OPERATO "S
DELUXE PUSH ROTARY
LAWN MOWER
0
Assembly
,, Operation
,, Maintenance
o Service and Adjustments
o Storage
o Troubleshooting
AWARNING: This lawn mower isequipped with an internalcombustionengine and
should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brush-covered or
grass-covered land unless the engine's exhaust system isequipped with a spark
arrester meeting applicable local or state laws (ff any). If a spark arrester is used, it
should be maintained in etfectiveworking 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 simliar laws. Federal laws apply
on federal lands. A spark arrester for the muffler isavailable through your nearest
authorized service center,
193732 Rev, 5 09o24o10 BY Printed in US.Ao
Safely Rules ...........................2-3 Maintenance ...................14-16 Storage .............................18-I9
Assembly ................................4-7 Service and Troubleshooting ............19-20
Operation ........................8-13 Adjustments ................16-17
IMPORTANT: This cutting machine iscapable of amputating hands and feetand throwing ob-
jects. Failure toobserve the following safety instructions could result inserious injury or death°
_,Look for this symbol to point out impor- . Do not pull mower backwards unless
lant safety precautions. It means absolutely necessary. Always look down
CAUTIONI!! BECOME ALERTI!!
YOUR SAFETY 1SINVOLVED°
_WARNING: Inorder to prevent accidental
starling when setting up, transporting, ad-
justing or making repairs, always disconnect
spark plug wire andplace wirewhere itcannot
come in contact with plug.
_,WARNING: Engine exhaust, some of its
constituents, and certain vehicle compo-
nents contain or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to cause cancer and
blrth defects or other reproductive harm.
AWARNING: Battery posts, terminals and
related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the State
of California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm. Wash
hands after handling.
CAUTION: Muffler and
other engine parts become
extremely hot during
operation and remain hot
alter engine has stopped.
To avoid severe burns on
contact, stay away fromthese areas
I. GENERAL OPERATION
, Read, understand, and follow all
instructions on the machine and in the
manual(s) before starting° Be thoroughly
familiar with the controls and the proper
use of the machine before starling
. Do not put hands or feet near or under
rotating parts,. Keep clear of the dis-
charge opening at all times,.
° Only al3owresponsible individuals, who
are familiar with the instructions, to oper-
ate the machine.
° Clear the area of objects such as rocks,
toys,wire, bones, slicks, etc. which
could be picked up and thrown by blade.
° Be sure the area is clear of other people
before mowing. Stop machine if anyone
enters the area.
. Do not operate the mower when bare-
foot or wearing open sandals.. Always
wear substantial fool wear
and behind before and while moving
backwards.
° Never direct discharged material toward
anyone_Avoid discharging material against
a wall or obstruction. Material may richo-
chef back toward the operator Stop the
blade when crossing gravel surfaces.
,, Do not operate the mower withoul
proper guards, plates, grass catcher or
other safety protective devices in place
• See manufacturer's instructions for
proper operation and installation of
accessories. Only use accessories ap-
proved by the manufacturer..
. Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel
drives, walks, or roads.
. Stop the engine (motor) whenever you
leave the equipment, before cleaning the
mower or unclogging the chute..
° Shut the engine (motor) off and wait until
the blade comes Io complete stop before
removing grass catcher..
. Mow only in daylight / good artificial light..
. Do not operate the machine while under
the influence of alcohol or drugs.
° Never operate machine inwet grass,
Always be sure of your footing: keep a
firm hold on the handle; walk, never run.
° Disengage the self-propelled mech-
anism or drive clutch on mowers so
equipped before starting the engine,.
° if the equipment should start to vibrate
abnormally, stop the engine (motor) and
check immediately for the cause,. Vibra-
tion is generally a warning of trouble.
- Always wearsafety goggles or safety glass-
eswith sideshields when operating mowero
II, SLOPE OPERATION
Slopes are a major factor related to slip &
fall accidents which can result in severe in-
jury..All slopes require extra caulion, If you
feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it.
