MTD 13BH670F062 Owner’s Manual
YARD
Operator's Manual
Transmatic Lawn Tractors
Model Series
660 thru 679
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 368022 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-9722.
MTD PRODUCTS INC. P.O. BOX 368022 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-9722
PRINTED IN USA FORM NO 770-10115C
(1/2001)
TABLEOFCONTENTS
Content Page
Important Safe Operation Practices ................................................................... 3 thru 6
Slope Gauge ...................................................................................................... 7
Assembling your Lawn Tractor .......................................................................... 8
Know Your Lawn Tractor .................................................................................... 11
Operating Your Lawn Tractor ............................................................................. 13
Making Adjustments .......................................................................................... 15
Service ............................................................................................................... 18
Maintaining your Lawn Tractor ........................................................................... 19
Off-Season Storage ........................................................................................... 23
Troubleshooting ................................................................................................. 24
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. The information on
the model plate is very important if you need help from our Customer Support Department or
an authorized dealer.
You can locate the model number by pivoting the seat forward and looking under the seat at the seat
pivot bracket. A sample model plate is explained below. For future reference, please copy the model
number and the serial number of the equipment in the space below.
(Model Number) (Sedal Number)
LEVEl_AND,OHIO 44136
Copy the model number here:
Copy the serial number here:
CALLINGCUSTOMERSUPPORT
If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation or
maintenance of this unit, please call the Customer Support Department.
Call 1- (330) 220-4MTD (4683) or 1- (800)-800-7310 to reach a Customer Support
representative. Please have your unit's model number and serial number ready when you
call. See previous section to locate this information. You will be asked to enter the serial
number in order to process your call.
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.
,_ WARNING: Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehical 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
attemptingtostartengine.
26.Yourmachineis designedtocutnormal
residentialgrassofa height no more than 10".
Do not attempt to mow through unusually tall,
dry grass (e.g., pasture) or piles of dry leaves.
Dry grass or leaves may contact the engine
exhaust and/or build up on the mower deck
presenting a potential fire hazard.
27. Use only accessories and attachments approved
for this machine by the machine manufacturer.
Read, understand and follow all instructions
provided with the approved accessory or
attachment.
28. Data indicates that operators, age 60 years and
above, are involved in a large percentage of riding
mower-related injuries. These operators should
evaluate their ability to operate the riding mower
safely enough to protect themselves and others
from serious injury.
29. If situations occur which are not covered in this
manual, use care and good judgment. Contact your
customer service representative for assistance.
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 ifyou 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 injuryor 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
1.
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 wilt 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. Beforeandwhilebacking,lookbehindand
downforsmallchildren.
d. Nevercarrychildren,evenwiththeblade(s)
shutoff.Theymayfalloffandbeseriously
injuredorinterferewithsafemachine
operation.
e. Useextremecarewhenapproachingblind
corners,doorways,shrubs,treesorother
objectsthatmayblockyourvisionofachild
whomayrunintothemachine.
f. Disengagethecuttingblade(s)before
shiftinginreverse.The"No-Cut-InReverse"
featureisaremindernottocutinreverseand
tohelpavoidbackoveraccidents.Donot
defeatit.
g. Keepchildrenawayfromhotorrunning
engines.Theycansufferbumsfromahot
muffler.
h. Removekeywhenmachineisunattendedto
preventunauthorizedoperation.
g.
Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsoldtooperate
themachine.Children14yearsoldandovershould
readandunderstandtheoperationinstructionsand
safetyrulesinthismanualandshouldbetrained
andsupervisedbyaparent.
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:
1.
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. Neverfill 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. If this 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 tank to no more
than ½ inch below bottom of filter 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 withinapproximately (5) five
seconds after operating the blade disengagement
control. Ifthe 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
towear 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).
Replacetheblade(s)withtheoriginalequipment
manufacturer's(O.E.M.)blade(s)only,listedinthis
manual."Useofpartswhichdonotmeetthe
originalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto
improperperformanceandcompromisesafety!"
6. Mowerbladesaresharp.Wrapthebladeorwear
gloves,anduseextracautionwhenservicingthem.
7. Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstighttobesurethe
equipmentisinsafeworkingcondition.
8. Nevertamperwiththesafetyinterlocksystemor
othersafetydevices.Checktheirproperoperation
regularly.
9. Afterstrikingaforeignobject,stoptheengine,
disconnectthesparkplugwire(s)andground
againsttheengine.Thoroughlyinspectthe
machineforanydamage.Repairthedamage
beforestartingandoperating.
10.Neverattempttomakeadjustmentsorrepairsto
themachinewhiletheengineisrunning.
WARNING: YOUR RESPONSIBILITY- Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who
read, understand and follow the warnings and instructions in this manual and on the machine.
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.Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for
gas, oil, etc. to protect the environment.
ASSEMBLECHUTE DEFLECTORTO THIS UNIT BEFOREOPERATINa
14BOmV
DANGER
ASSEMBLE CHUTE DEFLECTOR
TO THIS UNIT
BEFORE OPERATING MACHINE.
