Husqvarna 961 45 00-05 01, 532 41 44-89 User Manual

Owner’s Manual

2007-05

ROTARY LAWN MOWER

650 Series Briggs & Stratton Engine
Power-Propelled
21" Multi-Cut

Model Number 6521RS
Product Number 961 45 00-05 01

CAUTION:

Read and follow all
Safety Rules and In struc tions
before operating this equipment

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Safe ty Rules ..........................................2-3

Warranty...................................................4

Prod uct Spec i fi ca tions..............................5

Assembly / Pre-Operation ........................6

Op er a tion............................................. 7-11

Maintenance Sched ule...........................12

Maintenance......................................12-15

Ser vice and Ad just ments ...................15-16

Stor age..............................................16-17

Trou ble shoot ing .................................17-18

Re pair Parts.......................................36-39

SAFETY RULES

IMPORTANT: This cutting machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing ob-

jects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.

Look for this symbol to point out im­ por tant safety precautions. It means
CAU TION!!! BECOME ALERT!!!
YOUR SAFE TY IS INVOLVED.

WAR NIN G: In order to prevent ac ci den tal
starting when setting up, trans port ing, ad­ just ing or making repairs, always dis con nect
spark plug wire and place wire where it can not
come in contact with plug.

WARNING: Engine exhaust, some of its
constituents, and certain vehicle com po ­nents contain or emit chem i cals known to
the State of Cal i for nia to cause can cer and
birth defects or oth er re pro duc tive harm.

WARNING: Battery posts, terminals and
related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the State
of Cal i for nia to cause can cer and birth
defects or oth er re pro duc tive harm. Wash

hands after handling.

CAUTION: Muffl er and other 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

in struc tions on the machine and in the

manual(s) before starting. Be thor ough ly

familiar with the controls and the proper

use of the machine before starting.

• Do not put hands or feet near or under

rotating parts. Keep clear of the dis-

charge opening at all times.

• Only allow responsible individuals, who

are familiar with the in struc tions, to

operate 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 the ma chine if

anyone enters the area.

• Do not operate the mower when bare­ foot or wearing open sandals. Al ways
wear substantial foot wear.

• Do not pull mower backwards unless abso­lutely nec es sary. Always look down and be­hind before and while moving backwards.

• Never direct discharged material toward
anyone. Avoid discharging material
against a wall or obstruction. Material may
richochet back toward the operator. Stop
the blade when crossing gravel surfaces.

• Do not operate the mower without prop­er guards, plates, grass catcher or oth er
safety protective devices in place.

• See manufacturer’s instructions for
proper operation and installation of
accessories. Only use accessories ap­proved by the manufacturer.

• Stop the blade(s) when crossing grav el
drives, walks, or roads.

• Stop the engine (motor) whenever you
leave the equip ment, before clean ing
the mower or unclogging the chute.

• Shut the engine (motor) off and wait
until the blade comes to complete stop
before removing grass catcher.

• Mow only in daylight or good artifi cial light.

• Do not operate the machine while under
the infl uence of alcohol or drugs.

• Never operate machine in wet grass.
Always be sure of your footing: keep a
fi rm hold on the handle; walk, never run.

• Disengage the self-propelled mech­ a nism or drive clutch on mowers so
equipped before starting the engine.

• If the equipment should start to vi brate
abnormally, stop the engine (motor) and
check immediately for the cause. Vibra­tion is generally a warning of trouble.

• Always wear safety goggles or safe ty glass­es with side shields when op er at ing mower.

II. SLOPE OPERATION

Slopes are a major factor related to slip &
fall accidents which can result in severe
injury. All slopes require extra caution. If
you feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it.

2

DO:

• Mow across the face of slopes: nev er
up and down. Exercise extreme caution
when changing direction on slopes.

• Remove obstacles such as rocks, tree
limbs, etc.

• Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Tall
grass can hide obstacles.

DO NOT:

• Do not trim near drop-offs, ditches or
embankments. The operator could lose
footing or balance.

• Do not trim excessively steep slopes.

• Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced
footing could cause slipping.

III. CHILDREN

Tragic accidents can occur if the op er a tor is
not alert to the presence of children. Children
are often attracted to the ma chine and the
mowing activity.
will remain where you last saw them.

• Keep children out of the trimming area
and under the watchful care of an oth er
re spon si ble adult.

