MTD 12AV55DQ713 Owner’s Manual

Safety • Assembly • Operation • Adjustments • Maintenance • Troubleshooting • Parts Lists • Warranty

OF A O A AL

21" Self-Propelled Mulching Mower- Model Series V550

iMPORTANT

READ SAFETY RULES AND iNSTRUCTiONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION

Warning: Thisunitis equippedwithan internalcombustionengineandshouldnot beusedon ornearanyunimprovedforest-covered,brush- coveredor grass-coveredlandunlesstheengine'sexhaustsystemisequippedwithasparkarrestermeetingapplicablelocalor statelaws(if any). If a sparkarresterisused,it shouldbemaintainedineffectiveworkingorderby theoperator.IntheStateofCaliforniatheaboveis requiredbylaw (Section4442ofthe CaliforniaPublicResourcesCode).Otherstatesmayhavesimilarlaws.Federallawsapplyonfederallands.A sparkarrester forthe mufflerisavailablethroughyournearestengineauthorizedservicedealeror contacttheservicedepartment,RO.Box361131Cleveland,

Ohio44136-0019.

FORMNO.769-02830

PRINTEDIN U.S.A

MTD PRODUCTS LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019

11/2/2006

This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new lawn mower, it will help 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

MTDLLCreservestherightto changeproductspecifications,designs,andequipmentwithoutnoticeandwithoutincurringobligation.

Finding and Recording Model Number

BEFOREASSEMBLINGYOUR NEWEQUIPMENT, pleaselocatethe modelplateon the equipmentand

copythe informationto thesamplemodelplate pro- videdto the right.Youcan locatethe modelplateby standingat theoperatingpositionand lookingdown

atthe rearofthe deck.This informationwillbe neces- saryto usethe manufacturer'swebsite,toobtain

assistancefromthe CustomerSupportDepartment, orwhen contactingan authorizedservicedealer.

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

Troubleshooting ................................................ 12

Off-Season Storage and Safety Labels .......... 13

Parts List ........................................................... 14

Model Number

www.mtdproducts.com

Serial Number

MTD LLC

PoO= BOX 361131

CLEVELAND, OH 44136 330-220-4683

800-800-7310

Customer Support

Please do NOT return the unit to the retailer from which it was purchased, without first

contacting Customer Support.

Ifyou have difficultyassemblingthis productorhave any questions regardingthe controls, operation,or maintenanceof this unit,you can seek help from the experts.Choosefrom the options below:

• Visitwww.mtdproducts.com

• Call a Customer Support Representativeat 1-800-800-7310.

• The engine manufacturer is responsiblefor all engine-relatedissueswith regardsto performance,power-rating,specifica- tions,warranty and service. Pleasereferto the engine manufacturer'sOwner's/Operator's Manual,packedseparatelywith

your unit,for moreinformation.

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WARNING: EngineExhaust,some of itsconstituents,and certain vehicle compo- nentscontain or emitchemicals knownto Stateof Californiato causecancer and

birth defectsor otherreproductiveharm.

DANGER: This machinewas built to be operatedaccordingto the rulesfor safe operation in this manual.As with any type of powerequipment,carelessnessor erroron the part ofthe operator

can resultin serious injury.This machine is capableof amputatinghandsand feet and throwing objects. Failureto observethe following safety instructionscouldresult inseriousinjury or death.

WARNING

Thissymbolpoints out importantsafety

instructionswhich,if notfollowed,could

endangerthe personal

i safetyand/or property I ofyourselfand others.

Readandfollowall instructionsinthis

manualbeforeat-

temptingto operate

i this machine.Failure I to complywith these

instructionsmayresult

i inpersonalinjury.When

youseethis symbol.

i HEED ITS WARNING!

i Your Responsibility

Restrictthe use ofthis power machine

to personswho read.

i understand

andfollow thewarnings and instructions

=nthis manual and on the machine.