DO:
• Mow across the face of slopes: never
up and down,. Exercise extreme caulion
2 when changing direction on slopes
o Remove obstacles (rocks, tree limbs, etc.)
o Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Tall
grass can hide obstacles,
DO NOT:
o 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 foot-
ing could cause slipping,
III. CHILDREN
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is
not alert to the presence of children Children
are often attracted to the machine and the
mowing activity. Neverassume that children
will remain where you last saw them.
o Keep children out of the trimming area
and under the watchful care of another
responsible adult.
o Be alert and turn machine off if children
enter the area,
o Before and while walking backwards,
look behind and down for small children,
° Never altow children to operate the mower,
o Use extra care when approaching blind
comers, shrubs, lrees, or other objects
that may obscure vision,
IV. SAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE
Use extreme care in handling gasoline,
Gasoline is extremely flammable 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, Aliow engine to cool
before refueling.,
, Never refuel the machine indoors,
o Never store the machine or fuel contain-
er where there is an open flame, spark
or pilot fightsuch as a water heater or on
other appliances,,
. Never fill 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 filling
• Remove gas-poweredequipment from the
truck ortrailer and refuel it onthe ground, If
this isnot possible, then refuel such equip-
ment with a portable container, rather than
from a gasoline dispenser nozzle,
° Keep the nozz{e in contact with the rim
of the fuel tank or container opening at
a!ttimes until fueling is complete., Do not
use a nozzle lock-open device,
o If fuel is spilled on clothing, change
clelhing immediately.
o Never overfill fuel tank, Replace gas cap
and tighten securely,,
V. GENERAL SERVlCE
° Never run machine inside a closed area,,
° Never make adjustments or repairs with
the engine (motor) running, Disconnect the
spark plug wire, and keep the wire away
from theplug toprevent accidental starting.
o Keep nuts and bolts, especially blade
attachment bolts, tight and keep equip-
ment in good condition,
° Never tamper with safety devices. Check
their proper operation regularly,
" Keep machine free ofgrass, leaves,orother
debris build-up Clean oil or fuel spillage,
Allow machine to coot before storing
° Stop and inspect the equipment if you
strike an object, Repair, ff necessary,
before restarting°
° Never attempt to make wheel height
adjustments while lhe engine is running.
° Grass catcher components are subject to
wear, damage, and deterioration, which
could expose moving partsor allow objects
tobethrown Frequently check components
and replace with manufacturer's recom-
mended parts, when necessary.
o Mower blades are sharp and can cuL
Wrap the blade(s) or wear gloves, and
use extra caution when servicing them.
o Do not change the engine governor set-
ting or overspeed the engine,,
• Maintain or replace safety and instruc-
tion labels, as necessary,
CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of anew Lawn Mower. ithas been designed, engi-
neered and manufactured to give you the best possible dependability and performance.
Should you experience any problems you cannot easily remedy, please contact your
nearest aulhorized service center,,They have competent, well trained technicians and
the proper tools to service or repair this unit.
o
Read the SAFETY RULES and this Operator s Manual in its entirety before you at-
tempt to assemble or operate your new lawn mower to insure proper operatron and to
prevent injury to yourself and others_ Save this manual for future reference,
. Your new lawn mower has been assembled at the factory with the exception of those
parts left unassembled for shipping purposes, To ensure safe and proper operation
of your lawn mower, all parts and hardware you assemble must be tightened securely°
Use the correct tools as necessary to ensure proper tightness.
• All paris such as nuts, washers, bolts, etc, necessary to complete the assembly have
been placed in the paris bag_ 3
TO REMOVE MOWER FROt_ CARTON
= Remove all loose parts from carton,,
• Remove lawn mower housing withcare, Avoid touching blade under housing.,Always
wear gloves or other protection whenworking under or liftingmower,.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU ASSEMBLE OR OPERATE YOUR LAWN
MOWER
Do ! have a side or rear discharge lawn
mower?
Look for the grass discharge opening on
your mower., Ifthe opening is on the right
side of the mower housing, it isa side
discharge mower. If the opening is at the
back of the mower housing, it is a rear dis-
charge mower, Oni'y rear discharge lawn
mowers have a grass catcher included with
the mower., Approved grass catchers for
side discharge mowers may be purchased
from your nearest authorized dealer.
Do I have a mulching lawn mower?
Look for the grass discharge opening on
your mower_ Raise the discharge guard
(rear door on rear discharge mowers). If
the opening is closed off by a plate, lhen
your lawn mower is mulcher ready, To
convert to a discharging mower, see the
Operalion section of this manual
FRONT
What is the right and left side of the
lawn mower?
When right hand (RH) or left hand (LH) is
mentioned in this manual, it means when
you are in the operating position (standing
behind the handle).
What kind of engine is on my lawn
mower?
When learning how to operate your new
lawn mower, you will need to know what
kind of engine powers the mower. A decal
on the engine wili indicate the manu-
facturer and type or brand name of the
engine,
BRIGGS &STRATTON ENGINES
LEFT
HAND
SIDE
BACK or REAR
(Operating Position)
RIGHT
HAND
SIDE
,_,CAUTION: Do not operate this lawn
mower withoutthe discharge guard or an
entire appreved grass catcher in place,.
