Bolens 120-280R000 User Manual
owiffiirs GUIDE
ASSEMBLY • OPERATION • MAINTENANCE • PARTS
$1.00
(Model 280R Shown)
22" SELF-
Model Numbers
PROPELLED
120-280R000
ROTARY
MOWERS
Important: Read Safety Rules and Instructions Carefully
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
120-282R000
I90-0SC.-0QQ
FORM NO. 770-7122E
INDEX
Slope Gauge............................................................................3
Contents of Hardware Pack.....................................................4
Rules for Safe Operation
Assembly..................................................................................6
Controls................................................................................... 9
Operation
Adjustments...........................................................................11
Lubrication.............................................................................11
Maintenance..........................................................................12
Off-Season Storage
Trouble Shooting Guide
Repair Parts..................................................................... 16-18
Parts Information..................................................Back Cover
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10
12
14
Dear Customer,
So often throughout the year we are all In a
rush to meet our dally obligations.
However, we at MTD Products Inc are tak
5
ing a quick moment out to say. . .
“Thank you for your business.”
Sincerely,
MTD PRODUCTS INC
INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN WITH THIS SYM
BOL ARE FOR PERSONAL SAFETY. BE
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SURE TO FOLLOW THEM.
NOTE: The use of any accessory on this rotary mower other than those manufactured by the mower manufacturer
is not recommended. GRASS CATCHER Motel 086 is available for the mowers shown in this manual.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, do not operate mower unless rear trailing shield and guard or
A
NOTE: Under normal usage bag material is subject to wear, and should be checked periodically. Be sure any
replacement bag complies with the mower m anufacturer’s recommendations.
WARNING: This unit is equipped with an interncil combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unim
proved forest-covered, brush-covered or grass-<iovered land unless the engine’s exhaust system is equipped with
a spark arrester meeting applicable local or stale laws (if any). If a spark arrester is used, it should be maintained
in effective working order by the operator.
In the State of California the above is required by law (Section 4442 of the California Public Resources Code).
Other states may have similar laws. Federal law: i apply on federal lands. A spark arrester for the muffler is available
through your nearest engine authorized service dealer.
entire grass catcher are in their proper places.
— i-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cut Along Js Line----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------^------------------
USE THIS SHEET AS A GUIDE TO DETERMINE SLOPES WHERE YOU MAY NOT OPERATE SAFELY.
SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE
A POWER POLE
--------------------A CORNER OF A BUILDING
OR A FENCE POST
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WARNING
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Do not mow on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degrees (a rise of approximately 2V2 feet every 10 feet). A
riding mower could overturn and cause serious injury, if operating a walk-behind mower on such a slope, it is
extremely difficult to maintain your footing and you could slip, resulting in serious injury.
Operate RIDING mowers up and down slopes, never across the face of slopes.
Operate WALK-BEHIND mowers across the face of slopes, never up and down slopes.
CONTENTS OF HARDWAFIE PACK/PARTS IDENTIFICATION
Remove this sheet from your owner’s manual an i lay the hardware on the illustration for identification purposes.
After assembly, keep the Slope Gauge which is on the reverse side of this sheet for future use.
(Hardware pack may contain oxtra items which are not used on your unit.)
ATTACHING THE
LOWER HANDLE
Hairpin
Clips
Blade Control
Handle
Throttle Control
Upper
Handle
ATTACHING THE UPPER HANDLE
Rope
Guide
Boit
Split Washers
5/16" I.D.-^,
Hex Nuts
5/16-18 Thread
ATTACHING THE THROTTLE CONTROL
Cable
Bracket
\
Cu rved
-Hsad
Eolt
(3
Rope
Guide
Bolt
Handle
Mounting
Bracket
Spring Washer
V*" I.D.
PARTS IDENTIFICATION
Lower Handle
Engine
Spark
Plug
Hex Bolt
Vi-20 X IW' Long
Hex Nut
Vi-20 Thread
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1“
5'
SECURING THE CABLES
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1 I I I I I
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INCHES
I I I I I I I
Cable Ties
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IMPORTANT
RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION
THIS SYMBOL POINTS OUT IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS WHICH, IF NOT FOLLOWED. COULD ENDANGER THE PERSONAL SAFETY
AND/OR PROPERTY OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS. READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE AHEMPTING
TO OPERATE YOUR LAWN MOWER. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY. WHEN
YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL-
A
HEED ITS WARNING.
A
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Your lawn mower was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this manual. As
with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in serious
injury. If you violate any of these rules, you may cause serious injury to yourself or others.
TRAINING
1. Read this owner’s manual carefully in its entirety before attempt
a:
A
ing to assemble or operate this machine. Be completely familiar
with the controls and the proper use of this machine before
operating it. Keep this manual in a safe place for future and regular
reference and for ordering replacement parts.
2. Your rotary mower is a precision piece of power equipment, not
a plaything. Therefore, exercise extreme caution at all times.
3. Never allow children to operate a power mower. Only persons well
acquainted with these rules of safe operation should be allowed
to use your mower.
4. Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, particularly small
children and pets. Stop engine when they are in the vicinity of
your mower to help prevent blade contact or thrown object in
jury. Although the area of operation should be completely cleared
of foreign objects, an object may have been overlooked and could
be accidently thrown by the mower in any direction and cause
serious personal injury to the operator or any others allowed in
the area.