Children

Tragicaccidentscanoccurifoperatoris notalertto presence ofchildren.Childrenare oftenattractedtomowerand mowing activity.Theydonot understandthe dangers.Neverassume thatchildrenwill remainwhereyoulastsawthem.

1. Keepchildrenoutof the mowingareaandunderwatchful careof a responsibleadultotherthanthe operator.

2. Bealert andturnmoweroffif a childentersthearea.

3. Beforeandwhilemovingbackwards,lookbehindanddown forsmallchildren.

4. Useextremecarewhenapproachingblindcorners, doorways,shrubs,trees,or otherobjectsthatmayobscure yourvisionofa childwhomayrunintothe mower.

5. Keepchildrenawayfromhotor runningengines.Theycan sufferburnsfroma hotmuffler.

6. Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsoldto operateapower mower.Children14yearsoldandovershouldreadand understandoperationinstructionsandsafetyrulesinthis manualandshouldbetrainedandsupervisedbyaparent.

General Operation

1. Readthis operator'smanualcarefullyin its entiretybefore attemptingtoassemblethismachine.Read,understand,

andfollowall instructionsonthe machineandin the manual(s)beforeoperation.Becompletelyfamiliarwith

thecontrolsandthe properuseof this machinebefore operatingit.Keepthis manualin a safeplaceforfuture andregularreferenceandfororderingreplacementparts.

2. Thismachineisa precisionpieceof powerequipment, nota plaything.Therefore,exerciseextremecautionat all times.Yourunithas beendesignedto performonejob: to mowgrass.Do notuseit for anyotherpurpose.

3. Neverallow childrenunder14yearsoldto operatethis machine.Children14yearsoldand overshouldreadand

understandthe instructionsinthis manualandshould betrainedand supervisedbya parent.Onlyresponsible

individualswhoarefamiliarwiththese rulesofsafe operationshouldbeallowedto usethis machine.

4. Thoroughlyinspectthe areawherethe equipmentisto beused.Removeall stones,sticks,wire,bones,toys andotherforeignobjects,whichcouldbetrippedover or pickedupandthrownbythe blade.Thrownobjectscan causeseriouspersonalinjury.Planyourmowingpattern toavoiddischargeof materialtowardroads,sidewalks, bystandersandthe like.Also,avoiddischargingmaterial againsta wallor obstruction,whichmaycausedischarged materialto ricochetbacktowardthe operator.

5. Tohelpavoidbladecontactora thrownobjectinjury, stayinoperatorzone behindhandlesand keepchildren, bystanders,helpersandpetsatleast75feetfrom mower whileit is inoperation.Stopmachineifanyoneenters

area.

6. Alwayswearsafetyglassesor safetygogglesduringopera- tionandwhileperforminganadjustmentor repairtoprotect youreyes.Thrownobjectswhich ricochetcancauseserious injurytothe eyes.

7. Wearsturdy,rough-soledworkshoesandclose-fitting slacksandshirts. Shirtsandpantsthatcoverthe armsand legsandsteel-toedshoesare recommended.Neveroperate thismachinein barefeet,sandals,slipperyor light-weight (e.g.canvas)shoes.

8. Do notputhandsorfeet nearrotatingpartsor undercutting deck.Contactwithbladecanamputatehandsandfeet.

9. A missingor damageddischargecovercancause blade contactor thrownobject injuries.

10.Manyinjuriesoccuras a resultofthe mowerbeing pulled overthefoot duringafall causedby slippingor tripping. Do notholdontothe mowerifyouare falling;releasethe handleimmediately.

11.Neverpullthe mowerbacktowardyouwhileyouare walking.Ifyou mustbackthemowerawayfromawall or obstructionfirstlookdownand behindtoavoidtrippingand thenfollowthesesteps:

a. Stepbackfrommowertofully extendyourarms. b. Besureyouare wellbalancedwithsurefooting.

c. Pullthe mowerback slowly,no morethanhalfway

towardyou.

d. Repeatthesestepsas needed.

