18
DRIVE WHEELS
Check 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,
check both drive wheels.
• If after cleaning, the drive wheels do not
turn freely, contact your nearest autho-
rized 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 fi lled 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.
GEAR CASE WITH METAL HOUSING:
• If lubricant is required, use only Texaco
Starplex Premium 1 Grease, Part No.
750369. Do not substitute.
GEAR CASE WITH PLASTIC HOUSING:
• If lubricant is required, use only
ELF
Multis EP00
. Do not sub sti tute.
ENGINE
Read the maintenance section of your
engine manual.
LUBRICATION
Change the oil after the fi rst two hours of
operation and every 25 hours there af ter or
at least once a year if the lawn mower is
not used for 25 hours in one year. Refer to
engine manual.
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL
(SEE ENGINE MANUAL)
• Be sure lawn mower is on level surface.
• Oil will drain more freely when warm.
• Catch oil in a suitable container.
• For engines without dipstick, re move
bottom oil drain plug.
• For engines with oil fi ll cap/dipstick,
remove bottom drain plug or remove en-
gine oil cap and turn mower on its side.
• After oil has drained completely, re place
oil drain plug and tighten se cure ly.
• Refi ll engine with oil. Pour slowly. Do
not overfi ll.
• Fill to top of slot inside of fi ller hole or
to “FULL” line on dipstick on models so
equipped. Keep oil at proper level.
AIR FILTER
Your engine will not run properly and may
be damaged by using a dirty air fi lter.
Clean the element after every 25 hours
of operation or every season. Replace
the air fi lter every 100 hours of operation
or every season, whichever occurs fi rst.
Service air cleaner more often under dusty
conditions. See the maintenance section
of your engine manual.
MUFFLER
Inspect and replace corroded muffl er as it
could create a fi re hazard and/or damage.
SPARK PLUG
Replace spark plug at the beginning of
each mowing season or after every 100
hours of operation, whichever occurs fi rst.
Set spark plug gap according to engine
manual specifi cations.
CLEANING
IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep
mower housing free of grass build-up and
trash. Clean the underside of your mower
after each use.
• Clean the underside of your lawn mower
by scraping to remove buildup of grass
and trash.
• Clean engine often to keep trash from
accumulating. A clogged engine runs
hotter and shortens engine life.
• Keep fi nished surfaces and wheels free
of all gasoline, oil, etc.
We do not recommend using a garden
hose to clean your lawn mower unless the
electrical system, muffl er, air fi lter, and
carburetor are covered to keep water out.
Water in engine can shorten engine life.
WATER WASHOUT FEATURE
Your lawn mower is equipped with a fi tting
that allows quick and easy cleaning of
the underside of the housing. To use this
feature, proceed as follows:
1. Move lawn mower to an area of cut
grass or another hard surface.
NOTE: Water, grass and other debris will
drain from beneath the mower housing
during the washout process.
2. Remove grass catcher and discharge
chute assembly from lawn mower.
11
SIMPLE STEPS TO REMEMBER WHEN
CONVERTING YOUR “COMBI-CUT”
LAWN MOWER
FOR MULCHING -
• Rear mulcher plate installed and rear
door closed.
• Mulcher door closed.
FOR REAR BAGGING -
• Rear mulcher plate removed.
• Grass catcher installed.
• Mulcher door closed.
FOR SIDE DISCHARGING -
• Rear mulcher plate installed and rear
door closed.
• Discharge defl ector installed.
CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower
without rear mulcher plate or plug in place
or approved grass catcher in place. Never
at tempt to op er ate the lawn mow er with
the rear door re moved or propped open.
GRASS CATCHER
(REAR BAGGING MODELS ONLY)
TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER
• Simply open rear door and lift grass
catcher up and away from mower.
NOTE: Do not drag the bag when
emptying. It will cause unnecessary wear.
CAUTION: Under nor mal usage, the
catch er material is subject to de te ri o ra tion
and wear and should, therefore, be
checked frequently for replacement. Any
replacement catcher should be checked
to ensure compliance with original
man u fac tur er's spec i fi
ca tions.
CAUTION: Do not run lawn mower
with out the rear door, ap proved grass
catcher or clip ping de fl ec tor in place.
Never at tempt to op er ate mower with the
rear door removed or propped open.
DRIVE CONTROL
“STANDARD DRIVE” CONTROL
• Self-propelling is controlled by holding
the operator presence control bar down
to the handle and pushing the drive
control lever forward until it clicks; then
releasing the lever.
• Forward motion will stop when the op-
erator presence control bar is released.
To stop forward motion without stopping
engine, release the operator presence
control bar slightly until the drive control
disengages. Hold operator presence
control bar down against handle to con-
tinue mowing without self-propelling.
• To keep drive control engaged when
turning corners, push down on handle
and lift front wheels off ground while
turning lawn mower.
TO ENGAGE DRIVE CONTROL
Drive
control
DRIVE CONTROL DISENGAGED
Operator
presence
control bar
OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROL
BAR
Your lawn mower is equipped with an op-
er a tor presence control bar which re quires
the operator to be po si tioned behind the
lawn mower handle in order to start and
operate the lawn mower.
CAUTION: Federal reg u la tions require
an en gine control to be in stalled on this
lawn mower in order to min i mize the risk
of blade contact injury. Do not un der
any cir cum stanc es attempt to de feat the
func tion of the operator con trol. The blade
turns when the engine is running.
