Service .....................................................................11
WARNING
READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL
BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS MACHINE.
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
NOTE: This Operator’s Manual covers several models. Features may vary by model. Not all features in this manual are applicable to all
models and the model depicted may differ from yours.
Parts/Warranty .............. See Separate Supplement
Form No. 769-1115 0A
(August 25, 2016)
Important 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 ITS WARNING!
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65
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.
Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to
cause cancer and reproductive harm. Wash
hands after handling.
DANGER: This machine was built to
be operated according to the safe
operation practices 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
fingers, hands, toes and feet and throwing foreign
objects. Failure to observe the following safety
instructions could result in serious injury or death.
General Operation
1. Read this operator’s manual carefully
in its entirety before attempting
to assemble this machine. Read,
understand, and follow all instructions
on the machine and in the manual(s)
before operation. Keep this manual
in a safe place for future and regular
reference.
2. Be completely familiar with the controls
and the proper use of this machine
before operating it.
3. This machine is a precision piece of
power equipment, not a plaything.
Therefore, exercise extreme caution
at all times. This machine has been
designed to perform one job: to mow
grass. Do not use it for any other
purpose.
4. Never allow children under 14 years of
age to operate this machine. Children 14
and over should read and understand
the instructions and safe operation
practices in this manual and on the
machine and should be trained and
supervised by an adult.
5. Only responsible individuals who
6. Thoroughly inspect the area where
7. Plan your mowing pattern to avoid
8. To help avoid blade contact or a thrown
9. Always wear safety glasses or safety
10. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes
11. Do not put hands or feet near rotating
12. A missing or damaged discharge cover
13. Many injuries occur as a result of the
14. Never pull the mower back toward
15. Do not operate the mower while under
are familiar with these rules of safe
operation should be allowed to use this
machine.
the equipment is to be used. Remove
all stones, sticks, wire, bones, toys and
other foreign objects, which could be
tripped over or picked up and thrown
by the blade. Thrown objects can cause
serious personal injury.
discharge of material toward roads,
sidewalks, bystanders and the like. Also,
avoid discharging material against a
wall or obstruction, which may cause
discharged material to ricochet back
toward the operator.
object injury, stay in operator zone
behind handles and keep children,
bystanders, helpers and pets at least 75
feet from mower while it is in operation.
Stop machine if anyone enters area.
goggles during operation and while
performing an adjustment or repair to
protect your eyes. Thrown objects which
ricochet can cause serious injury to the
eyes.
and close-fitting slacks and shirts. Shirts
and pants that cover the arms and legs
and steel-toed shoes are recommended.
Never operate this machine in bare feet,
sandals, slippery or light-weight (e.g.
canvas) shoes.
parts or under the cutting deck. Contact
with blade can amputate fingers, hands,
toes and feet.
can cause blade contact or thrown
object injuries.
mower being pulled over the foot during
a fall caused by slipping or tripping.
Do not hold on to the mower if you are
falling; release the handle immediately.
you while you are walking. If you must
back the mower away from a wall or
obstruction first look down and behind
to avoid tripping and then follow these
steps:
a. Step back from mower to fully
extend your arms.
b. Be sure you are well balanced
with sure footing.
c. Pull the mower back slowly, no
more than half way toward you.
d. Repeat these steps as needed.
the influence of alcohol or drugs.
1
16. Do not engage the self-propelled
mechanism on machines so equipped
while starting engine.
17. The blade control is a safety device.
Never attempt to bypass its operation.
Doing so makes the safety device
inoperative and may result in personal
injury through contact with the
rotating blade. The blade control must
operate easily in both directions and
automatically return to the disengaged
position when released.
18. Never operate the mower in wet grass.
Always be sure of your footing. A slip
and fall can cause serious personal
injury. If you feel you are losing your
footing, release the blade control handle
immediately and the blade will stop
rotating within three seconds.
19. Mow only in daylight or good artificial
light. Walk, never run.
20. Stop the blade when crossing gravel
drives, walks or roads.
21. If the equipment should start to vibrate
abnormally, stop the engine and check
immediately for the cause. Vibration is
generally a warning of trouble.
22. Shut the engine off and wait until
the blade comes to a complete stop
before removing the grass catcher or
unclogging the chute. The cutting blade
continues to rotate for a few seconds
after the blade control is released. Never
place any part of the body in the blade
area until you are sure the blade has
stopped rotating.
23. Never operate mower without proper
trail shield, discharge cover, grass
catcher, blade control or other safety
protective devices in place and working.
