MTD 030 User Manual

OWNEirSGUIDE

• ASSEMBLY • OPERATION • MAINTENANCE •

20" and 22"

ROTARY MOWERS

Model Series

030 thru 062

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.

Model 031A Shown

Important:

Read Safety Rules

and Instructions Carefully

in

AMERICA

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 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.

FORM NO. 770-8550M

IMPORTANT	SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES	A
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

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

A	DANPFR'	Your lawn mower was built o be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this manual As with
		power equipmert, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in serious injury.
	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	^ MAX 15
MOVING BACKWARDS.

READ OPERATOR'S MANUAL. KEEP SAFETY DEVICES (BLADE CONTROL, TRAILING SHIELD. DISCHARGE COVER, ETC.) IN PLACE AND WORKING. |

FIGURE 2.—Safe Operation Label

A WARNING — YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

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

6-i

1-6

FIGURE 3,—Assorted Parts List

"^WHEEL CHART

Tread***	Ass’y. Comp.
Rib	734-1168 (6")
Diamond	734-1779 (7")
Diamond	734-1780 (8")

Tread Type: Rib Diamond

	Ref. No. Part No.		Description	Qty.
	1	747-0824	Blade Control Handle	1
	2	746-0552	Brake Cable	1
			(031,041,061)	1
		746-0553	Brake Cable
			(030, 040, 050)	1
		746-0550	Brake Cable (060, 062)
	3	731-0872A	Rear Guard Flap 20"	1
	4	731-1029	Rear Guard Flap 22"	1
		17098	Hinge Clip	2
	5	742-0640t	Blade 20-	1
		742-0620tt	Blade 20-	1
		742-0642t	Blade 22-	1
		742-0622tt	Blade 22-	1
	6	753-0588t	Blade Adapter Kit	1
		753-0484tt	Blade Adapter Kit	1
	7	*	J19LM-Spark Plug	1
	8	ic	Air Cleaner Element	1
	9	731-1034	Chute Deflector	1
			(030-040)
		731-1035	Chute Deflector	1
			(050-060)
			Models 031-041-051*	21 oz
	10	777-1584	Danger—Cut Finger	1
			Label	1
	11	777-3540	Danger Label/
		**	1-800 Label	4
	12		Wheel Assembly

NOTE: Check engine oil level after filling.

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

tBlade secured with 1 bolt.

ttBlade secured with 3 bolts. See your engine service dealer.

A WARNING

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.

) ) )

----------------------------------------------------------------------------	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

A i

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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