Theoperationof anylawnmowercan resultinforeignobjectsbeing
thrownintothe eyes,whichcandamageyoureyesseverely.Always
wearsafetyglasseswhileoperatingthe mower,orwhile performing
anyadjustmentsor repairson it.
Useextremecarewhenhandlinggasoline.Gasolineis extremely
flammableandthe vaporsareexplosive.Neverfuel machineindoors
orwhilethe engineis hotor running.Extinguishcigarettes,cigars,
pipes,andothersourcesof ignition.
GAS AND OIL FILL-UP
Gas Fill
Useof Alcoholblendedfuels(calledgasoholor usingethanolor
methanol)canattractmoisturewhichleadsto separationandforma-
tionof acidsduringstorage.Acidicgascan damagethefuel system
of anenginewhilein storage.
To avoidengineproblems,the fuel systemshouldbeemptiedbefore
storagefor 30 daysor longer.Drainthe gastank,startthe engine
and let itrununtil thefuellinesandcarburetorareempty.Usefresh
Ifuel nextseason.SeeSTORAGEInstructionsfor additionalinforma-
[tion.
)ermanentdamagemayoccur.
IMPORTANT:Themowerisshippedwithoutgas inthe fueltank.
• Neverfill thefueltankcompletely.Fill thetankto nomorethan
1/2-inchbelowbottomof fillerneckto providespaceforfuel
expansion.
• Alwaysuseclean,fresh,unleadedgradeautomotivegasoline.
Fillthe fueltankoutdoorsand usea funnelor spoutto prevent
spilling.Makesurethatthe containerfromwhichyoupourthe
gasolineis cleanandfree fromrustorotherforeignparticles.
Makesureto wipeoffany spilledfuelbeforestartingthe engine.
• At theendof thejob,emptythe fueltankif the moweris not
goingto beusedfor 30daysor longer.Storegasolineina clean
containerandkeepthe capin placeon the container.SeeSTOR-
AGEinstructionsforadditionalinformation.
Besure nooneotherthanthe operatorisstandingnearthe lawn
mowerwhile startingengineor operatingmower.Neverrunengine
indoorsor inenclosed,poorlyventilatedareas.Engineexhaust
containscarbonmonoxide,anodorlessanddeadlygas. Keephands,
feet,hair,andlooseclothingawayfromanymovingparts
Oil Fill
IMPORTANT:The mowerisshippedwithmotoroil intheengine;
however,you MUSTcheckthe oil levelbeforeoperating.Oil shouldbe
changedonce afterthefirst twohoursof operationandevery25 hours
of operationthereafter.Usethe gradeof engineoil specifiedinthe
Maintenancesection.
.
2.
Removethe oilfill cap/dipstickfromtheoil fill tube.
Checkthatthe levelof oil is upto the FULLmarkonthe dipstick.
Ifneeded,pouroil slowlyintothe oilfill tube untila FULLoil level
is achieved.
3. Replacetheoilfill cap/dipstick.
STARTING THE MOWER
1. Releaseallcontrolsonthe mowerto preventwheelsor blades
fromrotating.
2. Movegearshift leverto neutral(N)position.
3. Movethethrottle/chokecontrolleverfullyupwardto chokesetting
I',1to starta cold engineorto fast(rabbit)setting_ to starta
warmengine.
4. Tostartengineusing recoilstarter:
a. Standon leftside (asviewedfrombehindhandlebars)of ma-
chine.Besureyourfeetare safelyawayfromthe underside
of themowerdeckandall mowercontrolsarereleased.
b. Graspstarterropehandleandpullslowlyuntil ropepulls
slightlyharder.Let roperewindslowly.Thenpullropewitha
rapid,full armstroke.Let ropereturnslowly.Ifenginefailsto
start afterthreepulls,repeatinstructions(try settingthrottle
at fastsetting).
c. Whenenginestarts,operateinfast throttlesetting_lf
(movethrottle/chokecontrolleverfromchokesettingto fast
setting).
Lookbehindthe mowerbeforeandduringreverseoperation.Stop
the mowerbladesbeforeoperatingin reverse.
Ifyou strikea foreignobject,stoptheengine.Removewirefromthe
sparkplug,thoroughlyinspectmowerforany damage,and repair
damagebeforerestartingandoperating.Extensivevibrationof
mowerduringoperationis anindicationofdamage.Theunit should
bepromptlyinspectedandrepaired.
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