Weed Eater 96026000100, Owner'S Manual

20

CLEAN AIR INTAKE/COOL ING AREAS

To ensure proper cooling, make sure the 

grass screen, cooling fins, and other exter-

nal surfaces of the engine are kept clean 

at all times.

Every 100 hours of operation (more often 

under extremely dusty, dirty conditions), 

remove the blower housing and other cooling 

shrouds. Clean the cooling fins and external 

surfaces as necessary. Ensure the cooling 

shrouds are re in stalled.

NOTE:

  Operating the engine with a blocked 

grass screen, dirty or plugged cooling fins, 

and/or cooling shrouds re moved will cause 

engine damage due to overheating.

CLEAN AIR SCREEN

Air screen must be kept free of dirt and chaff 

to prevent engine dam age from overheating.  

Clean with a wire brush or compressed air to 

re move dirt and stub born dried gum fibers.

AIR FILTER 

Your engine will not run properly using a 

dirty air filter. Service air cleaner more often 

under dusty conditions. See engine manual.

Engine Plate

Friction Disc

MUFFLER   

Inspect and replace corroded muffler and 

spark arrester (if equipped) as it could create 

a fire hazard and/or dam age.

SPARK PLUG(S) 

Replace spark plug(s) at the beginning of 

each mowing season or after every 100 

hours of operation, whichever occurs first.  

Spark plug type and gap setting are shown 

in “PROD UCT SPEC I FI CA TIONS” section 

of this manual.

CLEANING

•  Clean engine, battery, seat, finish, etc. of 

all foreign matter.

•  Keep finished surfaces and wheels free 

of all gasoline, oil, etc.

•  Protect painted surfaces with au to mo tive 

type wax.

We do not recommend using a garden hose 

or pressure washer to clean your riding 

mower unless the engine and transmission 

are covered to keep water out. Water in en-

gine or transmission will shorten the useful 

life of your riding mower.  Use compressed 

air or a leaf blower to remove grass, leaves 

and trash from riding mower and mower.

CLEANING FRICTION SURFACES

To ensure proper drive performance keep 

the friction surfaces free from dirt, chaff and 

excess rubber at all times. 

Every 25 hours of operation, the friction 

surfaces need to be rubbed clean with 

isopropyl alcohol or other non-filming cleaner.

25

STORAGE

Immediately prepare your riding mower for 

stor age at the end of the season or if the 

riding mower will not be used for 30 days 

or  more.

WARNING: 

 Never store the riding mower 

with gas o line in the tank inside a building 

where fumes may reach an open flame or 

spark.  Allow the engine to cool before stor-

ing in any en clo sure.

MOWER

Remove deck from mower for winter storage.  

When mower is to be stored for a period of 

time, clean it thor oughly, remove all dirt, 

grease, leaves, etc.  Store in a clean, dry area.
1.  Clean entire riding mower (See “CLEAN-

 ING” in the Maintenance section of this 

manual).

2.  Inspect and replace belt, if nec es sary 

(See belt re place ment in struc tions in the 

Service and Ad just ments section of this 

manual).

3.  Lubricate as shown in the Main te nance 

section of this man ual.

4.  Be sure that all nuts, bolts and screws 

are securely fastened.  In spect moving 

parts for damage, break age and wear.  

Replace if nec es sary.

5.  Touch up all rusted or chipped paint 

surfaces; sand lightly before paint ing.

BATTERY

•  Fully charge the battery for storage.
•  If battery is removed from riding mower 

for storage, do not store battery directly 

on concrete or damp surfaces.

ENGINE

FUEL SYSTEM
IMPORTANT

:  It is important to prevent 

gum deposits from forming in essential fuel  

system parts such as carburetor, fuel hose, 

or tank during storage. Also,  alcohol blended 

fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol or 

methanol) can attract moisture which leads 

to separation and formation of acids during 

storage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel 

system of an engine while in storage.

•  Empty the fuel tank by starting the engine 

and letting it run until the fuel lines and 

carburetor are empty.

•  Never use engine or carburetor clean er 

products in the fuel tank or permanent 

damage may occur.

•  Use fresh fuel next season.

NOTE: 

 Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable al-

ternative in min i miz ing the formation of fuel 

gum deposits during stor age.  Add stabilizer 

to gasoline in fuel tank or stor age container.  

Always follow the mix ratio found on stabilizer 

container.  Run engine at least 10 minutes 

after adding stabilizer to allow the sta bi liz er to 

reach the carburetor.  Do not empty the gas 

tank and carburetor if using fuel stabilizer.

ENGINE OIL

Drain oil (with engine warm) and replace 

with clean engine oil.  (See “ENGINE” in the 

Maintenance section of this man ual).

CYLINDER(S)

1.  Remove spark plug(s).
2.  Pour one ounce of oil through spark plug 

hole(s) into cylinder(s).

3.  Turn ignition key to “START” po si tion for 

a few seconds to distribute oil.

4.  Replace with new spark plug(s).

OTHER

•  Do not store gasoline from one sea son to 

another.

•  Replace your gasoline can if your can starts 

to rust.  Rust and/or dirt in your gasoline 

will cause problems.

•  If possible, store your riding mower in doors 

and cover it to give protection from dust 

and dirt.

•  Cover your riding mower with a suitable 

protective cover that does not  retain mois-

ture.  Do not use plastic.  Plas tic cannot 

breathe which allows con den sa tion to form 

and will cause your riding mower to rust.

IMPORTANT

: Never cover riding mower 

while en gine  and exhaust areas are still 

warm.