Honda Automobiles H4518H User Manual
The engine exhaust from this product
contains chemicals known to the State
defects or other reproductive harm.
Thank you for purchasing a Honda lawn tractor.
This manual describes operation and maintenance of the Honda H4518H
lawn tractor, type SA. All information in this publication is based on the
latest product information available at the time of printing.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. reserves the right to make changes at any time
without notice and without incurring any obligation.
No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission.
This manual is considered a permanent part of the lawn tractor and it must
stay with the lawn tractor if resold.
READ THIS OWNER’S MANUAL CAREFULLY. Pay special attention to
these symbols and any instructions that follow:
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65 WARNING:
Engine exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer, birth defects, and other reproductive harm.
HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD. 1995, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
Safety Messages
Your safety and the safety of others is very important. We have provided
important safety messages in this manual and on the lawn tractor. Please read
these messages carefully.
A safety message alerts you to potential hazards that can hurt you and others.
Each safety message is preceded by a safety alert symbol g and one of three
words: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION.
These mean:
B
You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t
follow instructions.
You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t
follow instructions.
m
Each message tells you what the hazard is, what can happen, and what you can
do to avoid or reduce injury.
You CAN be HURT if you don’t follow instructions.
Damage Prevention Messages
You will also see other important messages that are preceded by the word
NOTICE.
This word means:
-1 Your lawn tractor or other property can be damaged if you don’t
follow instructions.
The purpose of these messages is to help prevent damage to your lawn tractor,
other property, or the environment.
2
I. SAFETY INFORMATION
SAFETY LABEL LOCATIONS
The labels shown here contain important safety information. Please read them
carefully. These labels are considered permanent parts of your tractor. If a label
comes off or becomes hard to read, contact your dealer for a replacement.
I AWARNING 1
GASOLINE IS FLAMMABLE
STOP ENGINE, AVOID HEAT,
SPARKS, AND OPEN FLAME
WHEN REFUELING.
#
6
1 LAWN TRACTOR SAFETY
For your safety and the safety of others, pay special attention to these
precautions:
Operator Responsibility
l Keep the lawn tractor in good operating condition. Operating a lawn
tractor in poor, or questionable condition could result in serious injury.
l Be sure all safety devices are in working order and warning labels are in
place, these items are installed for your safety.
l Know how to stop the engine and blades quickly in case of emergency.
Understand the use of all controls.
l Allowing anyone, to operate this lawn tractor without proper instruc-
tion may result in injury.
l Allowing passengers to ride on the tractor or any of its attachments
may cause the tractor to tip over.
l Wear sturdy, full coverage footwear. Operating this lawn tractor
barefoot, or with open toe shoes or sandals increases your risk of injury.
l Dress sensibly. Loose clothing may get caught in moving parts, increas-
ing your risk of injury.
l Be alert. Operating this lawn tractor when you are tired, ill or under the
influence of alcohol or drugs may result in serious injury.
l Keep all persons and pets away from the mowing area.
Child Safety
Serious injury or death can occur if a child falls off the tractor or runs into
the tractor’s path and is run over by the machine.
l Allowing children to ride as passengers on the lawn tractor can be
dangerous.
l Keep children indoors and supervised at all times when any outdoor
power equipment is being used nearby. Young children move quickly
and are attracted to the tractor and the mowing activity especially if
they have been given rides before.
l Never assume that children will remain where you last saw them.
Be alert, and turn the mower off if children enter the area. Use extreme
care when backing up, and when approaching corners, shrubs, trees,
and other obstructions that might hide children from sight.
l Children should never be allowed to operate the lawn tractor, even
under adult supervision.
7
Blade Hazard
The blades are sharp, and they turn at high speed. Accidental contact can
cause serious injury.
l Keep your hands and feet away from the mower deck while the engine
is running.
l Stop the engine, disengage the Power Take Off (PTO) clutch and remove the
key before inspection or maintenance of the deck or blades.
l Disconnect the spark plug caps to prevent any possibility of accidental
starting. Wear heavy gloves to protect your hands from the blades
when cleaning out the mower deck, or when inspecting or replacing the
blades.
