LAWN
MOWER
Always
observe
safety
rules when per-
forming
any maintenance.
TIRES
• Keep tires free of gasoline,
oil, or insect
control chemicals
which can harm rubber.
• Avoid stumps,
stones,
deep ruts, sharp
objects
and other
hazards
that may
cause
tire damage.
BLADE
CARE
For best results,
mower blade must be kept
sharp.
Replace
bent or damaged
blades.
_, CAUTION:
Use only a replacement
blade approved
by the manufacturer
of
your mower.
Using a blade not approved
by the manufacturer
of your mower is
hazardous,
could damage
your mower
and
void your warranty.
TO REMOVE
BLADE
1.
Disconnect
spark
plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where
it cannot
come in contact
with plug.
2.
Turn lawn mower
on its side. Make
sure air filter and carburetor
are up.
3.
Use a wood
block between
blade and
mower
housing
to prevent
blade from
turning
when
removing
blade bolt.
NOTE:
Protect
your hands
with gloves
and/or
wrap blade with heavy cloth.
4.
Remove
blade bolt by turning
counter-
clockwise.
5.
Remove
blade and attaching
hardware
(bolt, lock washer
and hardened
washer).
TO REPLACE
BLADE
1.
Position
blade on the blade adapter
aligning
the two (2) holes in the blade
with the raised
lugs on the adapter.
2.
Be sure the trailing
edge of blade (oppo-
site sharp edge) is up toward the engine.
3.
Install the blade bolt with the lock
washer
and hardened
washer
into
blade adapter
and crankshaft.
4.
Use block of wood
between
blade and
lawn mower
housing
and tighten
the
blade bolt, turning
clockwise.
• The recommended
tightening
torque
is
35-40 ft. Ibs.
Blade adapter
Key
Lockwasher
__
B_llade _
__dg
!
bolt
Harsdened
..
IMPORTANT:
Blade bolt is heat treated.
If bolt needs
replacing,
replace
only with
approved
bolt shown
in the Repair
Parts
section
of this manual.
TO SHARPEN
BLADE
NOTE:
We do not recommend
sharpening
the blade - but if you do, be sure the blade
is balanced.
Care should
be taken to keep the blade
balanced.
An unbalanced
blade will
cause eventual
damage
to lawn mower
or
engine.
• The blade can be sharpened
with a file
or on a grinding
wheel.
Do not attempt
to sharpen
while on the mower.
• To check
blade balance,
drive a nail into
a beam or wall. Leave about
one inch of
the straight
nail exposed.
Place center
hole of blade over the head of the nail.
If blade is balanced,
it should
remain
in
a horizontal
position.
If either
end of the
blade moves
downward,
sharpen
the
heavy end until the blade is balanced.
GRASS
CATCHER
• The grass catcher
may be hosed
with
water,
but must be dry when
used.
• Check your grass catcher
often for dam-
age or deterioration.
Through
normal
use it will wear.
If catcher
needs
replac-
ing, replace
only with approved
replace-
ment catcher
shown
in the Repair
Parts
section
of this manual.
Give the lawn
mower
model
number
when
ordering.
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Use only high quality detergent
oil rated with
API service
classification
SG-SL.
Select the
oil's SAE viscosity
grade
according
to your
expected
operating
temperature.
SAE ViSCOSITY
GRADES
F
-20
0
30
32
40
60
80
100
C
-30
-20
-10
0
1'0
20
10
40
TEMPERATURE
RANGE ANTICIPATED
BEFORE
NEXT OIL CHANGE
Crankshaft
NOTE:
Although
multi-viscosity
oils
(5W30,
10W30
etc.) improve
starting
in
cold weather,
these
multi-viscosity
oils will
result in increased
oil consumption
when
used above
32°E
Check
your engine
oil
level more frequently
to avoid possible
engine
damage
from running
low on oil.
Check
the crankcase
oil level before
starting
the engine
and after each five (5)
hours of continuous
use. Tighten
oil plug
securely
each time you check the oil level.
Crankshaft
12