches
(163.8cm)
39.00inches
(99.1cm)
37.50inches
(95.3cm)
35.00inches
(88.9cm)