Bolens 131-730A User Manual
.50
ASSEMBLY • OPERATION • MAINTENANCE • PARTS
11 H.P. LAWN TRACTORS
Important:
Read Safety Rules and
Instructions Carefully
Thank you for purchasing an
American built product.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Model Numbers
131-050A
131-730A
FORM NO. 770-0870
INDEX
Safe Operation Practices............................................3
Know Your Tractor
Assembly......................................................................5
Controls .......................................................................7
Operation .................................................................... 9
Maintenance............................................................. 10
Off-Season Storage ..................................................16
.............
....................................... 4
LIMITED WARRANTY
For one year from the date of original retail purchase, MTD PRODUCTS INC will either
repair or replace, at its option, free of charge, F.O.B. factory or authorized service firm,
any part or parts found to be defective in material or workmanship. Transportation charges
for any parts submitted for replacement under this warranty must be paid by the purchaser
unless such return is requested by MTD PRODUCTS INC.
This warranty will not apply to any part which has become inoperative due to misuse,
excessive use, accident, neglect, improper maintenance, alterations, or unless the unit
has been operated and maintained in accordance with the instructions furnished. This
warranty does not apply to the engine, motor, battery, battery charger or component parts
thereof. Please refer to the applicable manufacturer’s warranty on these items.
Troubleshooting Engine Proglems .......................
Illustrated Parts for Electrical System
Illustrated Parts for Riding Mower. 20,22,24,26,28
Parts List for Riding Mower ..... 21,23,25,27,29
Illustrated Parts for Transaxle
Parts List for Transaxle........................................... 31
Parts Ordering Information
.................................
......................
....................
Back Cover
17
19
30
This warranty will not apply where the unit has been used commercialiy.
Warranty service is available through your local authorized service dealer or distributor. If
you do not know the dealer or distributor in your area, please write to the Customer vService
Department of MTD.
The return of a complete unit will not be accepted by the factory unless prior written
permission has been extended by'MTD.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may also have other rights which vary
from state to state.
♦
WARNING {
TO PURCHASERS
OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE EQUIPPED
MACHINERY OR DEVICES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
The equipment which you have just purchased does not have a spark arrester. If this equipment is used on
any forest covered land, brush covered land, or grass covered unimproved land in the State of California,
before using on such land, the California law requires that a spark arrester be provided. In addition, spark
arrester is required by law to be in effective working order. The spark arrester must be attached to the
exhaust system and comply with Section 4442 of the California Public Resources Code.
I WARNING \
To reduce the potential for any injury, comply with the following safety instructions. Failure to comply with
the instructions may result in personal injury.
SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES FOR RIDING VEHICLES
1. It is suggested that this manual be read in its
entirety before attempting to assemble or
operate this unit. Keep this manual in a safe
place for future reference and for ordering
replacement parts.
2. This unit is a precision piece of power equip
ment, not a plaything. Therefore exercise ex
treme caution at all times.
3. Know the controls and how to stop quickly—
READ THIS OWNER’S MANUAL.
4. Do not allow children to operate vehicle. Do
not allow adults to operate it without proper
instruction. Only persons well acquainted
with these rules of safe operation should be
allowed to use your mower.
5. Do not carry passengers.
6. Keep the area of operation clear of all per
sons, particularly small children and pets.
Stop engine when they are in the vicinity of
your mower. Although the area of operation
should be completely cleared of foreign ob
jects, a small object may have been over
looked and could be accidently thrown by the
mower in any direction and cause injury.
7. Clear work area of objects which might be
picked up and thrown by the mower in any
direction and cause injury.
8. Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel drives,
walks or roads.
9. Disengage all attachment clutches and shift
into neutral before attempting to start engine.
10. Disengage power to attachment(s) and stop
engine before leaving operating position.
11. Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating
parts. Keep clear of the discharge opening at
all times as the rotating blade(s) can cause in
jury.
12. Disengage power to attachment(s) and stop
engine before making any repairs or ad
justments. Disconnect the spark plug wire
and keep the wire away from the plug to pre
vent accidental starting.
13. Before attempting to unclog the mower or
discharge chute, stop the engine. The mower
blade(s) may continue to rotate for a few
seconds after the engine is shut off.
Therefore, be sure the blade(s) have stopped
completely. Disconnect the spark plug wire
and keep the wire away from the plug to pre
vent accidental starting.
14. Disengage power to attachment(s) when
transporting or not in use.
15. Take all possible precautions when leaving
vehicle unattended such as disengaging
power-take-off, lowering attachments, shift
ing into neutral, setting parking brake, stop
ping engine and removing key.
16. Do not stop or start suddenly when going
uphill or downhill. Mow up and down face of
steep slopes: never across the face.
