5. Install the new blade and all mounting hardware (Figure
33).
Important:
Position the curved ends of the blade
to point toward the mower housing.
6.
Use a torque wrench to tighten the blade bolt to
60 ft-lb (82 N
⋅
m).
Important:
A bolt torqued to 60 ft-lb (82 N
⋅
m)
is very tight. While holding the blade with a block
of wood, put your weight behind the ratchet or
wrench and tighten the bolt securely. This bolt is
very difficult to overtighten.
Cleaning the Mower
The mower may dislodge material from under the
mower housing.
•
Wear eye protection.
•
Stay in the operating position (behind the
handle).
•
Do not allow bystanders in the area.
1. With the engine running on a flat paved surface, spray a
stream of water in front of the
right
rear wheel (Figure
34).
The water will splash into the path of the blade, cleaning
out the clippings.
Figure 34
2. When no more clippings come out, stop the water and
move the mower to a dry area.
3. Run the engine for a few minutes to dry the housing
to prevent it from rusting.
Storage
Store the mower in a cool, clean, dry place.
Preparing the Mower for
Storage
Gasoline vapors can explode.
•
Do not store gasoline more than 30 days.
•
Do not store the mower in an enclosure near an
open flame.
•
Allow the engine to cool before storing it.
1. On the last refueling of the year, add fuel stabilizer to
the fuel as directed by the engine manufacturer.
2. Dispose of any unused fuel properly. Recycle it
according to local codes, or use it in your automobile.
Note:
Old fuel in the fuel tank is the leading cause of
hard starting. Do not store fuel without stabilizer more
than 30 days, and do not store stabilized fuel more than
90 days.
3. Run the mower until the engine stops from running
out of fuel.
4. Prime the engine and start it again.
5. Allow the engine to run until it stops. When you can no
longer start the engine, it is sufficiently dry.
6. Remove the wire from the spark plug and connect the
wire onto the retaining post.
7. Remove the spark plug, add 1 oz. (30 ml) of oil through
the spark plug hole, and pull the starter rope slowly
several times to distribute oil throughout the cylinder to
prevent cylinder corrosion during the off-season.
8. Loosely install the spark plug.
9. Tighten all nuts, bolts, and screws.
Folding the Handle
Folding or unfolding the handle improperly can
damage the cables, causing an unsafe operating
condition.
•
Do not damage the cables when folding or
unfolding the handle.
•
If a cable is damaged, contact an Authorized
Service Dealer.
12
