MTD 114-050A User Manual

Owner's Operating

Service Instruction

lOit

Manual

ASSEMBLY

OPERATION

REPAIR PARTS

Model Nos.

U4-040A
114-050A

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For one year from date of purchase, MTD Products Inc will replace for the original purchaser, free
of charge, F.O.B. factory or authorized service firm, any part or parts found to be defective in material
or workmanship. All transportation charges on parts submitted for replacement under this warranty
must be paid by the purchaser. This warranty does not include replacement of parts which become
inoperative through misuse, excessive use, accident, neglect, irnproper maintenance or alterations by
unauthorized persons. This warranty does not include the engine, motor, battery, battery charger or any
component parts thereof. For service on these units, refer to the applicable manufacturer's warranty.

The above warranty will apply only to the original owner and will be effective only if the warranty

card has been properly processed. It will not apply where the unit has been used commercially.

Warranty service is available through your local authorized service dealer or distributor. UNDER

NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL THE RETURN OF A COMPLETE UNIT BE ACCEPTED BY THE
FACTORY UNLESS PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION HAS BEEN EXTENDED.

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MTD PRODUCTS INC

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

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WARRANTY

5389 WEST 130th STREET

P.O.BOX 2741 CLEVELAND OHIO 44111

FORM NO. 770-4898

IMPORTANT

SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES FOR WALK-BEHIND MOWERS

TRAINING

1. Read the Operating and Service Instruction Man
ual carefully. Be thoroughly familiar v/ith the con
trols and the proper use of the equipment.

2. Never allov/ children to operate a pov/er mower.

3. Keep the area of operation clear of all persons,

particularly small children and pets.

PREPARATION

1. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment
is to be used and remove all stones, sticks, wire,
bones and other foreign objects.

2. Do not operate equipment when- barefoot or
wearing open sandals. Always wear substantial
footwear.

3. Check the fuel before starting the engine. Do not
fill the gasoline tank indoors, when the engine is

running, or while the engine is still hot. Wipe off

any spilled gasoline before starting the engine.

4. Disengage the self-propelled mechanism or drive

clutch on units so equipped before starting the en
gine (motor).

5. Never attempt to make a wheel adjustment while

the engine (motor) is running.

6. Mow only in daylight or in good artificial light.

7. Never operate the equipment in wet grass. Al

ways be sure of your footing; keep a firm hold on
the handle and walk, never run.

5. If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormal

ly, stop the engine (motor) and check immediately
for the cause. Vibration is generally a warning of
trouble.

6. Stop the engine (motor) whenever you leave the
equipment, before cleaning the mower housing,
and when making any repairs or inspections.

7. When cleaning, repairing or inspecting, make cer
tain the blade and all moving parts have stopped.
Disconnect the spark plug wire, and keep the wire
away from the plug to prevent accidental starting.

8. Do not run the engine indoors.

9. Shut the engine (motor) off and wait until the
blade comes to a complete stop before removing
the grass catcher or unclogging chute.

10. Mow across the face of slopes, never up-and­down. Exercise extreme caution when changing
direction on slopes. Do not mow excessively steep
slopes.

11. Always disconnect electric mowers (line operated)
before cleaning, repairing or adjusting.

12. Never operate mower without proper guards,

plates or other safety protective devices in place.

13. Keep washout ports and other mower-housing

service openings closed when mowing.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE

OPERATION

1. Do not change the engine governor settings or

overspeed the engine.

2. Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating
parts. Keep clear of the discharge opening at all
times.

3. Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel drive,

walks or roads.

4. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine

(motor), remove the wire from spark plug, thor
oughly inspect the mower for any damage, and
repair the damaoe before restarting and operat
ing the mower.

1. Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at

frequent intervals for proper tightness.

2. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the

equipment is in safe working condition.

3. Never store the equipment with gasoline in the
tank inside of a building where fumes may reach
an open flame or spark. Allow the engine to cool
before storing in any enclosure.

4. To reduce fire hazard, keep the engine free of

grass, leaves, or excessive grease.

5. Check the grass catcher bag frequently for wear
or deterioration. Replace with new bag for safety

protection.

ASSEMBLY

OPERATION

Your new mower is shipped preassembled with the
exception of the handle.

1. Remove lawn mower and all parts from the carton.
Make certain that all loose parts and literature have
been removed before the carton is discarded.

2. Extend throttle control assembly which is attached
to rear of mower and place on the floor. CAUTION:

Do not bend or kink control wire.

3. a. Snap lower handle into position on two studs

which extend from either side on the rear of the
deck in front of the rear wheels.

NOTE

It may be necessary to bend the lower

handle in. This will insure a tight fit
when assembled over weld studs on
your unit.

b. Assemble the two upper handle parts with cap

screws and locknuts provided in parts bag. The
yellow cap screw should be used to attach throt
tle control assembly to upper handle. Do not
tighten nuts.

c. Attach upper handle assembly to lower handle

with cap screws and locknuts. Tighten all nuts.

d. Secure control wire to lower handle with cable

clips.

4. Check ALL nuts and bolts for correct tightness.

NOTE

For shipping purposes your mower is
set with the wheels in a low cutting
height position. For best results raise
the cutting position until it is deter

mined which height is best for your

lawn. See adjustments.

1. Service engine with gas and oil. See Engine Manual
packed with lawn mower for complete instructions
for the care and maintenance of engine. Read Di

rections carefully.

2. When ready to start engine, place throttle control
lever, on handle, in "START" position and start en
gine in accordance with instructions in Engine Man
ual. After engine starts, move throttle control lever,
on handle, to desired engine speed. The engine is
stopped by placing control lever on handle in the
"STOP" position.

3. Be sure that lawn is clear of stones, sticks, wire, or
other objects which could damage lawn mower or
engine. For best results and to insure more even
grass distribution, do not mow when lawn is ex
cessively wet.

ADJUSTMENTS

CAUTION

CAUTION

Please note that the chute deflector on

your mower is in an upright position. It

is held in that position by a shipping
block. This block is used for shipping
purposes only. It must be removed and

discarded before your mower is put

into operation.

Chute Deflector

Shipping Block to be Removed

Do not at any time make any adjust
ment to lawn mower without first stop
ping engine and disconnecting spark
plug wire.

EASY CUTTING HEIGHT (OPTIONAL)

An adjusting plate and thumb lever at each wheel po
sition provides cutting height adjustment. Each adjust
ing plate has five holes. Height of cut will be changed
when the thumb lever is moved from one hole to an

other. Simply depress thumb lever towards wheel and

move wheel and lever assembly to desired position.
All wheels must be positioned in relative height of

cut positions.

STANDARD CUTTING HEIGHT

Adjustment may be made by removing and moving

wheel studs to desired position. Cutting heights will
be raised as wheel studs are moved to a lower hole

and lowered as wheel studs are moved to a higher hole

in the deck. All wheel studs must be mounted in a

relative position to the deck.