Husqvarna Lawn Mower 532 41 44 89 User Manual

Owner’s Manual

ROTARY LAWN MOWER

650 Series Briggs & Stratton Engine

Power-Propelled

21" Multi-Cut

Model Number 6521RS

Product Number 961 45 00-05 01

2007-05

CAUTION:

Read and follow all

Safety Rules and Instructions

before operating this equipment

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Safety Rules ..........................................2-3 Maintenance......................................12-15

Warranty...................................................4 Service and Adjustments...................15-16

Product Speciﬁ cations..............................5 Storage..............................................16-17

Assembly / Pre-Operation ........................6 Troubleshooting.................................17-18

Operation.............................................7-11 Repair Parts.......................................36-39

Maintenance Schedule...........................12

SAFETY RULES

IMPORTANT: Thiscuttingmachineiscapableofamputatinghandsandfeetandthrowingob-

jects.Failuretoobservethefollowingsafetyinstructionscouldresultinseriousinjuryordeath.

• Do not operate the mower when bare-

foot or wearing open sandals. Always

wear substantial foot wear.

Look for this symbol to point out im-

portant safety precautions. It means

CAUTION!!! BECOME ALERT!!!

YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED.

WARNING: Inordertopreventaccidental

starting when setting up, transporting, ad-

justingormakingrepairs,alwaysdisconnect

sparkplugwireandplacewirewhereitcannot

come in contact with plug.

WARNING: Engine exhaust, some of its

constituents, and certain vehicle compo-

nents contain or emit chemicals known to

the State of California to cause cancer and

birth defects or other reproductive harm.

WARNING: Battery posts, terminals and

related accessories contain lead and lead

compounds, chemicals known to the State

of California to cause cancer and birth

defects or other reproductive harm. Wash

hands after handling.

• Donotpullmowerbackwardsunlessabso-

lutelynecessary.Alwayslookdownandbe-

hind before and while moving backwards.

• Never direct discharged material toward

anyone. Avoid discharging material

againstawallorobstruction. Materialmay

richochet back toward the operator. Stop

the blade when crossing gravel surfaces.

• Do not operate the mower without prop-

er guards, plates, grass catcher or other

safety protective devices in place.

• See manufacturer’s instructions for

proper operation and installation of

accessories. Only use accessories ap-

proved by the manufacturer.

• Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel

drives, walks, or roads.

• Stop the engine (motor) whenever you

leave the equipment, before cleaning

the mower or unclogging the chute.

• Shut the engine (motor) off and wait

until the blade comes to complete stop

before removing grass catcher.

• Mowonlyindaylightorgoodartiﬁciallight.

• Do not operate the machine while under

the inﬂuence of alcohol or drugs.

CAUTION: Mufﬂer and other engine

parts become extremely

hot during operation and

remain hot after engine

has stopped. To avoid

severe burns on contact,

stay away from these areas.

I. GENERAL OPERATION

• Never operate machine in wet grass.

Always be sure of your footing: keep a

ﬁrm hold on the handle; walk, never run.

• Disengage the self-propelled mech-

anism or drive clutch on mowers so

equipped before starting the engine.

• If the equipment should start to vibrate

abnormally, stop the engine (motor) and

check immediately for the cause. Vibra-

tion is generally a warning of trouble.

• Alwayswearsafetygogglesorsafetyglass-

eswithsideshieldswhenoperatingmower.

• Read, understand, and follow all

instructions on the machine and in the

manual(s) before starting. Be thoroughly

familiar with the controls and the proper

use of the machine before starting.

• Do not put hands or feet near or under

rotating parts. Keep clear of the dis-

charge opening at all times.

• Only allow responsible individuals, who

are familiar with the instructions, to

operate the machine.

• Clear the area of objects such as rocks,

toys, wire, bones, sticks, etc., whichcould

be picked up and thrown by blade.

• Be sure the area is clear of other people

before mowing. Stop the machine if

anyone enters the area.

II. SLOPE OPERATION

Slopes are a major factor related to slip &

fall accidents which can result in severe

injury. All slopes require extra caution. If

you feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it.