Never operate mower with damaged
safety devices. Failure to do so can result
in personal injury.
24. Muffler and engine become hot and can
cause a burn. Do not touch.
25. Never attempt to make a wheel or
cutting height adjustment while the
engine is running.
26. Only use parts and accessories made
for this machine by the manufacturer.
Failure to do so can result in personal
injur y.
27. When starting engine, pull cord
slowly until resistance is felt, then pull
rapidly. Rapid retraction of starter cord
(kickback) will pull hand and arm toward
engine faster than you can let go. Broken
bones, fractures, bruises or sprains could
result.
28. If situations occur which are not covered
in this manual, use care and good
judgement. Contact Customer Support
for assistance or the name of the nearest
service dealer.
2
Slope Operation
Slopes are a major factor related to slip and
fall accidents, which can result in severe injury.
Operation on slopes requires extra caution.
The machine is heavy and can speed up when
going downhill. Be prepared to maintain
control of the machine. If you feel uneasy on a
slope, do not mow it. For your safety, use the
slope gauge included as part of this manual to
measure slopes before operating this machine
on a sloped or hilly area. If the slope is greater
than 15 degrees, do not mow it.
Do:
1. Mow across the face of slopes; never up
and down to avoid loss of control.
2. Exercise extreme caution when
changing direction on slopes; turn uphill
not down.
3. Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden
objects, or bumps which can cause
you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide
obstacles.
4. Always be sure of your footing. A slip
and fall can cause serious personal
injury. If you feel you are losing your
balance, release the blade control
handle immediately and the blade will
stop rotating within three (3) seconds.
Do Not:
1. Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches
or embankments, you could lose your
footing or balance.
2. Do not mow slopes greater than 15
degrees as shown on the slope gauge.
3. Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable
footing could cause slipping.
Children
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not
alert to the presence of children. Children are
often attracted to the mower and the mowing
activity. They do not understand the dangers.
Never assume that children will remain where
you last saw them.
1. Keep children out of the mowing area
and under watchful care of a responsible
adult other than the operator.
2. Be alert and turn mower of f if a child
enters the area.
3. Before and while moving backwards,
look behind and down for small children.
4. Use extreme care when approaching
blind corners, doorways, shrubs, trees,
or other objects that may obscure your
vision of a child who may run into the
mower.
5. Keep children away from hot or running
engines. They can suffer burns from a
hot muffler.
6. Never allow children under 14 years of
age to operate this machine. Children 14
and over should read and understand
the instructions and safe operation
practices in this manual and on the
machine and be trained and supervised
by an adult.
7. After stopping engine, remove Electric
Start Push Key (if equipped) and keep
it in a safe place out of the reach of
children.
Service
Safe Handling Of Gasoline:
1. 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.
2. Use only an approved gasoline
container.
3. Never fill containers inside a vehicle or
on a truck or trailer bed with a plastic
liner. Always place containers on the
ground away from your vehicle before
filling.
4. Remove gas-powered equipment from
the truck or trailer and refuel it on the
ground. If this is not possible, then
refuel such equipment on a trailer with
a portable container, rather than from a
gasoline dispenser nozzle.
5. 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.
6. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes
and other sources
of ignition.
7. Never fuel machine indoors because
flammable vapors will accumulate in
the area.
8. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while
engine is hot or running. Allow engine
to cool at least two minutes before
refueling.
9. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no
more than 1 inch below bottom of filler
neck to provide for fuel expansion.
10. Replace gasoline cap and tighten
securely.
11. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the
engine and equipment. Move machine
to another area. Wait 5 minutes before
starting engine.
12. Never store the machine or fuel
container near an open flame, spark or
pilot light as on a water heater, space
heater, furnace, clothes dryer or other
gas appliances.
13. To reduce fire hazard, keep machine free
of grass, leaves, or other debris build-up.
Clean up oil or fuel spillage and remove
any fuel soaked debris.
14. Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes
before storing.
General Service:
1. Never run an engine indoors or in a
poorly ventilated area. Engine exhaust
contains carbon monoxide, an odorless
and deadly gas.
2. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting,
make certain the blade and all moving
parts have stopped. Disconnect the
spark plug wire and ground against the
engine and remove Electric Start Push
Key (if equipped) to prevent unintended
starting.
3. Check the blade and engine mounting
bolts at frequent intervals for proper
tightness. Also, visually inspect blade
for damage (e.g., bent, cracked,
worn). Replace blade with the original
equipment manufacture’s (O.E.M.)
blade only, listed in this manual. “Use
of parts which do not meet the original
equipment specifications may lead to
improper performance and compromise
safety!”