17. Reduce speed on slopes and in sharp turns to
prevent tipping or loss of control. Exercise ex
treme caution when changing direction on
slopes.
18. Stay alert for holes in terrain and other hidden
hazards.
19. Use care when pulling loads or using heavy
equipment.
A. Use only approved drawbar hitch points.
B. Limit loads to those you can safely control.
C. Do not turn sharply. Use care when back
ing.
D. Use counterweight(s) or wheel weights
when suggested in owner’s manual.
20. Watch out for traffic when crossing or near
roadways.
21. When using any attachments, never direct dis
charge of material toward bystanders nor
allow anyone near vehicle while in operation.
22. Handle gasoline with care. It is highly flam
mable.
A. Use approved gasoline container.
B. Never remove cap or add gasoline to a run
ning or hot engine or fill fuel tank indoors.
Wipe up spilled gasoline.
C. Open doors if engine is run in garage. Ex
haust fumes are dangerous. Do not run
engine indoors.
23. Keep the vehicle and attachments in good
operating condition, and keep safety devices
in place. Use guards as instructed in owner’s
manual.
24. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be
sure the equipment is in safe working condi
tion.
25. Never store the equipment with gasoiine in
the tank inside a buiiding where fumes, may
reach an open flame or spark. Allow engine to
cool before storing in any enclosure.
26. To reduce fire hazard, keep engine free of
grass, leaves or excessive grease.
27. The vehicle and attachments should be
stopped and inspected for damage after strik
ing a foreign object. The damage should be
repaired before restarting and operating the
equipment.
28. Do not change the engine governor settings
or overspeed the engine.
29. When using the vehicle with mower, proceed
as follows;
(1) Mow only in daylight or in good artificial
light.
(2) Never make a cutting height adjustment
while engine is running if operator must
dismount to do so.
(3) Shut the engine off and wait until the
blade comes to a complete stop before
removing the grass catcher.
(4) Check blade mounting bolts^for proper
tightness at frequent intervals.*
30. Check grass catcher bags frequently for wear
or deterioration. For safety protection, replace
only with new bag meeting original equipment
specifications.
31. Look behind to make sure the area is clear
before placing the transmission in reverse
and continue looking behind while backing
3 up.
KNOW YOUR TRACTOR
Rear Wheels
4-Position Lever
Adjustable Seat
Gear Selection
Lever
11 H.P. B. & S. Engine
with Dual Circuit
Aiternator
Optional
Deck
Front Wheels
15 X 6.00
NOTE
ACTIVATING THE BATTERY
This unit is shipped WITHOUT GAS
OLINE or OIL After assembly, see
operating section of this manual for
proper fuel and engine oil recom
mendations.
ASSEMBLY
The Garden Tractor is packed and shipped in one
container and is fully assembled except for the
steering wheel, seat and battery.
BATTERY INFORMATION
^ WARNING \
Battery acid must be handled with great care
A.
as it will blister the skin and damage clothing.
It is advisable to wear goggles, rubber gloves,
and a protective apron when working with it.
If for any reason acid should be spattered in
B.
the eyes, wash it out immediately with clean
cold water. Seek medical aid if discomfort con
tinues.
If acid gets on clothes, dilute it with clean
C.
water first, then.neutralize with dilute ammonia
water or a water solution of baking soda.
Since battery acid is corrosive to metals, do
D.
not pour into any sink or drain. Rinse empty
electrolyte containers and mutilate before
discarding.
DANGER
BATTERIES CONTAIN SULFURIC
ACID AND MAY CONTAIN EXPLO
SIVE GASES (when electrolyte has
been added)
E. Keep sparks, flame, cigarettes away.
F. Hydrogen gas is generated during charging and
discharging.
G. Ventilate when charging or using in enclosed
space.
NOTE
If your battery is activated (elec
trolyte in the battery) and installed
in the tractor go directly to step 9.
Place the battery to be filled on a workbench.
Never activate a battery in the unit.
2.
Remove the fill caps from all cells.
3.
Fill each cell carefully using 1.265 specific
gravity electrolyte. Fill each cell to the top of
the separators. Do not overfill.
4.
Let the battery sit for 20 minutes for the
chemical reaction to take place.
5. Charge the battery at a MAXIMUM RATE OF 5
AMPS, until the specific gravity reads 1.265.
Use a hydrometer to check the specific gravi-
ty-
A
An excessive rate of charge will
damage the battery.
6. Check the level of electrolyte. Adjust level to
bottom of split ring if necessary with elec
trolyte.
7. Replace fill caps.
8. Once the battery has been activated never add
anything except distilled water or a good
grade of drinking water.
9. If your battery has been installed in your unit
at the factory:
A. Use a hydrometer to check the specific
gravity. The specific gravity should be
1.265 at 80° F.
