POWERSMART DB8621C (01) PDF Document

A safety alert symbol is used to identify safety information about hazards that can result in personal injury. A signal word is used with the alert symbol to indicate the likelihood and potential severity of injury.

DANGER: Indicates a hazard, which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.

WARNING: Indicates a hazard, which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.

CAUTION: Indicates a hazard, which, if not avoided, might result in minor or moderate injury.

CAUTION (when used without the alert symbol): Indicates a situation that could result in damage to the engine.

DANGER: CARBON MONOXIDE. Using an engine indoors can kill you in minutes. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide (CO), a poison gas you cannot see or smell.

NEVER use an engine inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, or other partly enclosed areas. Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can build up in these areas. Using a fan or opening windows/doors will NOT properly vent CO.

ONLY use an engine outside and far away from windows, doors, and vents. These openings can pull in engine exhaust.

Even when using the engine correctly, CO may leak into the home. ALWAYS use a battery-powered or battery-backup CO alarm in the home.

If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak after the engine has been running, move to fresh air RIGHT AWAY and see a doctor. You may have carbon monoxide poisoning.

WARNING: This engine may emit highly flammable and explosive gasoline vapors, which can cause severe burns or even death if ignited. A nearby open flame can lead to an explosion even if it isn’t directly in contact with gasoline.

Do not operate near an open flame.

Do not smoke near the engine.

Always operate on a firm, level surface.

Always turn the engine off before refueling. Allow the engine to cool for at least 2 minutes before removing the fuel cap. Loosen the cap slowly to relieve pressure in the tank.

Do not overfill the fuel tank. Gasoline may expand during operation. Do not fill to the top of the tank. Allow for expansion.

Always check for spilled fuel before operating.

Empty the fuel tank before storing or transporting the engine.

WARNING: This engine produces heat when running. Temperatures near the exhaust can exceed 150°F (65° C).

Do not touch hot surfaces. Pay attention to warning labels on the engine identifying hot parts of the machine.

Allow the engine to cool down after use before touching the engine or areas of the engine that become hot during use.

Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine and in the manual(s) before starting.

1. Do not put hands or feet near or under the machine. Keep clear of the discharge opening at all times.

2. Only allow responsible adults, who are familiar with the instructions, to operate this machine.

3. Clear the area of objects such as rocks, wire, toys, etc., which could be thrown by the blade. Stay behind the handle when the engine is running.

4. Be sure the area is clear of bystanders before operating. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.

5. Do not operate machine barefooted or while wearing sandals. Always wear substantial footwear.

6. Do not pull machine backward unless absolutely necessary. Always look down and behind before and while moving backward.

7. Never direct discharged material toward anyone. Avoid discharging material against a wall or obstruction. Material may ricochet back toward the operator. Stop the blade when crossing gravel surfaces.

8. Do not operate machine without the entire grass catcher, discharge guard, rear guard, or other safety protective devices in place and working.

9. Never leave a running machine unattended.

10. Stop the engine and wait until the blade comes to a complete stop before cleaning the machine, removing grass catcher, or unclogging the discharge guard.

11. Operate machine only in daylight or good artificial light.

12. Do not operate machine while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

13. Never operate mower in wet grass. Always be sure of your footing; walk; never run.

14. Disengage the drive system, if so equipped, before starting the engine.

15. If the machine should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the engine and check for the cause immediately. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.

16. Always wear eye protection when operating machine.

17. See manufacturer’s instructions for proper operation and installation of accessories. Only use accessories approved by the manufacturer.

Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall accidents, which can result in severe injury. Operation on all slopes requires extra caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it.

1. Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down. Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.

2. Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden objects. Uneven terrain could cause a slip and fall accident. Tall grass can hide obstacles.

3. Do not mow on wet grass or excessively steep slopes. Poor footing could cause a slip and fall accident.

4. Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches, or embankments. You could lose your footing or balance.

Severe injury can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence of children in the immediate area. Children are often attracted to the mowing activity. Never assume that children will remain where you last saw them.

1. Keep children out of the mowing area and under the watchful care of a responsible adult other than the operator.

2. Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the area.

3. Never allow children under the age of 16 to operate the lawn mower.

4. Use extra care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may block your view of a child.

When you unpack the lawn mower, you should find the following parts:

1. Side discharge chute

2. Lawn mower with upper handle

3. Lower handle

4. Knob (2)

5. Washer (2)

6. Screw M8 (2)

7. Flange bolts M6 (2)

8. Cable clip

9. Spark plug wrench

Do not discard the carton or any packaging until the engine is completely assembled.

Follow these steps to attach the lower and upper handle sections:

1. Take the lower handle and line up the hole in the lower handle with the hole on the handle bracket of the mower deck.

2. Secure the lower handle with the provided M6 Hexagonal flange bolts on each side.

3. Pull the upper handle up and lock it into position with the bolts, washer, and knob on both sides.

4. Insert the recoil starter handle cable into the hook provided on the upper handle.

1. Lift the spring-loaded discharge cover located on the side of the mower.

2. Slide the two hooks of the side discharge chute under the hinge pin.

3. Lower the spring-loaded cover onto the chute to secure it.

Caution: Do not attempt to remove the permanently mounted spring-loaded side discharge cover at any time.