4. Mower blades are sharp and can cut.
Wrap the blade or wear gloves, and use
extra caution when servicing them.
5. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to
be sure the equipment is in safe working
condition.
6. Never tamper with safety devices. Check
their proper operation regularly.
7. After striking a foreign object, stop
the engine, disconnect the spark plug
wire and ground against the engine.
Thoroughly inspect the mower for any
damage. Repair the damage before
starting and operating the mower.
8. Never attempt to make a wheel or
cutting height adjustment while the
engine is running.
9. Grass catcher components, discharge
cover, and trail shield are subject to
wear and damage which could expose
moving parts or allow objects to be
thrown. For safety protection, frequently
check components and replace
immediately with original equipment
manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only, listed
in this manual. “Use of parts which
do not meet the original equipment
specifications may lead to improper
performance and compromise safety!”
10. Do not change the engine’s governor
setting or over-speed the engine. The
governor controls the maximum safe
operating speed of the engine.
11. Check fuel line, tank, cap, and fittings
frequently for cracks or leaks. Replace if
neces sary.
12. Do not crank engine with spark plug
removed.
13. Maintain or replace safety and
instruction labels, as necessary.
14. Observe proper disposal laws and
regulations. Improper disposal of
fluids and materials can harm the
environment.
Section 1 — important Safe operation practiceS
3
15. According to the Consumer Products
Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
this product has an Average Useful Life of
seven (7) years, or 140 hours of operation.
At the end of the Average Useful Life
have the machine inspected annually by
an authorized service dealer to ensure
that all mechanical and safety systems
are working properly and not worn
excessively. Failure to do so can result in
accidents, injuries or death.
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), Oxidizing Catalyst (OC), Secondary Air
Injection (SAI) and Three Way Catalyst (TWC) if
so equipped.
Spark Arrestor
WARNING: This machine 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 arrestor meeting applicable local or state
laws (if any).
If a spark arrestor 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 arrestor for the muffler is available
through your nearest engine authorized
service dealer or contact the service
department, P.O. Box 361131 Cleveland, Ohio
44136 -0 019.
Safety Symbols
This page depicts and describes safety symbols that may appear on this product. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine before
attempting to assemble and operate.
SymbolDescription
READ THE OPERATOR’S MANUAL(S)
Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the manual(s) before attempting to assemble and operate.
DANGER — ROTATING BLADES
To reduce the risk of injury, keep hands and feet away. Do not operate unless discharge cover or grass catcher is
in its proper place. If damaged, replace immediately.
DANGER — BYSTANDERS
Do not mow when children or others are around.
DANGER — HAND/ FOOT CUT
Keep hands and feet away from rotating parts.
DANGER — THROWN DEBRIS
Remove objects that can be thrown by the blade in any direction. Wear safety glasses.
DANGER — SLOPES
Use extra caution on slop es. The machine is heavy and can speed up when going downhill. Be prepared to maintain
control of the machine. To avoid loss of control, operate across slopes, not up and down. When turning, turn uphill,
not down. Do not operate on slopes greater than 15°.
WARNING—GASOLINE IS FLAMMABLE
Allow the engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling.
WARNING— CARBON MONOXIDE
Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an
odorless and deadly gas.
WARNING— HOT SURFACE
Engine parts, especially the muffler, become extremely hot during operation. Allow engine and muffler to cool
before touching.
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.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
4
Section 1 — important Safe operation practiceS
To check the slope, proceed as follows:
1. Remove this page and fold along the dashed line.
2. Locate a vertical object on or behind the slope (e.g. a pole, building, fence, tree, etc.)
3. Align either side of the slope gauge with the object (See Figure 1 and Figure 2 ).
4. Adjust gauge up or down until the left corner touches the slope (See Figure 1 and Figure 2).
5. If there is a gap below the gauge, the slope is too steep for safe operation (See Figure 2 above).
WARNING! Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall accidents which can result in severe injury or death.
The machine is heavy and can speed up when going downhill. Be prepared to maintain control of the machine. To avoid loss of control, operate across slopes, not up and down. When turning,
turn uphill, not down. Do not operate machine on slopes in excess of 15 degrees.
(OK)(TOO STEEP)
IF A SLOPE IS TOO STEEP FOR SAFE OPERATION!
