• 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, sharpenthe
heavy end until the blade is balanced.
GRASS CATCHER
(If purchasedas an accessory)
• 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 oi! rated
with API service classification
SJ-SL.
Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade
according
to your expected operating
temperature.
SAE VISCOSITY GRADES
4
OF -20
0
20
32
40
60
80
11)0
oc4o 40
o
4o
TEMPERATURE
RANGE EXPECTED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE
Change the oil after every 25 hours of
operation or at least once a year if the
lawn mower is not used for 25 hours in
one year.
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.
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL
NOTE:
Before tipping lawn mower to
drain oil, empty fuel tank by running en-
gine until fuel tank is empty.
1. Disconnect
spark plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with plug.
2. Remove engine oil cap; lay aside on a
clean surface.
3. Tip lawn mower on its side as shown
and drain oil into a suitable container.
Rock lawn mower back and forth to re-
move any oil trapped inside of engine.
Container
4. Wipe off any spilled oi! from lawn
mower or side of engine.
5. Slowly pour oil down the oil fill spout,
stopping every few ounces to check
the oil level with the dipstick.
6. Stop adding oil when you reach the
FULL mark on the dipstick.
Wait a
minute to allow oil to settle.
7. Continue adding small amounts of oil,
rechecking
the dipstick until oil level
settles at FULL.
DO NOT overfill, or
engine will smoke heavily from the
muffler on startup.
8. Always be sure to retighten oil dipstick
before starting engine.
9. Reconnect spark plug wire to plug.
AIR FILTER
Your engine will not run properly and may
be damaged by using a dirty air filter.
Replace the air filter every 100 hours of
operation or every season, whichever oc-
curs first. Service air cleaner more often
under dusty conditions.
TO CLEAN AIR FILTER
1. Remove cover.
2. Carefully remove cartridge.
3. Clean by gently tapping on a flat sur-
face. If very dirty, replace cartridge.
• I,CAUTION:
Petroleum solvents, such
as kerosene, are not to be used to clean
cartridge. They may cause deterioration
of the cartridge. Do not oil cartridge.
Do
not use pressurized
air to clean or dry
cartridge.
4. Install cartridge, then replace cover.
Cartridge
Slot
13
Back plate