MTD 088, 087, 086, 085, 084 Owner’s Manual

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OPERATOR'S MANUAL

Model Series

070 Thru 088

20" and 22"

Rotary Mowers

IMPORTANT: READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Warning: This unit is equipped with an intemal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-

covered, brush-covered or gress-covered land unless the engine's exhaust system is equipped with a spark errester 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 Califomia the above is required by law (Section 4442 ofthe 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 authodzed

service dealer or contact the service department, P.O, Box 368022 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-9722.

MTD PRODUCTS INC. P.O. BOX 368022 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-9722

PRINTED IN U.S.A. FORM NO. 770-8553A

(9/97)

SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES

WARNING: 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 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.

WARNING: TheEngine Exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to

the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

DANGER: 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. This lawn mower is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe the following safety instructionscould result in serious injury or death.

1. GENERAL OPERATION

• Read this operator's manual carefully in its entirety before attempting to assemble this machine. Read,

understand, and follow all instructions on the machine and in the manual(s) before operation. 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 pads.

• Your rotary mower is a precision piece of power equipment, not a plaything. Therefore, exercise

extreme caution at all times. Your unit has been designed to perform one job: to mow grass. Do not

use it for any other purpose.

• Never allowchildrenunder14 yearsoldto operate a power mower. Children 14 years old and over should only operate mower under close parental

supervision.Only responsibleindividualswho are

familiar with these rules of safe operationshould

beallowedtouse yourmower.

• Keep the area of operation clear of all persons,

particularly small children and pets. Stop engine

when they am in the vicinity of your mower to help

prevent blade contact or thrown object injury. Although the area of operation should be completely cleared of foreign objects, an object may have been overlooked and could be accidentally thrown by the mower in any direction and cause serious personal injury to the operator or any others allowed in the area.

• Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-

fitting slacks and shirts. Shirts and pants that cover the arms and legs and steel-toed shoes are

recommended. Do not wear loose fitting clothes or

jewelry. They can be caught in moving parts.

Never operate a unit in bare feet, sandals, slippery

or light weight (e.g. canvas) shoes.

Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles duringoperationor while performingan adjustment

or repair,to protecteyes from foreignobjectsthat maybe thrownfrom themachineinanydirection:

Thoroughlyinspectthe area where the equipment

is to be used. Remove all stones, sticks, wire, bones, toys and otherforeign objectswhichcould

be picked up and thrownby the mower in any directionand cause seriouspersonal injuryto the

operatoror any others allowed in the area. Plan yourmowingpatternto avoiddischargeof material

toward roads,sidewalks,bystandersand the like. To help avoid a thrown objects injury, keep children,bystandersand helpersat least 75 feet fromthe mowerwhile it is inoperation.

• Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating

parts. Keepclear of dischargeopeningat all times as the rotatingbladecancauseinjury.

Many injuriesoccuras a resultof the mowerbeing

pulledoverthe footduringa fall. Do not hangon to

the mower if you are falling; release the handle

immediately.

Never pull the mower toward you while you are walking. If you must back the mower away from a

wall or obstruction first look down and behind, and

then follow these steps:

Step backfromthe mowertofullyextendyour arms.

• Be sure you are well balanced with sure footing.

• Pull the mower back slowly, no more than half

way toward you.

• Repeat these steps as needed.

• Do not operate the mower while under the

influenceofalcoholor drugs.

• Do not engage the self-propelled mechanism on units so equipped while starting engine.

• 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 and automatically return to

the disengaged position when released.

• 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. If you feel you are losing your footing, RELEASE THE BLADE

CONTROL HANDLE IMMEDIATELY and the blade will stop rotating within three seconds.

• Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.

• Stopthe blade when crossinggravel ddves,walks

or roads.

• If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the engine and check immediately for the

cause. Vibration is generally a warning 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 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.

• Never operate mower without proper guards,

grass catcher, plates or other safety protective devicesinplace.

• Mufflerand engine become hot and can cause a

burn.Do nottouch.

• Only use acoessodes approved for this machine

by the manufacturer. Read, understand, and follow aU instructions provided with the approved

accessory.

• If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use care and good judgment. Contact

your dealer for assistance. Telephone 1-800-800- 7310 for the name of your nearest dealer.

2. 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 degrees 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. If you feel you are

losing your balance release the blade control handle immediately and the blade will stop in less

than 3 seconds.

