Operating

Daily Operating Checklist

o Test safety systems.

o Make sure all guards, deflectors and covers are in place and tightened.

o Check fuel level.

o Check fuel stabilizer cartridge in fuel cap.

o Check engine oil level.

o Check that handle knobs are tight.

o Check for proper cutting height.

o Remove grass and debris from machine.

o Check area below machine for leaks.

Adjusting Cutting Height

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Rotating blades are dangerous and can cut fingers and toes. Stop engine, lock the park brake, and wait for blade to stop rotating before adjusting cutting height.

1. .Pull the height adjusting lever outward and move to the desired cutting height.

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• Front wheel shown for models JS20 and JS30.

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• Rear wheel for all models.

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• Front caster wheel for JS40

2. Set all wheels at the same cutting height. The highest cutting height is location G. The lowest cutting height is location A.

Adjusting Handle Height

1. At point where lower handle is fastened to mower deck, remove knob and bolt from each side.

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2. Align hole (B) on each side of lower handle with one of three height adjustment holes in mounting brackets.

• Top hole (A) in mounting bracket will be highest handle position.

3. Install bolt through hole in each mounting bracket and then through handle. Install lock washers and knobs and then tighten.

Locking Caster Wheel (Model JS40)

NOTE: Lock left caster wheel into straight position when mowing on a slope to prevent mower from drifting.

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1. Push mower straight forward to align caster wheel and stud pin (B) with notches (A) in locking clip on left caster wheel.

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2. Move lock lever (C) on left side of handle to LOCK position to lock clip over stud pin.

3. Pull lock lever back from LOCK position to unlock caster wheel.

Testing Safety Systems

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Engine exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and can cause serious illness or death. Do not run an engine in an enclosed area, such as a garage, even with doors or windows opened. Move the machine to an outside area before running the engine.

The safety systems installed on your machine should be checked before each machine use. Be sure you have read the machine operator manual and are completely familiar with the operation of the machine before performing these safety system checks.

Use the following checkout procedures to check for normal operation of machine.

If there is a malfunction during one of these procedures, do not operate machine. See your authorized dealer for service.

Perform these tests in a clear open area. Keep bystanders away.

Testing Blade Control

1. Start engine.

2. Release blade control.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Rotating blades are dangerous. Do not look under mower or put hands under mower to view blade rotation. Listen for blades to stop.

3. Listen for blade and engine to stop. Do not look under mower to check blade.

Starting and Stopping Engine

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Engine exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and can cause serious illness or death. Do not run an engine in an enclosed area, such as a garage, even with doors or windows opened. Move the machine to an outside area before running the engine.

Starting Engine-Manual Pull Start

1. Model JS40 only - Prime engine by pressing primer bulb on engine:

• Cold engine - 3 times

• Warm engine - Priming not necessary

2. Hold blade control lever against handle.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Rapid retraction of starter cord, or kickback, can pull hand and arm toward engine faster than you can let go. Broken bones or other injuries can result. Pull starter cord slowly until resistance is felt, then pull rapidly to start engine.

3. Pull starter handle slowly until resistance is felt, then pull fast and steady.

NOTE: After engine has started, continue to hold blade control against handle or blade and engine will stop.

4. When engine starts, return rope slowly until starter handle is in bracket.

Starting Engine-Electric Start

1. Hold blade control against handle.

NOTE: After engine has started, continue to hold blade control against handle or blade and engine will stop.

2. Insert key into ignition switch and turn key to start engine.

3. If engine does not start, use pull start or charge the battery.

Stopping Engine

1. For models with self-propelled feature, release wheel drive control.

2. Release blade control.

Operating the Mower

NOTE: After the engine has been started, the blade control must be held against the handle to keep the engine running.

1. Start the engine and hold the blade control against the handle.

2. Move the ground speed control to the desired speed position.

3. Squeeze the wheel drive control lever to the handle to begin forward motion.

• Speed can be adjusted while mower is moving by changing position of ground speed control.

Emergency Stopping

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Release handle and all levers:

• Mower will stop.

• Blade will stop.

• Engine will stop.

Using Recycling Cover

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Rotating blades can throw objects and debris: • Do not mow without discharge chute or grass catcher, or approved mulch plug or guard, in place. • Stop engine before removing or installing discharge chute or grass catcher, or approved mulch plug or guard.

1. Stop engine.

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2. Remove knob and lock washer (A) securing rear of recycling cover to mower deck.

3. Lift rear of cover to install discharge deflector or chute.

Mowing with Recycling Cover

1. Adjust cutting height to remove only 1/3 of the grass at a time.

2. Move ground speed control to slowest speed position.

3. Raise cutting height, if grass clumps occur.

Using Side Discharge Deflector

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Rotating blades can throw objects and debris: • Do not mow without discharge chute or grass catcher, or approved mulch plug or guard, in place. • Stop engine before removing or installing discharge chute or grass catcher, or approved mulch plug or guard.

1. Stop engine.

2. Loosen knob.

3. Raise recycling cover.

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4. Install square relief slot (B) on outside front of deflector around recycling cover hinge bracket.

5. Install slot (A) on inside front of deflector under restraining nut on top of deck (under right front corner of engine).

6. Install slot (C) on inside rear of deflector onto stud behind rear of discharge opening, where rear of recycling cover was originally secured.

7. Tighten knob nut on stud securely.

8. Release recycling cover and allow it to rest against side discharge deflector.

Using Grass Bag

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Rotating blades can throw objects and debris: • Do not mow without discharge chute or grass catcher, or approved mulch plug or guard, in place. • Stop engine before removing or installing discharge chute or grass catcher, or approved mulch plug or guard.

Installing Grass Bag Adapter

NOTE: Grass bag adapter must be installed before using grass bag.

1. Stop engine.

2. Loosen knob and lock washer.

3. Raise recycling cover.

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4. Install square relief slot (C) on outside front of grass bag adapter around recycling cover hinge bracket.

5. Install slot (B) on inside front of adapter under restraining nut (A) on top of deck (under right front corner of engine).

6. Install slot on bottom rear of adapter onto stud behind rear of discharge opening, where rear of recycling cover was originally secured.

7. Tighten knob and lock washer onto stud securely.

8. Release recycling cover and allow it to rest against adapter.

9. Route recoil rope around outside of rope guide pulley (D).

Installing Grass Bag

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1. Open adapter door (A) and slide grass bag connector (B) over adapter flange (C).

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2. Attach grass bag hooks (D) over middle handle cross bar.