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Operator’s Manual
21” Self-Propelled
Mower
Models 977A & E977C
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 the operator
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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.......................................................................................9 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 components
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immediately and the blade will stop rotating within 3. Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing could three seconds. cause slipping. 9. Mow in daylight or good artificial light; walk, not run. 10. Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, Children walkways or roads. Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to 11. If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, the presence of children. Children are often attracted to stop the engine and check immediately for the the
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10. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½ 4. Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the inch below bottom of filler neck to provide space for blade or wear gloves, and use extra caution when fuel expansion. servicing them. 11. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely. 5. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the 12. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equipment is in safe working condition. equipment. Move unit to another area. Wait 5 6. Never ta
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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 Removing Unit From Carton Setting Up Your Lawn Mower Remove staples, break glue on top flaps, or cut Assembling Handle tape at carton end and peel along top flap to open Lift up and pull back on the upper handle to raise carton. the handle into the operating position. See Figure Remove loose parts, if included with unit (i.e., grass 3. Make certain the lower handle is seated securely bag etc.), and save it appropriately. into the handle bracket
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Fasten the cable to the lower handle with the two Grass Bag cable ties found on the lower handle. Pull the cable Adapter ties tight and trim off the excess. See Figure 5. Cable Tie Lower Handle Wing Nuts Figure 5 Figure 7 Lift chute door on the grass bag adapter and slide Attaching Starter Rope grass bag onto the adapter. See Figure 8. NOTE: Make certain the drive cable is routed around NOTE: The chute door has been designed to move the the outside and above the lower handle so it does n
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SECTION 4: KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER Read this operator’s manual and safety rules before Drive Clutch Control operating your lawn mower. Compare the illustration in The drive clutch control is located on the upper handle. Figure 10 with your lawn mower to familiarize yourself Squeeze the drive control to engage the drive system. with the location of various controls and adjustments. Release the clutch control to disengage the drive Save this manual for future reference. system. Release the c
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SECTION 5: OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER outlet. See Figure 11. Follow this order of action WARNING: Read, understand, and follow all every time you charge the battery. instructions and warnings on the machine and Charge battery for 16 hours before initial use. Do in this manual before operating. not charge longer than 20 hours. After charging, disconnect battery charger plug NOTE: For shipping purposes your mower is set with from household outlet first, then disconnect charger the wheels i
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Push primer once. Do not prime to restart a warm For a healthy lawn, always cut off one-third or less engine after a short shutdown. of the total length of the grass. Lawn should be Standing behind the mower, depress the blade trimmed in fall as long as there is growth. control handle and hold it against the upper handle. IMPORTANT: Move the shift lever only when the engine Electric Start: Turn the ignition key to the right to is running. Changing the shift lever setting with the st
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Press out on the legs of the lower handle and Bottom View remove lower handle from the mower. Turn lower handle around so the notch on the bottom of the lower handle is facing forward. See Figure 12. Upper Adjustment Handle Wheel Notch Lower Handle Drive Clutch Shift Lever Control Figure 13 Figure 12 NOTE: For some people the drive clutch control may Reassemble the handles, placing the bottom holes not be in a comfortable position. You can adjust the in the handle over the weld pins in
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SECTION 7: MAINTAINING YOUR LAWN MOWER Inspect muffler periodically, and replace if WARNING: Always stop the engine and necessary. Damaged mufflers or spark arresters disconnect the spark plug wire before can create a fire hazard. Make sure to avoid muffler performing any maintenance work or and surrounding areas while the mower engine is adjustments on your lawn mower. hot because temperature of these areas of the o engine may exceed 150 F. Cleaning Mower Lubrication The underside of
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SECTION 8: SERVICING THE MOWER Place the blade on the adapter. Be certain the WARNING: Always stop the engine and blade is aligned and seated on the blade adapter disconnect the spark plug wire before flanges. performing any maintenance work or Place blade bell support on blade. Make sure the adjustments on your lawn mower. notches on the blade bell support are aligned with small holes in the blade. Replace hex bolt and tighten hex bolt to torque: 450 Blade Care in. lbs. min., 600 in
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Remove the hex bolt from the rear of unit holding Pivot the control arm down away from the pulley the transmission to the mower housing. and belt. See Figure 18. Lift off the lower pulley assembly and remove the old belt from around the crankshaft. Wheel Place the new belt over the transmission pulley. Start the belt in the pulley groove and rotate the pulley until the belt is seated in transmission pulley. Place the belt between the idler pulley and the belt Hex Bolt keeper bra
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Attach the new flap and new rod to deck, bending the ends of the new rod over to secure to deck. Six-Speed Cable Slot Replacing Battery Pack (Model E977 only) Remove the battery pack from the handle panel for replacement only. Do not separate the batteries for any reason. Dispose of batteries properly. When replacing battery pack in handle panel, battery pack must be positioned with the positive terminal to the right side and the negative terminal Control to the left side of the pan
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SECTION 10: TROUBLESHOOTING Problem Cause Remedy Engine fails to start 1. Blade control handle disengaged. 1. Engage blade control handle. 2. Spark plug wire disconnected. 2. Connect wire to spark plug. 3. Fuel tank empty or stale fuel. 3. Fill tank with clean, fresh gasoline. 4. Blocked fuel line. 4. Clean fuel line. 5. Faulty spark plug. 5. Clean, adjust gap, or replace. 6. Engine flooded 6. Wait a few minutes to restart, do not prime. Engine runs erratic 1. Spark plug wire loose. 1. Connect
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SECTION 11: PARTS LIST FOR MODELS 977 & E977 1 2 3 4 15 14 8 5 17 9 6 7 12 20 18 13 10 19 16 11 35 37 36 38 56 57 33 39 54 48 40 52 21 43 50 41 45 88 42 44 55 89 94 28 53 57 51 34 27 32 49 59 46 45 90 62 63 47 64 29 65 91 58 92 66 60 61 68 31 33 69 70 67 73 71 74 72 75 76 77 78 79 81 80 30 IMPORTANT: For a proper working 82 machine, use Factory Approved Parts. 83 V-BELTS are specially designed to engage and disengage safely. A substitute (non 84 85 OEM) V-Belt can be dangerous by not 86 diseng
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Models 977 & E977 Ref. Part No. Description Ref. Part No. Description No. No. 1. 647-04008 Control Handle 52. 748-0381 Pawl RH 2. 731-0904A Upper Control Handle 748-0188B Pawl LH 3. 16864 6 Spd. Rack Cable Bracket 53. 738-0137A Shld Screw .340 ID x .285 OD 4. 731-0620 Control Lever 54. 748-0318 Wheel Rachet 5. 713-0397 Gear Insert 55. 736-0270 Bell Washer .265 ID x .75 OD 6. 732-0627 Shift Lever Spring 56. 710-0751 Hex Cap Screw 1/4-20 x .620 7. 731-0924 6 Speed Shift Lever 57. 731-0982A Hubcap
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Models 977 & E977 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 60 35 36 59 37 38 40 39 43 41 42 44 45 61 46 48 47 49 51 58 52 50 62 53 54 56 55 63 57 20
