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12
BEFORE STARTING EN GINE
Read the engine manual packed with your
mower.
FILL ENGINE WITH OIL
Your lawn mower is shipped without oil in
the engine.
• Be sure mower is level and area around
oil fi ll is clean.
• Remove engine oil fi ller plug (oil fi ll cap/
dipstick on models so equipped).
• Slowly add oil. For type and grade of
oil to use, see “ENGINE” in the Mainte-
nance section of this manual.
• Fill to the top of slot in fi ller hole (to
“FULL” line on dipstick on models so
equipped). Do not overfi ll.
• Replace plug (oil fi ll cap/dipstick on
models so equipped) and tighten.
• Check oil level before each use. Add oil
as needed.
• To change oil, see Maintenance section
of this manual.
FILL GASOLINE TANK
• Fill gasoline tank with fresh, clean, un-
leaded gaso line. DO NOT USE PRE-
MIUM GASOLINE. BE CARE FUL NOT
TO OVERFILL TANK.
WARNING: Al co hol blended fuels (called
gaso hol or using ethanol or metha nol) can
at tract mois ture which leads to sepa ra tion
and for ma tion of acids during storage.
Acidic gas can damage the fuel system
of an en gine while in stor age. To avoid
engine prob lems, the fuel system should
be emptied before stor age of 30 days
or longer. Drain the fuel tank, start the
engine and let it run until fuel lines and
car bu re tor are empty. Use fresh fuel next
season. See Stor age In struc tions for
ad di tion al in for ma tion. Never use en gine or
car bu re tor clean er prod ucts in fuel tank or
per ma nent dam age may occur.
TO START ENGINE
CAUTION: The mow er blade rotates
whenever the engine is running.
• Move engine speed control to FAST
position (or to CHOKE/START position
on models equipped with choke feature).
• If your mower has a primer, to start a
cold engine, push primer as many times
as in struct ed in the engine manual
packed with your mower. Use a fi rm
push. This step is not usually nec es sary
when start ing an engine which has
already run for a few minutes.
• Hold operator presence control bar
down against han dle.
MODELS WITH RECOIL START ER
• Pull starter handle quickly. Do not allow
starter rope to snap back.
MODELS WITH ELECTRIC START ER
• Push the engine start button (or turn the
key on models so equipped).
IMPORTANT: Do not crank engine more
than fi ve continous seconds each time you
try to start. Wait 5 to 10 seconds between
each attempt.
ALL MODELS
• For engines equipped with choke, slowly
move engine speed control lever to
FAST after engine starts.
TO STOP ENGINE
• To STOP engine, release operator pres-
ence control bar.
NOTE: For engines with a primer, it may
be nec es sary to repeat priming steps
in cooler weather. In warmer weath er,
overpriming may cause fl ood ing and
en gine will not start. If you do fl ood
engine, wait a few minutes before
attempting to start and DO NOT repeat
priming steps.
Recoil
starter
handle
Operator
presence
control bar
9
FOR MULCHING MOWERS ONLY
Most mulching mowers are shipped ready
to be used as a mulcher.
“REAR DISCHARGE ONLY” MOWERS
Some models have a seperate mulcher
plug, other models have the mulcher plug
built into the rear door. To convert to bag-
ging or discharging, the plate or plug (if
so equipped) must be removed from the
dis charge open ing of the lawn mower.
• Open rear door and remove mulcher
plate or plug (if so equipped). Store
mulcher plate or plug in a safe place.
• You can now install grass catcher or
optional clipping defl ector accessory.
• To return to mulching operation, install
mulcher plate or plug into discharge
opening of mower.
CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower
without mulcher plate/plug in place or ap-
proved clipping defl ector or grass catch er
in place. Never attempt to op er ate the
lawn mower with the rear door removed or
propped open.
MULCHER "PLUG"
Slots
Mulcher
plate tabs
Mulcher plug
MULCHER "PLATE"
MULCHER PLUG BUILT INTO REAR DOOR
“SIDE DISCHARGE ONLY” MOWERS
MULCHER PLATE TYPE
To convert to bagging or discharging,
mulcher plate must be removed from un-
derside of lawn mower.
• Remove the four (4) screws and lock nuts
securing the mulcher plate to the mower.
• Store mulcher plate and hardware in a
safe place.
• Mower can now be used for side
discharging or op tion al grass catcher
accessory can be attached.
• To return to mulching operation, simply
reinstall mulcher plate and tighten hard-
ware securely.
Mulcher plate
Screw and
lock nut