Stopping The Engine; Operating The Mower Blade; Operating The Self-Propel Drive; Using The Discharge Tunnel Plug - Toro 22196 Operator's Manual

4. Pull the starter handle lightly until you feel
resistance, then pull it sharply. Allow the rope to
return to the handle slowly.
5. When the engine starts, move the throttle control to
the Fast position, and set the ground speed control
as desired.
Note: If the engine fails to start after 3 pulls, repeat
steps 4 through 5.

Stopping the Engine

1. Release the blade control bar and move the throttle
control to the Off position.
2. Disconnect the wire from the spark plug if you do
not use the lawn mower or if you leave it unattended.

Operating the Mower Blade

This mower is equipped with a blade brake clutch.
To engage the mower blades and cut grass, do the
following:
Important: Refer to Checking the Blade Brake
Clutch for important information on ensuring that
the blade brake clutch is working properly.
1. With the engine running, push the blade control
bar to the right.
2. Lift the blade control bar to the Run/Shift
position or Run/Drive position to start the blades
(Figure 17).
Note: If you move to the Run/Drive position, you
will engage the self-propel drive as well; refer to

Operating the Self-Propel Drive.

Operating the Self-Propel
Drive
The mower has three ground speeds. 1 is slow, 2 is
medium, and 3 is fast. The ground speed control is
located at the rear of the belt cover (Figure 16).
Figure 16
1. Ground speed control
1. Move the ground speed control to the Neutral
position (Figure 16).
2. Start the engine.
3. Squeeze the blade control bar to the Run/Shift
position (Figure 17) and move the ground speed
control to the desired speed setting (Figure 16).
1. Run/Drive position
2. Run/Shift position
4. Squeeze the blade control bar against the handle to
the Run/Drive position (Figure 17).
Important: Do not shift speeds while
squeezing the blade control bar against the
handle in the Run/Drive position; this can
damage the transmission. Move the blade
control bar to the Run/Shift position when you
change the ground speed.
Note: You can vary the ground speed by increasing
or decreasing the distance between the blade control
bar and the handle. Lower the blade control bar to
decrease the ground speed when you are making a
turn or if the mower is moving too fast for you. If
you lower the blade control bar too far, the mower
stops self-propelling. Squeeze the blade control bar
closer to the handle to increase the ground speed.
When you hold the blade control bar tight against
the handle, the mower self-propels at the maximum
ground speed. Move the ground speed control to
the Neutral position when you use the mower for
trimming or whenever you leave the mower.
Using the Discharge Tunnel
Plug
1. Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts to
stop.
2. Insert the plug; refer to Installing the Discharge
Tunnel Plug.
3. To remove the plug, move the discharge door
handle rearward and lift up the spring clip on the
bottom of the plug. When the plug is unlocked, pull
it out of the discharge tunnel.
14
Figure 17
3. Stop position