WARNING:

READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL INSTRUCTIONS.

Failure to follow all instructions listed below and on the machine may result in electric shock, fire, and/or serious personal injury.

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS

???This cutting machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe all safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.

???Do not use the lawn mower in damp or wet conditions or operate in the rain.

???Never allow adults to operate the product without proper instruction.

???Keep the area clear of all bystanders, children, and pets while mowing. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.

???Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence of children. Children are often attracted to the machine and the mowing activity. Never assume that children will remain where you last saw them.

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

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

???Never allow children to operate the machine.

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

???Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. They can be caught in moving parts. Use of rubber gloves and footwear is recommended when working outdoors.

???Keep firm footing and balance. Do not overreach. Over- reaching can result in loss of balance.

???Do not operate the equipment while barefoot or when wearing sandals or similar lightweight footwear. Wear protective footwear that will protect your feet and improve your footing on slippery surfaces.

???Do not leave the mower unattended while running.

???Keep hands and feet away from cutting area. Keep clear of the discharge opening at all times.

???Operate the lawn mower only in daylight or good artificial light.

???Always wear safety glasses with side shields. Everyday glasses have only impact resistant lenses. They are NOT safety glasses. Following this rule will reduce the risk of eye injury. Use face mask if operation is dusty.

???Wear safety glasses or goggles that are marked to comply with ANSI Z87.1 standard when operating this product.

???Use the right appliance. Do not use the lawn mower for any job except that for which it is intended.

???Do not force the lawn mower. It will do the job better and safer at the rate for which it was designed.

???Stay alert, watch what you are doing, and use common sense when operating the lawn mower. Do not operate the mower while tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication. A moment of inattention while operating the lawn mower may result in serious personal injury.

???Keep machine in good working condition. Keep blades sharp and guards in place and in working order.

???Check all nuts, bolts, and screws at frequent intervals for proper tightness to be sure the equipment is in safe working condition.

???Stop the motor and wait until the blade comes to a com- plete stop before cleaning the lawn mower, removing the grass catcher, or unclogging the discharge guard.

???When not in use, mower should be stored indoors in a dry, locked up place???out of the reach of children.

???To reduce the risk of electric shock, this product has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other) and will require the use of a polarized extension cord. The plug will fit into a polarized extension cord only one way. If the plug does not fit fully into the extension cord, reverse the plug. If the plug still does not fit, obtain a correct polarized extension cord. A polarized extension cord will require the use of a polarized wall outlet. This plug will fit into the polarized wall outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully into the wall outlet, reverse the plug. If the plug still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install the proper wall outlet. Do not change the equipment plug, extension cord receptacle, or extension cord plug in any way.

???Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord to pull the lawn mower or to disconnect the plug from an outlet. Keep cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges, or moving parts. Replace damaged cords immediately. Damaged cords increase the risk of electric shock.

???Make sure your extension cord is in good condition. When using an extension cord, be sure to use one heavy enough to carry the current your product will draw. A wire gauge size (A.W.G.) of at least 14 is recommended for an extension cord 50 feet or less in length. If in doubt, use the next heavier gauge. The smaller the gauge number, the heavier the cord. An undersized cord will cause a drop in line voltage resulting in loss of power and overheating.

???WARNING: Use outdoor extension cords marked SW-A, SOW-A, STW-A, STOW-A, SJW-A, SJTW-A, or SJTOWA. These cords are rated for outdoor use and reduce the risk of electric shock.

???Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection should be provided on the circuit(s) or outlet(s) to be used for the lawn mower. Receptacles are available having built- in GFCI protection and may be used for this measure of safety.

???Inspect extension cords periodically and replace if damaged. Keep handles dry, clean, and free from oil or grease.

???Do not operate the mower without the entire grass catch- er, discharge guard, rear guard, or other safety protective devices in place and working.

???Follow manufacturer???s instructions for proper operation and installation of accessories. Only use accessories approved by the manufacturer.

???Clear the work area before each use. Remove all objects such as rocks, sticks, wire, bones, toys, or other objects which can be thrown by the blade. Stay behind the handle when the motor is running.

???Avoid holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden objects. Uneven terrain could cause a slip and fall accident.

???Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches, or embankments.