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WARRANTY

SECTION 1: LIMITED WARRANTY

(4)Additional damage to parts or components due to

continued use occurring after any of the above.

Husqvarna Forest & Garden Company (“Husqvarna”)

warrants Husqvarna product to the original purchaser

to be free from defects in material and workmanship

from the date of purchase for the “Warranty Period” of

the product as set forth below:

REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AS PROVIDED UNDER

THIS WARRANTY IS THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF

THE PURCHASER. HUSQVARNA SHALL NOT BE

LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUEN-

TIAL DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF ANY EXPRESS

OR IMPLIED WARRANTY ON THESE PRODUCTS

EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROHIBITED BY AP-

PLICABLE LAW. ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF

MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICU-

LAR PURPOSE ON THESE PRODUCTS IS LIMITED

IN DURATION TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD AS

DEFINED IN THE LIMITED WARRANTY STATE-

MENT. HUSQVARNA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO

CHANGE OR IMPROVE THE DESIGN OF THE

PRODUCT WITHOUT NOTICE, AND DOES NOT

ASSUME OBLIGATION TO UPDATE PREVIOUSLY

MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS.

2 YEAR NON-COMMERCIAL WARRANTY: Auto-

matic Mower, Riding lawn mowers, yard and garden

tractors, walk behind mowers, tillers, chain saws,

trimmers, brushcutters, clearing saws, snow blowers,

handheld blowers, backpack blowers, hedge trimmers,

electrical products and power-assist collection systems

for noncommercial, nonprofessional, noninstitutional or

nonincome producing use, except as herein stated.

Emission control system components necessary to

comply with CARB-TIER-II and EPA regulations.

Husqvarna Safety Apparel carries a 90-day warranty

from the date of the customer’s original purchase for

defects in material and workmanship. Normal wear,

tear or abuse is not covered under warranty. Product

must be returned to Charlotte with a warranty claim

form. All care and maintenance instructions must be

followed as stated by the manufacturer on the care

label. The ﬁt of the protective apparel/boot is not

covered under warranty.

Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental

or consequential damages, or limitations on how long

an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations or

exclusions may not apply to you. This warranty gives

you speciﬁc legal rights, and you may also have other

rights which vary from state to state.

SECTION 5: CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

The product must exhibit reasonable care, mainte-

nance, operation, storage and general upkeep as

written in the maintenance section of the Owner’s/

Operator’s manual. Should an operational problem

or failure occur, the product should not be used, but

delivered as is to an authorized Husqvarna dealer for

evaluation. Proof of purchase, as explained in section

6, rests solely with the customer.

SECTION 2: HUSQVARNA’S OBLIGATIONS UNDER

THE WARRANTY

Husqvarna will repair or replace defective components

without charge for parts or labor if a component fails

because of a defect in material or workmanship during

the warranty period.

SECTION 3: ITEMS NOT COVERED BY THIS WAR-

RANTY

The following items are not covered by this warranty:

(1)Normal customer maintenance items which become

worn through normal regular use, including, but

not limited to, belts, blades, blade adapters, bulbs,

ﬁlters, guide bars, lubricants, rewind springs, saw

chain, spark plugs, starter ropes and tines;

(2)Natural discoloration of material due to ultraviolet

light;

(3)Lawn and garden attachments are covered by a

third party which gives a warranty, all claims for

warranty should be sent to the manufacturer; and

(4)Emission Control System components necessary

to which are manufactured by third party engine

manufacturer.

SECTION 6: PROCEDURE TO OBTAIN WARRANTY

CONSIDERATION

It is the Owner’s and Dealer’s responsibility to make

certain that the Warranty Registration Card is properly

ﬁlled out and mailed to Husqvarna Forest & Garden

Company. This card should be mailed within ten (10)

days from the date of purchase in order to conﬁrm the

warranty and to facilitate post-sale service.

Proof of purchase must be presented to the authorized

Husqvarna dealer in order to obtain warranty service.

This proof must include date purchased, model num-

ber, serial number, and complete name and address of

the selling dealer.

