18in Dethatcher

• Read the Operator’s Manual and other training material. If the operator(s) or mechanic(s) cannot read English, it is the owner’s responsibility to explain this material to them.

• Become familiar with the safe operation of the equipment, operator controls, and safety signs.

• All operators and mechanics should be trained. The owner is responsible for training the users.

• Never let children or untrained people operate or service the equipment. Local regulations may restrict the age of the operator.

• The owner/user can prevent and is responsible for accidents or injuries occurring to himself or herself, other people, or property.

• Evaluate the terrain to determine what accessories and attachments are needed to properly and safely perform the job. Only use accessories and attachments approved by the manufacturer.

• Wear appropriate clothing including safety glasses and hearing protection. Long hair, loose clothing, or jewelry may get tangled in moving parts.

• Inspect the area where the equipment is to be used and remove all objects such as rocks, toys, and wire, which can be contacted by the machine.

• Use extra care when handling gasoline and other fuels. They are flammable and vapors are explosive.

  • Use only an approved container.

  • Never remove the gas cap or add fuel with the engine running.

  • Allow the engine to cool before refueling.

  • Do not smoke.

  • Never refuel or drain the machine indoors.

• Check that the operator presence controls, safety switches, and shields are attached and functioning properly. Do not operate them unless they are functioning properly.

• Never run an engine in an enclosed area.

• Only operate in good light, keeping away from holes and hidden hazards.

• Start the engine only from the operator’s position.

• Never operate without the shields, covers, or other guards securely in place. Be sure all interlocks are functioning properly.

• Do not change the engine governor setting or overspeed the engine.

• Raise the flail blades, stop the machine, and shut off the engine before leaving the operator’s position for any reason.

• Stop the equipment and inspect the flail blades after striking an object or if an abnormal vibration occurs. Make necessary repairs before resuming operation.

• Keep hands and feet away from the flail blade area.

• Never carry passengers, and keep pets and bystanders away.

• Be alert, slow down, and use caution when making turns. Look behind and to the side before changing directions.

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

• Lightning can cause severe injury or death. If lightning is seen or thunder is heard in the area, do not operate the machine; seek shelter.

• Use extreme care when loading or unloading the machine into a trailer or truck.

• Use care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure vision.

• Always be aware of obstacles that may be in the area of operation. Plan your path to avoid contact with any obstacle by you or the machine.

• Do not operate near drop-offs, ditches, steep banks, or water. Wheels dropping over edges can cause rollovers, which may result in serious injury or death.

• Do not operate on slopes when grass is wet. Slippery conditions reduce traction and could cause sliding and loss of control.

• Do not make sudden turns or rapid speed changes.

• Reduce speed and use extreme caution on slopes.

• Do not operate on a slope greater than 20 degrees.

• Remove or mark obstacles such as rocks, tree limbs, etc. from the operating area.

• Watch for ditches, holes, rocks, dips, and rises that change the operating angle, as rough terrain could overturn the machine.

• Always avoid sudden starting or stopping on a slope. If tires lose traction, disengage the flail blades and proceed slowly off the slope.

• Follow the recommendations for wheel weights or counterweights to improve stability.

• Wait for all movement to stop before adjusting, cleaning, or repairing. Raise the flail blades, stop the machine, shut off the engine, and disconnect the spark-plug wire.

• Clean grass and debris from the blades, drives, mufflers, and engine to help prevent fires. Clean up oil or fuel spills.

• Let the engine cool before storing, and do not store the machine near a flame.

• Shut off the fuel while storing or transporting the machine on trailers. Do not store fuel near flames or drain indoors.

• Park the machine on level, hard ground. Never allow untrained personnel to service it.

• Use jack stands or safety latches to support components when required.

• Carefully release pressure from components with stored energy.

• Remove the spark-plug wire before making any repairs.

• Keep hands and feet away from moving parts. If possible, do not make adjustments with the engine running.

• Keep all parts in good working condition and all hardware tightened. Replace all worn or damaged decals.

• Use only Toro-approved attachments. The warranty may be voided if the machine is used with unapproved attachments.

1. Disengage the flail blades, shut off the engine, and wait for all moving parts to stop.

2. Allow the engine to cool.

3. Clean around the fuel-tank cap and remove it (Figure 12).

   Note: The cap is tethered to the fuel tank.

   

   Figure 12

4. Add unleaded gasoline to the fuel tank until the level is just inside the mesh filter basket.

   Important: This space in the tank allows gasoline to expand. Do not fill the fuel tank completely full.

5. Install the fuel-tank cap securely.

6. Wipe up any spilled gasoline.

1. Turn on the fuel valve.

2. Move the choke lever to the left if you are starting a cold engine.

3. Move the throttle lever midway between the SLOW (turtle) and FAST (rabbit) positions.

   Note: A warm or hot engine may not require choking.

4. With one hand, hold down the operator-presence bail.

5. Pull the recoil handle sharply to start the engine.

6. After the engine starts, gradually move the choke to the right.

   Note: If the engine stalls or hesitates, move the choke left again until the engine warms up.

7. Move the throttle lever to desired setting.

1. Release the operator-presence bail.

2. Turn the fuel valve off.

3. Wait for all moving parts to stop.

• Set the flail blades 3 to 6 mm (1/8 to 1/4 inch) into the earth (below the zero position).

• Mow yard shorter than normal mowing length before dethatching.

• Dethatch a lawn before the prime growing season.

• After dethatching, remove thatch and debris from lawn with rake.

• Use time of soil exposure to fertilize and seed lawn.

• Give lawn extra watering after dethatching.

To break new ground or till an existing lawn, set the flail blades 6 to 12 mm (1/4 to 1/2 inch) into the earth (below the zero position). Allow the machine to move at its own pace through the soil, going forward and backward over the area to be leveled, or making multiple passes from different directions.

