MTD 113-410A000 User Manual

OWNEirS GUIDE

• SET-UP • OPERATION • MAINTENANCE • PARTS •

21"

ROTARY

MOWERS

$1.00

(Model 410 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

Made ^
in
AMERICA

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, P.O. Box 368022, Cleveland, Ohio 44136-9722.

Model Numbers

113-410A000

thru

113-428F000

IMPORTANT!

Record the Model No. and Mfg. Code which
appear on your unit in the space below. You
must have these numbers, along with the date
of purchase, in order to receive warranty or ser
vice.

MEETS ANSI SAFETY STANDARDS

MODEL NO. MFG. CODE

FORM NO. 770-8241H

IMPORTANT

THIS SYMBOL POINTS OUT IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS WHICH, IF NOT FOLLOWED, COULD ENDANGER THE PERSONAL
SAFETY AND/OR PROPERTY OF YOURSELF AND O' HERS. READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE

A.

AHEMPTING TO OPERATE YOUR LAWN MOWER. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL

INJURY. WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL— ^

SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES

HEED ITS WARNING.

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DANGER:

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with any type of power equipment, careiessness or error on the part of the operator can resuit in serious
injury. If you violate any of Ihese rules, you may cause serious injury to yourseif or others.

TRAINING

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

1. Read this owner’s guide carefully in its entirety before attempt
ing to assemble or operate this machine. Be completely famil
iar with the controls and the proper use of this machine before
operating it. Keep this manual In a safe place foi future and
regular reference and for ordering replacement parís.

2. Your rotary mower is a precision piece of power equipment,
not a plaything. Therefore, exercise extreme CcUtion at all
times. 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 operite a power
mower. Children 14 years old and over should cniy operate
mower under close parental supervision. Only parsons well
acquainted with these rules of safe operation should be
allowed to use your mower.

4. Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, particularly
small children and pets. Stop engine when they are in the
vicinity of your mower to help prevent blade contad or thrown
object injury. Although the area of operation should be com
pletely cleared of foreign objects, an object maj have been
overlooked and could be accidentally thrown by tt e mower in
any direction and cause serious personal injury to :he operator
or any others allowed in the area.

PREPARATION

1. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipm ¡nt is to be
used. Remove all stones, sticks, wire, bones and ether foreign
objects which could be picked up and thrown by tlie mower in
any direction and cause serious personal injury to :he operator
or any others allowed in the area. Plan your mowir g pattern to
avoid discharge of material toward roads, sidewalks,
bystanders and the like.

2. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields during Dperation or
while 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-soled work shoes and close-1 itting slacks
and shirts. Shirts and pants that cover the arms í nd 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, or sneakers.

4. Before working with gasoline, extinguish all cigan ties, cigars,
pipes and other sources of ignition. Check the fuel level before
starting the engine. Gasoline is an extremely flammable fuel.
Do not fill the gasoline tank indoors, while the er gine is run
ning, or until engine has been allowed to cool for at least two
minutes after running. Replace gasoline cap securdy and wipe
off any spilled gasoline before starting the engir e as it may
cause a fire or explosion.

5. Disengage the self-propelled mechanism or drh e clutch 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 inoper
ative and may result in personal injury through cor tact with the

rotating blade. The blade control handle must ope ate easily in
both directions and automatically return to the disengaged
position when released.

7. Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting heigh adjustment
while the engine is running.

8. 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. Vlow only in
daylight or in good artificial light.

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

1. Do not change the engine governor settings or overspeed the
engine. Excessive engine speeds are dangerous.

2. 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.

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

4. 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.

5. If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the

engine and check immediately for the cause. Vibration is gen
erally a warning of trouble.

6. Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes to a com

plete 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 rotat
ing.
Before cleaning, repairing or inspecting, make certain the blade

7.

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.

8.

Never cut grass by pulling mower toward you. Mow across the

9.

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.

12. Do not operate this mower with the chute door open, unless
the complete grass catcher or chute deflector is properly

mounted on the mower.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE

1. Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at frequent inter
vals for proper tightness. Also visually inspect blade for dam

age (e.g. bent, cracked). Replace with blade which meets origi
nal equipment 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 con
tainers 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 storing 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 deteriora
tion. Replace a worn or damaged bag immediately. For safety

protection, replace only with new bag meeting original equip
ment specifications.

SET-UP INSTRUCTIONS

IMPORTANT: This unit is shipped WITHOUT
GASOLINE or OIL in the engine. Be certain to ser
vice engine with gasoline and oii before operating
your mower.

NOTE: Reference to right or left hand side of the
mower is observed from the operating position.

TO REMOVE MOWER FROM CARTON

Remove the carton inserts (if any). Remove any loose

parts which may be in the carton. Lift the mower from
the carton, or cut the corners of the carton and roll the
mower out.

HOW TO SET-UP YOUR LAWN MOWER

(Refer to Figure 1)

1. Disconnect the spark plug wire and move it away
from the spark plug.

2. Remove any cardboard pieces which may be
between the upper and lower handles for shipping
purposes. If there is any packaging (plastic or
cardboard) around the upper handle, remove it.

3. Pull up and back on the upper handle to raise the
handle into the operating position. Make certain
the lower handle is seated securely into the

handle mounting brackets. Tighten the hand
knobs on each side of the handle.