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

???Plan your mowing pattern to avoid discharge of material toward roads, sidewalks, bystanders, and the like. Also, avoid discharging material against a wall or obstruction, which may cause the material to ricochet back toward the operator.

???Do not mow on wet grass or excessively steep slopes. Poor footing could cause a slip and fall accident. Walk, never run.

???Use extra care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may block your view.

???Do not pull the mower backward unless absolutely nec- essary. If you must back the mower away from a wall or obstruction, first look down and behind to avoid trip- ping.

???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.

???Objects struck by the lawn mower blade can cause severe injuries to persons. The lawn should always be carefully examined and cleared of all objects prior to each mowing.

???If the lawn mower strikes a foreign object, follow these steps:

???Stop the lawn mower and release the switch control lever.

???Disconnect the power cord.

???Thoroughly inspect the mower for any damage.

???Repair any damage before restarting and continuing to operate the mower.

???Stop the motor, disconnect the power cord, and wait until the blade comes to a complete stop before removing the grass catcher or unclogging the chute. The cutting blade continues to rotate for a few seconds after the motor is shut off. Never place any part of the body in the blade area until you are sure the blade has stopped rotating.

???Disconnect the plug from power source before making any adjustments, changing accessories, or storing the lawn mower. Such preventive safety measures reduce the risk of starting the product accidentally.

???If the mower should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the motor and check immediately for the cause. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.

???Service on the product must be performed by qualified repair personnel only. Service or maintenance performed by unqualified personnel could result in injury to the user or damage to the product.

???Use only identical replacement parts when servicing the product. Use of unauthorized parts may create a risk of serious injury to the user, or damage to the product.

???If the power supply cord is damaged, it must be replaced only by the manufacturer or by an authorized service center to avoid risk.

???Save these instructions. Refer to them frequently and use them to instruct others who may use this product. If you loan someone this tool, loan them these instructions also.

SERVICE

Servicing requires extreme care and knowledge and should be performed only by a qualified service technician. For service we suggest you return the product to your nearest

AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER for repair. When servic- ing, use only identical replacement parts.

WARNING:

To avoid serious personal injury, do not attempt to use this product until you read thoroughly and understand com- pletely the operator???s manual. If you do not understand the warnings and instructions in the operator???s manual, do not use this product. Call Homelite customer service for assistance.

DOUBLE INSULATION

Double insulation is a concept in safety in electric power tools, which eliminates the need for the usual three- wire grounded power cord. All exposed metal parts are isolated from the internal metal motor components with protecting insulation. Double insulated tools do not need to be grounded.

It is possible to tie the extension cord and power cord in a knot to prevent them from becoming disconnected during use. Make the knot as shown in figure 1, then connect the plug end of the power cord into the receptacle end of the extension cord. This method can also be used to tie two extension cords together.

WARNING:

The double insulated system is intended to protect the user from shock resulting from a break in the tool???s internal insulation. Observe all normal safety precautions to avoid electrical shock.

NOTE: Servicing of a product with double insulation requires extreme care and knowledge of the system and should be performed only by a qualified service technician. For service, we suggest you return the product to your nearest authorized service center for repair. Always use original factory replace- ment parts when servicing.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION

This product has a precision-built electric motor. It should be connected to a power supply that is 120 volts, 60 Hz, AC only (normal household current). Do not operate this product on direct current (DC). A substantial voltage drop will cause a loss of power and the motor will overheat. If the product does not operate when plugged into an outlet, double-check the power supply.

EXTENSION CORDS

See Figure 1.

When using a power tool at a considerable distance from a power source, be sure to use an extension cord that has the capacity to handle the current the product will draw. An undersized cord will cause a drop in line voltage, resulting in overheating and loss of power. Use the chart to determine the minimum wire size required in an extension cord. Only round jacketed cords listed by Underwriter???s Laboratories (UL) should be used.

When working outdoors with a product, use an extension cord that is designed for outside use. This type of cord is designated with ???WA??? on the cord???s jacket.

Before using any extension cord, inspect it for loose or exposed wires and cut or worn insulation.

**Used on 12 gauge - 20 amp circuit.

NOTE: AWG = American Wire Gauge

WARNING:

Keep the extension cord clear of the working area. Position the cord so that it will not get caught on lumber, tools, or other obstructions while you are working with a power tool. Failure to do so can result in serious personal injury.

