MTD 13AN771G731, 13AJ771G713 Owner’s Manual

Operator's Manual

Transmatic Lawn Tractor

MODELS 760,770

761,771
762,772

IMPORTANT: Read safety rules and instructions carefully before operating equipment.

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 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 361131

Cleveland, Ohio 44136-9722,

MTB LLC,P.O.BOX361131CLEVELAND,OHIO44136-9722

PRINTED IN U.S.A. FORM NO. 769-01598

(11/29/2004)

TABLEOFCONTENTS

Content
Customer Support

Important Safe Operation Practices

Tractor Set-up
Controls

Operation

Page Content Page

2 Maintenance 20

3 Service 22
8 Off-season Storage 26

11 Attachments & Accessories 26
14 Warranty Back Cover

FINDINGMODELNUMBER

This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new lawn tractor. It will help you assemble, prepare and
maintain the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.

Before you start assembling your new equipment, please locate the model plate on the equipment
and copy the information from it in the space provided below. A sample model plate is also given below.
You can locate the model plate by looking at the underside of the seat. This information will be necessary

to use the manufacturer's web site and/or help from the Customer Support Department or an authorized

service dealer.

Copy the model number here:

P. O. BOX 361131

CLEVELAND,OH 44136

www, mtdproducts.corn 800-800-7310

330-220-4883

Copy the serial number here:

CUSTOMERSUPPORT

Please doNOTretum theunRtotheretailer wRhoutfirstcontactingCustomerSupport.

If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation or
maintenance of this unit, you can seek help from the experts. Choose from the options below:

Visit mtdproducts.com for many useful suggestions. Click on Customer Support button and
you will get the four options reproduced here. Click on the appropriate button and help is

immediately available.

TrendAo_we_

fooking for could be just
a mouse-dick aw_,_y!

If you prefer to reach a Customer Support Representative, please call (330) 220-4MTD or
1(800) 800-7310.

Ma ual

_En ine

The engine manufacturer is responsible for all engine-related issues with regard to

3erformance, power-rating, specifications, warranty and service. Please refer to the engine
manufacturer's Owner's/Operator's Manual, packed separately with your unit, for more

information.

SECTION1: IMPORTANTSAFEOPERATIONPRACTICES

WARNING: This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed, could endanger

the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all instructions in this manual
before attempting to operate this machine. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in personal
injury. When you see this symbol--heed its warning.

DANGER: This machine was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this man-

ual. As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in
serious injury. This machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to
observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.

California Proposition 65 Warning:

,_ WARNING: Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain

GENERAL OPERATION

1. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the

2. Be familiar with all controls and their proper

3. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate

4. Never allow adults to operate this machine without

5. To help avoid blade contact or a thrown object

6. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment

7. Plan your mowing pattern to avoid discharge of

8. Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles

9. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-

or emit chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.

10. Be aware of the mower and attachment discharge
direction and do not point it at anyone. Do not

machine and in the manual(s) before attempting to
assemble and operate. Keep this manual in a safe
place for future and regular reference and for
ordering replacement parts.

operation. Know how to stop the machine and
disengage them quickly.

this machine. Children 14 years old and over

should read and understand the operation
instructions and safety rules in this manual and
should be trained and supervised by a parent.

proper instruction.

injury, keep bystanders, helpers, children and pets
at least 75 feet from the machine while it is in

operation. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.

is to be used. Remove all stones, sticks, wire,
bones, toys, and other foreign objects which could

be picked up and thrown by the blade(s). Thrown
objects can cause serious personal injury.

material toward roads, sidewalks, bystanders and

the like. Also, avoid discharging material against a

wall or obstruction which may cause discharged
material to ricochet back toward the operator.

during operation and while performing an
adjustment or repair to protect your eyes. Thrown
objects which ricochet can cause serious injury to

the eyes.

fitting slacks and shirts. Loose fitting clothes and
jewelry can be caught in movable parts. Never

operate this machine in bare feet or sandals.

operate the mower without the discharge cover or
entire grass catcher in its proper place.

11. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or

under the cutting deck. Contact with the blade(s)

can amputate hands and feet.

12. A missing or damaged discharge cover can cause
blade contact or thrown object injuries.

13. Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel drives,
walks, or roads and while not cutting grass.

14. Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing

roadways. This machine is not intended for use on

any public roadway.

15. Do not operate the machine while under the

influence of alcohol or drugs.

16. Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.

