Honda Power Equipment 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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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

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:

3. CONTROLS

Engine Switch

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

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.)

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

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

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

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

PARKING INCjlCATOR LAMP

WAkNlNG BUZZER

Transmission Release Lever

This lever is used when it becomes necessary to push the lawn tractor by

hand.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

(LOWER LIMIT)

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

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.

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