Summary of the content on the page No. 1
Operator’s Manual
21” Self-Propelled
Mower
Model Series 970
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.
Summary of the content on the page No. 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Page Content Page Maintaining Your Lawn Mower 13 Important Safe Operation Practices 3 Servicing Your Lawn Mower 14 Slope Guage 6 Off-Season Storage 16 Assembling Your Lawn Mower 7 Troubleshooting 17 Know Your Lawn Mower 9 Illustrated Parts List 18 Operating Your Lawn Mower 10 Warranty 36 Making Adjustments 11 FINDING MODEL NUMBER This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new lawn mower. It will help you assemble, prepare and maintain the unit for best perform
Summary of the content on the page No. 3
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
Summary of the content on the page No. 4
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
Summary of the content on the page No. 5
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
Summary of the content on the page No. 6
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
Summary of the content on the page No. 7
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
Summary of the content on the page No. 8
� 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
Summary of the content on the page No. 9
SECTION 4: KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER Read this operator’s manual and safety rules before Recoil Starter operating your lawn mower. Compare the illustration in The recoil starter is attached to the right upper handle. Figure 10 with your lawn mower to familiarize yourself Stand behind the unit and pull the recoil starter rope to with the location of various controls and adjustments. start the unit. Save this manual for future reference. Drive Clutch Control WARNING: The operation of any lawn
Summary of the content on the page No. 10
SECTION 5: OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER WARNING: Be sure no one other than the WARNING: Read, understand, and follow all operator is standing near the lawn mower while instructions and warnings on the machine and starting engine or operating mower. in this manual before operating. NOTE: For shipping purposes your mower is set with WARNING: Never run engine indoors or in the wheels in a low cutting height position. For best enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. Engine results, raise the cuttin
Summary of the content on the page No. 11
to slip and fall. New grass or thick grass may Bagging Grass Clippings require a narrower cut. You can use the grass catcher bag to collect clippings � For a healthy lawn, always cut off one-third or less while you are operating the mower. of the total length of the grass. Lawn should be � Attach grass catcher following instructions on page trimmed in fall as long as there is growth. 8 of this manual. Grass clippings will automatically IMPORTANT: Move the shift lever only when the engine
Summary of the content on the page No. 12
� Pull the lever out and away from the mower and NOTE: For some people the drive clutch control may then move it forward or backward to another slot. not be in a comfortable position. You can adjust the For rough or uneven lawns, move the height handle out by tightening the adjustment wheel. adjustment lever to a higher position. This will help stop scalping. Shift Lever Cable Periodic adjustment of the six speed shift cable may be Drive Clutch Control necessary due to normal wear on the c
Summary of the content on the page No. 13
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
Summary of the content on the page No. 14
SECTION 8: SERVICING YOUR LAWN 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.,
Summary of the content on the page No. 15
� 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 17. � 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
Summary of the content on the page No. 16
� Reinstall the bolt securing transmission to rear mower housing. Six-Speed � Pivot the baffle back to its original position and Cable Slot secure with three hex screws removed earlier. � Lightly lubricate the inside of the blade adapter and reinstall the spacer, wave washer, blade adapter assembly, and blade in the correct order. � Tighten the hex bolt to secure the blade to torque: 450-600 in. lbs. Replacing Rear Flap Control � To remove rear flap, cut off the flat end of the wire Arm r
Summary of the content on the page No. 17
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
Summary of the content on the page No. 18
SECTION 11: PARTS LIST FOR MODEL SERIES 970 1 2 3 4 15 14 8 5 19 9 6 7 12 20 13 10 17 16 11 35 36 38 33 39 48 40 52 21 43 50 41 45 30 42 44 18 26 23 37 53 57 51 34 22 32 49 59 46 45 27 62 77 63 47 64 24 65 28 58 29 66 60 61 68 31 33 69 70 67 73 71 74 75 76 64 78 72 79 81 80 25 77 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 56 OEM) V-Belt can be dangerous by not disengaging com
Summary of the content on the page No. 19
Model Series 970 Ref. Part No. Description Ref. Part No. Description No. No. 1. 647-0004 Control Handle 43. 756-0625 Roller Cable 2. 731-0904A Upper Control Handle 44. 738-0924A Shoulder Screw .375 ID x 1/4-14 3. 16864 6 Spd. Rack Cable Bracket 45. 714-0104 Cotter Pin 4. 731-0620A Control Lever 46. 736-0286 Bowed Washer 5. 713-0397 Gear Insert 47. 782-0565 Single Lever Control Arm 6. 732-0627 Shift Lever Spring 48. 734-2044 Wheel, 9 x 2.125 7. 731-0924 6 Speed Shift Lever 49. 712-0414 Top Lock
Summary of the content on the page No. 20
Model Series 970 1 16 2 17 15 3 4 28 11 26 27 5 6 9 7 24 25 18 8 10 12 14 13 21 7 23 14 7 22 6 4 5 34 30 19 29 20 35 31 32 33 20
