Maintaining Your Lawn Mower - Troy-Bilt 566 Operator's Manual

Mulching
For effective mulching, do not cut wet grass because it
tends to stick to the underside of the deck, preventing
proper mulching of grass clippings. New or thick grass
may require a narrower cut. The ground speed should
be adjusted to the condition of the lawn. If mowing has
been delayed and the grass has been allowed to grow
in excess of 4", mulching is not recommended. Mow
using the grass bag to reduce the grass height to 3 1/4"
maximum before mulching.
Adjusting Cutting Height
Refer to height adjustments section of this manual on
page 14 for instruction on how to adjust the cutting
height and the handle height.
SECTION 6: MAINTAINING YOUR LAWN MOWER
WARNING:
Always stop the engine and
disconnect the spark plug wire before
performing any maintenance work or
adjustments on your lawn mower.
Cleaning Mower
The underside of the mower deck should be cleaned
after each use to prevent any build-up of grass
clippings, leaves, dirt, or other debris. If this debris is
allowed to accumulate, it will result in rust and
corrosion.
NOTE: We do not recommend the use of pressure
washers or garden hose to clean your unit. These may
cause damage to electric components, spindles,
pulleys, bearings, or the engine. The use of water will
result in shortened life and reduce serviceability.
• Disconnect spark plug wire.
• Drain the gasoline from the lawn mower, or place a
piece of plastic under the gas cap.
• Tip the mower so that it rests on the housing. Keep
the side with the air cleaner facing up. Hold the
mower firmly.
• Scrape and clean the underside of the deck with a
suitable tool. Do not spray with water.
• Put the mower back on its wheels on the ground. If
you had put plastic under the gas cap, make sure to
remove it now.
For best results in mowing, keep the cutting height
position high until you can determine a suitable height.
Bagging Grass Clippings
You can use the grass catcher bag to collect clippings
while you are operating the mower.
• Attach grass catcher following instructions on page
9. Grass clippings will automatically collect in the
bag as you run the mower. Operate the mower till
the grass bag is full.
• Once the bag is full, stop the engine and the mower
completely. Lift discharge door and pull grass bag
up and away from the mower to dispose of the
grass clippings.
WARNING:
90 degrees in any directions and do not leave
the mower tipped for any length of time. Oil can
drain into the upper part of the engine causing
a starting problem.
Engine Care
A list of key maintenance jobs required for good
performance by the mower is given below. Follow the
accompanying engine manual for detailed list and
instructions.
• Change engine oil regularly, as instructed in the
engine manual. Check oil level before starting
engine every time.
• Service air cleaner regularly. You may have to
service this more frequently if you are operating the
mower under extremely dusty conditions.
• Clean the engine periodically. Remove dirt and
debris with a cloth or brush.
• Clean the spark plug and reset the gap to .030" at
least once a season. Refer to the engine manual for
correct spark plug type.
• Inspect muffler periodically, and replace if
necessary. Damaged mufflers or spark arresters
can create a fire hazard.
WARNING:
areas while the mower engine is hot because
temperature of these areas of the engine may
exceed 150
o
12
Never tip the mower more than
Avoid muffler and surrounding
F.