MTD 030 User Manual

OWNEirS GUIDE

• ASSEMBLY • OPERATION • MAINTENANCE •

20" and 22"

ROTARY

MOWERS

Model Series

030 thru 062

Model 031A Shown

Important:
Read Safety Rules

and Instructions Carefully

WARNING: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used

on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brush-covered or grass-covered land unless the
engine’s exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting applicable local or state
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 laws apply on federal lands. A

in

AMERICA

spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest engine authorized service
dealer or contact the service department, RO. Box 368022, Cleveland, Ohio 44136-9722.

IMPORTANT!

Record the exact Model No. and Serial No.
which appear on the rear of your unit (on the
deck) in the space below. You must have these
numbers, along with the date of purchase, in
order to receive warranty or service.

FORM NO. 770-8550M

IMPORTANT

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

A

ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE YOUR LAWN MOWER. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL
INJURY. WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL— ^

HEED ITS WARNING.

SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES

A

DANPFR' power equipmert, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in serious injury.

Your lawn mower was built o be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this manual As with

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uHnucn. mower is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe the fol

lowing safety instructions cojid result in serious injury or death.

I. GENERAL OPERATION

1. Read this owner’s guide carefully in its entirety befo e attempt

ing to assemble this machine. Read, understand, an h follow all
instructions on the machine and in the manual(s) be ore opera

tion. Be completely familiar with the controls and the proper use
of this machine before operating it. Keep this manu i\ in a safe

place tor future and regular reference and for order! ig replace
ment parts.

2. Your rotary mower is a precision piece of power equ pment, not
a plaything. Therefore, exercise extreme caution a all times.
Your unit has been designed to perform one job: to now grass.

Do not use it for any other purpose.

3. Never allow children under 14 years old to opera e a power

mower. Children 14 years old and over should only operate

mower under close parental supervision. Only responsible indi
viduals who are familiar with these rules of safe operation
should be allowed to use your mower.

4. Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, narticularly
small children and pets. Stop engine when they are i i the vicin
ity of your mower to help prevent blade contact or thrown

object injury. Although the area of operation shou J be com

pletely cleared of foreign objects, an object may have been

overlooked and could be accidentally thrown by thi mower in
any direction and cause serious personal injury to the operator
or any others allowed in the area.

5. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is ;o be used.
Remove all stones, sticks, wire, bones, toys and otier foreign

objects which could be picked up and thrown by th i mower in
any direction and cause serious personal injury to the operator
or any others allowed in the area. Plan your mowin( pattern to
avoid discharge of material toward roads, sidewalk;, bystand
ers and the like. To help avoid a thrown objects iijury, keep
children, animals, bystanders and helpers at least 7 j feet from
the mower while it is in operation.

6. Always wear safety glasses with side shields or safi ty goggles

during operation or while performing an adjustment n repair, to

protect eyes from foreign objects that may be throv n from the

machine in any direction.

7. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-fiUing slacks

and shirts. Shirts and pants that cover the arms ard legs and
steel-toed shoes are recommended. Do not wear I )ose fitting
clothes or jewelry. They can be caught in moving parts. Never
operate a unit in bare feet, sandals, or sneakers.

8. Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts Keep clear

of discharge opening at all times as the rotating blad' i can cause

injury.

9. Many injuries occur as a result of the mower being aulled over

the foot during a fall. Do not hang on to the mowe' if you are
falling; release the handle immediately.

10. Never pull the mower toward you while you are wal dng. If you
must back the mower away from a wall or obstructic n first look

down and behind, and then follow these steps:
a. Step back from the mower to fully extend your arms.

b. Be sure you are well balanced with sure footing.

c. Pull the mower back slowly, no more than half way toward

you.

d. Repeat these steps as needed.

II. Do not operate the mower while under the influenci of alcohol

or drugs.

12.

Disengage the self-propelled mechanism or drive clutch on

units so equipped before starting the engine.

13.

The blade control handle is a safety device. Never attempt to
bypass its operation. Doing so makes the safety device inopera
tive and may result in personal injury through contact with the
rotating blade. The blade control handle must operate easily in
both directions and automatically return to the disengaged posi
tion when released.

14.

Never operate the mower 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 day
light or in good artificial light.

15.

Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walks or roads.

16.

If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the
engine and check immediately for the cause. Vibration is gener
ally a warning of trouble.

17.

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 blade 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.

18.

Never operate mower without proper guards, grass catcher,
plates or other safety protective devices in place.

19.

Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do not

touch.

20

.

Only use accessories approved for this machine by the manu
facturer. Read, understand, and follow all instructions provided
with the approved accessory.

21.

If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use

care and good judgment. Contact your dealer for assistance.

II. SLOPE OPERATION

, 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.

DO:

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

• Watch for holes, ruts, hidden objects, or bumps. Tall grass can
hide obstacles.

• Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause serious
personal injury.

DO NOT:

• Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments. The opera
tor could loose footing or balance.

• Do not mow slopes greater than 15° as shown on the slope
gauge.

• Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced footing could cause slipping.

III. CHILDREN

' Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence

of children. Children are often attracted to the mower and the mow
ing activity. Never assume that children will remain where you last
saw them.