WARNING:

Check extension cords before each use. If damaged replace immediately. Never use the product with a damaged cord since touching the damaged area could cause electrical shock resulting in serious injury.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER

See Figure 2.

The safe use of this product requires an understanding of the information on the product and in this operator???s manual as well as a knowledge of the project you are attempting. Before use of this product, familiarize yourself with all oper- ating features and safety rules.

CORD RETAINER

A convenient cord retainer helps keep the extension cord connection secure during mower operation.

GRASS CATCHER (MODEL UT13120 ONLY)

The grass catcher prevents grass clippings being strewn across your lawn as you mow.

MOTOR/BLADE CONTROL ASSEMBLY

The motor/blade control, located on the upper handle of the mower, engages and disengages the motor and blade.

MULCHING PLUG (MODEL UT13120 ONLY)

Your mower is equipped with a mulching plug that cuts and recuts the grass for finer clippings.

SIDE DISCHARGE DEFLECTOR

Use the side discharge deflector on your mower when the grass is too high to mulch or when side discharging is preferred. The grass clippings produced when using the side discharge deflector are noticeably larger than those produced when using the mulching plug.

UNPACKING

This product requires assembly.

???Carefully remove the product and any accessories from the box. Make sure that all items listed in the packing list are included.

???Inspect the product carefully to make sure no breakage or damage occurred during shipping.

???Do not discard the packing material until you have care- fully inspected and satisfactorily operated the product.

???If any parts are damaged or missing, please call 1-866-457-5888 for assistance.

PACKING LIST

Mower

Side Discharge Deflector

Mulching Plug (Model UT13120 only)

Grass Catcher (Model UT13120 only)

Operator???s Manual

WARNING:

If any parts are damaged or missing do not operate this product until the parts are replaced. Failure to heed this warning so could result in serious personal injury.

WARNING:

Do not attempt to modify this product or create acces- sories not recommended for use with this product. Any such alteration or modification is misuse and could result in a hazardous condition leading to possible serious personal injury.

WARNING:

Do not connect to power supply until assembly is complete. Failure to comply could result in accidental starting and possible serious personal injury.

Never operate the mower without the proper safety devices in place and working. Never operate the mower with damaged safety devices. Failure to heed this warning can result in serious personal injury.

ADJUSTING HANDLE

See Figure 3.

??? Fully loosen the handle knobs on both sides of the handle.

??? Pull up and back on the upper handle to raise the handle into operating position. Make certain the handles snap into place securely.

??? Tighten the handle knobs on both sides of the handle to secure.

UPPER

HANDLE

LOWER

HANDLE

Fig. 3

INSTALLING SIDE DISCHARGE DEFLECTOR

See Figure 4.

???Lift the side discharge door.

???Align the grooves on the deflector with the pins on the underside of the door.

???Lower the deflector until the hooks on the mower deck are secured in the openings in the deflector.

???Release the deflector and door.

INSTALLING THE MULCHING PLUG

(MODEL UT13120 ONLY)

See Figure 5.

NOTE: When using the mulching plug, do not install either the side discharge deflector or the grass catcher.

???Lift the rear discharge door.

???Grasp the mulching plug by its handle and tilt at an approximate 15 degree angle.

???Insert the plug into the rear discharge opening.

???Lower the rear discharge door.

INSTALLING THE GRASS CATCHER

(MODEL UT13120 ONLY)

See Figure 6.

NOTE: When using the grass catcher, do not install either the side discharge deflector or the mulching plug.

???Lift the rear discharge door.

???Lift the grass catcher by its handle and place under the rear discharge door so that the hooks on the grass catcher are seated on the door rod.

???Release the rear discharge door. When installed correctly, the hooks on the grass catcher will extend through the openings on the rear discharge door.

SETTING BLADE HEIGHT

See Figure 7.

When shipped, the wheels on the mower are set to a low- cutting position. Before using the mower for the first time, adjust the cutting position to the height best suited for your lawn. The average lawn should be between 1-1/2 in. to 2 in. during cool months and between 2 in. and 3-1/4 in. during hot months.

To set the blade height:

???To raise the blade height, grasp the height adjustment lever and move it toward the back of the mower.

