Maintaining Your Lawn Mower - Yard-Man 978Q Operator's Manual

SECTION 7: MAINTAINING YOUR LAWNMOWER
,i_ 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 debris. If
allowed to accumulate, it will cause 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 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.
,_ WARNING" Never tip the mower more than 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 a detailed list and
instructions.
• Change engine oil regularly, as instructed in the
engine manual. Check oil level before starting
engine every time.
• Service foam filter in the air cleaner every 25 hours
of use and replace the paper filter component every
100 hours. You may have to service the air filter
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. Make sure to avoid muffler
and surrounding areas while the mower engine is
hot because temperature of these areas of the
engine may exceed 150 ° F.
Lubrication
Refer to the lubrication chart in Figure 16.
BladeControl Handle
• Lubricate the pivot points on the blade control
handle at least once a season with light oil. The
blade control must operate freely in both directions.
Chute Door
• Lubricate the torsion spring and the pivot point on
each end of the chute door using a light oil. This will
prevent rusting of the chute door.
Wheels
• Lubricate the wheels and bearings, if so equipped,
at least once a season with light oil or engine oil.
Also, if the wheels are removed for any reason,
lubricate the surface of the axle bolt and the inner
surface of the wheel with light oil.
Engine
• Follow the engine manual instructions and
recommended schedule for lubricating engine
components.
Lubricate
Lubricate
Lubricate
Figure 16: Lubrication Chart
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