SECTION 4: EXCEPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS

This warranty shall be inapplicable to defects resulting

from the following:

(1)Accident, abuse, misuse, negligence and neglect,

including stale fuel, dirt, abrasives, moisture, rust,

corrosion, or any adverse reaction due to incorrect

storage or use habits;

(2)Failure to operate or maintain the unit in accor-

dance with the Owner’s/Operator’s manual or

instruction sheet furnished by Husqvarna;

(3)Alterations or modiﬁcations that change the

intended use of the product or affects the product’s

performance, operation, safety, or durability, or

causes the product to fail to comply with any ap-

plicable laws; or:

To obtain the beneﬁt of this warranty, the product

believed to be defective must be delivered to an

authorized Husqvarna dealer in a timely manner, no

later than thirty (30) days from date of the operational

problem or failure. The product must be delivered at

the owner’s expense. Pick-up and delivery charges are

not covered by this warranty. An authorized Husqvarna

dealer can be normally located through the “Yellow

Pages” of the local telephone directory or by calling

1-800-HUSKY62 for a dealer in your area.

HUSQVARNA

7349 Statesville Road

Charlotte, NC 28269

531 83 81-23 2002

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PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Serial Number:

Date of Purchase:

Gasoline Capacity / Type:

Oil Type (API SG–SL):

Oil Capacity:

1.6 Quarts (Unleaded Regular)

SAE 30 (above 32°F); SAE 5W-30 (below 32°F)

20 Ounces

Spark Plug (Gap: .030")

Blade Bolt Torque:

Champion J19LM or RJ19LM

35-40 ft. lbs.

• The model and serial numbers will be found on a decal on the rear of the lawn mower

housing. Record both serial number and date of purchase in space provided above.

ACCESSORIES

These accessories were available when this lawn mower was produced. They are not

shipped with your mower. They are also available at most Husqvarna retailers and

service centers. Some of these accessories may not apply to your lawn mower.

Engine Power Rating Information

The gross power rating for individual gas engine models is labeled in accordance with SAE (So-

ciety of Automo-tive Engineers) code J11940 (Small Engine Power & Torque Rating Procedure),

and rating performance has been obtained and corrected in accordance with SAE J1995 (Revision

2002-5). Actual gross engine power will be lower and is affected by, among other things, ambi-

ent operating conditions and engine-to-engine variability. Given both the wide array of products

on which engines are placed and the variety of environmental issues applicable to operating the

equipment, the gas engine will not develop the rated gross power when used in a given piece of

power equipment (actual “on-site” or net horsepower). This difference is due to a variety of factors

including, but not limited to, accessories (air cleaner, exhaust, charging, cooling, carburetor, fuel

pump, etc.), application limitations, ambient operating conditions (temperature, humidity, altitude),

and engine-to-engine variability. Due to manufacturing and capacity limitations, Briggs & Stratton

may substitute an engine of higher rated power for this Series engine.

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ASSEMBLY / PRE-OPERATION

Read these instructions and this manual in its entirety before you attempt to assemble

or operate your new lawn mower.

IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped WITHOUT OIL OR GASOLINE in the engine.

Your new lawn mower has been assembled at the factory with the exception of those

parts left unassembled for shipping purposes. All parts such as nuts, washers, bolts, etc.,

necessary to complete the assembly have been placed in the parts bag. To ensure safe

and proper operation of your lawn mower, all parts and hardware you assemble must be

tightened securely. Use the correct tools as necessary to ensure proper tightness.

TOREMOVEMOWERFROMCARTON

1. Remove loose parts included with

mower.

Handle pin

2. Cut down two end corners of carton

and lay end panel down ﬂat.

SQUEEZE

3. Remove all packing materials except

padding between upper and lower

handle and padding holding operator

presence control bar to upper handle.

4. Roll lawn mower out of carton and

check carton thorougly for additional

loose parts.

Handle

bracket

HOW TO SET UP YOUR MOWER

TO UNFOLD HANDLE

IMPORTANT: Unfold handle carefully so

as not to pinch or damage control cables.