PREPARATION
1. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to be used.
Remove all stones, sticks, wire, bones and other foreign objects
which could be picked up and thrown by the mower in any direc
tion and cause serious personal injury to the operator or any others
allowed in the area.
2. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields during operation or while
performing an adjustment or repair, to protect eyes from foreign
objects that may be thrown from the machine in any direction.
3. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-fitting slacks and
shirts to avoid entanglement in the moving parts. Never operate
a unit in bare feet, sandals, or sneakers.
4. Check the fuel before starting the engine. Gasoline is an extreme
ly flammable fuel. Do not fill the gasoline tank indoors, while the
engine is running, or until engine has been allowed to cool for
two minutes after running. Replace gasoline cap securely and wipe
off any spilled gasoline before starting the engine as it may cause
a fire or explosion.
5. Disengage the self-propelled mechanism or drive clutch on units
so equipped before starting the engine.
6. The blade control handle is a safety device. Never attempt to bypass
its operation. Doing so makes the safety device inoperative and
may result in personal injury through contact with the rotating
blade. The blade control handle must operate easily in both
directions.
7. Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height adjustment while
the engine is running.
8. Never operate the equipment in wet grass. Always be sure of your
footing. A slip and fall can cause serious personal injury. Keep
a firm hold on the handle and walk, never run. Mow only in daylight
or in good artificial light.
DANGER
For your safety, use the slope gauge included as part of this manual
to measure slopes before operating this unit on a sloped or hilly
area. If the slope is greater than 15° as shown on the slope gauge,
do not operate this unit on that area or serious injury could result.
OPERATION
Do not change the engine governor settings or overspeed the
A"
A
engine. Excessive engine speeds are dangerous.
Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts. Keep clear
2.
of the discharge opening at all times as the rotating blade can
cause injury.
3. Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walks or roads.
4. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, remove the wire
from the spark plug, and thoroughly inspect the mower for any
damage. Repair the damage before restarting and operating the
mower.
5.
If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the engine
and check immediately for the cause. Vibration is generally a warn
ing of trouble. ’
Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes to a complete
stop before removing the grass catcher or unclogging the chute.
The cutting biade continues to rotate for a few seconds after the
engine is shut off. Never place any part of the body in the blade
area until you are sure the blade has stopped rotating.
Before cleaning, repairing or inspecting, make certain the blade
and all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the spark plug wire,
and keep the wire away from the spark plug to prevent accidental
starting.
Do not run the engine indoors.
Mow across the face of slopes, never up-and-down. Exercise ex
treme caution when changing direction on slopes. Do not mow
excessively steep slopes. Always be sure of your footing. A slip
and fall can cause serious personal injury.
Never operate mower without proper guards, plates or other safety
10.
protective devices in place.
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
1. Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at frequent intervals
for proper tightness.
2. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the equipment
is in safe working condition.
3. Never store the equipment with gasoline in the tank inside of a
building where fumes may reach an open flame or spark. Allow
the engine to cool before storing in any enclosure.
4. To reduce fire hazard, keep the engine free of grass, leaves, or
excessive grease.
5. Check the grass catcher bag frequently for wear or deterioration.
For safety protection, replace only with new bag meeting original
equipment specifications.
ASSEMEILY INSTRUCTIONS
IMPORTANT: This unit is shipped WITHOUT
GASOLINE or OIL. After assembly, service engine
with gasoline and oii as instructed in the separate
engine manuai packed with your unit.
NOTE: Reference to right or ieft hand side of the
mower is observed from the operating pssition.
Refer to parts identification on page 4 for I scation
of parts when assembling the mower.
Toois Required for Assembiy
(1) Pair of Pliers
(1) 1/2" Wrench*
(2) 7/16" Wrenches*
*Or two 6" Adjustable Wrenches
UNPACKING
1. Remove the lawn mower from the carton by open
ing the top flaps and lifting the unit out. Be careful
of the staples. Make certain all parts and literature
have been removed from the carton before the car
ton is discarded.
2. Disconnect and ground the spark plug wire against
the engine. Check beneath the deck for any card
board packaging. Remove if present.
3. Stretch out all control cables and place on the floor.
Be careful not to bend or kink the cables at any
time during assembly.
4. Remove page four from this manual and lay the
contents of the hardware pack on the illustration
for identification.
ATTACHING THE LOWER HANDLE (Hardware A)
1. Attach the lower handle by placing the bottom
holes in the lower handle over the weld pins on the
handle mounting brackets extending through the
rear of the deck.
2. Using a pair of pliers, squeeze one leg of the lower
handle against the handle mounting bracket. In
sert the hairpin clip into the inner hole on the weld
--------pin. See figure 1. Repeat on other side.
Bracket
FIGURE 1.
ATTACHING THE UPPER HANDLE (Hardware B)
1. Place the upper handle in position over the lower
handle. The blade control handle (attached to the
upper handle) must be facing up.
NOTE: The right hand side of the handie wilibe secured
with the rope guide bolt. However, left handed operators
may assemble the rope guide bolt to the left side of the
handle for easier starting by following steps 2 and 3 and
reversing the left and right hand instructions.
2. Secure the left hand side of upper handle using
the curved head bolt, split washer and hex nut as
--------shown in figure 2.
Insert the rope guide bolt through the right hand
3.
side of upper and lower handle from the outside
in. Secure with split washer and hex nut, finger
tight only at this time.
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