17. Never carry passengers.

18. Disengage blade(s) before shifting into reverse.

Back up slowly. Always look down and behind

before and while backing to avoid a back-over
accident.

19. Slow down before turning. Operate the machine
smoothly. Avoid erratic operation and excessive
speed.

20. Disengage blade(s), set parking brake, stop engine
and wait until the blade(s) come to a complete stop
before removing grass catcher, emptying grass,

unclogging chute, removing any grass or debris, or
making any adjustments.

21. Never leave a running machine unattended.
Always turn off blade(s), place transmission in

neutral, set parking brake, stop engine and remove
key before dismounting.

22. Use extra care when loading or unloading the

machine into a trailer or truck. This unit should not

be driven up or down ramp(s), because the unit
could tip over, causing serious personal injury. The

unit must be pushed manually on ramp(s) to load or
unload properly.

23.Mufflerandenginebecomehotandcancausea
burn.Donottouch.

24.Checkoverheadclearancescarefullybeforedriving
underlowhangingtreebranches,wires,door
openingsetc.,wheretheoperatormaybestruckor
pulledfromtheunit,whichcouldresultinserious
injury.

25.Disengageallattachmentclutches,depressthe
brakepedalcompletelyandshiftintoneutralbefore
attemptingto startengine.

26.Yourmachineisdesignedtocutnormalresidential
grassofaheightnomorethan10".Donotattempt

tomowthroughunusuallytall,drygrass(e.g.,

pasture)orpilesofdryleaves.Drygrassorleaves
maycontacttheengineexhaustand/orbuildupon

themowerdeckpresentingapotentialfirehazard.

27.Useonlyaccessoriesandattachmentsapproved

forthismachinebythemachinemanufacturer.

Read,understandandfollowallinstructions
providedwiththeapprovedaccessoryor

attachment.

28.Dataindicatesthatoperators,age60yearsand
above,areinvolvedinalargepercentageofriding
mower-relatedinjuries.Theseoperatorsshould
evaluatetheirabilitytooperatetheridingmower
safelyenoughtoprotectthemselvesandothers

fromseriousinjury.

29.Ifsituationsoccurwhicharenotcoveredinthis
manual,usecareandgoodjudgment.Contactan

authorizedMTDServiceDealerforassistance.

SLOPE OPERATION

Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and
tip-over accidents which can result in severe injury or
death. All slopes require extra caution. If you cannot
back up the slope or if you feel uneasy on it, do not mow

it.
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 degrees as shown on the slope gauge, do not
operate this unit on that area or serious injury could

result.

DO:

1. Mow up and down slopes, not across. Exercise
extreme caution when changing direction on
slopes.

2. Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other
hidden objects. Uneven terrain could overturn the
machine. Tall grass can hide obstacles.

3. Use slow speed. Choose a low enough speed
setting so that you will not have to stop or shift while
on the slope. Tires may lose traction on slopes
even though the brakes are functioning properly.
Always keep machine in gear when going down
slopes to take advantage of engine braking action.

4. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for
wheel weights or counterweights to improve

stability.

5. Use extra care with grass catchers or other
attachments. These can change the stability of the

machine.

6. Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual.

Do not make sudden changes in speed or direction.

Rapid engagement or braking could cause the front
of the machine to lift and rapidly flip over backwards
which could cause serious injury.

7. Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. If tires lose
traction, disengage the blade(s) and proceed
slowly straight down the slope.

DO NOT:

1. Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then, turn
slowly and gradually downhill, if possible.

2. Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or
embankments. The mower could suddenly turn
over if a wheel is over the edge of a cliff, ditch, or if
an edge caves in.

3. Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting your
foot on the ground.

4. Do not use a grass catcher on steep slopes.

5. Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could
cause sliding.

6. Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill. Over-
speeding may cause the operator to lose control of

the machine resulting in serious injury or death.

7. Do not tow heavy pull behind attachments (e.g.
loaded dump cart, lawn roller, etc.) on slopes

greater than 5 degrees. When going down hill, the
extra weight tends to push the tractor and may
cause you to loose control. (e.g. tractor may speed

up, braking and steering ability are reduced,

attachment may jack-knife and cause tractor to
overturn).

