MTD 12AV839N711, 12AG839E711 Owner’s Manual

Safetyo Assembly o Operation oTips &Techniques oMaintenance *Troubleshooting o Parts Lists oWarranty

®

ModelG839EShown

21" Rotary Mower -- Model Series 830

READ SAFETY RULES AND mNSTRUCTmONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION

Warning: This unitis equippedwithan internalcombustionengineandshouldnotbeusedonornearanyuniiprovedforest=covered,brush=
coveredor grass=coveredlandunlesstheengine'sexhaustsystemisequippedwithasparkattestermeetingapplicablelocalorstatelaws(ifany),

if a sparkattesteris used,itshouldbemaintainedineffectiveworkingorderbytheoperator,inthe StateofCaliforniatheaboveis requiredbylaw
(Section4442ofthe CaliforniaPublicResourcesCode),Otherstatesmayhavesimilarlaws,Federallawsapplyonfederallands,A sparkattester

forthe mufflerisavailablethroughyournearestengineauthorizedservicedealerorcontacttheservicedepartment,RO,Box361131Cleveland,
Ohio44136-0019,

FORMNO,769=01541

PRINTEDiN U,S,A MTD LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHiO 44136-0019 1/4/2005

This Operator's Manua_ is an important part of your new lawn mower, mtwH_ he_p you assemble,

prepare and maintain the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.

Table of Contents

Slope Gauge ....................................................... 3

Safe Operation Practices ................................... 4

Setup and Adjustment ....................................... 6

Operating Your Lawn Mower .............................. 8

Finding and Recording Model Number

BEFOREYOU STARTASSEMBLING
YOURNEW EQUIPMENT,
please locatethe modelplate onthe equipmentand copythe
informationto the sample model plate providedto the righL

Youcan locatethe modelplateby standing atthe operating
positionand lookingdown at the rearof the deck_ This

informationwill be necessaryto usethe manufacturer'sweb
site and/or obtainassistancefrom theCustomerSupport

Departmentoran authorizedservice dealer_

Maintaining Your Lawn Mower ......................... 10

Trouble Shooting .............................................. 14

Safety Labels .................................................... 15

Parts List ........................................................... 16

Modem Number Serial Number

O TRO_X_--T° TBOY=BRLT LLC

P. O. BOX 361131

www.troybilt.com CLEVELAND, ON 44136

33e=558=7220

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1 =800=52e=552e

Customer Support

P{ease do NOTreturn the unit to the retailer from which it was

purchased, without first contacting Customer Support.

Ifyou havedifficulty assemblingthis productor have any

questions regardingthe controls, operationor maintenanceof
this unit, you can seek help from the experts.Choose from the

options below:

1. Visit troybHt.com for manyuseful suggestions.Clickon
CustomerSupport button and you will get the fouroptions
reproducedin this sampleto the right.Click on the appro-
priatebutton and help is immediatelyavailable.

2. Phonea Customer Support Representative
at 1(800)520-5520.

3. The engine manufacturer is responsiblefor all engine°

relatedissueswith regardsto performance,power-rating,
specifications,warrantyand service. Pleasereferto the

eng Need a manual and/or parts list? Download

separatelywithyour unit, for more information, literature from recent model years.

Click here to search our knowledge base.
Searchby product, keyword, or phrase.

Login to check the status of your questions, modify
your inquiries, or update your personal profile.

Need local assistance? Click here to find authorized
service centers in your area.

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manual.As with any type of powerequipment,carelessnessor error onthe partof the operatorcan

resultin seriousinjury.This machineis capable of amputatinghandsand feet and throwing objects.

! Failureto observethe followingsafetyinstructionscould resultin seriousinjuryor death.

Children

Tragicaccidentscan occurifoperatorisnotalertto presence
ofchildren.Childrenare oftenattractedto mowerandmowing

activity.Theydonot understandthe dangers.Neverassume
thatchildrenwill remainwhereyoulastsawthem.

1. Keepchildrenoutofthe mowingareaandunderwatchful
careof aresponsibleadultotherthanthe operator.

2. Bealertandturnmoweroffifa childentersthearea.

3. Beforeand whilemovingbackwards,look behindanddown
forsmallchildren.

4. Useextremecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,
doorways,shrubs,trees,orotherobjectsthatmayobscure
yourvisionofa childwho mayrun intothemower.