1. Raise lower handle section to operat-

ing position and squeeze the bottom

ends of lower handle towards each

other until the pin in handle can be

inserted into one of the three height

adjustment holes.

2. Remove protective padding, raise up-

per handle section into place on lower

handle and tighten both handle knobs.

3. Remove any packing material from

around control bar.

TO ASSEMBLE GRASS CATCHER

1. Put grass catcher frame into grass bag

with rigid part of bag on the bottom.

Make sure the frame handle is outside

of the bag top.

2. Slip vinyl bindings over frame.

NOTE: If vinyl bindings are too stiff, hold

them in warm water for a few minutes. If

bag gets wet, let it dry before using.

Frame

handle

Your lawn mower handle can be adjusted

for your mowing comfort. Refer to “AD-

JUST HANDLE” in the Service and Adjust-

ments section of this manual.

Operator

presence

control bar

MOWING

POSITION

LIFT

Upper

handle

Vinyl

bindings

Frame

opening

TO INSTALL ATTACHMENTS

Handle

knob

Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be

used as a mulcher. To convert mower to

bagging or discharging, see “TO CON-

VERT MOWER” in the Operation section

of this manual.

Lower handle

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OPERATION

KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALL SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING

YOUR LAWN MOWER. Compare the illustrations with your lawn mower to familiarize

yourself with the location of various controls and adjustments. Save this manual for

future reference.

These symbols may appear on your lawn mower or in literature supplied with the

product. Learn and understand their meaning.

Drive

control

lever

Operator presence control bar

Handle knob

Starter

handle

Drive cover

Grass

catcher

Engine oil cap with dipstick

Primer

Mufﬂer

Wheel adjuster

(on each wheel)

Mulcher plug

Gasoline ﬁller cap

Air ﬁlter

Mulcher door

Spark plug

Housing

IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped WITHOUT OIL OR GASOLINE in the engine.

MEETS CPSC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Sears rotary walk-behind power lawn mowers conform to the safety standards of the

American National Standards Institute and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Com-

mission. The blade turns when the engine is running.

Operator presence control bar – must

be held down to the handle to start the

engine. Release to stop the engine.

Starter handle – used for starting engine.

Mulcher plug – located at the rear dis-

charge opening. Must be removed when

converting to bagging operation.

Mulcher door – allows conversion to

discharging or bagging operation.

Drive control lever – used to engage

power-propelled forward motion of mower.

Primer– pumps additional fuel from the

carburetor to the cylinder for use when

starting a cold engine.

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DRIVE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT

The operation of any lawn

mower can result in foreign

Over time, the drive control system may

become “loose”, resulting in decreased

speed. There is a turnbuckle on the drive

control housing to increase tension on the

drive cable. Proceed as follows:

1. Turn unit off and disconnect spark plug

wire from spark plug.

2. Rotate turnbuckle on drive control to

increase drive speed.

3. Operate mower to test drive speed.

Readjust as required.

objects thrown into the eyes,

which can result in severe

eye damage. Always wear

safety glasses or eye shields while oper-

ating your lawn mower or performing any

adjustments or repairs. We recommend a

standardsafetyglassesorwidevisionsafety

mask worn over spectacles.

HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER

ENGINE SPEED

The engine speed was set at the factory

for optimum performance. Speed is not

adjustable.

4. If condition fails to improve after the

above steps (forward speed remains

the same), your drive belt is worn and

should be replaced.

ENGINE ZONE CONTROL

CAUTION: Federal regulations require

an engine control to be installed on this

lawn mower in order to minimize the

risk of blade contact injury. Do not under

any circumstances attempt to defeat the

function of the operator control. The blade

turns when the engine is running.

Adjustment

turnbuckle

• Your lawn mower is equipped with an

operator presence control bar which

requires the operator to be positioned

behind the lawn mower handle to start

and operate the lawn mower.

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT

Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels

for high cut, adjust cutting height to suit

your requirements. Medium position is

best for most lawns.

• To change cutting height, squeeze ad-

juster lever toward wheel. Move wheel

up or down to suit your requirements.

Be sure all wheels are in the same set-

ting.

