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12
MAINTENANCE
• To check blade balance, you will need a 5/8" diameter
steel bolt, pin, or a cone balancer. (When using a
cone bal anc er, follow the in struc tions supplied with
bal anc er.)
NOTE: Do not use a nail for balancing blade. The lobes of
the center hole may appear to be centered, but are not.
• Slide blade on to an unthreaded portion of the steel bolt
or pin and hold the bolt or pin parallel with the ground.
If blade is bal anced, it should remain in a horizontal
po si tion. If either end of the blade moves downward,
sharpen the heavy end until the blade is balanced.
GRASS CATCHER
• The grass catcher may be hosed with water, but must
be dry when used.
• Check your grass catcher often for damage or de te -
ri o ra tion. Through normal use it will wear. If catcher
needs replacing, replace only with ap proved replace-
ment catcher shown in the Repair Parts section of this
manual. Give the lawn mower model number when
ordering.
GEAR CASES
• To keep your drive system working properly, the gear
cases 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 cases are fi lled with lubricant to the proper level
at the factory. The only time the lubricant needs atten-
tion is if service has been performed on the gear case.
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Use only high quality detergent oil rated with API service
classifi cation SJ–SL. Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade
according to your expected operating temperature.
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 fi ve (5) hours of continuous use. Tighten oil
plug securely each time you check the oil level.
4. Wipe off any spilled oil from lawn mower or side of
engine.
5. Slowly pour oil down the oil fi ll 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 overfi ll,
or engine will smoke heavily from the muffl er on startup.
8. Always be sure to retighten oil dipstick before starting
engine.
9. Re con nect spark plug wire to spark plug.
AIR FILTER (See Fig. 15)
Your engine will not run properly and may be damaged by
using a dirty air fi lter. 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.
TO CLEAN AIR FILTER
1. Remove cover.
2. Carefully remove cartridge.
3. Clean by gently tapping on a fl at surface. If very dirty,
replace cartridge.
CAUTION: Petroleum solvents, such as
ker o sene, are not to be used to clean
car tridge. They may cause de te ri o ra tion
of the cartridge. Do not oil car tridge.
Do not use pres sur ized air to clean or
dry car tridge.
4. Install cartridge, then replace cover.
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL (See Fig. 14)
NOTE: Before tipping lawn mower to drain oil, empty fuel
tank by running engine 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 remove any oil trapped inside of engine.
CONTAINER
FIG. 14