GGP Italy SPA Lawn Mower 90-92 Instructions Manual

							20ENHOW TO USE THE MACHINE
–if the engine is already warm, position the lever between «SLOW» and «FAST»;
–put in the ignition key and turn to «ON» to make electrical contact, then turn to
«START» to start the engine;
–release the key once the engine has started.
When the engine has started, move the throttle to «SLOW».
The choke must be closed as soon as the engine is running
smoothly. Using it when the engine is already warm can foul the spark plugs and
cause the engine to run erratically.
If there are engine starting problems, do not insist as you can risk
running the battery flat and flooding the engine. Turn the key to «OFF», wait for a few
seconds and then repeat the operation. If the malfunction persists, refer to the
engine manual and chapter «7» in this manual.
Always bear in mind that the safety devices prevent the engine
from starting if safety requirements have not been met (
☛5.2).
In these cases, once the situation has been corrected, the key must first be turned
back to «OFF» before the engine can be restarted.
5.4.2 Starting and moving without mowing
This machine has not been approved for use on public roads.
It has to be used (as indicated by the highway code) in private areas closed to
traffic.
When moving the machine, the blades must be disengaged and the cutting deck
raised as high as possible (position «7»).
Position the throttle between «SLOW» and
«FAST», and the gear lever in 1st gear (
☛4.22).
Keep the pedal pressed down and release the parking brake. Slowly release the
pedal to shift from “brake” to “clutch”, thus operating the rear wheels (
☛4.21).
The pedal has to be released gradually, as a sudden
engagement may cause the vehicle to tip over and the driver to lose control.
!WARNING!

➤Mechanical transmission: 

!WARNING!
IMPORTANT
NOTE
IMPORTANT 
						

							21ENHOW TO USE THE MACHINE
Gradually reach the desired speed using the throttle and gear lever. To change gear,
press the clutch halfway down (
☛4.21).
When moving the machine from one area to
another, position the throttle between «SLOW» and «FAST».
Disengage the parking brake and release the brake pedal (
☛4.31).
Press the drive pedal (
☛4.32) in direction «F» and reach the required speed by
gradually increasing pressure on the pedal and working the throttle.
Drive must be engaged as described  (☛4.32) ) to prevent
sudden engagement from causing tipping up and loss of control of the vehicle,
particularly on slopes.
5.4.3 Braking
First reduce the machine’s speed by reducing the engine’s r.p.m., and then press the
brake pedal (
☛4.21 or 4.31) to slow down the machine until it stops.
The machine already slows down considerably
by just releasing the drive pedal.
5.4.4 Reverse
Reverse must be engaged only when the machine has stopped
moving.
Press the pedal until the machine stops and
then go into reverse by shifting the lever sideways and into position «R»  (
☛4.22).
Gradually release the pedal to engage the clutch and then begin moving in reverse.
When the machine has stopped moving, start
reversing by pressing the drive pedal in direction «R»  (
☛4.32).

➤Hydrostatic transmission: 

➤Mechanical transmission: 
IMPORTANT

➤Hydrostatic transmission: 

!WARNING!

➤Hydrostatic transmission:  
						

							22ENHOW TO USE THE MACHINE
5.4.5 Grass cutting
To start cutting:
–move the throttle to «FAST»;
–raise the cutting deck as high as possible;
–engage the blades (
☛4.9);
–start moving forwards on the grass very slowly and with utmost caution, as already
described;
–regulate the cutting height and speed (
☛4.8) considering the conditions of the lawn
(the height, density and dampness of the grass).
When cutting on sloping ground, reduce your speed to
ensure safe conditions ( 
☛ 1.2 - 5.5).
Whatever the conditions, always reduce the speed if you notice a drop in engine speed
– if you travel too fast compared to the amount of grass being cut, you will not be able
to mow the grass well.
Disengage the blades and raise the cutting deck as high as possible whenever you
need to get past an obstacle.
5.4.6 Emptying the grass-catcher
This operation can only be done with the blades disengaged, oth-
erwise the engine stops.
Do not let the grass-catcher become too full as this may block the collector channel.  
When the grass-catcher is full you will hear a
sound warning. At this point:
–disengage the blades (
☛4.7) and the sound
will stop;
–lower the engine speed;
–shift into neutral (N)  (
☛4.22 - Mechanical
transmission
or 4.32 - Hydrostatic transmis-
sion
) and stop moving forward;
–engage the parking brake on slopes;
–pull out the lever (1) and tip up the grass-
catcher to empty it;
–close the grass-catcher so that it hooks onto
the pawl (2).
NOTE