Warning! Cutting height adjustments should only be performed after the engine and blades have come to a complete stop!

It is always best to begin cutting your lawn with a higher deck height to prevent scalping.

The cutting height is adjusted with a single lever. Actuate the adjustment lever and pull it to the required position. Please make sure that the lever locks into position. There are 5 height positions available, from 1.18 to 3 inches.

The engine is shipped without oil or gasoline. You must add both before starting the engine.

1. Add oil before starting the mower for the first time.

2. Service the engine with gasoline as instructed in the separate engine operator’s manual.

Warning: Use extreme care when handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable and its vapors are explosive. Never fuel the machine indoors or while the engine is hot or running. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other potential sources of ignition.

The POWERSMART DB8621C is equipped with an engine start/stop lever to prevent unintentional starting and ensure safe operation. The lever must be actuated (pulled back against the handle) before the lawn mower is started. Releasing this lever will quickly stop the blade and engine in case of danger. When the engine start/stop lever is released, it must return to its initial position.

Before you start mowing, you should run through this process several times to ensure that the lever and actuator cables are working properly. Repeat the test several times after the engine has started up. When the engine start/stop lever is released, the engine must stop within a few seconds.

Warning: The blade begins to rotate as soon as the engine is started.

1. Ensure that the ignition cable is connected to the spark plug.

2. Stand behind the lawn mower. Actuate the engine start/stop lever with one hand (pull it towards the handle). The other hand must be on the starter handle.

3. Start the engine using the starter handle. To do this, pull out the handle approx. 4–6 inches (until you feel resistance) and then start the engine with a sharp tug. If the engine does not start, tug the handle again.

Caution: Never allow the actuator cable to snap back.

Caution: In cold weather, it may be necessary to repeat the starting process several times.

To stop the engine, simply release the engine start/stop lever. The engine and blade should come to a complete stop within a few seconds.

The engine throttle is preset to provide optimum performance.

Only use a sharp blade that is in good condition. This prevents grass blades from fraying and the lawn from turning yellow.

Mow in straight lines for a nice, clean look. The swaths should overlap by a few inches to avoid stripes.

It’s important to keep the underside of the mower deck clean and remove grass build-up. This buildup will decrease mulching quality and make it harder for the equipment to bag grass.

Always mow along inclines (not up and down). You can prevent the mower from slipping down by holding a position at an angle upwards. Select the cutting height according to the length of the grass. If necessary, mow multiple times so you never cut more than 2 inches of grass in one go.

Turn off the engine before doing any checks on the blade. The blade continues to rotate for a few seconds after the engine is turned off. Never attempt to manually stop the blade.

Regularly check if the blade is securely attached, in good condition, and sharp. If it strikes an object, immediately turn off the mower, wait for the blade to stop, and inspect the blade and blade mount for damage.

It is important to clean the underside of the mower deck after use to prevent the build-up of grass clippings or other debris. Follow these steps for proper cleaning:

Warning: Always stop the engine, allow it to cool, and disconnect the spark plug wire before performing any maintenance.

1. Allow the engine to run until it is out of fuel. Do not attempt to pour fuel from the engine.

2. Disconnect the spark plug wire.

3. Slowly tip the mower so that it rests on the housing.

4. To prevent oil spills, always tip the mower so that the Air Filter is facing up.

5. Hold the mower firmly and scrape and clean the underside of the deck with a suitable tool.

6. Gently lower the mower back on its wheels on the ground.

Warning: Never tip the mower more than 90° in any direction 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.

To ensure safe operation, have all blade sharpening, balancing, and mounting work carried out by an authorized service center. To achieve optimal results, we recommend having the blade checked once a year.

If, in spite of all caution, the blade comes into contact with an obstacle, switch off the engine immediately and pull off the spark plug connector. Tilt the lawn mower to the rear and check the blade for damage. Always keep the side with the air cleaner facing up. Damaged or bent blades must be replaced. Never straighten a bent blade. Never work with bent or heavily worn blades as this will result in vibrations, causing further damage to the mower.

Warning: Risk of injury when working with a damaged blade.

CAUTION: Never place any type of storage cover or tarp on the MOWER while it is still hot.

For short periods of time (30 to 60 days):

Add stabilized fuel to the gas tank until it is full. Run the engine for 2–3 minutes allowing the stabilized fuel mixture to circulate through the carburetor. Keeping the fuel tank full reduces the amount of air and vapor and helps reduce fuel deterioration.

For extended periods of time:

1. Start the engine and run it until the tank and fuel line are completely empty and the engine stalls.

2. Change the oil after each season.

3. Remove the spark plug. Use an oil-can to fill the cylinder with approx. 2 ml of oil. Slowly pull back the starter handle, which will bathe the cylinder wall with oil. Screw the spark plug back in.

4. Clean the cooling fins of the cylinder and the housing.

5. Be sure to clean the entire equipment to protect the paint.

6. Store the equipment in a well-ventilated place.