NOTE: Adjuster is properly positioned

when plate tab inserts into hole in lever.

Also, 9-position adjusters (if so equipped)

allow lever to be positioned between the

plate tabs.

DRIVE CONTROL

• Self-propelling is controlled by hold-

ing the operator presence control bar

down to the handle and pulling the drive

control lever rearward to the handle.

The farther toward the handle the lever

is pulled, the faster the unit will travel.

• Forward motion will stop when either

the operator presence control bar or

drive control lever are released. To stop

forward motion without stopping engine,

LEVER BACKWARD

Plate tab

release the drive control lever only. Hold TO LOWER MOWER

operator presence control bar down

against handle to continue mowing

without self-propelling.

NOTE: If after releasing the drive control

the mower will not roll backwards, push

the mower forward slightly to disengage

drive wheels.

LEVER FORWARD TO RAISE MOWER Lever

Operator presence control bar

Drive control

lever

TO ATTACH GRASS CATCHER

1. Lift the rear door of the lawn mower

and place the grass catcher frame side

hooks onto the door pivot pins.

2. The grass catcher is secured to the

lawn mower housing when the rear

door is lowered onto the grass catcher

frame.

ENGAGE

DRIVE

CONTROL

DISENGAGED

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CAUTION: Do not run your lawn

mower without mulcher plate or plug, clip-

ping deﬂector or approved grass catcher

in place. Never attempt to operate the

lawn mower with the rear door removed or

propped open.

Pivot pins

Rear

door

Mulcher plug

Grass catcher

handle

SIDE DISCHARGING

• Mulcher plug must be installed into rear

discharge opening of mower.

• Open mulcher door and install dis-

charge deﬂector under door as shown.

• Mower is now ready for discharging

operation.

• To convert to mulching or bagging

operation, discharge deﬂector must be

removed and mulcher door closed.

Catcher frame hook

TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER

1. Lift up on grass catcher using the

frame handle.

2. Remove grass catcher with clippings

from under lawn mower handle.

3. Empty clippings from bag.

NOTE: Do not drag the bag when emp-

tying; it will cause unnecessary wear.

Grass

catcher

frame

handle

Open mulcher door

Discharge deﬂector

TO CONVERT MOWER

Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be

used as a mulcher. To convert to bagging

or discharging:

REAR BAGGING

• Open rear door and remove mulcher

plug. Store mulcher plug in a safe

place.

• You can now install the grass catcher or

optional clipping deﬂector.

• To convert to mulching or discharging

operation, install mulcher plug into rear

discharge opening of mower.

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SIMPLE STEPS TO REMEMBER WHEN

CONVERTING YOUR LAWN MOWER

CAUTION: Alcohol blended fuels

(called gasohol or using ethanol or metha-

nol) 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. To

avoid engine problems, the fuel system

should be emptied before storage of 30

days or longer. Empty the gas tank, start

the engine and let it run until the fuel lines

and carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel

next season. See Storage Instructions for

additional information. Never use engine

or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel

tank or permanent damage may occur.

FOR MULCHING -

1. Rear mulcher plug installed.

2. Mulcher door closed.

FOR REAR BAGGING -

1. Rear mulcher plug removed.

2. Grass catcher installed.

3. Mulcher door closed.

FOR SIDE DISCHARGING -

1. Rear mulcher plug installed.

2. Discharge deﬂector installed.

CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mow-

er without mulcher plug, clipping deﬂector

or approved grass catcher in place. Never

attempt to operate the lawn mower with

the rear door removed or propped open.

Engine

oil cap

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

ADD OIL

Your lawnmower is shipped without oil in

the engine. For type and grade of oil to

use, see “ENGINE” in the Maintenance

section of this manual.

Gasoline

ﬁller cap

CAUTION: DO NOT overﬁll engine with

oil, or it will smoke heavily from the mufﬂer

on startup.

Primer

1. Be sure lawnmower is level.

2. Remove oil dipstick from oil ﬁll spout.

3. You receive a container of oil with the

unit. Slowly pour the entire container

down the oil ﬁll spout into the engine.