12.Donotoperatethemowerwhileundertheinfluenceof alcoholordrugs.

13.Donotengagetheself-propelledmechanismon unitsso equippedwhilestartingengine.

14.Thebladecontrolhandleis asafetydevice.Neverattempt tobypassitsoperation.Doingso makesthesafetydevice inoperativeandmayresult in personalinjurythrough contactwiththe rotatingblade.The bladecontrolhandle mustoperateeasily in bothdirectionsandautomatically returntothe disengagedpositionwhenreleased.

15.Neveroperatethe mowerinwet grass.Alwaysbesureof yourfooting. A slipand fall cancauseseriouspersonal injury.If youfeelyou arelosingyourfooting,releasethe bladecontrolhandleimmediatelyand the bladewillstop

rotatingwithinthreeseconds.

16.Mowonlyin daylightorgood artificiallight.Walk,neverrun.

17.Stopthe bladewhencrossinggraveldrives,walksor roads.

18.Ifthe equipmentshouldstartto vibrateabnormally,stopthe engineandcheck immediatelyfor the cause.Vibrationis generallya warningoftrouble.

19.Shutthe engineoffand waituntilthe bladecomesto a completestopbeforeremovingthe grasscatcherorunclog- gingthe chute. Thecuttingbladecontinuesto rotatefora few secondsafter the engineisshutoff. Neverplaceany partofthe body in the bladeareauntil youaresurethe bladehasstopped rotating.

20.Neveroperatemowerwithoutpropertrailshield,discharge cover,grasscatcher,bladecontrolhandleorothersafety protectivedevicesin placeandworking.Neveroperate mowerwith damagedsafetydevices.Failureto dosocan resultin personalinjury.

21.Mufflerand enginebecomehotandcancausea burn.Do nottouch.

22.Onlyuseparts andaccessoriesmadeforthis machineby manufacturer.Failuretodosocan resultin personalinjury.

23. Ifsituationsoccurwhicharenotcoveredinthis manual, usecareand goodjudgment.Contactyourdealerfor

assistance.

Slope Operation

Slopesare amajorfactorrelatedtoslip andfallaccidents,which canresultinsevereinjury.Operationonslopesrequiresextra caution.Ifyoufeel uneasyona slope,do notmowit.Foryour

safety,usetheslopegaugeincludedas partofthis manualto measureslopesbeforeoperatingthisuniton aslopedorhilly area.Ifthe slopeisgreaterthan15degrees,donotmowit.

Do:

1. Mowacrossthefaceofslopes;neverupanddown.Exercise extremecautionwhenchangingdirectiononslopes.

2. Watchfor holes,ruts,rocks,hiddenobjects,orbumps whichcancauseyouto slipor trip. Tallgrasscan hide

obstacles.

3. Alwaysbesureof yourfooting.A slipand fallcan cause seriouspersonalinjury.If youfeel youare losingyour balance,releasethebladecontrolhandleimmediately,and the bladewill stoprotatingwithin3 seconds.

Do Not:

1. Do notmowneardrop-offs,ditchesor embankments,you could loseyourfootingorbalance.

2. Do notmowslopesgreaterthan 15degreesas shownon the slopegauge.

3. Do notmowonwet grass.Unstablefootingcouldcause slipping.

Service

Safe Handling Of Gasoline:

1. Toavoidpersonalinjuryor propertydamageuseextreme carein handlinggasoline.Gasolineisextremelyflammable andthevaporsare explosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycan occurwhengasolineis spilledonyourselfor your clothes, whichcanignite.Washyourskin andchangeclothes immediately.

2. Use onlyan approvedgasolinecontainer.

3. Neverfillcontainersinsideavehicleor ona truck ortrailer bedwitha plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainersonthe

groundawayfromyourvehiclebeforefilling.