Thrown Object Hazard
Objects hit by the blades can be thrown from the tractor with great force,
and may cause serious injury.
l Before mowing, clear the mowing area of sticks, stones, dog bones,
and other litter and loose objects. Mow only in daylight, or in well-lit
areas at night, so you can see and avoid objects in the grass.
l Before operating the tractor, be sure the side discharge guard is down,
or that the optional grass catcher bags and discharge chute are in place.
l Disengage the Power Take Off (PTO) lever to stop the blades before crossing
a gravel driveway or any other area with loose stones.
l Always inspect the mower for damage after striking a foreign object.
Repair or replace any damaged parts before continued use.
l Broken pieces thrown from a worn or damaged blade can cause serious
injury. Always inspect the blades before using the tractor.
Fire and Burn Hazard
Gasoline is extremely flammable, and gasoline vapor can explode.
Use extreme care when handling gasoline. Keep gasoline out of reach of
children.
l Refuel in a well ventilated area with the engine stopped.
l Allow the engine to cool before refueling. Fuel vapor or spilled fuel may
ignite.
l Dry grass and leaves may ignite if they are allowed to accumulate
around the engine, the exhaust system, or on top of the deck (especially around the pulleys).
l It is illegal in some areas to operate an engine without a USDA qualified
spark arrester. Periodic maintenance is required to keep it functioning
as designed.
8
The engine and exhaust system become very hot during operation and re-
main hot for a while after stopping. Contact with hot engine components
can cause burn injuries and can ignite some materials.
l Avoid touching a hot engine or exhaust system.
l Allow the engine to cool before performing maintenance or storing the
lawn tractor indoors.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hazard
Exhaust contains poisonous carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless
gas. Breathing exhaust can cause loss of consciousness and may lead to
death.
l If you run the engine in an area that is confined, or even partially enclos-
ed, the air you breathe could contain a dangerous amount of exhaust
gas. To keep exhaust gas from building up, provide adequate ventilation.
Towing Hazard
Towing trailers, garden carts, etc. will affect the stability of the tractor.
Use the proper type of hitch, and never exceed the recommended load
limit and tongue weight. Refer to the recommendations on pages 48 and
49 of this manual.
Operating on Slopes
This lawn tractor is intended for use on relatively flat terrain.
Operating the lawn tractor on slopes exceeding 10 degrees (17% grade)
could cause the mower to tip over.
NOTE:
If you feel that you cannot accurately judge the angle of the grade
to be mowed, we suggest that you obtain an inclinometer. These slope
gauges are available at most hardware stores.
l When mowing on slopes, empty the grass bags when they are half full.
The weight of full grass bags may cause the lawn tractor to tip over.
Maximum safe operating angle
o MAX
MAXIMUM 10° (17% GRADE)
9
2. COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION
POWER TAKE-OFF (PTO) LEVER
STEERING WHEEL
PARKING BRAKE
LEVER
TEMP
INDICATOR LAMP
DECK HEIGHT
ADJUSTING LEVER -
CUlTER DECK
PARKING INDICATOR
LAMP
FUEL INDICATOR
LAMP
\
’
l FRAME SERIAL
NUMBER
RUFFLER
HEADLIGHT
SWITCH
/
HEADLIGHT
TRANSMISSION
OIL FILLER CAP
\
FUEL TANK CAP
CUTTER DECK DRIVE
ADJUSTING KNOB
10
Engine compartment
RESERVE TANK
OIL DRAIN PLUG
RADIATOR DRAIN PLUG
* Record the frame and engine serial numbers for your reference. Refer to the
serial numbers when ordering parts, and when making technical or warranty
inquiries (see page 84).
Frame serial number:
Engine serial number:
11
3. CONTROLS
Engine Switch
m
lawn tractor is unattended to prevent children or unauthorized persons
from starting the engine.
This lawn tractor is equipped with an automotive type ignition switch,
which controls all the electrical circuits. The switch is located on the righthand side of the control panel.
Key positions:
Always remove the key from the engine switch whenever the
“START” to start the engine
“ON“
“OFF“ to stop the engine.
ENGINE SWITCH
to run the engine after starting
1 NOTICE 1 D
when the engine is not running as the battery will discharge.
NOTE: The starter motor will not operate unless the shift lever is in NEUTRAL,
the PTO lever is in the OFF (disengaged) position, and either the parking brake
is applied or the operator is sitting on the seat.
Throttle Lever
The throttle lever controls engine speed from SLOW (idle) to FAST (max
speed). START (CHOKE) is for starting a cold engine.
o not leave the engine switch “ON” (key in “ON” position)
START
THROTTLE
LEVER
12
Cutter Deck Height Adjusting Lever
This lever is used to raise and lower the cutter deck. To adjust the cutting
height, squeeze the handle lock and then press in and hold the set button.
