Poulan 224110x92e0 User Manual - Page 8

ADD GASOLINE • For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the • Fill fuel tank to bottom of tank filler neck. width of cut by overlapping previously Do not overfill. Use fresh, clean, regular cut path and mow slowly. unleaded gasoline with a minimum of 87 • For better grass bagging and most cut- octane. Do not mix oil with gasoline. Pur- ting conditions, the engine speed should chase fuel in quantities that can be used be set in the FAST position. within 30 days to assure fuel freshness. • Pores in cloth grass catchers can be- CAUTION: Wipe off any spilled oil or come filled with dirt and dust with use fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline and catchers will collect less grass. To near an open flame. prevent this, regularly hose catcher off CAUTION: Alcohol blended fuels (called with water and let dry before using. gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can • Keep top of engine around starter clear and attract moisture which leads to separation clean of grass clippings and chaff.This will and formation of acids during storage. Acidic help engine air flow & extend engine life. 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 MULCHING MOWING TIPS IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep mower housing free of built-up grass and trash. See "CLEANING" in the fuel lines and carburetor are empty. Use fresh Maintenance section of this manual. fuel next season. See Storage Instructions • The special mulching blade will recut the for additional information. Never use engine grass clippings many times and reduce or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel tank them in size so that as they fall onto the or permanent damage may occur. lawn they will disperse into the grass and TO STOP ENGINE • To stop engine, release operator presence control bar. 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 TO START ENGINE the best recutting action of the blades. NOTE: Due to protective coatings on the • Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet. Wet engine, a small amount of smoke may be grass tends to form clumps and interferes present during the initial use of the prod- with the mulching action. The best time to uct and should be considered normal. mow your lawn is the early afternoon. At this 1. To start a cold engine, push primer time the grass has dried, yet the newly cut three (3) times before trying to start. area will not be exposed to direct sunlight. Use a firm push. This step is not usually • For best results, adjust the lawn mower necessary when starting an engine cutting height so that the lawn mower which has already run for a few minutes. cuts off only the top one-third of the 2. Hold operator presence control bar down to grass blades. If the lawn is overgrown it the handle and pull starter handle quickly. will be necessary to raise the height of cut Do not allow starter rope to snap back. to reduce pushing effort and to keep from NOTE: In cooler weather it may be necessary overloading the engine and leaving clumps to repeat priming steps. In warmer weather of mulched grass. For extremely heavy over priming may cause flooding and engine grass, reduce your width of cut by overlap- will not start. If you do flood engine, wait a ping previously cut path and mow slowly. few minutes before attempting to start and do not repeat priming steps. MOWING TIPS MAX 1/3 CAUTION: Do not use de-thatcher blade attachments on your mower. Such attachments are hazardous, will damage • Certain types of grass and grass conditions your mower and could void your warranty. may require that an area be mulched a sec- • Under certain conditions, such as very ond time to completely hide the clippings. tall grass, it may be necessary to raise When doing a second cut, mow across the height of cut to reduce pushing (perpendicular) to the first cut path. effort and to keep from overloading the • Change your cutting pattern from week engine and leaving clumps of grass clip- to week. Mow north to south one week pings. It may also be necessary to re- then change to east to west the next duce ground speed and/or run the lawn week. This will help prevent matting and mower over the area a second time. 8 graining of the lawn.