Service
Maintenance
WARNING! Before performing
any maintenance or repairs,
disengage blades, stop engine
and remove key (if equipped) to
prevent unintended starting.
General Recommendations
•
Always observe safety rules when
performing any maintenance.
•
The warranty on this lawn mower
does not cover items that have been
subjected to operator abuse or
negligence. To receive full value from
warranty, operator must maintain the
lawn mower as instructed here.
•
Changing of engine-governed speed
will void engine warranty.
•
All adjustments should be checked at
least once each season.
•
Periodically check all fasteners and make
sure these are tight.
WARNING: Always stop engine,
allow engine to cool, disconnect
spark plug, and ground against
engine before performing any
type of maintenance on your
machine.
Lubrication
WARNING! Before lubricating,
repairing, or inspecting, always
disengage blades , stop engine
and remove key (if equipped) to
prevent unintended starting.
1.
Lubricate pivot points on the blade and
drive controls at least once a season with
light oil. These controls must operate
freely in both directions. See Figure 4-1.
Figure 4-1
2.
The transmission is pre-lubricated and
sealed at the factory and does not
require lubrication.
3.
Follow the accompanying Engine
Operator's Manual for lubrication
schedule and instruction for engine
lubrication.
12
Front Caster Wheels (If Equipped)
Each of the front wheel axles and casters is
equipped with a grease fitting. See Figure 4-3.
Lubricate with a No. 2 multi-purpose grease
applied with a grease gun after every 25 hours
of mower operation or once a season.
Figure 4-2
Engine
A list of key engine maintenance jobs required
for good performance by the mower is given
below. Follow the Engine Operator's Manual
for a detailed list of maintenance intervals and
instructions.
•
Maintain oil level as instructed in the
Engine Operator's Manual.
•
Service air cleaner once a season under
normal conditions. Clean every few
hours under extremely dusty conditions.
Poor engine performance and flooding
usually indicates that the air cleaner
should be serviced. To service the air
cleaner, refer to the engine manual.
•
Clean spark plug and reset the gap
once a season. Spark plug replacement
is recommended at the start of
each mowing season. Check Engine
Operator's Manual for correct plug type
and gap specifications.
•
Clean engine regularly with a cloth or
brush. Keep the top of the engine clean
to permit proper air circulation. Remove
all grass, dirt, and combustible debris
from muffler area.
•
Engines stored between 30 and 90
days need to be treated with a gasoline
stabilizer to prevent deterioration and
gum from forming in fuel system or on
essential carburetor parts.
Changing the Engine Oil
WARNING! If the engine has
been recently run, the engine,
muffler and surrounding metal
surfaces will be hot and can
cause burns to the skin. Exercise
caution to avoid burns.
Refer to the Engine Operator's Manual for
specific oil change intervals.
1.
Pull up the oil drain hose to release it
from the deck. See Figure 4-3 for MTD
engine and Figure 4-4 for Briggs &
Stratton engine.
NOTE:
The engine is equipped with either
a plastic twist-off or metal square head cap.
Refer to Figure 4-3 insets.
Figure 4-3
NOTE:
For units equipped with the Briggs
& Stratton engine and bagger, remove the
bagger from the mower, which will expose a
hole in the back plate of the mower when the
bagger door closes to pass the oil drain hose
through. See Figure 4-4.
Hole
Oil Drain Hose Cap
Figure 4-4
2.
Position the end of the hose over an
appropriate oil collection container with
at least a 20 ounce capacity, to collect
the used oil.
NOTE:
On units with the Briggs & Stratton
engine and rear draining oil hose, tip the
mower back to help drain the oil from the
engine.
3.
Unscrew the cap on the end of the oil
drain hose to begin draining oil.
See Figure 4-3 inset.
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3
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