Raise or lower the lever until the desired cutting height appears on the indicator. At that point, release the set button and the handle lock. Be sure
the handle lock returns to its normal position when released.
Cutting height: 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 in (Approx.)
(J
l To avoid damage to the cutter deck, always raise it fully when driving
the lawn tractor to and from the mowing area; this provides maximum
ground clearance.
l To avoid damaging or disabling the handle locking mechanism, never
attempt to screw the adjusting lever’s set button in or out.
INDICATOR
SET BbTTON
&lTTER DECK HEIGHT
ADJUSTING LEVER
\
HANDLE LOCK
13
Shift Lever
Use the shift lever to change the forward/reverse speed of the lawn tractor
and/or to shift the transmission into NEUTRAL (STOP).
To drive the lawn tractor forward, release the parking brake and slowly
move the shift lever from NEUTRAL to forward direction. To drive in
reverse, slowly move the shift lever rearward.
NOTE: The shift lever is interconnected with the brake pedal. The shift
lever returns to NEUTRAL when the brake pedal is fully depressed to bring
the lawn tractor to a complete stop.
Be sure that the shift lever is in the mowing range whenever mowing.
Mowing in the transport range is not recommended as this will affect cut
quality. Transport range should only be used to drive to and from the mowing area.
NOTE: An interlock switch prevents the engine from starting unless the
shift lever is in the N (neutral) position.
SHIFT LEVER
14
Power Take-Off (PTO) Lever
This lever engages and disengages the power take-off clutch to drive the
blades.
Lever positions: ON (Engaged). . . . . . . . Blades turn
OFF (Disengaged) . . . . Blades stop
PTO LEVER
NOTE: An interlock switch prevents the engine from starting unless the PTO
lever is in the OFF position.
Brake Pedal
The brake pedal and the shift lever are interconnected. When the brake
pedal is fully depressed, the lawn tractor will stop and the shift lever will
return to NEUTRAL. If the brake pedal is depressed half-way and then
released, the lawn tractor will continue at a slower speed.
II Dr.
can damage the brake linings.
lving the lawn tractor with the brake pedal partly depressed
BRAKE PEDAL
15
Parking Brake Lever and Warning Buzzer
This lever is used to set the brake when the lawn tractor is parked.
To apply the parking brake, pull up on the lever. The parking indicator lamp
on the control panel will be ON when the engine switch is ON.
To release the parking brake, pull the lever up slightly and press the set
button, lower the lever while holding in the button.
A warning buzzer will sound if the seated operator moves the shift lever
out of the neutral position while the parking brake is set, and the engine
switch is in the “ON” position. Releasing the parking brake lever will stop
the buzzer.
A delayed engine cutoff is interlinked with the parking brake warning
buzzer. This feature prevents the lawn tractor from being operated while
the parking brake is set. The engine will stop a few seconds after the war-
ning buzzer begins to sound unless the parking brake is released.
(1 Wh
en washing the lawn tractor, do not spray water directly into
the warning buzzer holes.
PARKING BRAKE LEVER BUTTON
16
PARKING INCjlCATOR LAMP
WAkNlNG BUZZER
Transmission Release Lever
This lever is used when it becomes necessary to push the lawn tractor by
hand.
m
hill, could result in a loss of control causing serious injury or equipment
damage.
1 NOTICE 1 0
ning can damage the transmission.
To operate the transmission release lever:
1. Stop the engine and apply the parking brake.
2. Place the shift lever in the NEUTRAL position.
3. Move the transmission release lever to the released position.
TRANSMISSION
LEVER
4. Release the parking brake carefully.
Operating the transmission release lever while on a slope or
perating the transmission release lever while the engine is run-
RELEASE
1-1 To
damage the transmission.
If the lawn tractor becomes inoperable due to transmission failure, trailer-
ing the tractor to the place of repair is recommended.
wing or pushing the lawn tractor with another vehicle will
17
Headlight Switch
The headlight switch turns the headlights ON and OFF.
izzl NoT’CE Poor visibility increases the risk of striking hidden objects.
Reduce speed when operating the tractor in low light conditions.