NOTE: Your mower is shipped with the handle in the
higher height position. If you wish to lower the height of
the handle, refer to the Adjustment Section at this time.

4. Remove the hairpin clips from the outer hole in
the weld pins on the handle mounting brackets.
Place the hairpin clips in the Inner hole.

5. The rope guide and wing nut are attached to the
starter rope, on top of the engine. Remove the
wing nut from rope guide. Remove the rope guide

from the starter rope.

6. With the spark plug wire disconnected and

grounded, hold the blade control handle against
the upper handle, and pull the starter rope out of
the engine. Hold the rope guide as shown so the
opening in the rope guide is toward the front of
mower. Slip the rope guide around the starter
rope and into the right side of upper handle using
the hole shown. Secure using the wing nut.

7. Make certain all nuts and bolts are tightened

securely.

FIGURE 1.

Lower

FIGURE 2.

Bracket

Assembly
FIGURE 3.

Mulching >

Baffle f

u/r

Discharge

Rear
Door

ATTACHING GRASS CATCHER TO MOWER
NOTE: If your mower is equipped with a mulching

baffle, it is in piace on the mower. To remove the
mulching baffle, lift the rear discharge door on the

-mower. Remove the mulching baffle. See figure 2.

To Attach the Grass Catcher:

1. Lift the rear discharge door on the mower.

2. Place the hooks on the grass catcher into the
slots in the handle bracket assemblies. See figure

------

3. Release the rear discharge door.

To remove the grass catcher, lift the rear discharge
door on the mower. Lift the grass catcher up, out of
the slots in the handle bracket assemblies. Release
the rear discharge door.

WARNING: Never operate the mower
unless the hooks on the grass catcher

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OPTIONAL CHUTE DEFLECTOR

If your mower is equipped with the optional chute

deflector, refer to page 12 at this time.

are seated in the siots on the handle
bracket assemblies, and the rear dis
charge door rests firmly against the top
of the grass catcher.

BLADE CONTROL HANDLE

WARNING: This control mechanise is a
safety device. Never attempt to fc ypass

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its operations.

(CONTROLS

The blade control handle is located on the upper han
dle of the mower. See figure 4. The blade control han
dle must be depressed in order to operate the unit.

Release the blade control handle to stop the engine

and blade.

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THROHLE CONTROL

The throttle control is located on the side of the upper
handle or on the engine. It is used to regulate the
engine speed.

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RECOIL STARTER

The recoil starter handle is attached to the handle.
See figure 4. Stand behind the unit in the operating
position to start the unit.

WARNING: The blade will be rotating whenever the engine is running.

WARNING: The throttle control cannot be used to stop the engine.

OPERATION

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FIGURE 5.

Keep hands and feet away from the chute area on
cutting deck. See figure 5.

The operation of any lawn mower can result in for

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instructed in the separate engine manuai packed with

your mower. Read instructions carefully.

TO RE D UC E TH E R IS K O F IN JU RY . DO NO T
OPE RA TE MOW ER UNL ES S RE AR T RA I LI NG
SHI EL D AND THIS GUAR D OR ENTI R E
GRA SS C AT CH ER I S IN I T S PR OP ER P LA CE .

eign objects being thrown into the eyes, which

dBBBB can result in severe eye damage.

Always wear safety glasses or eye
shields. We recommend wide vision
safety mask for over spectacles or
standard safety glasses.

GAS AND OIL FILL-UP

Service the engine with gasoline and oil as

6. Pull rope with a rapid, continuous, full arm stroke.
Keep a firm grip on start handle. Return it slowly

to the rope guide.

7. After engine starts, move throttle control to

desired engine speed.

NOTE: If any problems are encountered, refer to the

Trouble Shooting Guide on page 9.

FIGURE 6.

TO STOP ENGINE AND BLADE

1. Release the blade control handle to stop the
engine and blade.

WARNING: The blade continues to rotate
for a few seconds after the engine is shut

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2. Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it

USING YOUR ROTARY MOWER

off.

against the engine to prevent accidental starting
while equipment is unattended.

WARNING: Never fill fuel tank indoors,
with engine running or until the engine

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TO START ENGINE AND ENGAGE BLADE

1. Attach spark plug wire to spark plug.

2. Move throttle control lever all the way forward.

3. Prime engine as instructed in the separate engine

4. Standing behind the unit, depress the blade con

5. Grasp starter handle and pull rope out slowly until

has been allowed to cool for at least two
minutes after running.

manual.

trol handle and hold it against the upper handle

as shown. See figure 6.

engine reaches start of compression cycle (rope
will pull slightly harder at this point). Let the rope
rewind slowly.

WARNING: Never operate your unit with

out either the rear deflector or entire

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Be sure that lawn is clear of stones, sticks, wire, or
other objects which could damage lawn mower or
engine. Such objects could be accidentally thrown by
the mower in any direction and cause serious person
al injury to the operator and others.

For the best results, do not cut wet grass because it
tends to stick to the underside of the mower, prevent
ing proper discharge of grass clippings, and could
cause you to slip and fall. New grass, thick grass or
wet grass may require a narrower cut. Blade speed
should be adjusted to the condition of the lawn.

For a healthy lawn, never cut more than one-third
of the total length of the grass at any one cutting.

Lawn should be cut in the fall as long as there is
growth.

grass catcher assembly in place.