5. Keepchildrenawayfromhot orrunningengines.Theycan
sufferburnsfroma hotmuffler.

6. Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsoldto operateapower
mower.Children14yearsold andovershouldreadand
understandoperationinstructionsandsafetyrulesinthis
manualandshouldbetrainedandsupervisedbyaparent.

endangerthe personal
safetyand/or property

1. Readthis operator'smanual carefullyin its entiretybefore

2. Thismachineisaprecisionpieceof powerequipment,

3. Neverallowchildrenunder 14yearsoldto operatethis

4. Thoroughlyinspecttheareawherethe equipmentisto

and followthewarnings 5. Tohelpavoidbladecontactorathrownobjectinjury, ._ generallya_arning of!rouble.........

and i..struction2 stayinoperatorzone behindhandlesandkeepchildren, "

u _ competestop beforeremovngthe grasscatcheror uncog

, ,i bystanders,helpersandpetsatleast75feet frommower .

un_nusmanuau glngthechute

General Operation

attemptingtoassemblethismachine.Read,understand,
andfollow allinstructionsonthe machineandin the

manual(s) beforeoperation.Becompletelyfamiliarwith
thecontrolsandthe properuseof thismachinebefore
operatingit.Keepthismanualin asafeplaceforfuture
andregularreferenceandfor orderingreplacementparts.

nota plaything.Therefore,exerciseextremecautionat all
times.Yourunithasbeendesignedto performonejob: to
mowgrass.Do notuseitfor anyotherpurpose.

machine.Children14yearsoldand overshouldreadand
understandthe instructionsinthis manualandshould

betrainedand supervisedbya parent.Onlyresponsible
individualswhoarefamiliarwiththese rulesof safe

operationshouldbeallowedtousethis machine.

beused.Removeall stones,sticks,wire,bones,toysand
otherforeignobjectswhichcould betripped overor picked
upand thrownbythe blade.Thrownobjectscancause
seriouspersonalinjury.Planyourmowingpatternto avoid
dischargeofmaterialtowardroads,sidewalks,bystanders
andthe like.Also,avoiddischargingmaterialagainsta
wallorobstructionwhichmaycausedischargedmaterial
toricochetbacktowardtheoperator.

whileit isin operation.Stopmachineifanyoneenters

6. Alwayswearsafetyglassesorsafetygogglesduringopera-
tionandwhileperforminganadjustmentor repairtoprotect
youreyes.Thrownobjectswhich ricochetcancauseserious
injurytothe eyes.

7. Wearsturdy,rough-soledworkshoesand close-fitting
slacksandshirts. Shirtsand pantsthatcoverthe armsand
legsandsteel-toedshoesare recommended.Neveroperate
thismachinein barefeet,sandals, slipperyor lightweight
(e.g.canvas)shoes.

8. Donotputhandsorfeet nearrotatingpartsor undercutting
deck.Contactwithbladecanamputatehandsandfeet.

9. Amissingor damageddischargecovercancauseblade
contactor thrownobject injuries.

10.Manyinjuriesoccurasa resultofthe mowerbeingpulled
overthefoot duringafall causedby slippingortripping.
Do notholdonto the mowerifyouarefalling;releasethe
handleimmediately.

11.Neverpullthe mowerbacktowardyouwhileyouare
walking.Ifyou mustbackthe mowerawayfromawallor
obstructionfirstlookdownandbehindtoavoidtrippingand
thenfollow thesesteps:

a. Stepbackfrommowertofully extendyourarms.
b. Be sureyou arewellbalancedwithsurefooting.

c. Pullthemowerback slowly,no morethanhalfway

towardyou.

d. Repeatthesestepsasneeded.

12.Donotoperatethe mowerwhileunderthe influenceof
alcoholor drugs.

13.Donotengage theself-propelledmechanismon unitsso
equippedwhilestartingengine.

14.Thebladecontrolhandleis asafetydevice.Neverattempt
tobypassits operation.Doingso makesthesafetydevice
inoperativeandmay resultinpersonal injurythrough
contactwiththe rotatingblade.The bladecontrolhandle
mustoperateeasilyin bothdirectionsandautomatically
returntothe disengagedpositionwhenreleased.

15.Neveroperatethe mowerinwetgrass. Alwaysbesure of
yourfooting. A slipandfallcan causeseriouspersonal
injury.If youfeelyouare losingyourfooting,releasethe
bladecontrolhandleimmediatelyandthe bladewillstop
rotatingwithinthreeseconds.

16.Mowonlyindaylightor goodartificiallight.Walk,neverrun.

17.Stopthe bladewhencrossinggraveldrives,walksor roads.