HEADLIGHT
SWITCH
4. PRE-OPERATION CHECKS
Follow the procedures below and check all of the following items before
each use:
1. Park the lawn tractor on a level surface.
2. Place the shift lever in the neutral position and set the parking brake.
3. Disconnect the spark plug caps and remove the key to prevent acciden-
tal engine start-up.
m
the pre-operation checks, moving parts may cause serious injury.
OPENING/CLOSING THE HOOD
To open, pull up at the grip area until the hood stops at the fully open position.
-1 If the hood is opened while the hydraulic lift arms are raised, the
hood can strike the arms. To avoid damaging the hood, do not attempt to fully
open it, unless the hydraulic lift arms are lowered.
To close, slowly lower the hood until it seats in the spring clips.
RADIATOR SCREEN
m
allow’ it to cool before proceeding.
If the engine is started accidentally while you are performing
If the engine has been running, the radiator will be very hot;
FRONT I)
/
RADIATOR
\
RhlATOR SCREEN
19
ENGINE OIL
m Running the engine with low oil level will cause serious engine
damage.
1, Place the lawn tractor on a level surface.
2. Open the engine hood, wipe dust and dirt from around the dipstick.
Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean.
3. Reinsert it all the way down, then pull it out and read the level.
4. If the level is low, add the recommended oil to the upper mark on the
dipstick. Do not overfill.
Use 4-stroke motor oil that meets or exceeds the requirements for API service
classification SF or SG. Always check the API SERVICE label on the oil container
to be sure it includes the letters SG or SF.
[NOTlCEJ
engine’s service life.
SAE low-30 is recommended for general, all-temperature use. Other
viscosities shown in the following chart may be used when the average
temperature in your area is within the indicated range.
ENGINE OIL FILLER CAP
Using nondetergent oil or Z-stroke engine oil could shorten the
I
0 20
-20 -10
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
40 60 80
0 m 20
Ambient temperature
30 40 ‘C
i-’
UPPER LEVEL
LOWER LEVEL
FUEL
Fuel Level/Refueling
Removethefueltankcapandcheckthefuellevel.Refillthetankifthelevelislow.
If the low fuel indicator lamp glows, it means you have about 1 .O P (0.26
US gal) or less remaining and should refuel.
Fuel tank capacity: 9.0 P (2.38 US gal, 1.98 Imp gal)
Gasoline is extremely flammable, and gasoline vapor can explode. Use ex-
treme care when handling gasoline. Keep gasoline out of reach of children.
l Refuel in a well ventilated area with the engine stopped. Keep flames
and sparks away, and do not smoke in the area.
l Gasoline vapors or spilled gasoline may ignite.
l Refuel carefully to avoid spilling gasoline. Avoid overfilling the fuel tank
(there should be no gas in the filler neck). After refueling, tighten the fuel
tank cap securely. If any gasoline was spilled, make sure the area is dry
before starting the engine.
l After use, park the lawn tractor on a level surface. Be sure the storage
area is well ventilated, do not allow flames or sparks in the storage area.
After refueling, be sure to tighten the fuel tank cap firmly.
UPPER LEVEL
LOW FUEL INDICATOR LAMP
I
Fuel Recommendation
Use unleaded gasoline with a pump octane rating of 86 or higher.
This engine is certified to operate on unleaded gasoline.
Unleaded gasoline produces fewer engine and spark plugs deposits and ex-
tends exhaust system life.
Never use stale or contaminated gasoline or oil/gasoline mixture. Avoid getting
dirt or water in the fuel tank.
Occasionally you may hear light “spark knock” or “pinging” (metallic rapping
noise) while operating under heavy loads. This is no cause for concern.
If spark knock or pinging occurs at a steady engine speed, under normal load,
change brands of gasoline. If spark knock or pinging persists, see an authorized
Honda tractor dealer.
(NOTlCE] R”
nning the engine with persistent spark knock or pinging can
cause engine damage.
Running the engine with persistent spark knock or pinging is considered
misuse, and the Distributor’s Limited Warranty does not cover parts
damaged by misuse.
Oxygenated Fuels
Some conventional gasolines are being blended with alcohol or an ether
compound. These gasolines are collectively referred to as oxygenated fuels. To
meet clean air standards, some areas of the United states and Canada use
oxygenated fuels to help reduce emissions.
If you use an oxygenated fuel, be sure it is unleaded and meets the minimum
octane rating requirement.
Before using an oxygenated fuel, try to confirm the fuel’s contents. Some states/
provinces require this information to be posted on the pump.