&
O
m
SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE
u91 A POWER POLE
_b WARNING
Do not mow on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degrees (a rise of approximately 2-1/2 feet every 10 feet). A dding mower
could overturn and cause sedous injury. If operating a walk-behind mower on such a slope, it is extremely difficult to maintain
your footing and you could slip, resulting in serious injury.
Operate RIDING mowers up and down slopes, never across the face of slopes.
SECTION1: ASSEMBLINGYOURLAWNTRACTOR
IMPORTANT:After assembly, service engine with
gasoline, and check oil level as instructed in the
separate engine manual packed with your unit.
NOTE: Reference to right or left hand side of the unit
is observed from the driver's seat, facing forward.
Tools RequiredForAssembly
(1) 1/2" wrench or socket wrench*
(1) 9/16" wrench or socket wrench
(2) 7/16" wrenches or socket wrenches
*If your steering wheel cap is square, you must have a
socket wrench in order to install the steering wheel.
BatteryInformation
WARNING
Battery acid must be handled with great care as
contact with it can burn and blister the skin. It is also
advisable to wear protective clothing (goggles,
rubber gloves and apron) when working with it.
Should battery acid accidentally splatter into the
eyes or onto the face, rinse the affected area
immediately with clean cold water. If there is any
further discomfort, seek prompt medical attention.
If acid spills on clothing, first dilute it with clean
water, then neutralize with a solution of ammonia/
water or baking soda/water.
Since battery acid is corrosive, do not pour it into
any sink or drain. Before discarding empty
electrolyte containers, rinse them with a
neutralizing solution.
NEVER connect or disconnect charger clips to
battery while charger is turned on as it can cause
sparks.
Keep all lighted materials (cigarettes, matches,
lighters) away from the battery as the hydrogen gas
generated during charging can be combustible.
As a further precaution, only charge the battery in a
well-ventilated area.
*Always shield eyes, protect skin and clothing when
working near batteries.
Battery contains sulfuric acid. Refer to warning
at right. Antidote: EXTERNAL--Flush with water.
INTERNAL--Drink large quantities of water or milk.
Followwith milk of magnesia, beaten eggs or
vegetable oil.Call physician immediately. EYES:
Flushwith coolwater for at least 15 minutes, then get
prompt medical attention.
Since batteries produce explosive gases, keep
all lighted materials (cigarettes, lighters,
matches, etc.) away. Be sure to charge battery only
in well-ventilated areas. Make certain venting path of
battery drain tube (if equipped) is always open.
OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDRENt
AttachingTheSteeringWheel
The hardware for attaching the steering wheel has
been packed inside the steering wheel. Carefully
pry off the steering wheel cap and remove the
hardware.
Remove the steering bellow from the lift lever on
the right hand side of lawn tractor. Place steering
bellow over the steering shaft extending through
the dash. See Figure 1.
NOTE: If the openings on each end of the steering
bellow are two different sizes, the smaller end goes
down against the dash of the lawn tractor.
With the wheels of the tractor pointing straight
forward, place the steering wheel over the steering
shaft, positioning steering wheel as desired.
Place the washer with the cupped side down over
the steering shaft. Secure with hex lock bolt. See
Figure 1.
DANGER
KEEP BATTERIES
related accessories contain lead and lead
WARNING: Battery posts, terminals and
compounds. Wash hands after handling.
NOTE: If your steering wheel cap is square, you must
use asocket wrench.
Place the steering wheel cap over the center of the
steering wheel and seat it with your hand.
Steering
Whee_ap
Hex Lock _i_
Bolt
_ Cupped
_ Washer
Steering
Bellow
Screws
Manual Adjustment Seat
Steering
Shaft
Figure 1
AttachingTheSeat
There are two different seat pivot brackets used on this
series of lawn tractor, a manual adjustment seat or a
quick adjustment seat. See Figure 2 and 3 to identify
which seat is on your unit. Follow the instructions which
apply to your lawn tractor.
Manual AdjustmentSeat
Remove the four screws which secure the seat to the
seat pivot bracket. Turn the seat around and place in
position against the seat pivot bracket, lining up the
slotted holes in the pivot bracket with the holes in the
seat. Select desired position for the seat, and secure
with the four screws. See Figure 2.
NOTE: Your seat may have been shipped in a box.
Remove the four screws from the bottom of seat and
place seat in position against the seat pivot bracket.
Follow the directions above to attach the seat.
Figure 2
Seat Pivot
Bracket
@
Quick Adjustment Seat
Figure 3
Seat
QuickAdjustmentSeat
Pull out tab on seat stop and hold open while sliding
seat out of seat pivot bracket. See Figure 3. Turn the
seat around and line up plastic seat spacers with the
slots in seat pivotbracket. Slide seat in until front seat
spacer engages the seat stop. See Figure 4. To adjust
the seat refer to the adjustment section in this manual.
NOTE: If your seat was shipped in a box, line up
plastic seat spacers with the slots in seat pivot bracket
and slide seat in until front seat spacer engages seat
stop.
WARNING: Before operating this machine,
make sure the seat is engaged in the seat
stop, stand behind the machine and pull back
on seat until fully engaged into stop.
Seat
Spacers
Quick Adjustment Seat
Figure 4
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