CHILDREN

,

Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not
alert to the presence of children. Children are often
attracted to the machine and the mowing activity.
They do not understand the dangers. Never
assume that children will remain where you last

saw them.

a. Keep children out of the mowing area and in

watchful care of a responsible adult other
than the operator.

b. Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters

the area.

c. Before and while backing, look behind and

down for small children.

d. Never carry children, even with the blade(s)

shut off. They may fall off and be seriously
injured or interfere with safe machine
operation.

e. Useextremecarewhenapproachingblind

corners,doorways,shrubs,treesorother
objectsthatmayblockyourvisionofachild
whomayrunintothemachine.

f. Toavoidback-overaccidents,always

disengagethecuttingblade(s)before
shiftingintoreverse.The"Reverse

CautionMode" should not be used when

children or others are around.

g. Keep children away from hot or running

engines. They can suffer burns from a hot

muffler.

h. Remove key when machine is unattended to

prevent unauthorized operation.

,

Never allow children under 14 years old to operate

the machine. Children 14 years old and over should

read and understand the operation instructions and
safety rules in this manual and should be trained
and supervised by a parent.

TOWING

1. Tow only with a machine that has a hitch designed
for towing. Do not attach towed equipment except

at the hitch point.

2. Follow the manufacturers recommendation for

weight limits for towed equipment and towing on
slopes.

3. Never allow children or others in or on towed

equipment.

4. On slopes, the weight of the towed equipment may

cause loss of traction and loss of control.

5. Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop.

6. Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill.

SERVICE

SAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE:

,

To avoid personal injury or property damage
use extreme care in handling gasoline. Gasoline is
extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive.
Serious personal injury can occur when gasoline is
spilled on yourself or your clothes which can ignite.
Wash your skin and change clothes immediately.

a. Use only an approved gasoline container.

b. Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a

truck or trailer bed with a plastic liner. Always
place containers on the ground away from
your vehicle before filling.

c. When practical, remove gas-powered

equipment from the truck or trailer and refuel

it on the ground. Ifthis is not possible, then

refuel such equipment on a trailer with a
portable container, rather than from a
gasoline dispenser nozzle.

d. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the

fuel tank or container opening at all times

until fueling is complete. Do not use a nozzle

lock-open device.

e. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and

other sources of ignition.

f. Neverfuel machine indoors.
g. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the

engine is hot or running. Allow engine to cool
at least two minutes before refueling.

h. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tankto no more

than _/2inch below bottom of filler neck to

allow space for fuel expansion.
i. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
j. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine

and equipment. Move unit to another area.

Wait 5 minutes before starting the engine.
k. To reduce fire hazards, keep machine free of

grass, leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean

up oil or fuel spillage and remove any fuel

soaked debris.
I. Never store the machine or fuel container

inside where there is an open flame, spark or

pilot light as on a water heater, space heater,

furnace, clothes dryer or other gas

appliances.
m. Allow a machine to cool at least 5 minutes

before storing.

GENERAL SERVICE:

1. Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly
ventilated area. Engine exhaust contains carbon

monoxide, an odorless, and deadly gas.

2. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make
certain the blade(s) and all moving parts have
stopped. Disconnect the spark plug wire and
ground against the engine to prevent unintended
starting.

3. Periodically check to make sure the blades come to
complete stop within approximately (5) five
seconds after operating the blade disengagement
control. If the blades do not stop within the this time
frame, your unit should be serviced professionally
by an authorized MTD Service Dealer.

4. Check brake operation frequently as it is subjected
to wear during normal operation. Adjust and service
as required.

5. Check the blade(s) and engine mounting bolts at
frequent intervals for proper tightness. Also,
visually inspect blade(s) for damage (e.g.,
excessive wear, bent, cracked).

Replace the blade(s) with the original equipment
manufacturer's (O.E.M.) blade(s) only, listed in this
manual. "Use of parts which do not meet the

original equipment specifications may lead to

improper performance and compromise safety!"

6. Mower blades are sharp. Wrap the blade or wear
gloves, and use extra caution when servicing them.

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

8. Nevertamperwiththesafetyinterlocksystemor
othersafetydevices.Checktheirproperoperation
regularly.

9. Afterstrikingaforeignobject,stoptheengine,
disconnectthesparkplugwire(s)andground
againsttheengine.Thoroughlyinspectthe
machineforanydamage.Repairthedamage
beforestartingandoperating.

10.Neverattempttomakeadjustmentsorrepairsto

themachinewhiletheengineisrunning.

11.Grasscatchercomponentsandthedischarge
coveraresubjecttowearanddamagewhichcould
exposemovingpartsorallowobjectstobethrown.

Forsafetyprotection,frequentlycheckcomponents

andreplaceimmediatelywithoriginalequipment

manufacturer's(O.E.M.)partsonly,listedinthis
manual."Useofpartswhichdonotmeetthe

originalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto

improperperformanceandcompromisesafety!"

