Snapper Thatcherizer 61256 - Introduction to Snapper Thatcherizer; Assembly Instructions; Attach Wheel Support; Attach Tines to Tine Tray

INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of the Snapper
Thatcherizer. It will effectively dislodge
excessive thatch from your lawn where it can be
vacuumed up into the grass catcher on mowers so
equipped. Thatch is a layer of stems, clippings,
runners, roots and leaves that have not decayed.
It builds up between the ground surface and the
green part of the grass. Excessive thatch
prevents the proper amount of air, water and
fertilizer from reaching the root structure. In
areas where thatch is thick, it can kill the
grass and provide a host for insects and turf
disease.
In addition to de-thatching, your Thatcherizer
can help you perform other lawn care duties. For
example, you can use it for "scratching" the
surface of the soil for over-seeding, to give
the seed a better chance of germinating. Also
use it to comb matted grass upright before
mowing for a smoother, more even cut. Your
Thatcherizer will do a good job of dislodging
and raking up that thin layer of pine straw
which often remains partially embedded in the
soil or is entwined in the grass. Vacuum up
heavy accumulations of pine straw or leaves
before using your Thatcherizer.
After assembly, see the adjustment section of
this manual (or the decal on the Thatcherizer)
to properly adjust the tines for best results.
ASSEMBLY _
NOTE 1: The "ears" extending from the tine tray
are on the front of the Thatcherizer.
NOTE 2: Lock nuts must be used for certain
portions of the assembly to resist loosening.
They require more torque while tightening.
Regular hex nuts can be threaded on with your
fingers until they are seated.
1 .(FIG. 1) Attach the wheel support to the tine
tray using two 1/4" x 1-3/4" carriage bolts and
hex lock nuts. The wheel support must rest in
the notches of the tine tray. DO NOT OVER¬
TIGHTEN.
«>• <=»
, — 1 /4“ X 1 3/4" Carriage Bolt
, Wheel Support
1
(FIG 1)
Tine Tray
cn*» Hex Lock Nut
2.(FIG.2) Attach six tines to the tine tray
using 5/16" x 1" carriage bolts, flat washers,
lock washers, and regular hex nuts. The tips
of the tines should face forward, as shown
making sure the loop between the tine coils
nests inside the projections.
f !\
I 5/16“ X 1 ” Carriage Bolt
3.(FIG.3) Assemble right and left-hand mounting
brackets to the sides of the tine tray as shown,
using 1/4" x 3/4" carriage bolt, flat washer,
and hex lock nut on each side. To determine left
and right hand, assemble so the safety tabs of
the mounting brackets point down and outward.
Push the carriage bolt from the inside of the
tine tray through the slotted hole of each
mounting bracket. Leave the hex lock nuts
slightly loose for final adjustment.
4.(FIG.4) Push one safety rod through the ears
on the front of the tine tray, and the front
tine coils. Tighten with 1/4“ hex lock nuts on
each end until the rod cannot move from side to
side. Install the rubber thread protectors over
the threads on both ends of the safety rod. Push
the other safety rod through the remaining hole
on the mounting bracket, tine tray and rear tine
coils. Before passing through the other side of
the tine tray, thread a regular hex nut
completely down to the base of the thread. With
the rod pushed in the direction of that hex nut,
thread a regular hex nut on the other end of the
rod inside the tine tray.
Adjust these two hex nuts to touch the inside of
the tine tray and also allow the same amount of
thread to protrude out from both sides.
1