18.Ifthe equipmentshouldstart tovibrateabnormally,stopthe
engineandcheck immediatelyforthecause.Vibrationis

]_ _nutthe engne errandwar unl: me Daaecomes-coa

and on the machine, area.

..... ,J

4

Thecuttingbladecontinuesto rotatefora fewsecondsafter
the engineisshutoff. Neverplaceanypartofthe bodyin
the bladeareauntilyou aresurethe blade hasstopped

rotating.

20.Neveroperatemowerwithoutpropertrail shield,discharge
cover,grasscatcher,bladecontrolhandleor othersafety

protectivedevicesin placeandworking.Neveroperate
mowerwithdamagedsafetydevices.Failuretodo so,can
resultin personalinjury.

21.Mufflerandenginebecomehotand cancauseaburn.Do

nottouch.

22.Onlyuseparts andaccessoriesmadefor thismachineby

manufacturer.Failureto dosocanresult inpersonalinjury.

23.Ifsituationsoccurwhichare not coveredinthis manual,

usecareand goodjudgment.Contactyourdealerfor
assistance.Telephone[phone]forthe nameofyour

nearestdealer.

SJope Operation

Slopesareamajorfactorrelatedto slipandfallaccidentswhich
canresultinsevereinjury.Operationonslopesrequiresextra

caution.Ifyoufeel uneasyonaslope,donotmowit.Foryour
safety,usethe slopegaugeincludedas partofthis manualto
measureslopesbeforeoperatingthisunitona slopedor hilly
area.Iftheslopeis greaterthan15degrees,donotmowit.

Do:

1. Mowacrossthefaceof slopes;neverup anddown.

Exerciseextremecautionwhenchangingdirectionon
slopes.

2. Watchfor holes,ruts, rocks,hiddenobjects,or bumpswhich
can causeyou toslipor trip.Tallgrasscan hideobstacles.

3. Alwaysbesure ofyourfooting.A slip andfallcan cause

seriouspersonalinjury.If youfeelyouarelosingyour
balance,releasetheblade controlhandleimmediately,and

the bladewillstop rotatingwithin3seconds.

Do Not:

1. Donotmowneardrop-offs, ditchesorembankments,you
could loseyourfootingor balance.

2. Donotmowslopesgreaterthan15degrees asshownon
the slopegauge.

3. Donotmowon wetgrass.Unstablefootingcouldcause

slipping.

Service

Safe HandlingOf Gaso%e:

1. Toavoidpersonalinjuryor propertydamageuseextreme
carein handlinggasoline.Gasolineisextremelyflammable

andthevaporsare explosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycan
occurwhengasolineis spilledonyourselforyourclothes

whichcanignite.

2. Washyour skinand changeclothesimmediately.

3. Useonly anapprovedgasolinecontainer.

4. Neverfill containersinsideavehicleoronatruckor trailer

bedwith a plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainerson the
groundawayfromyourvehiclebeforefilling.

5. Removegas-poweredequipmentfromthe truck ortrailer

andrefuelit on theground.Ifthisis notpossible,then refuel
suchequipmentonatrailerwitha portablecontainer,rather

thanfroma gasolinedispensernozzle.

6. Keepthe nozzleincontactwiththerim of thefuel tankor
containeropeningat alltimesuntilfuelingis complete.Do

notusea nozzlelock-opendevice.

7. Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipesandothersources
ofignition.

8. Neverfuelmachineindoorsbecauseflammablevaporswill
accumulatein the area.

9. Neverremovegascap oraddfuelwhileengineishot or
running. Allowengineto coolat leasttwominutesbefore
refueling.

10.Neveroverfillfueltank. Filltankto nomorethan_ inch
belowbottomof fillerneckto provideforfuelexpansion.

11.Replacegasolinecapandtightensecurely.

12.Ifgasolineis spilled,wipeit off theengineand equipment.
Moveunitto anotherarea.Wait5 minutesbeforestarting
engine.

13.Neverstorethemachineorfuel containernearanopen
flame,sparkorpilot lightas onawater heater,space
heater,furnace,clothesdryeror othergasappliances.

14.Toreducefire hazard,keepmowerfreeofgrass,leaves,
or otherdebrisbuild-up.Cleanupoil orfuel spillageand
removeanyfuel soakeddebris.

15.Allowamowertocool at least5 minutesbeforestoring.

General Service:

1. Neverrunanengineindoorsorina poorlyventilatedarea.
Engineexhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,an odorlessand
deadlygas.