!WARNING!
1
2 
						

							23ENHOW TO USE THE MACHINE
5.4.7 Unblocking the collector channel
Cutting very tall or wet grass, particularly at excessively high speed, can clog up the
collector channel. If this happens proceed as follows:
–stop moving forward, disengage the blades and stop the engine;
–remove the grass-catcher or stone-guard;
–remove the grass cuttings; you can reach them from the exit of the collector chan-
nel.
This job must only be performed with the engine turned off.
5.4.8 End of mowing
When you have finished mowing, disengage the blades, lower the engine speed and
ride the machine with the cutting deck raised as high as possible.
5.4.9 End of work
Stop the machine, move the throttle to «SLOW» and turn
off the engine by turning the key to «OFF».
When the engine has stopped, close the fuel stopcock (1)
( if fitted).
To avoid backfire, position the
throttle on «SLOW» for 20 seconds before stopping
the engine. 
Always take out the ignition key before leaving the machine
unattended!
To keep the battery charged, do not leave the key in the «ON»
position when the engine is not running.
5.4.10 Cleaning the machine
After use, clean the outside of the machine, empty the grass-catcher and shake it to
remove grass and other debris.
IMPORTANT

!WARNING!

!WARNING!
➤

!WARNING!
1 
						

							24ENHOW TO USE THE MACHINE
Always empty the grass-catcher and do not leave containers
full of cut grass inside a room.
Clean the plastic parts of the body with a damp sponge using water and detergent,
taking care not to wet the engine, the electrical parts or the electronic circuit board
located under the dashboard.
Never use hose nozzles or harsh detergents to clean the body-
work or the engine!
When washing the inside of the cutting deck
and the collector channel, the machine must be
on firm ground with:
–the grass-catcher or stone-guard fitted;
–the operator seated;
–the engine running;
–the transmission in neutral;
–the blades engaged.
Connect a water hose to each of the pipe fit-
tings (1) one at a time and run water through
each one for a few minutes, with the blades
moving.
When washing, the cutting deck should be lowered right down. Take off the grass-
catcher, empty and rinse it, and then put it in a position where it can dry quickly.
5.4.11 Storage and inactivity for long periods
If you intend not to use the machine for a long period (more than 1 month), disconnect
the battery cables and follow the instructions in the engine instruction manual.
Empty the fuel tank by disconnecting the tube situated at the inlet of the fuel filter (1)
and follow the instructions in the engine manual.
Carefully remove any dry grass
cuttings which may have collected around the
engine or silencer to prevent their catching fire
the next time the machine is used!
Put the machine away in a dry, sheltered place and
preferably covered with a cloth (
☛8.4).

!WARNING!
IMPORTANT

!WARNING!
1
1 
						

							25ENHOW TO USE THE MACHINE
The battery must be kept in a cool and dry place. Before a long
storage period (more than 1 month), always charge the battery, and then recharge
before using again  (
☛6.2.4).
The next time the machine is used, check that there are no fuel leaks from the tubes,
fuel stopcock or carburettor.
5.4.12 Card protection device
The electronic circuit board has a self-resetting protector which breaks the circuit if
there is a fault in the electrical system. It results in the stopping of the engine and the
switching off of the lamp.
The circuit automatically resets after a few seconds but the cause of the fault should
be ascertained and dealt with to avoid reactivating the protection device.
To avoid activating the protection device:
–do not invert the leads on the battery terminals;
–do not use the machine without its battery or damage may be caused to the
charging regulator;
–be careful not to cause short-circuits.
5.4.13 Summary of main steps to follow when using the machine
IMPORTANT
IMPORTANT
To  ...
Start the engine  (☛5.4.1)
Go forward (
☛5.4.2)
Brake or stop  (
☛5.4.3)
Reverse  (
☛5.4.4)
You will need to ...
Open the fuel stopcock, ensure that all the conditions
allowing starting are met, and then turn the key. 
Apply the throttle;
Mechanical transmission: press the pedal right down,
shift into forward gear ( ☛4.22) eand slowly release the
pedal;
Hydrostatic transmission: press the drive pedal for-
wards  (☛4.32);
Reduce the engine speed and press the brake pedal.
Stop the machine;
Mechanical transmission:shift into neutral (N), push
the pedal right down, go into reverse, (☛4.22) and then
gradually release the pedal;
Hydrostatic transmission: press the drive pedal back-
wards ( ☛4.32).➤
➤
➤
➤ 
						

							26ENHOW TO USE THE MACHINE
5.5 USING THE MACHINE ON SLOPING GROUND
Only mow on slopes with gradients up to the
maximum already mentioned (
max 10° -
17%
).
Lawns on a slope have to be mowed moving
up and down and never across them. When
changing direction, take great care that the
wheels facing up the slope do not hit any
obstacles (such as stones, branches, roots,
etc.) that may cause the machine to slide
sideways, tip over or make you lose control.
REDUCE SPEED BEFORE ANY CHANGE OF DIRECTION ON
SLOPES, and always apply the parking brake before leaving the machine at a
standstill and unattended.
Start moving forwards very carefully on sloping ground to
prevent the risk of tipping over. Reduce the forward speed before going on a
slope, particularly downhill.

!WARNING!