NOTE: Initial oil ﬁll requires only 18 oz.

due to residual oil in engine from the

manufacturers 100% quality testing. When

changing oil you may need 20 oz.

4. Insert and tighten dipstick.

TO STOP ENGINE

• To stop engine, release operator pres-

ence control bar.

TO START ENGINE

NOTE: Due to protective coatings on the

engine, a small amount of smoke may be

present during the initial use of the product

and should be considered normal.

1. To start a cold engine, push primer

three (3) times before trying to start.

Use a ﬁrm push. This step is not

usually necessary when starting an

engine which has already run for a few

minutes.

IMPORTANT:

• Check oil level before each use. Add oil

if needed. Fill to full line on dipstick.

• Change the oil after every 25 hours of

operation or each season. You may

need to change the oil more often

under dusty, dirty conditions. See “TO

CHANGE ENGINE OIL” in the Mainte-

nance section of this manual.

2. Hold operator presence control bar

down to the handle and pull starter

handle quickly. Do not allow starter

rope to snap back.

ADD GASOLINE

• Fill fuel tank to bottom of tank ﬁller neck.

Do not overﬁll. Use fresh, clean, regular

unleaded gasoline with a minimum of 87

octane. Do not mix oil with gasoline. Pur-

chase fuel in quantities that can be used

within 30 days to assure fuel freshness.

CAUTION: Wipe off any spilled oil or

fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline

near an open ﬂame.

NOTE: In cooler weather it may be

necessary to repeat priming steps. In

warmer weather over priming may cause

ﬂooding and engine will not start. If you do

ﬂood engine, wait a few minutes before

attempting to start and do not repeat

priming steps.

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MOWING TIPS

MULCHING MOWING TIPS

CAUTION: Do not use de-thatcher

blade attachments on your mower. Such

attachments are hazardous, will damage

your mower and could void your warranty.

IMPORTANT: For best performance,

keep mower housing free of built-up

grass and trash. See “CLEANING” in the

Maintenance section of this manual.

• Under certain conditions, such as very

tall grass, it may be necessary to raise

the height of cut to reduce pushing effort

and to keep from overloading the engine

and leaving clumps of grass clippings.

It may also be necessary to reduce

ground speed and/or run the lawn

mower over the area a second time.

• For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the

width of cut by overlapping previously

cut path and mow slowly.

• The special mulching blade will recut

the grass clippings many times and

reduce them in size so that as they fall

onto the lawn they will disperse into

the grass and not be noticed. Also, the

mulched grass will biodegrade quickly

to provide nutrients for the lawn. Always

mulch with your highest engine (blade)

speed as this will provide the best recut-

ting action of the blades.

• Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet.

Wet grass tends to form clumps and

interferes with the mulching action. The

best time to mow your lawn is the early

afternoon. At this time the grass has

dried, yet the newly cut area will not be

exposed to direct sunlight.

• For best results, adjust the lawn mower

cutting height so that the lawn mower

cuts off only the top one-third of the

grass blades. If the lawn is overgrown it

will be necessary to raise the height of

cut to reduce pushing effort and to keep

from overloading the engine and leaving

clumps of mulched grass. For extremely

heavy grass, reduce your width of cut

by overlapping previously cut path and

mow slowly.

• For better grass bagging and most cut-

ting conditions, the engine speed should

be set in the FAST position.

• Pores in cloth grass catchers can

become ﬁlled with dirt and dust with use

and catchers will collect less grass. To

prevent this, regularly hose catcher off

with water and let dry before using.

• Keep top of engine around starter clear

and clean of grass clippings and chaff.

This will help engine air ﬂow and extend

engine life.

MAX 1/3

• Certain types of grass and grass

conditions may require that an area be

mulched a second time to completely

hide the clippings. When doing a sec-

ond cut, mow across (perpendicular) to

the ﬁrst cut path.

• Change your cutting pattern from week

to week. Mow north to south one week

then change to east to west the next

week. This will help prevent matting and

graining of the lawn.

