Poulan PR550Y22R3 Owner Manual - Page 17

OPERATION BEFORE STARTING ENGINE TO START ENGINE Read the engine manual packed with your CAUTION: The mower blade rotates mower. whenever the engine is running. FILL ENGINE WITH OIL Your lawn mower is shipped without oil in the engine. • Be sure mower is level and area around oil fill is clean. • Remove engine oil filler plug (oil fill cap/ dipstick on models so equipped). • Slowly add oil. For type and grade of oil to use, see "ENGINE" in the Maintenance section of this manual. • Fill to the top of slot in filler hole (to "FULL" line on dipstick on models so equipped). Do not overfill. • Replace plug (oil fill cap/dipstick on models so equipped) and tighten. • Check oil level before each use. Add oil as needed. • To change oil, see Maintenance section of this manual. NOTE: Due to protective coatings on the engine, a small amount of smoke may be present during the initial use of the product and should be considered normal. • Place engine START/STOP switch (if equipped) in the ON position. • Move engine speed control to FAST po- sition (or to CHOKE/START position on models equipped with choke feature). • If your mower has a primer, to start a cold engine, push primer as many times as instructed in the engine manual packed with your mower. Use a firm push. This step is not usually necessary when starting an engine which has already run for a few minutes. • Hold operator presence control bar down against handle. FILL GASOLINE TANK • Fill gasoline tank with fresh, clean, unleaded gasoline. DO NOT USE PREMIUM GASOLINE. BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVERFILL TANK. WARNING: Alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture which leads to separation Operator presence control bar and formation of acids during storage. Acidic 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. Drain the fuel tank, start the engine and let it Recoil starter handle run until fuel lines and carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage Instructions for additional information. Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in fuel tank or permanent damage may occur. TO STOP ENGINE • To stop engine, release operator pres- ence control bar and/or place engine START/STOP switch (if equipped) in the OFF position. NOTE: For engines with a primer, it may be necessary to repeat priming steps in cooler weather. In warmer weather, overpriming may cause flooding and MODELS WITH RECOIL STARTER • Pull starter handle quickly. Do not allow starter rope to snap back. MODELS WITH ELECTRIC STARTER • Push the engine start button (or turn the key on models so equipped). IMPORTANT: Do not crank engine more than five continous seconds each time you try to start. Wait 5 to 10 seconds between each attempt. ALL MODELS • For engines equipped with choke, slowly move engine speed control lever to FAST after engine starts. engine will not start. If you do flood engine, wait a few minutes before attempting to start and DO NOT repeat priming steps. 20 OPERATION 3. Secure rear of discharge chute to lawn mower housing with knob. 4. Place rear handle of grass catcher on the crossbar of the lawn mower's lower handle as shown. 5. Lift the round door of the discharge chute and place the grass catcher into place on the discharge chute. NOTE: Be sure the grass catcher is securely locked in place and the round door of the discharge chute rests on the grass catcher as shown. • Mower is now ready for rear bagging operation. • To convert to mulching operation, remove grass catcher and discharge chute. Secure mulcher door to mower housing with knob. • To convert to side discharging operation, remove grass catcher and discharge chute. Install side discharge deflector and secure it to lawn mower housing with knob. SIDE DISCHARGING 1. Grass catcher and discharge chute must be removed. 2. Open mulcher door and install front of side discharge deflector beneath it as shown. 3. Secure rear of side discharge deflector to lawn mower housing with knob. • Mower is now ready for side discharging operation. • To convert to mulching operation, side discharge deflector must be removed and mulcher door secured to mower housing with knob. • To convert to rear bagging operation, side discharge deflector must be removed; discharge chute and grass catcher installed and discharge chute secured to mower housing with knob. SIMPLE STEPS TO REMEMBER WHEN CONVERTING YOUR 21" HI-VAC: FOR MULCHING 1. Grass catcher, discharge chute and side discharge deflector removed. 2. Mulcher door secured to mower hous- ing with knob. FOR REAR BAGGING 1. Side discharge deflector removed. 2. Grass catcher and discharge chute installed with discharge chute secured to lawn mower housing with knob. 3. Round door of discharge chute resting on top of grass catcher. FOR SIDE DISCHARGING 1. Grass catcher and discharge chute removed. 2. Side discharge deflector installed and secured to mower housing with knob. CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower without mulcher door closed; side discharge deflector installed, or discharge chute and approved grass catcher in place. Never attempt to operate the lawn mower with mulcher door or round door removed or propped open. TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER 1. Open round door of discharge chute to move starter rope out and away from grass catcher. Front handle OPEN Mulcher door Side discharge deflector Knob Threaded stud Round door Starter rope 2. Remove grass catcher with clippings from lawn mower using both front and rear handles. 3. Empty clippings from grass catcher using rear handle. The weight of the grass will open the door. 4. Snap door shut over frame before installing grass catcher on mower. NOTE: Do not drag the bag when emp17 tying; it will cause unnecessary wear.