2. Beforecleaning,repairing,or inspecting,makecertainthe
bladeandall movingpartshavestopped.Disconnectthe
sparkplugwireandgroundagainsttheengineto prevent

unintendedstarting.

3. Checkthe bladeandenginemountingboltsatfrequent
intervalsfor propertightness.Also,visuallyinspectbladefor
damage(e.g.,bent,cracked,worn)Replacebladewiththe
originalequipmentmanufacture's(O.EM.) bladeonly,listed
inthismanual."Useofpartswhichdo notmeettheoriginal
equipmentspecificationsmayleadto improperperformance
andcompromisesafety!"

4. Mowerbladesare sharpandcancut.Wrapthebladeorwear
gloves,anduseextracautionwhenservicingthem.

5. Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstighttobe surethe equip-
mentisin safeworkingcondition.

6. Nevertamperwithsafetydevices.Checktheirproperopera-
tionregularly.

7. Afterstrikinga foreignobject,stopthe engine,discon-
nectthe sparkplugwireandgroundagainsttheengine.
Thoroughlyinspectthemowerforanydamage.Repairthe
damagebeforestartingandoperatingthemower.

8. Neverattempttomakea wheelorcuttingheight adjustment
whiletheengineis running.

9. Grasscatchercomponents,dischargecover,andtrail
shieldaresubjecttowear anddamagewhichcould expose
movingpartsorallow objectsto bethrown.Forsafety
protection,frequentlycheckcomponentsand replaceim-
mediatelywithoriginal equipmentmanufacturer's(O.EM.)
partsonly,listedin this manual."Useof partswhich do
not meettheoriginalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto
improperperformanceandcompromisesafety!"

10.Donot changetheenginegovernorsettingor overspeedthe
engine.Thegovernorcontrolsthe maximumsafeoperating
speedofthe engine.

11.Maintainorreplacesafetylabels,asnecessary'.

12.Observeproperdisposallawsand regulations.Improper
disposaloffluidsand materialscanharmtheenvironment.

w o°,°o

ThisSymbQUpoints

ua! beforeattempting to

resuUt in personaUinjury_
::When you see th s
_symbol

,EEDMTSWARNmNG

Responsibility

Restd_tthe use

of this powermachine

to personswhoread

understand

5

NOTE:Stand behind
Ihemoweras ifyou

Jveregoingto operate
it,Your righthandcor-

espondsto the right

sideof the mower;your
left hand corresponds

to the left sided the

mower.

NOTE: Forshipping
purposesyour mower

is setwith the wheels
in a lowcutting

heightposition, For
bestresults raisethe

cutting positionuntil il
is determinedwhich

heightis best for your
lawn.See Step 8 for

details.

Figure 1

Figure 2

zJ'i .........

1. Removegrasscatcherand anypackingmaterial
whichmaybe betweenupperandlowerhandles.

a. Removehandknobsfromhandlebracketsand

pullupand backon upperhandleasshownin
Figure1.Makecertainthelowerhandb isseated

securelyintothe handb mountingbrackets,

b. Tightenhandknobssecuringupperhandbto

lowerhandb. Makesurethateach carriageboltis
seatedproperlyinthe handb.

2. Replaceandtightenhandknobsremovedearlbr
securinglowerhandbto handlebrackets,SeeFigure

2.

3. Theropeguideis attachedtotherightsideofthe
upperhandb. Loosenthewingnutwhichsecuresthe
ropeguide,SeeFigure3.

a. Holdthe bladecontrolagainstupperhandle.
b. Pullstarterropeoutofthe engine,Releasethe

bladecontrol.

c. Slipstarterropeintoropeguide,Tightenwingnut,

4. Attachcanes to thelowerhandb withthecane ties
alreadyonthe lowerhandle.Insertpegson cane ties

intothe hobs on the lowerhandle.Pullcane tiestight
andcutoff theextra,

5, Followstepsbelowtoattachgrasscatcher:

a. Lift reardischargedoorand removemulching

baffle.

b, Placegrasscatcheronthepivotrod,Letgo

ofdischargedoorso thatit restsonthegrass
catcher,SeeFigure4.

WARNING: Never operate mower
unless the hooks on the grass
catcher are firmly seated in the

slots on the handle bracket as°
semblies, and the rear discharge

door rests firmly against top of
the grass catcher.

IMPORTANT

DO NOTcrimpthe
cableswhen liftingthe

handleup.

IMPORTANT

This unit isshipped

without gasolineor
oil inthe engine. Fill

upgasoline and oil

manual BEFORE

operating your mower.

Figure 3

Figure 4

6