DO NOT:

• Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments. The operator could lose footing or

balance.

• Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as

Shown on the slope gauge.

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

3. 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 mowing activity. Never assume that children will remain where you last saw them.

• Keep childrenout of the mowingarea and under

the watchfulcareof a responsibleadultotherthan the operator.

• Be alert and tam mower oft if a child enters the

area.

• Before and while moving backwards, look behind and down for small children or other objects.

• Never allow children under age 14 to operate the mower. Children 14 years of age and above should read and understand the operation instructions and safety rules in this manual.

• Use extreme care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may

obscure your vision of a child or hazard.

4. SERVICE

• Use extreme care in handling gasoline and other

fuels. They are extremely flammable and the

vapors are explosive.

• Use onlyan approvedgasoline container.

• Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the

engine is running. Allow engine to cool at least two

minutes before refueling.

• Replace gasoline cap securelyand wipe off any spilled gasoline before startingthe engine as it maycauseafire orexplosion.

• Extinguish aU cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition.

• Never refuel machine indoors because flammable

vapors will accumulate in the area.

• 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.

• Never run an engine inside a closed area.

• To reduce firehazard, keep mower free of grass, leaves, or other debds build-up. Clean up oil or fuel spillage. Allow mower to cool at least 5 minutesbeforestoring.

• 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.

• Check the blade and engine mountingbolts at frequent intervals for proper tightness. Also,

visually inspect blade for damage (e.g., bent,

crackedorwom). Replacewitflbladewhichmeets odginal equipment specifications listed in this

manual.

• Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure

theequipmentisinsafeworkingcondition.

• Never tamper with safety devices. Check their

properoperationregularly.

read, understand and follow the warnings and instructions in this manual and on the machine.

WARNING - YOUR RESPONSIBILITY: Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who

After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, remove the wire from the spark plug, and thoroughlyinspect the mower for any damage. Repair the damage before startingand operating

the mower. Never attempt to make a wheel or cuttingheight

adjustmentwhilethe engineis running.

Grass catcher componentsare subject to wear,

damage and deterioration,which could expose

movingparts or allow objects to be thrown. For safety protection,frequently check components

and replace with manufacturer's recommended parts,when necessary.

Mo,_,erblades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the blade(s) or wear gloves, and use extra caution whenservicingthem.

Do not change the engine governor setting or overspeed the engine. Excessive engine speeds aredangerous.

DANGER

Figure 1 Safety Labels Found On Lawn Mower

NOTE: The use of any accessory on this Rotary Mower other than those manufactured by the

mower manufacturer is not recommended. GRASS CATCHER Model 190-110 is available as optional equipment for the mowers shown in this manual.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, do not operate mower unless rear trailing shield

and guard orentire grass catcher is in its proper place.

NOTE: Under normal usage bag matedal is subject to wear and should be checked periodically. Be

sure to use only factory authorized replacement bag.

SECTION 2" FINDING YOUR MODEL NUMBER

This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new walk behind. It will help you assemble, prepare and maintain your walk behind. Please read and understand what it says.

Before you start to prepare your walk behind for its first use, please locate the model plate and copy the information from it in this Operator's Manual. The information on the model plate isvery important if you need help from your dealer or the MTD customer support department.

• Every walk behind has a model plate. You can locate it by standing behind the unit in the operating

position and looking down at the rear of the deck.

• The model plate will look like Figure 2

[

XXX-X-XXX-X-XXX XXXXXXXXXXX

MTDPRODUCTSINC

CLEVELAND,OHIO 44136

Copy the model number here:

Copy the serial number here:

Figure 2

This iswhere your model number will be.

This is where your serial number will be.

SECTION 3: CALLING CUSTOMER SUPPORT

If you are having difficulty assembling this product or if you have any question regarding the controls, operation or maintenance of this unit, please call the Customer Support Department. You can reach them by calling:

1-800-800-7310

Before you call, make sure that you have your model and serial numbers ready. By having the model and serial numbers ready, you help the Customer Support Representative give you faster service. To find your

unit's model and serial number, see SECTION 2: FINDING YOUR MODEL NUMBER.

USE THIS PAGE AS A GUIDE TO DETERMINE SLOPES WHERE YOU MAY NOT OPERATE SAFELY.

Ii _

SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE

A POWER POLE

A CORNER OF A BUILDING

OR A FENCE POST

I 1,_o

IbWARNING

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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