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OPERATOR’S MANUAL
21” Self-Propelled
Mower
Model Number
979
IMPORTANT: READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
Warning: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-
covered, brush-covered or grass-covered land unless the engine’s exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting
applicable local or state laws (if any). If a spark arrester is used, it should be maintained in effective working order by t
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Page Important Safe Operation Practices................................................................... 3 Slope Gauge...................................................................................................... 6 Assembling Your Lawn Mower........................................................................... 7 Know Your Lawn Mower .................................................................................... 8 Operating Your Lawn Mower ...........
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SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES WARNING: This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed, could endanger the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all instructions in this manual before attempting to operate this machine. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in personal injury. When you see this symbol - heed its warning. WARNING: Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle componen
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unclogging the chute. The cutting blade continues to obscure your vision of a child who may run into the rotate for a few seconds after the engine is shut off. Never mower. place any part of the body in the blade area until you are 5. Keep children away from hot or running engines. They sure the blade has stopped rotating. can suffer burns from a hot muffler. 20. Never operate mower without proper trail shield, 6. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate a discharge cover, grass c
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3. Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at frequent 9. Grass catcher components, discharge cover, and trail intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect blade shield are subject to wear and damage which could for damage (e.g., bent, cracked, worn) Replace blade expose moving parts or allow objects to be thrown. For with the original equipment manufacture’s (O.E.M.) blade safety protection, frequently check components and only, listed in this manual. “Use of parts which do not
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FOLD ON DOTTED LINE, REPRESENTING A 15° SLOPE SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE A POWER POLE A CORNER OF A BUILDING OR A FENCE POST 15° WARNING Do not mow on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degrees (a rise of approximately 2-1/2 feet every 10 feet). A riding mower could overturn and cause serious injury. If operating a walk-behind mower on such a slope, it is extremely difficult to maintain your footing and you could slip, resulting in serious injury. Operate RIDING mowers u
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SECTION 3: ASSEMBLING YOUR LAWN MOWER IMPORTANT: This unit is shipped without gasoline or oil Handle Assembly in the engine. Be certain to service engine with gasoline and oil as instructed in the separate engine manual before operating your mower. NOTE: Reference to right or left hand side of the mower is observed from the operating position. Wing Nut Removing Unit From Carton Handle Mounting Remove staples, break glue on top flaps, or cut Bracket tape at carton end and peel along top f
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NOTE: Make certain the drive cable is routed around the outside and above the lower handle so it does not Lower Handle interfere with attaching the grass bag. The rope guide, which is connected to the support Starter Rope rod, is located on the right side of lower handle. See Figure 5. Support With the spark plug wire disconnected and Rod Rope grounded, hold the blade control handle against the Guide upper handle, and pull the starter rope out of the engine. Release the blade control ha
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SECTION 5: OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER Towards Better Mower Performance 1. Pour fresh, clean gasoline into the mower’s gas 5. Hold control handle down and pull rope firmly to tank until the tank is full. Do not use gasoline start the engine. that is more than 30 days old. 6. Set cutting height adjustment lever to middle 2. Make sure to connect the mower’s spark plug setting and mow a single pass on your lawn; wire before trying to start the engine. then adjust to desired height for a closer