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

2. Be alert and turn mower off it a child enters the area.

SAFE OPERATIONS PRACTICES (continued)

3. Before and while moving backwards, look behind and down for
small children.

4. Never allow children under age 14 to operate the mower.

5. Use extreme care when approaching blind corners, shrubs,
trees, or other objects that may obscure your vision of a child or
hazard.

IV. SERVICE

1. Use extreme care in handling gasoline and other fuels. They are
extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive.
a. Use only an approved container.
b. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine is run

ning, Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before refuel
ing.

c. Replace gasoline cap securely and wipe off any spilled

gasoline before starting the engine as it may cause a fire or
explosion.

d. Extinguish ail cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of

ignition.

e. Never refuel machine indoors because flammable vapors will

accumulate in the area.

f. Never store the machine or fuel container inside where there

is an open flame or spark such as a gas water heater, space
heater, or furnace.

2. Never run an engine inside a closed area.

3. To reduce fire hazard, keep mower free of grass, leaves, or other
debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel spillage. Allow mower to
cool at least 5 minutes before storing.

4. 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.

5. Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at frequent intervals
for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect blade for damage
{e.g., bent, cracked). Replace with blade which meets original
equipment specifications.

6. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the equipment
is in safe working condition.

7. Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper operation
regularly.

8. 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 starting and operating the
mower.

9. Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height adjustment
while the engine is running.

10. Grass catcher components are subject to wear, damage and
deterioration, which could expose moving parts or allow objects
to be thrown. For safe^ protection, frequently check
components and replace with manufacturer’s recommended
parts, when necessary.

11. Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the blade(s) or wear
gloves, and use extra caution when servicing them.

12. Do not change the engine governor setting or overspeed the
engine. Excessive engine speeds are dangerous.

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURY, DO NOT
OPERATE MOWER UNLESS REARTRAILING
SHIELD AND THIS GUARD OR ENTIRE
GRASS CATCHER IS IN ITS PROPER PLACE.

FIGURE 1.—Warning Label

A DANGER

AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH

■ KEEP HANDS AND FEET AWAY FROM
ROTATING PARTS

> REMOVE OBJECTS THAT CAN BE THROWN

BY THE BLADE IN ANY DIRECTION.
WEAR SAFETY GLASSES

■ DO NOT MOW WHEN CHILDREN DR
OTHERS ARE AROUND.

■ USE EXTRA CAUTION ON SLOPES. DO NOT
MOW SLOPES GREATER THAN 15‘ MOW
ACROSS. NEVER UP AND DOWN NEVER
PULL MOWER CLOSE TO YOUR FEET LOOK
DOWN AND BEHIND BEFORE AND WHILE

READ OPERATOR'S MANUAL. KEEP SAFETY DEVICES (BLADE CONTROL,

TRAILING SHIELD. DISCHARGE COVER, ETC.) IN PLACE AND WORKING. |

MOVING BACKWARDS.

^ MAX 15

FIGURE 2.—Safe Operation Label

WARNING — YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

A

Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who read,
understand and follow the warnings and instructions in this
manual and on the machine.

ASSORTED PARTS LIST

>'-5

Ref. No.

10
11
12

NOTE: Check engine oil level after filling.

Part No.

747-0824 Blade Control Handle

1

746-0552

2

746-0553 Brake Cable
746-0550 Brake Cable (060, 062)

731-0872A

3

731-1029

4

17098

5

742-0640t
742-0620tt
742-0642t
742-0622tt

6

753-0588t
753-0484tt

7
8
9

*

ic

731-1034 Chute Deflector
731-1035

777-1584
777-3540

**

Description

Brake Cable
(031,041,061)

(030, 040, 050)
Rear Guard Flap 20"

Rear Guard Flap 22"
Hinge Clip
Blade 20­Blade 20­Blade 22­Blade 22­Blade Adapter Kit 1
Blade Adapter Kit 1
J19LM-Spark Plug 1
Air Cleaner Element

(030-040)
Chute Deflector 1
(050-060)
Models 031-041-051* 21 oz
Danger—Cut Finger
Label
Danger Label/
1-800 Label
Wheel Assembly

Qty.

1
1

1
1

1
1
2
1
1
1
1

1
1

1

1

4

6-i

FIGURE 3,—Assorted Parts List

"^WHEEL CHART

Tread***

Rib 734-1168 (6")
Diamond
Diamond

Tread Type: Rib Diamond

Ass’y. Comp.

734-1779 (7")
734-1780 (8")

1-6

190-110-000 Grass Catcher
190-114-OOOf Mulch Kit

050/052

190-102-000tt Mulch Kit

050/052

190-115-000f Mulch Kit

060/061/062

190-100-000ft Mulch Kit

060/061/062

Blade secured with 1 bolt.

t

Blade secured with 3 bolts.

tt

See your engine service dealer.

WARNING

A

The only way to ensure the safe performance of your

product is to use original equipment parts, which are

designed and engineered to exacting specifications.
When you substitute, you take a chance on quality, reli
ability, safety and performance. Use original equipment

parts when repairing your mower.

) ) )

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Cut Along i ms 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 2-1/2 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.

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