B. If it is less, remove the fill caps and use a
battery charger to bring the specific gravi
ty up to 1.265. NEVER CHARGE AT MORE
THAN 5 AMPS.
C. Replace the fill caps.
D. The positive cable has been attached to
the positive terminal of the battery at the
factory. You only have to attach the
negative cable (grounded) to the negative
(Neg, N or -) terminal of the battery with a
hex head bolt, lock washer and nut.
INSTALLING THE BATTERY
CAUTION
H. When using a charger—to avoid sparks,
NEVER connect or disconnect charger clips to
battery while charger is turned on.
I. Always shield eyes, protect skin and clothing
when working near batteries.
NOTE
The positive battery terminal is
marked Pos. (-i-). The negative bat
tery terminal is marked Neg. (-).
1. Place the battery in the battery box with the
terminals towards the rear of the tractor.
2. Secure the battery with the two hoid down
rods, battery hold down, lock washers and
wing nuts. See figure 1.
NOTE
The vented battery allows any gases
or liquid from the battery to be car
ried to the rear of the tractor and on
to the ground.
Route the rubber drain tube down beside the trac
tor frame so it drains onto the ground.
SEAT ASSEMBLY
The seat can be adjusted to four positions. With
the seat tipped forward, hook the front of the seat
spring into the slots on the tractor frame. Allow
the seat to pivot backwards until it rests on the
rear of the springs. (See figure 3.)
FIGURE 1.
3. Attach the positive cable (from the starter
solenoid) and the small wire (from the circuit
breaker) to the positive battery terminal (-f)
with a V4-20 X 3/4" long bolt, lock washer and
hex nut.
4. Attach the negative cable (grounded) to the
negative battery terminal (-) with the other
V4-20 X 3/4" long bolt, lock washer and hex nut.
FOUR POSITION ADJUSTMENT
N ' '
FIGURE 3.
STEERING WHEEL INSTALLATION
1. Place the steering wheel over the steering col
umn extending through the dash. Line up the
flats on the steering column with the flats in
the steering wheei. (See figure 4.)
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 4.
2. Place the washer with the cupped side down
over the steering column and secure with a
hex nut 5/16".
3. Place the cap over the center of the steering
wheel and seat it with your hand.
TIRE PRESSURE
Reduce the rear wheel tire pressure to 15 p.s.i. for
operation. The tires have been over-inflated for
shipping. Equal tire pressure should be main
tained on all tires. Maximum tire pressure is 30
p.s.i.
CAUTION
A
Pull the lift lever back to the
raised position before taking the
tractor off the skid.
CONTROLS
Ignition Switch
The ignition switch is located in the center of the
dashboard. Turn the key to the “START” position
to start the engine. When the engine is running
leave the key in the “ON” position. To stop the
engine turn the key to the "OFF" position. See
figure 5.
With a fully charged battery or with the engine
idling, the ammeter may not show a charge.
The maximum charging rate is 3 amps. The head
lamps operate directly from the engine alternator
and do not register on the ammeter. See figure
5.
Gasoline Tank
The gasoline tank is located on the engine. Raise the
ho-^d forward to fill the tank.
^ WARNING \
Remove the key from the tractor
when the tractor is not in use to pre
vent accidental starting.
Throttle Control
The throttle control is located on the left side of
the dashboard and is used to regulate the engine
speed. See figure 5. The engine should be operated
from 3/4 to full throttle (FAST) when operating
any equipment that uses the tractor engine as a
source of power such as the mowing deck, snow
thrower or rotary tiller. See figure 5.
Light Switch
The head lamps are operated by pushing the light
switch located on the dashboard. The head lamps
will only operate when the engine is running. See
figure 5.
Ammeter
The ammeter registers the rate of battery charge
or discharge. The ammeter should register on the
plus (-1-) side when the engine is running in the
FAST position until the battery is completely
charged.
FIGURE 5.
Seat Adjustment
The tractor seat is adjustable to four positions. To
change positions, tip the seat all the way forward
and lift it out of the slots on each side. See figure
6.
FIGURE 6.
Clutch-Brake Pedal
The clutch-brake pedal is located on the right side
of the tractor. Depressing the clutch-brake pedal
part way disengages the clutch.
Pressing the pedal all the way down disengages
the clutch and engages the disc brake. See figure
7.
NOTE
The dutch-brake pedal must
depressed to start the engine.
be
FIGURE 8.
PowerTake Off (PTO) Lever
The PTO engagement lever is located on the right
side of the dashboard. It is used to engage the
blades on the cutting deck or snow thrower at
tachments. To turn on the attachment, lift the
lever slowly and lock it in the notch. To turn off the
attachment, remove the lever from the notch and
lower it to the off position. See figure 9.
