MTD 111-020R000 User Manual

OWNEirSGUK

ASSEMBLY • OPERATION • MAINTENANCE • PARTS

18"

$1.00

ROTARY

MOWER

Model Number

111-020R000

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Important: Read Safety Rules and Instructions Carefully

WARNING: This unit is equipped with an internai 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.

AMERICA

A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest engine authorized service dealer or contact the service department, P.O. Box 360900, Cleveland, Ohio 44136.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

FORM NO. 770-5214F

IMPORTANT

THIS SYMBOL POINTS OUT IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRl €TIONS WHICH, IF NOT FOLLOWED, COULD ENDANGER THE PERSONAL SAFETY AND/OR PROPERTY OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS. RE/D AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE ATTEMPTING

TO OPERATE YOUR LAWN MOWER. FAILURE TO COM ^LY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY. WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL- A HEED ITS WARNING.

RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION

DANGER; with any type of power equi »ment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in serious

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

TRAINING

Read this owner’s guide carefully in its entirety before attempting

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 piace for future and reguia 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 ti mes. Your unit has been designed to perform one job: to mow grass. Do not use it for any other purpose.

3. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate a pow er mower.

Children 14 years old and over should only operate mo wer under close parental supervision. Only persons well acquainted with these rules of safe operation should be allowed to use you' mower.

4. Keep the area of operation ciear of all persons, particu arly 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 shouid be compieh ly cieared 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 lilowed in the area.

PREPARATION

Thoroughiy inspect the area where the equipment is tc be used. Remove aii stones, sticks, wire, bones and other foreiim 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. Plan your mowing pattern to avoid discharge of material toward roads, sidewalks, bystanders and the like.

2. Aiways wear safety glasses or eye shields during operatic n or whiie

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-soied work shoes and close-fitting • lacks and shirts. Shirts and pants that cover the arms and legs ind steel toed shoes are recommended. Do not wear loose fittit g clothes or jewelry. They can be caught in moving parts. Nev( r operate a unit in bare feet, sandais, or sneakers.

4. Before working with gasoline, extinguish all cigarettes, ci{ ars, pipes and other sources of ignition. Check the fuei level befoi e starting the engine. Gasoiine is an extremely flammable fuel. i)o not fill the gasoline tank indoors, while the engine is runnimj, or until engine has been allowed to cool for at least two min jtes after running. Replace gasoline cap securely and wipe off aiy spilled gasoline before starting the engine as it may cause a fire or explosion.

5. Disengage the self-propelled mechanism or drive clutcl i 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 inopeiative and may result in personal injury through contact with th i rotating blade. The blade control handle must operate easily in b oth direc tions and automatically return to the disengaged posti ion when released.

7. Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height adjustn lent while the engine is running.

8. Never operate the mower in wet grass. Always be sui e 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 i i daylight or in good artificial light.

injury. If you violate any of these rules, you may cause serious injury to yourself or others.

9. 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

engine. Excessive engine speeds are dangerous.

Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts. Keep clear of the discharge opening at all times as the rotating blade can cause injury. Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walks or roads. 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.

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 blade continues to rotate for a few seconds after t' engine is shut off. Never place any part of the body in the bla*. 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. Never cut grass by pulling mower toward you. Mow across the face of slopes, never up-and-down. Exercise extreme 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.

10.

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

11.

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

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE

1. 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 equip ment specifications.

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

3. Never store the mower with gasoline in the tank or gas containers inside of a building where fumes may reach an open flame or spark (e.g. gas hot water heater). Allow the engine to cool before stor ing in any enclosure.

4. To reduce fire hazard, keep the engine free of grass, leaves and, excessive oil.

5. Check the grass catcher bag frequently for wear or deterioratio Replace a worn or damaged bag immediately. For safety protec tion, replace only with new bag meeting original equipment specifications.

-OUT MIC

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

SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE

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A POWER POLE

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A CORNER OF A BUILDING

OR A FENCE POST

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WARNING

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.

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CONTENTS OF HARDWARE PACK

Remove this sheet from your owner’s manual and lay the hardware on the illustration for identification purposes. After assembly, keep the Slope Gauge which is on the reverse sid5 of this sheet for future use.

(Hardware pack may contain extra items which iire not used on your unit. Part numbers are shown in parentheses.)

ATTACHING THE LOWER HANDLE

ATTACHING THE CABLE BRACKET AND OPTIONAL THROTTLE CONTROL

______________

(736-0175)

Hex Bolt

V4-20 X 1-7/8" Long

(710-1216)

SECURING THE CABLES

Shot Ider

Bo ts

(738-11140)

Cu pped Wa shers 5/1 <i" I.D.

(736-0242)

Hex Lock

Nuts

(712-0129)

Sprirg Washer

V " I.D.

Cable

Bracket (17174)

h ex Nut

Vi-5:0 Thread

(712-0287)

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ATTACHING THE UPPER HANDLE

I 1

ATTACHING THE STARTER ROPE

(710-0671)

(710-1205)

Curved

Head Bolts

Rope

Guide

Split Washers

5/16" I.D.

(736-0119)

Hex Nuts

5/16-18 Thread

(712-0267)

Hex Lock Nut

Vi-20 Thread

(712-0324)

uniis

Units With No Remote Throttle Control:

Hex Bolt

■~Vi-20 X 1" Long

(710-0597)

Axle Bolts(738-0533)

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INCHES

INSTALLATION OF WHEELS (This hardware is shown one-half size)

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I I I I I I I I i I I I I I I I I I I I

Cable Ties (726-0240)''

Cupped Washers

3/8" I.D. X 7/8" O.D.

(736-0105)-

Cupped Washers

3/8" I.D. X

1-1/8" O.D.

(736-0331)

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Hex Nuts

3/8-16 Thread-

(712-0798)

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