Operator's Manual

20
General Information
1. Clean the housing. Refer to Cleaning the Underside of
the Housing on page 14.
2. Clean any dirt and chaff from the cylinder, cylinder
head fins, and blower housing.
3. Remove grass clippings, dirt, and grime from the
external parts of the engine, the shrouding, and the top
of the housing.
4. Check the condition of the blade. Refer to Maintaining
the Blade on page 16.
5. Replace the air filter; refer to Replacing the Air Filter
on page 15.
6. Lubricate the self-propel drive; refer to Lubricating the
Self-propel Drive on page 18.
7. Tighten all nuts, bolts, and screws.
8. Touch up all rusted or chipped paint surfaces with paint
available from an Authorized Service Dealer.
Removing From Storage
Folding or unfolding the handle improperly can
pinch, stretch, or damage one or more of the
cables. Any pinched, stretched, or damaged cable
may cause an operational failure that results in an
unsafe operating condition.
• Do not pinch, stretch, or damage the cables.
• Handle the cables with care when folding or
unfolding the handle.
• Do not use the lawn mower if one or more of the
cables are pinched, stretched, or damaged.
Contact your Authorized Service Dealer.
Warning
1. Carefully unfold the upper handle until it nests with the
lower handle, then tighten the knobs.
2. Check and tighten all fasteners.
3. Remove the spark plug (Fig. 7) and spin the engine
rapidly using the starter to blow the excess oil from the
cylinder.
4. Clean the spark plug or replace it if it is cracked,
broken, or if the electrodes are worn.
5. Install the spark plug and torque it to 15 ft-lb (20 Nm).
6. Perform the recommended maintenance procedures;
refer to Maintenance on page 13.
7. Fill the fuel tank with fresh, clean gasoline.
8. Check the engine oil level. Refer to Checking the
Engine Oil Level on page 14.
9. Connect the wire to the spark plug.
Accessories
You may purchase the following accessories from an
Authorized Service Dealer:
• Dethatcher kit
• Side discharge kit
• Spark arrestor