12.

Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingsor

over-speedtheengine.Thegovernorcontrolsthe

maximumsafeoperatingspeedoftheengine.

13.

Maintainorreplacesafetyandinstructionlabels,as
necessary.

14.

Observeproperdisposallawsandregulationsfor
gas,oil,etc.toprotecttheenvironment.

_, ARNING: YOURRESPONSIBILITYRestricttheuseofthispowermachineto personswhoread,

understandandfollowthewarningsandinstructionsinthismanualandonthemachine.

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SECTION3: TRACTORSET-UP

IMPORTANT:Your tractor is shipped with motor oil in the engine. However, you MUST check the oil level before

starting the engine and operating the tractor. Refer to the separate engine manufacturer's Operator/Owner Manual
packed w th your tractor. Read nstruct ons carefu y.

LooseParts

Packaged with this Operator's Manual you'll find:

• One Small Clamp (726-0354)

• One 1/4-20 x 1/2-inch Screw (710-0599)

• One Oil Drain Sleeve (731-1682A)

Store the clamp and screw in a convenient place. Both
will be necessary to properly secure your tractor's wire
harness should you choose to purchase a front-end
attachment for your lawn tractor. Refer to page 26 for a

table of available attachments and accessories.
Refer to page 20 for information regarding the oil drain

sleeve and changing your engine oil.

AttachingTheSteeringWheel

ToolsRequiredForAssembly

(1) 1/2" socket wrench

1. The hardware for attaching the steering wheel has
been packed within the steering wheel, beneath
steering wheel cap. Carefully pry off the steering
wheel cap and remove the hardware.

2. With the wheels of the tractor pointing straight
forward, place the steering wheel over the steering

shaft.

3. Place the washer (with the cupped side down) over

the steering shaft and secure with the hex bolt. See

Figure 1.

4. Place the steering wheel cap over the center of the
steering wheel and push downward until it "clicks"
into place.

ShippingBraceRemoval

_, WARNING: Make sure the riding mower's

engine is off, remove the ignition key, and set
the parking brake before removing the
shipping brace.

Locate the shipping brace and accompanying

warning tag found on the right side of the mower,

between the discharge chute and the cutting deck.
See Figure 2.

Warning Tag

Figure 2

While holding the discharge chute with your left
hand, remove the shipping brace with your right
hand by grasping it between your thumb and index

finger and rotating it clockwise.

Figure 1

WARNING: The shipping brace, used for

packaging purposes only, must be removed
and discarded before operating your riding

mower.

WARNING: The mowing deck is capable of

throwing objects. Failure to operate the riding
mower without the discharge cover in the
proper operating position could result in
serious personal injury and/or property
damage.

AttachingtheBatteryCables

NOTE: Some models are shipped with the battery

cables already connected.

NOTE: The positive battery terminal is marked Pos.

(+). The negative battery terminal is marked Neg. (-).

• The positive cable (heavy red wire) is secured to

the positive battery terminal (+) with a hex bolt and

hex nut at the factory. Make certain that the rubber
boot covers the terminal to help protect itfrom

corrosion.

• Remove the hex bolt and hex nut from the negative
cable.

• Remove the black plastic cover, if present, from the
negative battery terminal and attach the negative
cable (heavy black wire) to the negative battery

terminal (-) with the bolt and hex nut.

• Make certain the hold-down rod is in position over

the battery, securing it in place. See Figure 3.

GasandOilFill-up

The gasoline tank is located under the hood and has a
capacity of 1-1/2 gallons. Do not overfill.

WARNING: Use extreme care when

handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely

flammable and the vapors are explosive.

Never fuel machine indoors or while the
engine is hot or running. Extinguish

cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and other sources of

ignition.

Service the engine with gasoline and oil as instructed in

the separate engine manufacturer's Operator/Owner

Manual packed with your tractor. Read instructions

carefully.

TirePressure

_, WARNING: Maximum tire pressure under

The tires on your unit may be over-inflated for shipping

purposes. Reduce the tire pressure before operating
the tractor. Recommended operating tire pressure is
approximately 10 p.s.i for the rear tires & 14 p.s.i, for
the front tires. Check sidewall of tire for maximum p.s.i.

any circumstances is 30 psi. Equal tire
pressure should be maintained at all times.

HoldDownRod

HexNut

HexBolt

Figure 3

NOTE: If the battery is put into service after the date

shown on top of battery, charge the battery as
instructed on page 23 of this manual prior to operating

the tractor.