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you to slip and fall. New grass, thick grass, or wet grass NOTE: The chute door has been designed to move the may require a narrower cut. starter rope out of the way of the bag when the chute door is opened. For a healthier lawn, never cut off more than one-third of the total length of the grass. Your lawn should be cut Chute Door in the fall as long as there is growth. This mower is designed to be operated at full throttle to give you the best cut and do the most effective job of mowing or
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SECTION 6: MAKING ADJUSTMENTS WARNING: Do not at any time make any Place the hairpin clips in the inner holes in the weld adjustments without first stopping engine pins and insert the carriage bolts the upper hole on and disconnecting spark plug wire. the handle mounting bracket and secure with plastic wing nuts. Reassemble the upper handle to the lower handle. Cutting Height Adjustment Attach the starter rope as instructed in the Your mower is shipped with the cutting height in the
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required due to normal wear on the cable. Adjustment Loosen hex nut which secures the adjustable cable is needed if all six speeds do not work. bracket. See Figure 14. Push back on the adjustable cable bracket and The adjustable cable bracket is located on the left side tighten hex nut. of the mower beside the engine. See Figure 14. Adjustable Cable Start engine and place speed control lever in the Bracket sixth speed position. See Figure 13. Hex Nut Bottom View Speed Control PUSH Leve
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Periodically check all fasteners and make sure usually indicate that the air cleaner should be these are tight. serviced. To service the air cleaner, refer to the Follow the maintenance schedule under Customer separate engine manual packed with your unit. Responsibilities to get quality performance from The spark plug should be cleaned and the gap your lawn mower. reset once a season. Spark plug replacement is recommended at the start of each mowing season. Clean the engine regularly
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speeds. It may cause damage to the mower, and could Remove the hex bolt from the rear of unit holding break causing personal injury. the transmission to the mower housing. See Figure 18. The blade can be tested by balancing it on a round shaft screwdriver. Remove metal from the heavy side until it balances evenly. It is recommended that the blade always be removed from the adapter when testing for balance. Before reinstalling the blade and the blade adapter to the unit, lubricate the eng
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Pinch both sides of the belt together so that the belt Six-Speed is not in the pulley groove, and the lower pulley can Belt Cable Slot be pushed towards the engine. See Figure 22. Control Arm Lower Pulley Half Belt Belt Lower Guard Pin Pulley Half Figure 22 Crankshaft Pivot the control arm back to its original position and reinstall the six-speed cable into the slot. See Figure 23. Check and make sure the belt is routed inside the pulley halves and the belt guard pin. Six-Speed Belt C
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Refer to engine manual for correct engine storage NOTE: When storing any type of power equipment in a instructions. poorly ventilated or metal storage shed, care should be Coat mower’s cutting blade with chassis grease to taken to rust-proof the equipment. Using a light oil or prevent rusting. silicone, coat the equipment, especially cables and all Store mower in a dry, clean area. Do not store next moving parts. to corrosive materials, such as fertilizer. SECTION 8: TROUBLESHOOTING Prob
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Notes 17
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Model 979 1 2 3 93 4 15 14 8 5 17 9 6 7 12 20 23 18 13 10 19 22 16 11 35 37 36 38 56 57 39 33 54 48 40 52 21 43 50 41 45 42 44 55 28 53 57 24 34 51 27 32 49 59 46 45 62 63 47 64 65 58 25 66 60 61 68 31 33 26 69 70 67 73 89 88 71 74 72 75 76 90 77 78 30 29 79 81 91 80 92 82 83 84 85 86 87 18
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Model 979 Ref. Ref. Part No. Part Description Part No. Part Description No. No. 1. 747-0824 Control Handle 48. 734-1981 Wheel 9 x 2 2. 731-0904A Upper Control Handle 49. 712-0414 Top Lock Tab Weld Nut 1/4-20 3. 16864 6 Spd. Rack Cable Bracket 50. 16855 Ratchet Pawl Plate 4. 731-0620 Control Lever 51. 10622B Plastic Spring Ratchet 5. 713-0397 Gear Insert 52. 748-0381 Pawl RH 6. 732-0627 Shift Lever Spring 748-0188B Pawl LH 7. 731-0924 6 Speed Shift Lever 53. 738-0137A Shld Screw .340 ID x .285
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Model 979 1 2 15 8 16 3 17 28 27 11 4 26 5 6 25 7 9 24 10 18 12 21 14 29 7 13 23 14 30 19 22 7 31 30 20 33 34 32 35 36 37 38 40 39 43 41 42 44 45 46 48 47 49 51 58 52 50 53 54 56 55 57 20