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MAINTENANCE

BEFORE AFTER EVERY

EVERY

100

BEFORE

STORAGE

EACH

USE

EACH

USE

25 HOURS

HOURS OR SEASON HOURS

Check for Loose Fasteners

Clean / Inspect Grass Catcher *

Check Tires

Check Drive Wheels ***

Clean Lawn Mower ****

Clean under Drive Cover ***

Check Drive Belt / Pulleys ***

Check / Sharpen / Replace Blade

Lubrication

Clean and Recharge Battery **

Check Engine Oil level

Change Engine Oil

Clean Air Filter

Inspect Muffler

Replace Spark Plug

Replace Air Filter Paper Cartridge

Empty fuel system or add Stabilizer

(if so equipped)

1 - Change more often if operating under a heavy load or in high outdoor temperatures.

2 - Service more often if operating in dirty or dusty conditions.

3 - Replace blades more often when mowing in sandy soil.

4 - Charge 48 hours at end of season.

Electric-Start mowers

Power-Propelled mowers

Use a scraper

to clean under deck

***

****

5 - And after each 5 hours of use.

LUBRICATION CHART

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

The warranty on this lawn mower does not

cover items that have been subjected to

operator abuse or negligence. To receive

full value from the warranty, operator must

maintain unit as instructed in this manual.

Some adjustments will need to be made

periodically to properly maintain your unit.

At least once a season, check to see if

you should make any of the adjustments

described in the Service and Adjustments

section of this manual.

Wheel

➀

adjuster (on

each wheel)

Engine oil

➁

Mulcher

➀

door hinge

• At least once a year, replace the spark

plug, clean or replace air ﬁlter element

and check blade for wear. A new spark

plug and clean/new air ﬁlter element

assure proper air-fuel mixture and help

your engine run better and last longer.

• Follow the maintenance schedule in this

manual.

Rear door

hinge

➀

Handle bracket mounting pins

➀

Spray lubricant

BEFORE EACH USE

• Check engine oil level.

• Check for loose fasteners.

➀

See "ENGINE" in Maintenance section.

➁

IMPORTANT: Do not oil or grease plastic

wheel bearings. Viscous lubricants will

attractdustanddirtthatwillshortenthelifeof

the self-lubricating bearings. If you feel they

mustbelubricated,useonlyadry,powdered

graphite type lubricant sparingly.

LUBRICATION

Keep unit well lubricated

(See “LUBRICATION CHART”).

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IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is heat treated.

If bolt needs replacing, replace only with

approved bolt shown in the Repair Parts

section of this manual.

LAWN MOWER

Always observe safety rules when per-

forming any maintenance.

TIRES

Blade adapter

Key

Crankshaft

keyway

• Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect

control chemicals which can harm rubber.

• Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp

objects and other hazards that may

cause tire damage.

Lockwasher

Blade

DRIVE WHEELS

Check rear drive wheels each time before

you mow to be sure they move freely.

The wheels not turning freely means trash,

grasscuttings,etc.areinthedrivewheelarea

and must be cleaned to free drive wheels.

If necessary to clean the drive wheels, be

sure to clean both rear wheels.

Blade

bolt

Hardened

washer

Trailing edge

Crankshaft

TO SHARPEN BLADE

NOTE: We do not recommend sharp-

ening the blade - but if you do, be sure the

blade is balanced. An unbalanced blade

will cause eventual damage to mower or

engine.

BLADE CARE

For best results, blade must be kept

sharp. Replace a bent or damaged blade.

CAUTION: Use only a replacement

blade approved by the manufacturer of

your mower. Using a blade not approved

by the manufacturer of your mower is haz-

ardous, could damage your mower and

void your warranty.

• The blade can be sharpened with a ﬁle

or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt

to sharpen while on the mower.

• To check blade balance, drive a nail into

a beam or wall. Leave about one inch of

the straight nail exposed. Place center

hole of blade over the head of the nail.

If blade is balanced, it should remain in

a horizontal position. If either end of the

blade moves downward, sharpen the

heavy end until the blade is balanced.

TO REMOVE BLADE

1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark

plug and place wire where it cannot

come in contact with plug.