• Be alert and turn machine off if chil dren
enter the area.

• Before and while walking back wards,
look behind and

• Never allow children to operate machine.

• Use extra care when approaching blind
corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects
that may obscure vision.

Never

assume that children

down

for small chil dren.

IV. SAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE

Use extreme care in handling gasoline.
Gasoline is extremely fl ammable and the
vapors are explosive.

• Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes
and other sources of ignition.

• Use only an approved container.

• Never remove gas cap or add fuel with
the engine running. Allow engine to
cool before refueling.

• Never refuel the machine indoors.

• Never store the machine or fuel contain­er where there is an open fl ame, spark
or pilot light such as a water heater or
on other appliances.

• Never fi ll 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 fi lling.

• Remove gas-powered equipment from the
truck or trailer and refuel it on the ground. If
this is not possible, then refuel such equip­ment with a portable container, rather than
from a gasoline dispenser nozzle.

• Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim
of the fuel tank or container opening at
all times until fueling is complete. Do
not use a nozzle lock-open device.

• If fuel is spilled on clothing, change
clothing immediately.

• Never overfi ll 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 (motor) running. Dis con nect the
spark plug wire, and keep the wire away
from the plug to prevent ac ci den tal starting.

• Keep nuts and bolts, especially blade
attachment bolts, tight and keep equip­ment in good condition.

• Never tamper with safety devices.
Check their proper operation reg u lar ly.

• Keep machine free of grass, leaves, or
other 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 nec es sary,
before restarting.

• Never attempt to make wheel height
adjustments while the engine is running.

• Grass catcher components are sub ject to
wear, dam age, and de te ri o ra tion, which
could expose moving parts or allow objects
to be thrown. Frequently check com po ­nents and replace with man u fac tur er’s
recommended parts, when necessary.

• Mower blades are sharp and can cut.
Wrap the blade(s) or wear gloves, and
use extra caution when ser vic ing them.

• Do not change the engine governor set­ting or overspeed the engine.

• Maintain or replace safety and instruc­tion labels, as necessary.

WARNING: This lawn mower is equipped with an internal com bus tion engine and

should not be used on or near any un im proved forest-covered, brush-covered or
grass-cov ered 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 muffl er is available through your nearest Husqvarna or
other authorized service center (See the REPAIR PARTS section of this manual).

3

WARRANTY

SECTION 1: LIMITED WARRANTY

Husqvarna Forest & Garden Company (“Husqvarna”)
warrants Husqvarna product to the original purchaser
to be free from defects in material and workmanship
from the date of purchase for the “Warranty Period” of
the product as set forth below:

2 YEAR NON-COMMERCIAL WARRANTY: Auto­matic Mower, Riding lawn mowers, yard and garden
tractors, walk behind mowers, tillers, chain saws,
trimmers, brushcutters, clearing saws, snow blowers,
handheld blowers, backpack blowers, hedge trimmers,
electrical products and power-assist collection systems
for non com mer cial, nonprofessional, noninstitutional or
nonincome producing use, except as herein stated.

Emission control system components necessary to
comply with CARB-TIER-II and EPA regulations.

Husqvarna Safety Apparel carries a 90-day warranty
from the date of the customer’s original purchase for
defects in material and workmanship. Normal wear,
tear or abuse is not covered under warranty. Product
must be returned to Charlotte with a warranty claim
form. All care and maintenance instructions must be
followed as stated by the manufacturer on the care
label. The fi t of the protective apparel/boot is not
covered under warranty.

SECTION 2: HUSQVARNA’S OBLIGATIONS UNDER
THE WARRANTY
Husqvarna will repair or replace defective components
without charge for parts or labor if a component fails
because of a defect in material or workmanship during
the warranty period.

SECTION 3: ITEMS NOT COVERED BY THIS WAR­RANTY
The following items are not covered by this warranty:
(1)Normal customer maintenance items which become

worn through normal regular use, including, but
not limited to, belts, blades, blade adapters, bulbs,
fi lters, guide bars, lubricants, rewind springs, saw
chain, spark plugs, starter ropes and tines;

(2) Natural discoloration of material due to ultraviolet

light;

(3) Lawn and garden attachments are covered by a

third party which gives a warranty, all claims for
warranty should be sent to the manufacturer; and

(4)Emission Control System components necessary

to which are manufactured by third party engine
manufacturer.