USE THIS SLOPE GAUGE TO DETERMINE
Slope Gauge
15° dashed line
Figure 2Figure 1
15° Slope
15° Slope
Section 1 — important Safe operation practiceS
5
Assembly & Set-Up
(a)
(b)
(b)
(a)
(a)
A
B
B
(a)
(a)
Thank You
2
Thank you for purchasing this product. It was carefully engineered to
provide excellent performance when properly operated and maintained.
Please read this entire manual prior to operating the equipment. It instructs
you how to safely and easily set up, operate and maintain your machine.
Please be sure that you, and any other persons who will operate the
machine, carefully follow the recommended safety practices at all times.
Failure to do so could result in personal injury or property damage.
All information in this manual is relative to the most recent product
information available at the time of printing. Review this manual frequently
to familiarize yourself with the machine, its features and operation. Please
be aware that 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. We
reserve the right to change product specifications, designs and equipment
without notice and without incurring obligation.
If applicable, the power testing information used to establish the power
rating of the engine equipped on this machine can be found at
www.opei.org or the engine manufacturer’s web site.
If you have any problems or questions concerning the machine, phone your
local authorized service dealer or contact us directly. We want to ensure
your complete satisfaction at all times.
Throughout this manual, all references to right and left side of the machine
are observed from the operating position.
The engine manufacturer is responsible for all engine-related 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 machine, for more information.
NOTE: This Operator’s Manual covers several models. Features may vary by model. Not all features in this manual are applicable to all models and the
model depicted may differ from yours. Handle assembly is the same on all units, however, refer to Figure 3-1 in the Controls & Operation section to
determine the handle controls your model has and page 10 for instruction on how to use them.
NOTE: This unit is shipped without gasoline or
oil in the engine. Fill up with gasoline and oil
as instructed in the Engine Operator’s Manual
BEFORE operating your mower.
a. Pull upward on the handle until
holes in lower handle (shown in
Figure 2-3 deck cutaway) line up
with holes in handle bracket.
See Figure 2-4.
Handle Assembly
1. Remove any packing material which may
be between upper and lower handles
2. Remove wing knobs (a) and carriage
bolts (b) from handle as shown in Figure
2-1. Do not loosen or remove adjacent
hex head screws.
Figure 2-1
3. While stabilizing mower so it doesn’t
move, pivot upper handle up as shown
in Figure 2-2. Do not crimp cable while
lifting the handle up.
6
Figure 2-2
4. Remove the T-bolts (a) from the handle
brackets as shown in Figure 2-3.
Figure 2-3
5. Follow the proceeding steps to
complete handle assembly:
Figure 2-4
NOTE: When pulling upward on handle,
make sure to not pull handle all the way
out.
b. Insert the T-bolts (a) removed
in Step 4 through the handle
brackets and lower handle and
tighten securely to secure the
handle in place. See Figure 2-4.
c. Reattach wing knobs (a) and
carriage bolts (b) removed in
Step 2 into lower holes of handle
as shown in Figure 2-5.
C
C
(a)
(a)
(b)
(b)
Figure 2-5
D
A
B
C
(a)
(a)
B
A
A
B
B
2
1
Mulch Plug
3
2
1
2
3
1
Lower
Lower
Higher
Higher
Low Wheel
6. The rope guide is attached to the right
side of the upper handle. Loosen the
wing knob (a) which secures the rope
guide. See Figure 2-6.
Figure 2-6
a. Hold blade control against upper
handle.
b. Slowly pull star ter rope handle
from engine and slip starter rope
into the rope guide.
c. Tighten rope guide
wing knob (a).
d. Use cable tie(s) to secure cable(s)
to lower handle.
NOTE: On select units, use the two cable
clips provided to secure blade control
and drive cables to lower handle as
shown in Figure 2-7.
Grass Catcher (If Equipped)
1. Follow steps below to assemble the
grass catcher (if needed). Make certain
bag is turned right side out before
assembling (warning label will be on the
outside). See Figure 2-8.
a. Place bag over frame so that
its black plastic side is at the
bottom.
b. Slip plastic channel of grass bag
over hooks on the frame.
Figure 2-8
2. Follow steps below to attach grass
catcher. See Figure 2-9.
a. Lift mower rear discharge door.
b. Place grass catcher into the slots
in the handle brackets. Release
discharge door so that it rests on
the grass catcher.
Side Discharge Chute
(If Equipped)
Your mower may be shipped as a mulcher.
To convert to side discharge, make sure grass
catcher (if equipped) is off the unit and mower
rear discharge door (if equipped) is closed.
1. On the side of the mower, lift the mulch
plug. See Figure 2-10.
