Poulan PR550Y22R3 Owner Manual - Page 13

MAINTENANCE BLADES WITH ROUND HOLE: • To check blade balance, drive a nail into a beam or wall. Leave about one inch of the straight nail exposed. Place center hole of blade over the head of the nail. If blade is balanced, it should remain in a horizontal position. If either end of the blade moves downward, sharpen the heavy end until the blade is balanced. BLADES WITH "STAR" HOLE: • To check blade balance, you will need a 5/8" diameter steel bolt, pin, or a cone balancer. (When using a cone balancer, follow the instructions supplied with balancer.) NOTE: Do not use a nail for balancing blade. The lobes of the center hole may appear to be centered, but are not. • Slide blade on to an unthreaded portion of the steel bolt or pin and hold the bolt or pin parallel with the ground. If blade is balanced, it should remain in a horizontal position. If either end of the blade moves downward, sharpen the heavy end until the blade is balanced. 4. If you remove the pinion gears, wipe clean with dry cloth. Reassemble dry. Do not lubricate. Do not use oil or grease. IMPORTANT: The pinion gears (on both sides of the mower) are the same, however, they must be installed correctly. If installed incorrectly, the drive system will not work. 5. There are arrows embossed on both sides of the pinion gear. With the arrow at the top of the pinion, the arrow must point towards the front of the mower. If the arrow points to the rear of the mower, turn the pinion around, then assemble it to the mower. 6. Place wheels back on adjuster axles. 7. Replace locknuts and hubcaps. • If after cleaning, the drive wheels do not turn freely, contact your nearest authorized service center. FRONT OF MOWER CORRECT INCORRECT Center "star" hole E-ring Washer 5/8" bolt or pin Blade DRIVE WHEELS Check drive wheels each time before you mow to be sure they move freely. The wheels not turning freely means trash, grass cuttings, etc. are in the drive wheel area and must be cleaned to free drive wheels. If necessary to clean the drive wheels, check both drive wheels. • If after cleaning, the drive wheels do not turn freely, contact your nearest authorized service center. 18" (45cm) HI-VAC MODELS ONLY: 1. Remove hubcaps (if equipped) and locknuts. 2. Remove wheels from wheel adjuster axles. 3. Remove any trash or grass cuttings from inside the dust cover, pinion gear and drive wheel gear teeth. Locknut Pawls Pinion gear Washer Dust cover GEAR CASE • To keep your drive system working properly, the gear case and area around the drive should be kept clean and free of trash build-up. Clean under the drive cover twice a season. • The gear case is filled with lubricant to the proper level at the factory. The only time the lubricant needs attention is if service has been performed on the gear case. 24 OPERATION "SIDE DISCHARGE ONLY" MOWERS MULCHER PLATE To convert to bagging or discharging, mulcher plate must be removed from underside of lawn mower. • Remove the four (4) screws and lock nuts securing the mulcher plate to the mower. • Store mulcher plate and hardware in a safe place. • Mower can now be used for side discharging or optional grass catcher accessory can be attached. • To return to mulching operation, simply reinstall mulcher plate and tighten hardware securely. Screw and lock nut MULCHER PLUG TYPE "B" To convert to bagging or discharging: • Lift discharge deflector and remove mulcher plug. • Mower can now be used for side dis- charging or optional grass catcher can be attached. • To return to mulching operation, simply reinstall mulcher plug as shown, making sure tab is seated properly. CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower without discharge deflector, approved grass catcher or mulcher plug in place. Mulcher plate Lift discharge deflector MULCHER PLUG TYPE "A" To convert to mulching operation, mulcher plug must be installed into discharge opening of mower. • Open discharge deflector. • Insert tab of mulch plug into housing opening. • Align hooks of mulch plug over hinge rod of discharge deflector. Push mulch plug down until mulch plug is seated in housing opening. CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower without discharge deflector, approved grass catcher or mulcher plug in place. Hinge rod Discharge deflector Install Tab mulcher plug MOWER IS NOW READY FOR MULCHING OPERATION Housing opening Hooks Mulcher plug Tab 13