NOTE
The PTO Engagement Lever must
be in the “OFF” position to start
the engine.
FIGURE 7.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, depress the clutch-brake
pedal and pull up the parking brake knob. It will
stay in the raised position. To release the parking
brake, depress and release the clutch-brake pedal.
See figure 8.
Incline Assistance Brake
When stopping on a hill, hold the lever back while
you release the clutch-brake pedal until the tractor
begins to move, then release the lever. This
prevents you from moving on the hill while re
leasing the clutch. See figure 8.
FIGURE 9.
Lift Lever
^/**'***s
The five position lift lever is used to change the
operating position of the attachments. To operate
pull the lever towards you. To release, move the
lever to the right and then forward. See figure 10.
FIGURE 10.
Gear Shift Lever
FIGURE 11.
OPERATION
CAUTION
Keep allshields in place.
Before leaving operator's position;
a. Shift transmission to neutral
b. Set parking brake
c. Disengage attachment clutch
d. Shut off enginee. Remove ignition key
Wait for all movement to stop before
4
^ 4. Keep people and pets a sa
V away from machine.
^ 5. Look to the rear before ba
servicing machine.
Keep people and pets a safe distance
away from machine.
Look to the rear before backing up.
:
The transaxle has five forward gears, neutral and
reverse. You do not shift through the gears on the
transaxle as you would in an automobile. Pre
select the gear appropriate for the job you are do
ing. See figure 11.
You must depress the clutch-brake pedal and
come to a complete stop before shifting gears.
1st Heavy grass cutting.
Heavy snow removal.
2nd Heavy grass cutting.
Light snow removal.
3rd Normal grass cutting.
4th Light grass cutting.
5th Traveling.
CAUTION
DO NOT OPERATE
MOWER UNLESS
GUARD OR ENTIRE
GRASS CATCHER IS
IN ITS PROPER PLACE.
PREPARATION
NOTE
When packaged for shipment, the
machine contains no oii or gasoline.
Before starting the engine, oil must
be added to the engine crankcase
and gasoline to the tank. DO NOT
mix oil with gasoline.
1.
Put oil in engine crankcase. Use a high quality
detergent oil classified "For Service SC or SD
or MS." Nothing should be added to the
recommended oil.
Summer. (Above 40°F.) Use SAE 30. If
available use SAE 10W-30 or SAE 10W-40.
Winter. (Under 40°F.) Use SAE 5W-20 or SAE
5W-30. If not available, use SAE 10W or SAE
10W-30. Below 0°F., use SAE 10W or SAE 10W-30
diluted 10% with kerosene.
Place the engine level. Fill the oil sump to the
FULL mark on the dipstick. Pour slowly.
CrankcaseCapacity—3V2 Pints.
2. Fill the gasoline tank with approximately 3
quarts of clean, fresh, leaded regular grade
automotive gasoline.
OPERATING THE LAWN TRACTOR
not
1. Place the PTO lever in the disengaged position
(down). See figure 9.
2. Depress the clutch-brake pedal and set the
parking brake. See figures 7 and 8.
3. Place the gear shift lever in the "NEUTRAL"
(N) position. See figure 11.
4. Set the throttle control in the "FAST" posi
tion. See figure 5.
5. Turn the ignition key to the right to the
"START" position. After the engine starts
release the key. It will return to the "ON" posi
tion. See figure 5.
.6. Select one of five forward gears. See figure
11.
7. Slowly depress the clutch-brake pedal so the
parking brake is released and then release the
clutch-brake pedal. See figures 7 and 8.
8. To stop the tractor, pull the gear shift lever
into "NEUTRAL" (N) or depress the clutchbrake pedal.
9. To shut off the engine, turn the ignition key to
the "OFF" position.
IMPORTANT
After striking a foreign object, stop
the engine. Remove wire from spark
plug, thoroughly inspect the mower
for any damage, and repair the dam
age before restarting and operating,
the mower.
NOTE
This unit is equipped with a safety
interlock system for your pro
tection. The purpose of the safety
interlock system is to prevent the
engine from cranking or starting
unless the clutch-brake pedal is
depressed and the P.T.O. lever is in
the disengaged position.'
WARNING \
Do not operate the rider if the inter
lock system is malfunctioning be
cause it is a safety device, designed
for protection.
MAINTENANCE
TROUBLESHOOTING
Refer to the chart on page 17 for troubleshooting
engine problems.
CRANKCASE OIL
To ensure maximum engine performance, perform
the following periodic maintenance;
Check the oil level in the crankcase before each
use of the machine and after every two hours of
operation. Keep the oii level between ADD and
FULL. See figure 12.
After the first two hours of operating a new
engine, drain the oil (see figure 12) from the
crankcase while engine is still hot and refill
crankcase with new oil; thereafter change the oil
10
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