These guards are for your protection and
are required by the American National
Standards Institute and Consumer Prod-
ucts Safety Commission.
_CAUTION: Disconnect spark plug wire
from spark plug and place wire where it
cannot come in contact with plug.
HOW TO SET UP YOUR LAWN
MOWER
UNFOLD HANDLE
IMPORTANT: Unfold handle carefully so
as not to pinch or damage control cables
2 POSITION/"ADJUSTABLE" HANDLES
• Raise handles until tower handre section
locks into place in operating position
[
controlbar
uP
MOWING
_.__POSITION
//
Upper
handte
Handle
knob
Lower handle
ALL HANDLES
o Raise upper handle section into place on
lower handle, remove protective padding
and tighten both handle knobs
,, Remove handle padding holding opera-
tor presence control bar to upper handle°
o Your lawn mower handle can be ad-
justed for your mowing comfort. Refer to
"ADJUST HANDLE" in the Service and
Adjustments section of this manual
NOTE: For shipping purposes, the rear
wheels on your lawn mower may not be
adjusted to the same position as the front
wheels. Before operating mower adjust all
wheels to the same culling height,
3 POSITION "EZ" HANDLES
. Raise lower handle section to operating
posilion and align hole in handle with
one of three height positioning holes.,
. Insert handle bolt through handle and
bracket and secure with knob,
o Repeat for opposite side of handle,
Knob ' _"_ Bolt
/ Handle
adjustment
bracket
3 POSITION "QUICK" HANDLES
° 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 heighl adjustment holes,,
SQUEEZE
Handle
adj
bracket
pfn
J
INSTALL REAR WHEELS
(HIGH WHEEL MOWERS ONLY)
Some high wheel models require washers
whichwillbe provided inapartsbag Ifprovid-
ed, installwasherson the axlefirst as shown,
• Install one (1) rear wheel on theaxle of
rear wheel adjuster°
. Install 3/8-16 Iocknul and tighten securely,
,, Repeat procedure for other rear wheel,
Axle
FIanged
Iocknut assembly
ASSEMBLE GRASS CATCHER
(REAR DISCHARGE MOWERS ONLY)
IMPORTANT: If your model lawnmower
is mulcher ready, the mulcher plate or p_ug
must be removed before using mower as
a bagger° Toconvert mower to bagging or
discharging, see the Operation section in
this manual_
Look at the different grass catcher illustra-
tions thatfollow, Determine which type
of grass catcher you have and follow the
appropriate instructions.
"FABRIC TOP" GRASS CATCHERS
TO ASSEMBLE AND ATTACH GR_SS
CATCHER :;
° Put grass catcher frame intograss bag
wilh rigid part of bag on the bottom,
', Slip vinyl bindings over frame
NOTE: If vinylbindings are too stiff, hold
!item in warm water for a few minutes., If
bag gets wet, let itdry before using.
• Lift the rear door on the mower housing.,
= For HINGE BRACKET mounted catcher,
place the grass catcher frame onto the
formed tabs on the rear door hinge
brackeL
= For HANDLE BRACKET mounted
catcher, place frame side hooks into
slots in handle brackets,
° For DOOR PIVOT PIN mounted catcher,
place the grass catcher frame hooks
onto the door pivot pins.
° For DOOR SLOT mounted catcher,
place the grass catcher frame hooks into
the slots of the rear door_
NOTE: The grass catcher is secured to the
lawn mower housing when the rear door is
lowered onto the grass catcl_er frame,
Frame
handle
HINGE BRACKET MOUNTED
Rear door
bracket
Grass
catcher
frame
\
\
Formed tabs
HANDLE BRACKET MOUNTED
Handle bracket Rear Grass
catcher
handle
Vinyl
binding
Frame
opening
=_]_CAUTION: Under normal usage, the
catcher material is subject to deterioration
and wear and should, therefore, be
checked frequently for repiacemen!o Any
replacement catcher should be checked to
ensure compliance with original manufac-
turer's specifications
_CAtJTtON: Do not run lawn mower
wilhout the discharge guard (rear door),
approved grass catcher, clipping deflector
or mulcher plate in placeo Never attempt
to operate mower with the discharge guard
(rear door) removed or propped open,
Catcherframesidehook
DOOR PIVOT PIN MOUNTED
_ins Rear Grass
Catcher frame hook
DOOR SLOT MOUNTED
Catcher frame hook
Rear door slots
catcher
handle
Grass
catcher
handle