!DANGER!
To  ...
Cut the grass   (☛5.4.5)
Empty the grass-catcher (
☛5.4.6)
Unblock the collector channel (
☛5.4.7)
Finish mowing (
☛5.4.8)
Stop the engine (
☛5.4.9)
Store the machine (
☛5.4.10)
You will need to ...
Fit the grass-catcher or stone-guard and apply the throttle;
engage the blades and adjust the cutting height.
Mechanical transmission:push the pedal right down,
shift into forward gear ( ☛4.22) and then gradually
release the pedal;
Hydrostatic transmission:press the drive pedal for-
wards ( ☛4.32); 
Stop moving forwards, disengage the blades and pull out
the lever to tip up the grass-catcher.
Stop moving forwards, disengage the blades and turn off
the engine. Remove the grass-catcher and clean the col-
lector channel.
Disengage the blades and reduce the engine speed.
Reduce the engine speed, wait a few seconds, turn the key
and close the fuel stopcock.
Engage the parking brake, remove the key and, if neces-
sary, wash the machine, the inside of the cutting deck, the
collector channel and the grass-catcher.➤
➤
max 10°(17%) 
						

							27ENHOW TO USE THE MACHINE
Never use reverse to reduce speed going downhill: this could
cause you to lose control of the vehicle, especially on slippery ground.
Never ride the machine on slopes in neutral or with the
clutch out! Always shift into a low gear before leaving the machine at a
standstill and unattended.
Go down slopes with your foot off the drive pedal (☛4.32), to use the braking effect
of the hydrostatic drive when the transmission is not engaged.
5.6 TRANSPORTING
If the machine is transported on a truck or trailer, use suit-
able equipment for lifting and enough people for the weight involved and the
type of lifting system used. The machine must never be lifted by rope and tack-
le. During transport, close the fuel stopcock  (  if fitted), lower the cutting
deck, apply the parking brake and fasten the machine securely with ropes or
chains to the hauling device.  
5.7 LAWN MAINTENANCE
1. 
To keep a lawn green, soft and attractive, it should be cut regularly without damag-
ing the grass. A lawn can be composed of different types of grass. If the lawn is cut
frequently, grass and roots grow more vigorously, forming a solid grassy bed. If the
lawn is cut is less frequently, higher grass and weeds start growing (plus daisies and
clovers, etc.).
2. It is always better to cut the grass when dry.
3.The blades must be in good condition and well sharpened so that the grass is cut
straight without a ragged edge that leads to yellowing at the ends.
4.The engine must run at full speed, both to ensure a sharp cut of the grass and to
➤

!WARNING!

➤Hydrostatic transmission: 

!DANGER!

➤Mechanical transmission: 

!DANGER! 
						

							28ENHOW TO USE THE MACHINE
get the necessary thrust to push the cuttings through the collector channel.
5.The frequency of mowing should be in relation to the rate of growth of the grass.
The grass should not be left to grow too much between one cut and the next.
6.During hot and dry periods, the grass should be cut a little higher to prevent the
ground from drying out.
7.The best height of the grass on a
well-kept lawn is approx. 4-5 cm. 
With one cut, you do not need to
remove more than a third of the total
height. 
If the grass is very tall, it should be cut
twice in a twenty-four hour period - the
first time with the blades at maximum
height, possibly reducing the cutting
width, and the second cut at the
desired height.  
8.The appearance of the lawn will improve if you alternate cutting in both directions.
9.If the collector system tends to get blocked with grass, you should reduce the for-
ward speed as it may be too high for the condition of the grass. If the problem per-
sists, the probable causes are either badly sharpened blades or deformed wings.
10.Be very careful when mowing near bushes or kerbs as these could distort the hori-
zontal position of the cutting deck and damage its edge as well as the blades.
1 2 
						

							Operation Hours Completed (Date or Time)
1. MACHINE
1.1Check of fastening and sharpness of blades25
1.2Blade replacement 100
1.3Transmission belt check 25
1.4Transmission belt replacement  2)–
1.5Blade belt check 25
1.6Blade belt replacement  2)–
1.7Drive adjustment and check 10
1.8Blade brake and engagement check 10
1.9Bolt and screw check 25
1.10General lubrication  3)25
2. ENGINE1)
2.1Engine oil change .....
2.2Air filter cleaning and check .....
2.3Air filter replacement .....
2.4Fuel filter check .....
2.5Fuel filter replacement .....
2.6Spark plug contacts check and cleaning .....
2.7Spark plug replacement .....
6.1 SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS
Before cleaning or doing maintenance work, take out the
ignition key and read the relevant instructions. Wear adequate clothing and
work gloves whenever your hands are at risk.
Never use the machine with worn or damaged parts. Faulty
or worn-out parts must always be replaced and not repaired. Only use original
spare parts: Parts that are not of the same quality can damage the equipment
and affect your safety and that of others.
Never dispose of used oil, fuel, batteries or other pollutants in
unauthorised places!
6.2 PROGRAMMED MAINTENANCE
IMPORTANT

!WARNING!

!WARNING!
29ENMAINTENANCE
6. MAINTENANCE