4. Removegas-poweredequipmentfromthe truckor trailer andrefueliton theground.Ifthis isnot possible,thenrefuel suchequipmenton atrailer witha portablecontainer,rather thanfroma gasolinedispensernozzle.

5. Keepthe nozzlein contactwiththe rimof the fueltankor containeropeningat all timesuntilfueling iscomplete.Do not useanozzlelock-opendevice.

6. Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars, pipesandothersources ofignition.

7. Neverfuel machineindoorbecauseflammablevaporswill accumulatein thearea.

8. Neverremovegascap oradd fuelwhileengineishot or running. Allowengineto cool atleasttwo minutesbefore refueling.

9. Neveroverfill fueltank. Filltankto nomorethanY2inch belowbottomoffiller neckto provideforfuelexpansion.

10.Replacegasolinecapandtightensecurely.

11.Ifgasolineis spilled,wipeitoff theengineandequipment. Moveunitto anotherarea.Wait5minutesbeforestarting engine.

12.Neverstorethemachineorfuel containernearanopen flame,sparkor pilotlightas ona waterheater,space heater,furnace,clothesdryeror othergasappliances.

13.Toreducefire hazard,keepmowerfreeofgrass,leaves, orotherdebrisbuild-up.Cleanupoil orfuel spillageand removeanyfuel soakeddebris.

14.Allowamowertocoolat least5 minutesbeforestoring.

GeneralService:

1. Neverrunanengineindoorsorin a poorlyventilatedarea. Engineexhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,anodorless anddeadlygas.

2. Beforecleaning,repairing,orinspecting,makecertainthe bladeandall movingpartshavestopped.Disconnectthe sparkplugwireandgroundagainsttheengineto prevent unintendedstarting.

3. Checkthebladeandenginemountingboltsatfrequent intervalsfor propertightness.Also,visuallyinspectblade

fordamage(e.g.,bent,cracked,worn)Replacebladewith theoriginalequipmentmanufacture's(O.E.M.)bladeonly,

listedin this manual."Useof partswhichdo notmeetthe originalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto improper

performanceandcompromisesafety!"

4. Mowerbladesaresharpandcancut.Wrapthebladeor weargloves,anduseextracautionwhenservicingthem.

5. Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstightto besurethe equip- mentis insafeworkingcondition.

6. Nevertamperwithsafetydevices.Checktheirproper operationregularly.

7. Afterstrikingaforeignobject,stoptheengine,discon- nectthesparkplugwireandgroundagainsttheengine.

Thoroughlyinspectthemowerforanydamage.Repairthe damagebeforestartingandoperatingthemower.

8. Neverattemptto makea wheelor cuttingheightadjust- mentwhilethe engineisrunning.

9. Grasscatchercomponents,dischargecover,andtrail shieldaresubjecttowear anddamagewhichcould exposemovingpartsor allowobjectstobethrown.For safetyprotection,frequentlycheckcomponentsandre- placeimmediatelywithoriginalequipmentmanufacturer's (O.E.M.)partsonly,listedin this manual."Useof parts whichdo notmeetthe originalequipmentspecifications mayleadtoimproperperformanceandcompromise safety!"

10.Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingor over-revthe engine.The governorcontrolsthe maximumsafeoperating

speedoftheengine.

11.Maintainorreplacesafetylabels,asnecessary.

12.Observeproperdisposallawsand regulations.Improper disposaloffluidsand materialscanharmtheenvironment.

Practices

WARNING

Thissymbol points out importantsafety instructions,which if notfollowed,could

endangerthe personal safety and/or property

of yourselfand others.

Readand followall

instructions inthis man- ual beforeattemptingto

operatethis machine.

Failureto comply with

these instructionsmay result inpersonalinjury. Whenyousee this

symbol.

HEED iT'S WARNING!

Your Responsibility

Restrictthe use

of this power machine to personswho read.

understand and followthe warnings and instructions

in this manua and on the machine.

+ 11 hidden pages

MTD 12AV55DQ713 Owner’s Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual