Operator Manual 966067301 / PR18B5FA 966067501 / PR22B5FA 966067701 / PR22B5NRA Models 966067401 / PR18B5NRA 966067601 / PR22B5FBA 966067901 / S22B5DA Please read the operator’s manual carefully and make sure you understand the instructions before using the machine.
©2015 BlueBird Turf Products All rights reserved.
Contents Introduction...............................................................4 Use......................................................................4 Insure your machine...........................................4 Important Information..........................................4 Good Service......................................................4 Serial Number.....................................................4 Symbols and Decals.................................................5 Decals...........
INTRODUCTION Congratulations Important Information Thank you for purchasing a BlueBird lawn care product. Through your confidence in us, you have chosen an exceptionally high quality product. This manual is a valuable document. It describes your new BlueBird machine. Read the manual carefully before attempting to use the machine. Following the instructions (use, service, maintenance, etc.) can considerably increase the lifespan of your machine and even increase its resale value.
symbols and decals WARNING! Xxxx xxx xxxx xx xxxx x xxxx. Used in this publication to notify the reader of a risk of personal injury, particularly if the reader DOES NOT follow the instructions given in the manual. IMPORTANT INFORMATION Xxxx xxx xxxx xx xxxx x xxxx. Used in this publication to notify the reader of a risk of material damage, particularly if the reader DOES NOT follow the instructions given in the manual. Used also when there is a potential for misuse or misassembly.
symbols and decals Decal Locations 5 7 4 8 2 9 6 5 5 3 4 1 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6 DANGER watch your feet Warning for bagger Caution graphics Height setting Warning for carbon monoxide 6. 7. 8. 9.
SAFETY General Use The object of this manual is to help you use your BlueBird machine safely and to give you information about how to maintain your machine. Please read the manual carefully before attempting to use the machine. If after reading the operator’s manual you are still unsure about the safety risks associated with use of the machine, you should not use the machine. Please contact your dealer for more information. These safety instructions only address the basics for safe use.
SAFETY • • • • • • • • Check that the machine is in serviceable condition prior to use; see the chapter Maintenance, Maintenance Schedule. Only use the machine in daylight or in other well-lit conditions. Keep the machine a safe distance from holes or other irregularities in the ground. Pay attention to other possible risks. Only allow the machine to be used by adults who are familiar with its use. Never allow children or persons not trained in the use of the machine to use it.
SAFETY Operating • • • • • • • • • • • Do not use the machine on grades of more than 20°. We recommend working across slopes rather than up and down. This will yield a more even result. Do not leave the machine standing on a slope unattended. Do not use the machine if you are tired, if you have consumed alcohol, or if you are taking other drugs or medication that can affect your vision, judgment or co-ordination. Never use the machine indoors or in spaces lacking proper ventilation.
SAFETY Movement/Transport • • • • • • To turn and steer the machine, press down on the handle and turn on the back wheels. Turn off the engine and allow it to cool at least two minutes before transport. Collapse the handle if the machine is equipped with a collapsible handle. Be careful and use safe lifting and moving techniques when loading/unloading the machine. it is recommended to use two people when lifting the machine.
SAFETY Fuel System WARNING! Gasoline and gasoline fumes are poisonous and extremely flammable. Be especially careful when handling gasoline, as carelessness can result in personal injury or fire. • • • • • • • • • • Only store fuel in containers approved for that purpose. Never remove the fuel cap and fill the fuel tank when the engine is running. Always stop the engine when refueling. Do not smoke when filling the gasoline tank and do not pour gasoline in the vicinity of sparks or open flame.
SAFETY Maintenance • • • • • • • • • • • • • 12 Never make adjustments with the engine running. Disengage the drive units, shut off the engine and wait until all moving parts come to a complete stop before making adjustments, performing maintenance or cleaning the machine. Disconnect the spark plug cable before beginning repair work. Keep all components in serviceable condition and make sure all nuts, bolts, etc. are tight. Replace worn or damaged decals. Be careful when checking work tools.
assembly/CONTROLS 1. Rotate the handle and tighten it in place. 2. Fill the engine with the manufacturerrecommended oil. See section Lubrication, Engine Oil. 3. Test the clutch. Make sure that the clutch expansion spring disengages 6.35 mm (¼") easily. 4. The engine RPM is preset by the manufacturer. Idle speed is 1250–1400 RPM. Maximum engine speed is 3600 RPM. See the engine manual for instructions on adjusting the regulator and carburetor if the engine speed is not within these limits.
CONTROLS The dethatcher is available in two basic designs 18" and 22" widths. The machine is equipped with a Briggs & Stratton, fourcycle engine. The 22" dethatcher can be equipped with a catcher. It is available as an accessory at your BlueBird dealer. The 22" dethatcher can be equipped with a seeder. It is available as an accessory at your BlueBird dealer. It is not possible to use a catcher and seeder simultaneously.
CONTROLS Engine Refer to your engine manual. Fueling Read the safety instructions before fueling. Keep the fuel and fuel tank clean. Avoid filling the machine with dirty fuel. Make sure the fuel cap is properly tightened and the gasket is not damaged, particularly before washing the machine. Use unleaded gasoline with minimum 86 octane rating. Never use gasoline mixed with two-cycle oil. For ethanol and methanol fuel, the following applies: Maximum allowable ethanol 10% (volume).