???To lower the blade height, grasp the height adjustment lever and move it toward the front of the mower.

MODEL UT13120 ONLY

HEIGHT

ADJUSTMENT

LEVER

WARNING:

Do not allow familiarity with this type of product to make you careless. Remember that a careless fraction of a second is sufficient to inflict serious injury.

WARNING:

Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields when operating this product. Failure to do so could result in objects being thrown into your eyes, resulting in possible serious injury.

WARNING:

Do not use any attachments or accessories not recom- mended by the manufacturer of this product. The use of attachments or accessories not recommended can result in serious personal injury.

APPLICATIONS

You may use this product for the purpose listed below: ??? Mowing your lawn

STARTING/STOPPING THE MOWER

See Figure 8.

???Attach the outlet end of an extension cord to the plug on the rear of the mower.

NOTE: Use only an approved outdoor extension cord as described previously in this manual.

???Make a loop in the extension cord. From the right side, pass the loop through the hole in the back of cord retainer and place it around the hook.

????????? Rotate the lever release counterclockwise and hold to allow access to the switch control lever.

????????? Pull the switch control lever toward the mower handle and let go of the lever release. Continue to hold the switch control lever against the mower handle as you mow.

???????????? To stop the mower, release the switch control lever.

NOTE: A high-pitched noise and sparking may occur as the electric motor decelerates. This is normal.

MOWING TIPS

See Figures 9 - 10.

???Make sure the lawn is clear of stones, sticks, wires, and other objects that could damage the lawn mower blades or motor. Such objects could be accidentally thrown by the mower in any direction and cause serious personal injury to the operator and others.

???To reduce the likelihood of disconnecting the lawn mower from the extension cord, be sure to use the cord retainer provided.

MOWER

PLUG

CORD

RETAINER

SWITCH

CONTROL

LEVER

SWITCH

CONTROL

LEVER

Fig. 9

???Do not mow in circles. Start from the point closest to the outlet and travel back and forth across the lawn, mov- ing away from the outlet so the cord remains behind the mower in the cut portion of the lawn.

?????? Do not allow the extension cord to wrap around trees, shrubs, or other obstacles. When picking up the extension cord, wind the cord in a series of equal loops to prevent it from tangling.

OPERATION

??? For a healthy lawn, always cut off one-third or less of the total length of the grass.

EMPTYING THE GRASS CATCHER

(MODEL UT13120 ONLY)

See Figure 11.

??? Lift the grass catcher by its handle and lift to remove from mower.

??? Empty grass clippings.

??? Lift the rear discharge door and reinstall the grass catcher as described earlier in this manual.

Page 13

Fig. 10

Fig. 11

WARNING:

When servicing, use only identical replacement parts. Use of any other parts may create a hazard or cause product damage.

WARNING:

Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields during power tool operation or when blowing dust. If operation is dusty, also wear a dust mask.

GENERAL MAINTENANCE

Avoid using solvents when cleaning plastic parts. Most plastics are susceptible to damage from various types of commercial solvents and may be damaged by their use. Use clean cloths to remove dirt, dust, oil, grease, etc.

WARNING:

Do not at any time let brake fluids, gasoline, petroleum- based products, penetrating oils, etc., come in contact with plastic parts. Chemicals can damage, weaken, or destroy plastic which may result in serious personal injury.

Periodically check all nuts and bolts for proper tightness to ensure safe operation of the mower.

Remove any buildup of grass and leaves on or around the motor cover. Wipe the mower clean with a dry cloth occa- sionally. Do not use water.

WARNING:

Always protect hands by wearing heavy gloves and/or wrapping the cutting edges of the blade with rags and other material when performing blade maintenance. Fail- ure to heed this warning could result in serious personal injury.

WARNING:

Before performing any maintenance, make sure the mower is unplugged from the power supply. Failure to heed this warning could result in serious personal injury.

REPLACING THE CUTTING BLADE

See Figures 12 - 13.

NOTE: Only use identical replacement blades.

???Stop the motor and disconnect the power supply. Allow the blade to come to a complete stop.

???Turn the mower on its side.

?????? Wedge a block of wood between the blade and mower deck to prevent the blade from turning.

???Loosen the blade nut using a 15 mm wrench or socket (not provided).

???Remove the blade nut, spacer, blade insulator, and blade.