2. Turn lawn mower on its side. Make

sure air ﬁlter and carburetor are up.

3. Use a wood block between blade and

mower housing to prevent blade from

turning when removing blade bolt.

NOTE: Protect your hands with gloves

and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth.

4. Remove blade bolt by turning counter-

clockwise.

GRASS CATCHER

• The grass catcher may be hosed with

water, but must be dry when used.

• Check your grass catcher often for dam-

age or deterioration. Through normal

use it will wear. If catcher needs replac-

ing, replace only with approved replace-

ment catcher shown in the Repair Parts

section of this manual. Give the lawn

mower model number when ordering.

5. Remove blade & attaching hardware

(bolt, lock washer & hardened washer).

TO REPLACE BLADE

GEAR CASE

1. Position blade on the blade adapter

aligning the two (2) holes in the blade

with the raised lugs on the adapter.

2. Be sure the trailing edge of blade (oppo-

site sharp edge) is up toward engine.

3. Install the blade bolt with the lock

washer and hardened washer into

blade adapter and crankshaft.

4. Use block of wood between blade and

lawn mower housing and tighten the

blade bolt, turning clockwise.

• The recommended tightening torque is

35-40 ft. lbs.

• 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 ﬁlled 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.

• If lubricant is required, use only Texaco

Starplex Premium 1 Grease, Part No.

750369. Do not substitute.

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7. Continue adding small amounts of oil,

rechecking the dipstick until oil level

settles at FULL. DO NOT overﬁll, or

engine will smoke heavily from the

mufﬂer on startup.

8. Always be sure to retighten oil dipstick

before starting engine.

ENGINE

LUBRICATION

Use only high quality detergent oil rated

with API service classiﬁcation SG–SL. Se-

lect the oil's SAE viscosity grade according

to your expected operating temperature.

SAE VISCOSITY GRADES

9. Reconnect spark plug wire to spark

plug.

SAE 30

5W-30

-20

32 40

100

AIR FILTER

-20

-30

-10

TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE

Your engine will not run properly and

may be damaged by using a dirty air

ﬁlter. Replace the air ﬁlter cartridge every

100 hours of operation or every season,

whichever occurs ﬁrst. Service air cleaner

more often under dusty conditions.

NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils

(5W30, 10W30 etc.) improve starting in

cold weather, these multi-viscosity oils will

result in increased oil consumption when

used above 32°F. Check your engine oil

level more frequently to avoid possible

engine damage from running low on oil.

TO CLEAN AIR FILTER

1. Loosen screw and tilt cover to remove.

2. Carefully remove cartridge.

Change the oil after every 25 hours of op-

eration orat least once a year if the mower

is not used for 25 hours in one year.

3. Clean by gently tapping on a ﬂat sur-

face. If very dirty, replace cartridge.

CAUTION: Petroleum solvents, such

as kerosene, are not to be used to clean

cartridge. They may cause deterioration

of the cartridge. Do not oil cartridge. Do

not use pressurized air to clean or dry

cartridge.

4. Install cartridge, then replace cover

making sure the tabs are aligned with

the slots in the back plate. Fasten

screw securely.

Check the crankcase oil level before

starting the engine and after each ﬁve (5)

hours of continuous use. Tighten oil plug

securely each time you check the oil level.

TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL

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.

Lip

Back plate

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 re-

move any oil trapped inside of engine.

Cartridge

Slot

Cover

tab

Cover

MUFFLER

Inspect and replace corroded mufﬂer as it

could create a ﬁre hazard and/or damage.

Container

4. Wipe off any spilled oil from lawn

mower or side of engine.

SPARK PLUG

Replace spark plug at the beginning of

5. Slowly pour oil down the oil ﬁll spout,

stopping every few ounces to check the each mowing season or after every 100

oil level with the dipstick.

hours of operation, whichever occurs

ﬁrst. Spark plug type and gap setting

are shown in the “PRODUCT SPECIFIC-

14ATIONS” section of this manual.

6. Stop adding oil when you reach the

FULL mark on the dipstick. Wait a

minute to allow oil to settle.

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