The following are the EPA approved percentages of oxygenates:
ETHANOL - (ethyl or grain alcohol) 10% by volume
You may use gasoline containing up to 10% ethanol by volume.
Gasoline containing ethanol may be marketed under the name
“Gasohol”.
MTBE - (methyl tertiary butyl ether) 15% by volume
You may use gasoline containing up to 15% MTBE by volume.
METHANOL - (methyl or wood alcohol) 5% by volume
You may usegasolinecontaining upto 5% methanol byvolume
as long as it also contains cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors
to protect the fuel system. Gasoline containing more than 5%
methanol by volume may cause starting and/or performance
problems. It may also damage metal, rubber, and plastic parts
of your fuel system.
If you notice any undesirable operating symptoms, try another service station or
switch to another brand of gasoline.
Fuel system damage or performance problems resulting from the use of an
oxygenated fuel containing more than the percentages of oxygenates men-
tioned above are not covered under warranty.
23
AIR CLEANER
Check that the air cleaner elements are clean and in good condition. A dirty air cleaner will restrict air flow to the carburetor, reducing engine performance. A damaged air cleaner will allow dirt to enter the engine, causing
rapid engine wear.
1. Open the hood and remove the wing nuts to remove the air cleaner
cover and air cleaner elements.
2. Inspect the air cleaner elements. Clean or replace the elements if
necessary. If the air cleaner elements need cleaning, follow the procedure described on page 58.
3. Reinstall the air cleaner elements and air cleaner cover. Tighten the
wing nuts securely. Reinstall the plastic duct.
(1 op
engine wear.
@rating the engine without an air cleaner will cause rapid
NUT
\
AIR CLEANER COVER
Al?‘4 CLEANER
ELEMENTS
24
COOLANT
Coolant Level
Check the coolant level in the reserve tank when the engine is at normal
operating temperature. It should be between the MAX and MIN marks.
If the coolant level is near the MIN mark, add coolant to bring it up to the MAX
mark.
If there is no coolant in the reserve tank, the cooling system should be checked
for leaks and repaired if necessary. Coolant must then be added to the radiator
and reserve tank.
m The coolant is hot and under pressure and severe scalding could
result. Never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot.
Wait until the engine is cool, then turn the radiator cap counterclockwise until
it stops. DO NOT PRESS DOWN WHILE TURNING THE CAP. After any remaining
pressure has been relieved, removethe cap by pressing down and again turning
it counterclockwise.
Add enough coolant to fill the radiator, and reinstall the cap. Fill the reserve tank
once the engine reaches normal operating temperature.
Coolant Recommendation
Use high quality ethylene glycol antifreeze that is specifically formulated
for use in aluminum engines. Mix the antifreeze with low-mineral drinking
water or distilled water.
A 50/50 mixture of ethylene glycol antifreeze and water is recommended
for most temperatures and provides good corrosion protection. A higher
concentration of antifreeze decreases cooling efficiency and is recom-
mended only if additional protection against freezing is needed. A concen-
tration of less than 40% antifreeze will not provide proper corrosion
protection.
II Th
e use of unsuitable antifreeze, hard water, or salt water may
cause corrosion damage that will shorten the life of the engine.
CAP
\
COOLANT
I
(LOWER LIMIT)
25
BATTERY ELECTROLYTE
Open the hood, and check the battery electrolyte level.
The electrolyte level must be kept between the UPPER and LOWER limit marks.
IftheelectrolytelevelisneartheLOWERmark,removethebatteryfillercapsand
carefully add distilled water to each cell until the liquid reaches the upper limit
line (see page 61).
LOWER LIMIT
m
an explosion, causing serious injury or blindness. Keep flames and sparks
away and provide adequate ventilation when charging.
l CHEMICAL HAZARD: Battery electrolyte contains sulfuric acid. Con-
tact with eyes or skin, even through clothing, may cause severe burns.
Wear a faceshield and protective clothing.
ANTIDOTE: If electrolyte gets into your eyes, flush thoroughly with
warm water for at least 15 minutes and call a physician immediately.
l POISON: Electrolyte is poison.
ANTIDOTE
- External: Flush thoroughly with water.
- Internal: Drink large quantities of water or milk.
. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
Batteries produce explosive gases. Flames or sparks can cause
Follow with milk of magnesia or vegetable oil, and call a physician
immediately.
26
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