SECTION 4: EXCEPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS
This warranty shall be inapplicable to defects resulting
from the following:
(1) Accident, abuse, misuse, negligence and neglect,

including stale fuel, dirt, abrasives, moisture, rust,
corrosion, or any adverse reaction due to incorrect
storage or use habits;

(2) Failure to operate or maintain the unit in accor-

dance with the Owner’s/Operator’s manual or
instruction sheet furnished by Husqvarna;

(3) Alterations or modifi cations that change the

intended use of the product or affects the product’s
performance, operation, safety, or durability, or
causes the product to fail to comply with any ap­plicable laws; or:

(4) Additional damage to parts or components due to

continued use occurring after any of the above.

REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AS PROVIDED UNDER
THIS WARRANTY IS THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF
THE PUR CHAS ER. HUSQVARNA SHALL NOT BE
LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUEN­TIAL DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF ANY EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED WARRANTY ON THESE PRODUCTS
EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROHIBITED BY AP­PLICABLE LAW. ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICU­LAR PURPOSE ON THESE PRODUCTS IS LIMITED
IN DURATION TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD AS
DEFINED IN THE LIMITED WARRANTY STATE­MENT. HUSQVARNA RE SERVES THE RIGHT TO
CHANGE OR IMPROVE THE DESIGN OF THE
PRODUCT WITHOUT NO TICE, AND DOES NOT
ASSUME OBLIGATION TO UPDATE PREVIOUSLY
MANUFACTURED PROD UCTS.

Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental
or consequential damages, or limitations on how long
an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations or
exclusions may not apply to you. This warranty gives
you specifi c legal rights, and you may also have other
rights which vary from state to state.

SECTION 5: CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES
The product must exhibit reasonable care, mainte­nance, operation, storage and general upkeep as
written in the maintenance section of the Owner’s/
Operator’s manual. Should an operational problem
or failure occur, the product should not be used, but
delivered as is to an authorized Husqvarna dealer for
evaluation. Proof of purchase, as explained in section
6, rests solely with the customer.

SECTION 6: PROCEDURE TO OBTAIN WARRANTY
CONSIDERATION
It is the Owner’s and Dealer’s responsibility to make
certain that the Warranty Registration Card is properly
fi lled out and mailed to Husqvarna Forest & Garden
Company. This card should be mailed within ten (10)
days from the date of purchase in order to confi rm the
warranty and to facilitate post-sale service.

Proof of purchase must be presented to the authorized
Husqvarna dealer in order to obtain warranty service.
This proof must include date purchased, model num­ber, serial number, and complete name and address of
the selling dealer.

To obtain the benefi t of this warranty, the product
believed to be defective must be delivered to an
authorized Husqvarna dealer in a timely manner, no
later than thirty (30) days from date of the operational
problem or failure. The product must be delivered at
the owner’s expense. Pick-up and delivery charges are
not covered by this warranty. An authorized Husqvarna
dealer can be normally located through the “Yellow
Pages” of the local telephone directory or by calling
1-800-HUSKY62 for a dealer in your area.

HUSQVARNA

7349 Statesville Road

Charlotte, NC 28269
531 83 81-23 2002

4

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Serial Number:
Date of Purchase:
Gasoline Capacity / Type: 1.6 Quarts (Unleaded Regular)
Oil Type (API SG–SL): SAE 30 (above 32°F); SAE 5W-30 (below 32°F)
Oil Capacity: 20 Ounces
Spark Plug (Gap: .030") Champion J19LM or RJ19LM
Blade Bolt Torque: 35-40 ft. lbs.

• The model and serial numbers will be found on a decal on the rear of the lawn mower
housing. Record both serial number and date of purchase in space provided above.

ACCESSORIES

These accessories were available when this lawn mower was produced. They are not
shipped with your mower. They are also available at most Husqvarna retailers and

service centers. Some of these accessories may not apply to your lawn mower.

