MTD 146J844H401 Owner’s Manual

Spring

GARDEN

TRACTOR

ModemSeries 844

• ASSEMBLY

• OPERATION

• MAINTENANCE

IMPORTANT!

Record the exact Model NO, and Serial No.
which appear on the frame o! your unit (under

the seat} fn _he space below You must have
these numbers, along with the date of

purchase, iq crder 10 receive warranty or

service,

MODEL NO. SERIAL NO.

14[_844H401LIJIIfllllll

IMPORTANT:

Read Safety Rules and

Thank you fo pu chasing an American-buff produo

WARNING; This uni! is equipped with an internal COmbustion engine and shou;d net be used on or near any unimproved

forest-covered, brush-covered or grass cove ed land unless the erlg ne'_ exhaus_ system IS equipped wi h a spa k a es e

meeting appJicable IocaF or state I£ws (if any). d a spark arrester is used, it should be maintained in effective working order by

the opt=rater

in heStateofCalfonatheabove s equ edby aw Sec on444_0 heCalorntaPub cRe$0uoesOoee.Otnerstatesmay

have similar laws, Pederar taws apply on _ederal ;ands A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest engine
autho zeo serv'ce dea]e o con act he seFvJ_ departmen, P.O. Box 368022, C eve and, Oh o 44136-9722,

PRINTED IN U.S.A

\

Instructions Carefully

FORM NO 770-0223L

iMPORTANT SAFEOPE.AT,O.P. CT,CES

,_ THIS SYMBOLPOINTSOUT IMPORTANTSAFETYINSTRUCTIONSWHICH, IFNOTFOLLOWED,COULDENDANGERTHE PERSON-

,_ with any type of powBre[;uipment, caTelessnBssor error on the part ol the ?perathrcan result m in ilry.

1. Read,understand,andfePowall instructionsinthe manualand
on the machine before starting. Keepthis manual in a safe
pricefor future andregularreferenceandfor orderingreplace-

mentparts.

2 Onlyallowresponsibleindividualsthmgiarwith theirstr_ctions

to operatethe machine Knew coDtrolsandhow to stop the
machinequickly.

AL SAFETYAND/ON PROPERTYOF YOURSELFAND OTHERS,READ AND FOLLOWALL INSTRUgTIONS IN THIS MANUAL
BEFOREATTEMPTINGTOOPERATEYOUR UNIT,WHSk YOUSEETHISSYMBOL-- _ HEEDITS WARNING.

Your lawn mower was built to be ogerathgaccordingIo the rules lOTsale operation In this manual. AS

DANGER: Th s awn mower is _apadJeof amputatinghangs and lest and Iofuwing ogle=Is, Failure to observe the

thlthw'gg gofer "nsttuetlonccould resuff Inseriousinjury or death.

the operator may be struck or pulled from the unit, which
c_uld resultin serioue injury

20 Disengage all attachment clutcges, thoroughly depress the

brake pedal, and shitt into neutral bofore a11en-pKngto start
e_gine.

21 Ycuf mower is designed to cut norma residential grass of a

height no mDrethzn 10 DOnot etterrpt to nowthrough
unusually tall, dry grass (e.g, pasture) _r piles of dry leaves

3 DOnot put handsor feet undercutting deckor near rotating

parts

4 Oleo the a eaof obactssuch as asks,toys, _" e,etc., which

could de picked _gand thtowr by theNode A smarlob}ect

Slopesare a major factor relatedto loss of control a_d tip-over

the rqawer in any direction and cause hjury to you or a

bystander TO help avoid athrown Dbjee_sinjury, keep
children¸ bystanders and helpers at least 75 feet from the

mower while it Js in eperadon Always wear safetg glasses or

safety goggles during operation or while performing an
adjustment or repair,to protecteyesfromtoreignohiects Step

5 Besure the area is clear ol other people gethre mowing. Stop

machine if anyon_enta_ the ar_a

6. N_ver carry passengers¸

7. Disengage blade(s) before shifting into reverseage backing up

8. Be awBre of the mower and artachme]t discharge direction _nd
do not poinl it al cryone. Do not operale the mower withoui
eilher the entir_ grass catcher or the chuteguarQin place.

g. Slow down d_fore turning¸ Operate the machine smoothly

10 Never leave a running machine u[attended Always turn ofl

blade(a), place transmission in n_utr_l, set park brake, stop
_nglne and relTOVahey before dismounting.

11 Turn oF diode(s} whe_ not mowin_
12 Stop engine and wait until blade(s) combs to a complete StCp

require extra eauton If you pannalback uptee slope or if you _eel

Io measure slopes befoEeoperaling this unt on a sloped or hilly

DO:

Mow upanddown slopes,_ot across
Removeobsth_les such as cooks, Jd_hs, 8:c
Watch !or hoJes,_uts or bumps, Uneventerrain could overturn the
machine Tail gra_s ua_ gide obstacles.

Use slow speed Choose a low enough pear so that you wdl not

haveio stop or shift while on the slope Always keep machine in
gear when going dowr slopes to take _dvantage o' engine brBking
action.

Follow the manufacturer's recommendations fol wheel weighta or

Keepair movement on the slopes slow and gradoah DOnol make
sudden changes in speed or direction. Rapid engagement or hrak-

making any repairs,adjusting or removinganygrass orcebris

13 Mow only [n d&yqghtor good art'fJcial light.
14 Do not operate the machine while under the influence of

alcohol or hrugs
15 Watch for traffi2 when operating nearor cross_ngroadways,
16 Use extra care when Jo&disgor unloadNp the machine into a

trailer or truck This unit should not b_ driven up or down

ramp o31o a trailer or truck under power, because the ulr:

hepushed manuallyon a ramptuioad o;unload properly
17 Never make a cutting height adjustment while enghe is

18 Wear sturdy rough-solee work shoes and elose-fitt[rg slacks ground

and shirts DO not wear loose htPog ¢,othes ot jewelry Thed _%

can be c_ught in moving pa_s Never operath a unit in hare li_lilll.

feet, sandals, o" s_eakers.
19 Checkove_head clearance carefully beforedriving underpower

lines, wires, bridges or low hanging tree branches, before

e_tering or leaving buildings, or in any other situation wgere

. Do uol usegrass catcher o,,steep slopes

Avoid starting or stopping on a slope If tires lose tractJen, disen-

gage the Plag._(s)and proceed slowlp straighldown the slope¸

g_ riot turn or sropes UnleSS necessary; then, [urn slowly and

Do nol mow near drop-oils, d_tchesof embankmentsTh_ mower
could suddenly turn over it a wheel is over the edge of a cliff or
ditch, Drif anedge cavesm

Do netmaw onwet grass Reouuedtract[encoaJdcauseslicing
Do net try to staPlize the machine by putting your foot on the

Tragic accidents can occur it the operator is not _lert to the ores-
once of chgdrea Chgdren are often attrastad to the m_chine and

the mowing act vity. Never assume t_at children wig remain where
you last sew 1hem

DO NeT:

tconlinuedon 13age5)

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