LAWN MOWER
Always observe safety rules when per-
form ing any main te nance.
TIRES
• Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect
control chemi cals 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. Re place a bent or dam aged blade.
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 hous ing to prevent blade from
turning when re mov ing 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 hard ware
(bolt, lock wash er and hardened wash er).
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. lbs.
Blade adapter
Key
Lockwasher
Blade
Blade
bolt
Hardened
washer
Trailing edge
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 sharp-
en ing the blade - but if you do, be sure
the blade is balanced. An un bal anced
blade will cause eventual damage to lawn
mower or engine.
• The blade can be sharp ened with a file
• To check blade balance, drive a nail into
GRASS CATCHER
• The grass catcher may be hosed with
• Check your grass catcher often for dam-
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Use only high quality detergent oil rated
with API service classification SJ–SN.
Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade
according to your expected operating
temperature.
Crankshaft
NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils
keyway
(5W30, 10W30 etc.) improve starting in
cold weather, these multi-viscosity oils will
result in increased oil consumption when
used above 32°F. Check your engine oil
level more frequently to avoid possible en-
gine damage from running low on oil.
Change the oil after every 25 hours of
operation or at least once a year if the
Crank
lawn mower is not used for 25 hours in
shaft
one year.
Blade adapter
13
or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt
to sharpen while on the mower.
a beam or wall. Leave about one inch of
the straight nail ex posed. 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.
water, but must be dry when used.
age or de te ri o ra tion. Through normal use
it will wear. If catcher needs replacing,
replace only with ap proved replacement
catcher shown in the Repair Parts section
of this manual. Give the lawn mower model
number when ordering.