Figure 2-10
2. Slide two hooks of side discharge
chute under hinge pin on mulch plug
assembly. Lower the mulch plug.
NOTE: Do not remove side mulch plug
at any time.
Adjustments
Cutting Height
The cutting height adjustment lever is located
above the front and rear right wheel.
1. Pull the cutting height adjustment lever
towards wheel.
2. Move lever to desired position for a
change in cutting height. See Figure 2-11
for low wheel and Figure 2-12 for high
wheel.
IMPORTANT: To reduce wear and allow
for proper operation, make sure to leave
some slack in the upper portion of the
cable(s).
Figure 2-7
Figure 2-9
To remove grass catcher, lift mower rear
discharge door. Lift grass catcher up and off
the slots in the handle brackets. Release mower
rear discharge door to allow it to close rear
opening of mower.
Figure 2-11
7Section 2 — ASSembly & Set-Up
3
2
2
1
3
1
Lower
Lower
Higher
Higher
High Wheel
Figure 2-12
(b)
(b)
(a)
(a)
Tighten
Loosen
Tighten
Loosen
NOTE: For mowers with low wheels, the
cutting height adjustment levers move
in the opposite direction to adjust; for
mowers with high wheels, the levers
move in the same direction.
IMPORTANT: Both the front and rear
wheels must be placed in the same
relative position. For rough or uneven
lawns, move the height adjustment
levers to a higher position. This will stop
scalping of grass.
3. Release lever towards deck. See
Figure 2-11 and Figure 2-12.
Handle Pitch (If Equipped)
If equipped, the pitch of the handle can be
adjusted as follows:
1. Remove wing nuts (a) and carriage
bolts (b) from handle. See Figure 2-13.
Drive Control (If Equipped)
If equipped, there is an adjustment wheel
located in the drive control handle housing
that is used to tighten or loosen the drive belt.
You will need to adjust the drive control if the
mower does not propel itself with the drive
control engaged or if the mower’s wheels
hesitate with the drive control engaged.
If either of these conditions occur, rotate
adjustment wheel clockwise to tighten cable
or counterclockwise to loosen the cable. See
Figure 2-14 for location on Single Lever Drive
Control and Figure 2-15 for Dual Lever Drive
Control.
Figure 2-14
Figure 2-13
2. Position the handle in one of the three
positions that is most comfortable.
See Figure 2-13 inset.
3. Secure into position with wing nuts (a)
and carriage bolts (b) removed in Step 1.
8Section 2 — ASSembly & Set-Up
Figure 2-15
Set-Up
Gas and Oil Fill-Up
Refer to the Engine Operator’s Manual for
additional engine information.
1. Add provided oil before starting unit for
the first time.
2. Service the engine with gasoline as
instructed in the Engine Operator’s
Manual.
WARNING: 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.
Controls & Operation
Blade Control
Rear Discharge Door
Recoil Starter
Cutting Height
Adjustment Lever
Cutting Height
Adjustment
Lever
Side Discharge
Chute †
Bail Drive Control †
Mulch Plug †
Grass Catcher †
Deck Wash †
† If Equipped
Single Lever
Drive Control †
Electric Starter
Push Key †
Dual Lever
Drive
Controls †
Premium Drive
Control †
3
Blade Control
The blade control is attached to the upper
handle of the mower. Depress and squeeze it
against the upper handle to operate the unit.
Release it to stop engine and blade.
WARNING: The blade control is
a safety device. Never attempt to
bypass its operations.
Figure 3-1
Bail Drive Control (If Equipped)
The bail drive control is located on the
underside of the upper handle and is used to
engage the drive. Squeeze it against the upper
handle to engage the drive; release it to stop
mower from propelling.
Single Lever Drive Control
(If Equipped)
The single lever drive control is located on top
of the upper handle and is used to engage the
drive. Squeeze it against the upper handle to
engage the drive; release it to slow down or
stop mower from propelling.
Dual Lever Drive Controls
(If Equipped)
The dual lever drive controls are located on top
of the upper handle and are used to engage
the drive. Squeeze the right, left, or both right
and left controls against the upper handle to
engage the drive; release it/them to slow down
or stop mower from propelling.
9
Premium Drive Control
Engage the right, the left, or
both the right and left control
levers to propel the mower.
(If Equipped)
The premium drive control is located on the
upper handle and is used to engage the drive.
Pushing the control forward will engage
the drive. The farther the control is pushed
forward, the faster the mower will propel. Once
pressure is released from the control it will
return to the neutral position and the drive will
be disengaged.