Before performing any maintenance on the engine, belts, or cutting blades, disconnect the spark-plug wire from the spark plug (Figure 13).

Figure 13

1. Spark-plug wire

Grease Specification: NGLI grade No. 2 multi-purpose.

1. Shut off the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop.

2. Disconnect the wire from the spark plug.

3. Lubricate the grease fittings under the deck with a grease gun and the specified grease (Figure 14).

   

   Figure 14

   1. Tine shaft grease fittings

Important: Do not operate the engine without the air-filter assembly; extreme engine damage will occur.

1. Shut off the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop.

2. Disconnect the wire from the spark plug.

3. Remove the nut that secures the cover ().

   

   Figure 15

   1. Nut
   2. Cover
   3. Paper element
   4. Foam element

4. Remove the cover.

   Note: Be careful to prevent dirt and debris from falling into the base.

5. Remove the nut-restraining air-filter assembly.

6. Remove the foam and paper elements from the base ().

7. Remove the foam element from the paper element ().

8. Inspect the foam and paper elements, and replace them if they are damaged or excessively dirty.

9. If the paper element is excessively dirty, replace it.

   Note: Never try to brush dirt off the paper element; brushing forces the dirt into the fibers.

10. Clean the foam element in warm, soapy water or in a nonflammable solvent.

11. Rinse and dry the foam element thoroughly.

12. Dip the foam element in clean engine oil, then squeeze out the excess oil.

    Note: Excess oil in the foam element restricts the air flow through the element and may reach the paper filter and clog it.

13. Wipe dirt from the base and the cover with a moist rag.

    Note: Be careful to prevent dirt and debris from entering the air duct leading to the carburetor.

14. Install the air-cleaner elements and ensure that they are properly positioned.

15. Securely install the cover with the nut.

Oil Type: Detergent oil (API service SJ or higher)

Crankcase Capacity: 1.1 L (37 oz)

Viscosity: See the table below (Figure 16).

Figure 16

1. Shut off the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop.

2. Disconnect the wire from the spark plug.

3. Move the fuel-shutoff valve to the OFF position.

4. Remove the sediment cup and O-ring (Figure 18).

   

   Figure 18

   1. O-ring
   2. Sediment cup

5. Wash the sediment cup in a non-flammable solvent and dry it thoroughly.

6. Place the O-ring in the fuel valve and install the sediment cup, tightening it securely.

7. Move the fuel-shutoff lever to the ON position.

   Note: If any fuel leaks, repeat this procedure and replace the O-ring.

Use an NGK BPR6ES spark plug or equivalent.

1. Shut off the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop.

2. Disconnect the wire from the spark plug.

3. Clean around the spark plug.

4. Remove the spark plug from the cylinder head.

   Important: Replace a cracked, fouled, or dirty spark plug. Do not clean the electrodes because grit entering the cylinder can damage the engine.

5. Set the gap on the plug to 0.76 mm (0.03 inch) ().

   

   Figure 19

   1. Center-electrode insulator
   2. Side electrode
   3. Air gap (not to scale)

6. Carefully install the spark plug by hand (to avoid cross threading) until it is hand tight.

7. Tighten the spark plug an additional 1/2 turn if it is new; otherwise, tighten it an additional 1/8 to 1/4 turn.

   Important: A loose spark plug can become very hot and can damage the engine; overtightening a spark plug may damage the threads in the cylinder head.

8. Connect the wire to the spark plug.

1. Park the machine on a level surface, shut off the engine, disconnect the spark-plug wire, and raise the flail blades to the highest position.

2. Remove the 4 bolts securing the belt cover to the left side of the machine and remove the cover (Figure 20).

   

   Figure 20

   1. Belt
   2. Cover
   3. Bolts

3. Check the tension of the belt (Figure 20).

   Note: The belt should not flex more than a 12 mm (1/2 inch) with moderate finger pressure applied to the span just above the machine frame.

4. If the belt tension is loose, refer to Adjusting the Belt Tension.

5. Install the belt cover before operating the machine.

1. Stop the machine on a level surface and shut off the engine by releasing the operator-presence bail.

2. To tighten the belt, loosen the 4 mounting nuts securing the engine to the frame.

   

   Figure 21

   1. Mounting nuts

3. Move the engine to tighten the belt to the proper tension.

4. Secure the 4 mounting nuts and bolts.

   Note: Torque the bolts that secure the engine to the frame to 271 N-m (200 in-lb).

When the flail blades are worn down and are no longer functioning properly, refer to Replacing the Flail Blades.

Important: Perform this procedure when the fuel tank is empty or nearly empty. Tip the machine forward to keep air filter up.

When the flail blades are worn down and no longer functioning properly, replace them as follows:

Important: Preform this procedure when the fuel tank is empty or nearly empty.

1. Stop the machine on a level surface and shut off the engine by releasing the operator-presence bail.

2. Lower the flail blades to the lowest position.

3. Tilt the machine forward onto its nose, and rest it on a block of wood.

   Note: It will take 2 people to tip the machine forward safely.

4. Spin the flail-blade assembly.

   Note: It should spin freely. If it makes a grinding noise and is halting, the bearings are worn; replace them when you replace the blades.

5. Remove the cotter pin from the rod with the worn down flail (Figure 22).

6. Carefully pull out the rod to release the flails and spacers (Figure 22).

7. Replace worn down flails with new ones and discard the old flails.

   

   Figure 22

   1. Rod
   2. Flail
   3. Spacer
   4. Cotter pin

8. Carefully add flails and spacers to rod in the same order as they were removed.

   Important: Align the rod with the formed head toward the center of the machine.

9. Add the cotter pin to lock the rod, flails, and spacers into place.