Engine Power Rating Information

The gross power rating for individual gas engine models is labeled in accordance with SAE (So­ciety of Automo-tive Engineers) code J11940 (Small Engine Power & Torque Rating Procedure),
and rating performance has been obtained and corrected in accordance with SAE J1995 (Revision
2002-5). Actual gross engine power will be lower and is affected by, among other things, ambi­ent operating conditions and engine-to-engine variability. Given both the wide array of products
on which engines are placed and the variety of environmental issues applicable to operating the
equipment, the gas engine will not develop the rated gross power when used in a given piece of
power equipment (actual “on-site” or net horsepower). This difference is due to a variety of factors
including, but not limited to, accessories (air cleaner, exhaust, charging, cooling, carburetor, fuel
pump, etc.), application limitations, ambient operating conditions (temperature, humidity, altitude),
and engine-to-engine variability. Due to manufacturing and capacity limitations, Briggs & Stratton
may substitute an engine of higher rated power for this Series engine.

5

ASSEMBLY / PRE-OPERATION

Read these instructions and this man u al in its entirety before you attempt to assemble
or operate your new lawn mower.
IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped WITHOUT OIL OR GASOLINE in the engine.
Your new lawn mower has been as sem bled at the factory with the ex cep tion of those
parts left unassembled for shipping purposes. All parts such as nuts, washers, bolts, etc.,
necessary to com plete the as sem bly have been placed in the parts bag. To ensure safe
and proper operation of your lawn mow er, all parts and hard ware you assemble must be
tightened se cure ly. Use the correct tools as necessary to ensure proper tightness.

TO RE MOVE MOW ER FROM CAR TON

1. Remove loose parts included with
mower.

2. Cut down two end corners of carton
and lay end panel down fl at.

3. Remove all packing materials ex cept
padding be tween upper and lower
handle and padding holding operator
presence control bar to upper handle.

4. Roll lawn mower out of carton and
check carton thorougly for ad di tion al
loose parts.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR MOW ER

TO UNFOLD HANDLE
IMPORTANT: Unfold handle carefully so

as not to pinch or damage con trol cables.

1. Raise lower handle section to operat­ing position and 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.

2. Remove protective padding, raise up­per handle sec tion into place on lower
handle and tighten both handle knobs.

3. Remove any packing material from
around control bar.

Your lawn mower handle can be adjusted
for your mowing comfort. Refer to “AD­ JUST HANDLE” in the Service and Adjust­ments section of this manual.

Operator
presence
control bar

LIFT

UP

MOWING

POSITION

SQUEEZE

Handle
bracket

TO ASSEMBLE GRASS CATCH ER

1. Put grass catcher frame into grass bag
with rigid part of bag on the bottom.
Make sure the frame handle is outside
of the bag top.

2. Slip vinyl bindings over frame.

NOTE: If vinyl bindings are too stiff, hold
them in warm water for a few minutes. If
bag gets wet, let it dry before using.

Handle pin

Frame

handle

LIFT
UP

Upper

handle

Handle

knob

Lower handle

Vinyl
bindings

Frame

opening

TO INSTALL ATTACHMENTS

Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be
used as a mulcher. To convert mower to
bagging or discharging, see “TO CON­ VERT MOWER” in the Operation section
of this manual.

6

OPERATION

KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALL SAFETY RULES BEFORE OP ER AT ING
YOUR LAWN MOWER. Compare the illustrations with your lawn mower to familiarize
yourself with the location of various controls and adjustments. Save this manual for
future reference.

These symbols may appear on your lawn mower or in literature supplied with the
product. Learn and understand their meaning.

Drive
control
lever

Starter
handle

Grass
catcher

Mulcher plug

Gasoline fi ller cap

Air fi lter

Operator presence control bar

Handle knob

Drive cover

Engine oil cap with dipstick

Primer

Muffl er

Wheel adjuster
(on each wheel)

Spark plug

HousingMulcher door

IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped WITHOUT OIL OR GASOLINE in the engine.
MEETS CPSC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Sears rotary walk-behind power lawn mowers conform to the safety standards of the
American National Standards Institute and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Com­ mis sion. The blade turns when the engine is running.

Operator presence control bar – must
be held down to the handle to start the
engine. Release to stop the engine.

Starter handle – used for starting engine.
Mulcher plug – located at the rear dis-

charge opening. Must be removed when
converting to bagging operation.

Mulcher door – allows con ver sion to
discharging or bagging operation.
Drive control lever – used to engage
power-pro pelled forward mo tion of mower.
Primer– pumps additional fuel from the
carburetor to the cylinder for use when
starting a cold engine.

7