Cutting Height Adjustment Lever
One adjustment lever is located on the right
rear wheel and one is located on the right front
wheel. Both levers must be at the same relative
position to ensure a uniform cut. To adjust
the cutting height, refer to Cutting Height
Adjustment on page 7.
NOTE: On select models, the front cutting
height adjustment lever is located above the
front left wheel.
Grass Catcher (If Equipped)
The grass catcher, located at the rear of the
mower, is used to bag the grass clippings for
disposal. Once the bag is full, remove it up
through the handles using the grass catcher
handle and empty it.
Mulch Plug (If Equipped)
The mulch plug is used for mulching purposes.
Instead of collecting the grass clippings in
a grass catcher or using the side discharge
chute, some mower models have the option
of recirculating the clippings back to the lawn.
This is called mulching.
Side Discharge Chute
(If Equipped)
Your mower may be shipped as a mulcher.
To discharge the grass clippings to the side,
follow the instructions in the Side Discharge
Chute section on page 7 to attach the side
discharge chute.
WARNING: Keep hands and feet
away from the chute area on
cutting deck. Refer to warning
label on the unit.
Deck Wash (If Equipped)
Your mower’s deck may be equipped with a
fast attach deck wash nozzle on its surface
as part of its deck wash system. Use the deck
wash to rinse grass clippings from the deck’s
underside.
Recoil Starter
The recoil starter is attached to the right upper
handle. Stand behind the unit and pull the
recoil starter rope to start the unit.
Electric Starter Push Key
(If Equipped)
The electric starter push key is located on
the right side of the upper handle. It is both
a removable key and push button and is only
provided on electric start models.
NOTE: On select units, the electric start is
activated by a removable turn key.
Starting & Stopping Engine
Refer to the Engine Operator’s Manual for
instructions on starting and stopping the
engine.
Using Your Lawn Mower
Be sure lawn is clear of stones, sticks, wire,
or other objects which could damage lawn
mower or engine. Such objects could be
accidently thrown by the mower in any
direction and cause serious injury to the
operator, others, or the equipment.
Bail Drive Control
1. Once the engine is running, squeeze
the bail drive control against the upper
handle to propel mower.
2. Release the bail drive control to stop
mower from propelling.
Single Lever Drive Control
1. Once the engine is running, squeeze
the single lever drive control against the
upper handle to propel mower.
2. Release the single lever drive control
to slow down or stop mower from
propelling.
Dual Lever Drive Controls
1. Once the engine is running and while
continuing to hold the blade control
down, squeeze either (or both) drive
controls against the upper handle to
propel mower. See Figure 3-2.
Figure 3-2
2. Release the dual lever drive controls
to slow down or stop mower from
propelling.
Premium Drive Control
1. Once the engine is running and while
continuing to hold the blade and drive
controls together, push the drive control
forward to propel mower. The farther
the control is pushed forward, the faster
the mower will propel.
2. Once pressure is released from the
control it will return to the neutral
position and the drive will be
disengaged.
NOTE: For ease of use, while gripping
the controls, simply lock your wrist
and elbows and walk - the unit will
automatically adjust to your speed.
WARNING: The operation of any
lawn mower can result in foreign
objects being thrown into the
eyes, which can damage your
eyes severely. Always wear safety
glasses while operating the
mower, or while performing any
adjustments or repairs on it.
Using as Mulcher (If Equipped)
For mulching grass, remove the side discharge
chute (if equipped) or the grass catcher (if
equipped) and allow the rear discharge door (if
equipped) to close the rear opening of mower.
For effective mulching, do not cut wet grass. If
the grass has been allowed to grow in excess
of four inches, mulching is not recommended.
Use the grass catcher to bag clippings instead.
Using Grass Catcher (If Equipped)
Use the grass catcher to collect clippings while
you are operating the mower.
1. Attach grass catcher following
instructions in the Grass Catcher section
on page 7. Grass clippings will
automatically collect in bag as you run
mower. Operate mower until grass bag
is full.
2. Stop engine completely by releasing the
blade control. Make sure that the unit
has come to a complete stop.
3. Lift discharge door and pull grass bag up
and away from the mower to remove the
bag. Dispose of the grass clippings and
reinstall the bag when complete.
WARNING: If you strike a foreign
object, stop the engine. Remove
wire from the spark plug,
thoroughly inspect mower for
any damage, and repair damage
before restarting and operating.
Extensive vibration of mower
during operation is an indication
of damage. The unit should be
promptly inspected and
repaired.
10Section 3 — controlS & operation
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