?????? Make certain the fan assembly is pushed completely against the motor shaft.

LUBRICATION

All of the bearings in this product are lubricated with a suf- ficient amount of high grade lubricant for the life of the unit under normal operating conditions. Therefore, no further bearing lubrication is required.

At the beginning and end of each mowing season:

?????? Lubricate the springs on the rear discharge door with light oil.

?????? Lubricate the height adjustment lever and related hardware with light oil.

?????? Remove the wheels and lubricate the surface of the axle bolt and the inner surface of the wheel with light oil.

?????? Remove the blade and blade hub assembly and lubricate the motor shaft with light oil or engine oil. See Replac- ing the Cutting Blade for instructions on removing the blade.

Page 14

BLADE

???Place the new blade on the shaft against the fan assembly. Make sure it is installed with the curved ends pointing

up toward the mower deck and not down toward the ground.

??? Replace the blade insulator and spacer, then thread the blade nut on the shaft and finger tighten.

NOTE: Make certain all parts are replaced in the exact order in which they were removed.

??? Torque the blade nut down using a torque wrench (not provided) to ensure the bolt is properly tightened. The recommended torque for the blade nut is 450- 600 in. lbs.

SHARPENING THE BLADE

See Figure 14.

For best mowing performance, the mower blade must be kept sharp. A dull blade does not cut grass evenly and over-

FAN ASSEMBLY

SHAFT

BLADE

loads the motor. Under normal circumstances, sharpening the blade twice during the mowing season is usually suf- ficient. However, if your lawn has sandy soil, more frequent sharpenings may be required.

???Following the instructions in the Replacing the Cutting Blade section, remove the mower blade. DO NOT attempt to sharpen the blade while it is attached to the mower.

WARNING:

When removing, inspect the blade carefully. If blade is bent or damaged, replace immediately with a new blade. Failure to replace a bent or damaged blade could cause an accident resulting in possible serious injury.

?????? Using a fine-tooth file or stone, sharpen cutting edges on both ends of the blade, removing equal amounts of material from both ends.

BALANCING THE BLADE

See Figure 15.

When sharpening, care should be taken to keep the blade balanced. An unbalanced blade will cause excessive vibra- tion when the mower is running. This vibration will eventually cause damage to the mower, especially the motor.

To check the blade balance:

BLADE INSULATOR

Fig. 13

Fig. 14

???Clamp a screwdriver horizontally in a vise as shown.

NOTE: If a vise is not available, a straight nail can also be used.

???Place the center hole of blade on the screwdriver (or nail) shank.

???If blade is balanced, it will remain in a horizontal position. If either end of the blade drops downward, sharpen the heavy side until the blade is balanced.

Page 15

Fig. 15

REPLACING WHEELS

See Figure 16.

To replace a wheel:

???Disconnect the mower from the power supply. ?????? Turn the mower on its side.

???Using a flat blade screwdriver, pry off the hubcap.

???Remove the cotter pin from the wheel axle, then remove the wheel.

???Replace with new wheel and insert new cotter pin to secure.

???Replace hubcap.

STORING THE MOWER

See Figure 17.

???Disconnect the mower from the power supply.

???Turn mower on its side and clean grass clippings that have accumulated on the underside of the mower deck.

???Wipe the mower clean with a dry cloth.

?????? Check all nuts, bolts, knobs, screws, fasteners, etc., for tightness.

?????? Inspect moving parts for damage, breakage, and wear. Have repairs made on any damaged or missing parts.

???Store mower indoors in a clean, dry place out of the reach of children.

???Do not store near corrosive materials such as fertilizer or rock salt.

To lower the handle before storing:

???Fully loosen the handle knobs on the sides of the handle and fold the upper handle down.

???Push inward on each side of the lower handle, and lift the sides of the lower handle past the edges of the handle mounting brackets.

???Fold the lower handle forward, making sure not to bend or kink the power cord.

HUBCAP

COTTER PIN

WHEEL

WHEEL AXLE

Fig. 16

HANDLE KNOBS

UPPER

HANDLE

LOWER

HANDLE

HANDLE

MOUNTING

BRACKET

Fig. 17

EXPLODED VIEW/PARTS LIST

MODEL UT13118

31

30

25

24

19 17