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.
DRIVE WHEELS
Check
front drive wheels
each time before
you mow to be sure they move freely.
The wheels
not turning
freely
means
trash,
grass cuttings,
etc. are in the drive
wheel
area and must be cleaned
to free
drive wheels.
If necessary
to clean
the drive wheels,
be
sure to clean both front wheels.
1.
Remove
hubcaps,
Iocknuts
& washers.
2.
Remove
wheels
from wheel
adjusters.
3.
Remove
any trash or grass cuttings
from inside the dust cover,
pinion and/
or drive wheel
gear teeth.
4.
Put wheels
back in place.
NOTE:
If after cleaning,
the drive wheels
do not turn freely,
contact
a Sears
or other
qualified
service
center.
GEAR
CASE
• To keep your drive system
working
properly,
the gear case and area around
the drive should
be kept clean and free
of trash build-up.
Clean
under the drive
cover twice
a season.
• The gear case is filled with lubricant
to
the proper
level at the factory.
The only
time the lubricant
needs
attention
is if
service
has been performed
on the gear
case.
• If lubricant
is required,
use only ELF
Multis
EP00.
Do not substitute.
BLADE
CARE
For best results,
mower
blade must be kept
sharp.
Replace
a bent or damaged
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
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,
hardened
washer).
NOTE:
Remove
the blade adapter
and
check
the key inside hub of blade adapter.
The key must be in good condition
to work
properly.
Replace
adapter
if damaged.
TO REPLACE
BLADE
1.
Position
the blade adapter
on the en-
gine crankshaft.
Be sure key in adapter
and crankshaft
keyway
are aligned.
2.
Position
blade on the blade adapter
aligning
the two (2) holes in the blade
with the raised
lugs on the adapter.
3.
Be sure the trailing
edge of blade (oppo-
site sharp
edge)
is up toward
engine.
4.
Install the blade bolt with the lock
washer
and hardened
washer
into
blade adapter
and crankshaft.
5.
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.
IMPORTANT:
Blade bolt is heat treated.
If bolt needs
replacing,
replace
only with
approved
bolt shown
in the Repair
Parts
section
of this manual.
Blade adapter
Key
Lockwasher
_
_
bolt
Hardened
..
TO SHARPEN
BLADE
Crankshaft
Crankshaft
NOTE:
We do not recommend
sharpening
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 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.
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