CONTROLS Cutting Blades Flail Blades Thatch is the dense layer of clippings, roots and stems that forms between the soil and the base of the grass. As thatch builds up, it prevents water, air and fertilizer from being absorbed into the soil. This causes shallow root development leading to vulnerability to drought and frost. Excessive thatch also creates an ideal environment for insects and lawn diseases. Power-raking with flail blades removes this thatch layer and restores your lawn to good health.
operation Seed Application Preparing the Lawn 1. Cut the grass to approximately ½" (1-1.5 cm) lower than you normally would. 2. Do not water before sowing. 3. Remove the layer of old grass cuttings (thatch). 4. Aerate the lawn with a core-type ground aerator. 5. Fertilize the lawn. Seed Application Chart Located on the seeder, the chart values are approximate; quantities of seed depend on the speed at which the machine is run. Faster running speeds results in sparser sowing.
operation Before Starting • • Mow the lawn ½" shorter than normal. Allow the lawn to dry. Wet conditions can cause extensive damage to healthy grass. IMPORTANT INFORMATION Clear the lawn of any debris. Clearly mark rocks and other fixed objects. Be especially sure to check for hidden electrical cables or similar in the surface of the lawn. Starting • • Check for stones or fixed objects in the lawn. Set the depth lever in working position.
MAINTENANCE Maintenance Schedule The following is a list of maintenance procedures that must be performed on the machine. For those points not described in this manual, visit an authorized service workshop.
MAINTENANCE Drive Belt 1. When checking the drive belt, allow the engine to cool. 2. Remove the spark plug cable. 3. Remove the belt guard (see illustration) on the left side of the machine. 4. Check that the belt is running in the proper track; the pulleys should guide the belt in a straight line. 5. Check that the belt and pulleys are not oily. If they are, first try to clean them with spirits.
MAINTENANCE Flail blades Wear/Rotation/Replacing After you have used your dethatcher for some time, the blades will begin to wear on the striking edge. When this happens, their dethatching performance will diminish. A new combing edge may be obtained by rotating the entire rotor shaft assembly laterally (end to end). This procedure can be repeated until the blades reach their wear limit; see illustration. Rotate the rotor shaft as follows: 3.5" / 89mm 1 2 3 8011-006 1. New blade 2. Worn blade 3.
MAINTENANCE Replacing worn flail blades 1. Allow the engine to cool. 2. Disconnect the spark plug. 3. Tip the machine forward; see Two Minute Rule in this section. 4 3 1 IMPORTANT INFORMATION When tipping the machine forward observe the “Two minute rule”. 4. Remove e-rings (locking washer type) that hold the blade shaft (2) in place (see the illustration). 5. Inspect the blade shafts and replace if bent or worn. 6. Drive the blade shafts out towards the center.
MAINTENANCE Spring tines Wear/Replacing Over time and due to wear, the tines will diminish in length. When the tines can no longer be adjusted to comb ¼" (6 mm) into the soil, the tines must be replaced. Spring tines can be replaced without removing the rotor shaft by using a ½" socket wrench. Remove the screw and replace the spring tine using the wrench. NOTE: Do not use spring tines with bagger attachment.
LUBRICATION Lubrication Schedule 1. Check engine oil daily, change every six months or 100 hours. 2. Check and lubricate wheel bearings once a month. 3. Lubricate folding handle points with an oil can once a week. 4. Lubricate main shaft bearings once a week or every 40 hours. 5. Cover the blades with a thin coat of oil to avoid rust. This is particularly important prior to winter storage or if the machine will not be used for a period of longer than 30 days.
TROUBLESHOOTING Symptom Cause Action Fuel valve closed. Open the fuel valve. Choke valve open Close the choke with cold engine. Engine switch in OFF position Turn the engine switch to ON Fuel tank empty Fill with fuel Machine stored without observing proper procedure from chapter “Storage/Winter storage” Clean tank, sludge reservoir and empty carburetor. Fill the tank with fresh fuel. Contamination, water or ice in fuel system. Clean tank, sludge reservoir and empty carburetor.
Storage Winter storage At the end of the season, the machine should be readied for storage (or if it will not be in use for longer than 30 days). Fuel allowed to stand for long periods of time (30 days or more) can leave sticky residues that can plug the carburetor and disrupt engine function. Fuel stabilizers are an acceptable option to reducing sticky residues during storage. If alkylate gasoline (Aspen) is used, stabilizers are unnecessary because this fuel is stable.
TECHNICAL DATA 18" POWER RAKE Engine 5.5 HP Briggs & Stratton* Primary drive V-belt Dethatching width 18" Clutch control Handle-mounted with automatic safety declutching Clutch Belt tightener with spring return and idling pulley mechanism Depth setting Adjustable depth control with lever mechanism Flail blade reel (26) case-hardened steel blades with 5/8" (1.6 cm) spacers /8" x 1" x 3½" (0.3 x 2.5 x 8.
TECHNICAL DATA 22" POWER RAKE Engine 5.5 HP Briggs & Stratton* or none Primary drive V-belt Dethatching width 22" Clutch control Handle-mounted with automatic safety declutching Clutch Belt tightener with spring return and idling pulley mechanism Seeding Width 22" (55.8 cm) Depth setting Adjustable depth control with lever mechanism Flail blade reel 32 case-hardened steel blades with 5/8" (1.6 cm) spacers /8" x 1" x 3½" (0.3 x 2.5 x 8.
SERVICE JOURNAL Action Date, stamp, signature Delivery Service Check the machine for damage in transport. Where applicable, assembly accompanying components. Check that the machine design corresponds to the customer order. Check that the right amount of oil is in the engine and transmission. Check that the working equipment is properly set. Check that the drive pulleys are aligned. Check that belts are properly adjusted. Lubricate the machine as described in the lubrication schedule.
SERVICE JOURNAL Action 30 Date, stamp, signature
P/N 115 165127R5 68 S Squirrel Rd Auburn Hills MI 48326 07/15/15
