MTD 18A-212A783, 18A-202A783, Corded, 2-in-1 19"", 202 Operator's Manual

Safe Operation Practices • Set-Up • Operation • Maintenance • Service • Troubleshooting • Warranty

Op e r a t O r ’s Ma n u a l

2-in-1, 19” Corded

WARNING

READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL

BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS MACHINE.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.

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

Printed In USA

Form No. 769-05578A

(January 27, 2010)

To The Owner

Thank You

Thank you for purchasing an Electric Mower manufactured
by MTD LLC. It was carefully engineered to provide excellent
performance when properly operated and maintained.

Please read this entire manual prior to operating the equipment.

It instructs you how to safely and easily set up, operate and

maintain your machine. Please be sure that you, and any other

persons who will operate the machine, carefully follow the
recommended safety practices at all times. Failure to do so could
result in personal injury or property damage.

All information in this manual is relative to the most recent
product information available at the time of printing. Review
this manual frequently to familiarize yourself with the machine,

its features and operation. Please be aware that this Operator’s

Manual may cover a range of product specifications for various
models. Characteristics and features discussed and/or illustrated
in this manual may not be applicable to all models. MTD LLC
reserves the right to change product specifications, designs and
equipment without notice and without incurring obligation.

Table of Contents

Safe Operation Practices ........................................ 3

Assembly & Set-Up .................................................. 8

Controls ...................................................................11

Operation ................................................................12

Maintenance & Adjustment..................................14

1

If you have any problems or questions concerning the machine,
phone your local authorized MTD service dealer or contact us

directly. MTD’s Customer Support telephone numbers, website

address and mailing address can be found on this page. We want
to ensure your complete satisfaction at all times.

Throughout this manual, all references to right and left side of the
machine are observed from the operating position

Service .....................................................................16

Troubleshooting .....................................................18

Illustrated Parts List .............................................. 20

Warranty ..................................................Back Cover

Record Product Information

Before setting up and operating your new equipment, please

locate the model plate on the equipment and record the
information in the provided area to the right. You can locate the

model plate by standing at the operator’s position and looking

down at the rear of the deck. This information will be necessary,
should you seek technical support via our web site, Customer
Support Department, or with a local authorized service dealer.

MO d e l nu M b e r

se r i a l nu M b e r

Customer Support

Please do NOT return the machine to the retailer or dealer without first contacting our Customer Support Department.

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

Visit us on the web at www.mtdproducts.com◊

Call a Customer Support Representative at [phone] or [phone]◊

Write us at MTD LLC • P.O. Box 361131 • Cleveland, OH • 44136-0019◊

2

Important Safe Operation Practices

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 safe operation practices in
this manual. 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 fingers, hands,
toes and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could
result in serious injury or death.

WARNING: When using electric lawnmowers, basic safety precautions should always be
followed to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, and personal injury. These basic
precautions include the following:

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS

Double Insulated Lawn Mower

Double insulation is a concept in the safety of electric lawn mowers, which eliminates the need for the usual
three-wire grounded power cord and grounded power supply system. Wherever there is electric current in the
mower, there are two complete sets of insulation to protect the user. All exposed metal parts are isolated from
the internal metal motor components with protecting insulation.

Servicing of a lawn mower with double insulation requires extreme care and knowledge of the system and should
be performed only by a qualified service technician. For repair service we suggest you take the lawn mower to

your nearest authorized service dealer. Always use original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) replacement parts

when servicing.

2

Operation

General Operation:

Read this operator’s manual carefully in its entirety before 1.
attempting to assemble this machine. Read, understand,
and follow all instructions on the machine and in the
manual(s) before operation. Keep this manual in a safe
place for future and regular reference and for ordering
replacement parts.

Be completely familiar with the controls and the proper use 2.
of this machine before operating it.

This machine is a precision piece of power equipment, 3.
not a plaything. Therefore, exercise extreme caution at all
times. This machine has been designed to perform one job:
to mow grass. Do not use it for any other purpose.

Never allow children under 14 years of age to operate this 4.
machine. Children 14 and over should read and understand
the instructions and safe operation practices in this manual
and on the machine and be trained and supervised by an
adult.

Only responsible individuals who are familiar with these 5.
rules of safe operation should be allowed to use this
machine.

Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to be 6.
used. Remove all stones, sticks, wire, bones, toys and other
foreign objects which could be tripped over or picked up
and thrown by the blade. Thrown objects can cause serious
personal injury.

Plan your mowing pattern to avoid discharge of material 7.
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.

To help avoid blade contact or a thrown object injury, 8.
stay in operator zone behind handles and keep children,
bystanders, helpers and pets at least 75 feet from mower
while it is in operation. Stop machine if anyone enters area.

Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles during 9.
operation and while performing an adjustment or repair
to protect your eyes. Thrown objects which ricochet can
cause serious injury to the eyes.

3

Dress properly – Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. 10.
They can be caught in moving parts. Wear sturdy, rough­soled work shoes and close-fitting slacks and shirts. Shirts
and pants that cover the arms and legs, rubber gloves, and
rubber soled steel-toed shoes are recommended. Never
operate this machine in bare feet, sandals, slippery or light
weight (e.g. canvas) shoes. Always use face or dust mask if
operation is dusty.

Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or under 11.
cutting deck. Contact with blade can amputate hands and
feet.

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

Many injuries occur as a result of the mower being pulled 13.
over the foot during a fall caused by slipping or tripping.
Do not hold on to the mower if you are falling; release the
handle immediately.

Never pull the mower back toward you while you are 14.
walking. If you must back the mower away from a wall or
obstruction first look down and behind to avoid tripping
and then follow these steps:

Step back from mower to fully extend your arms.a.

Be sure you are well balanced with sure footing.b.

Pull the mower back slowly, no more than half way c.

toward you.

Repeat these steps as needed.d.

Do not operate the mower while under the influence of 15.
alcohol or drugs.

Stay alert — Watch what you are doing. Use common 16.
sense. Do not operate lawn mower when you are tired.

The motor/blade control handle is a safety device. Never 17.
attempt to bypass its operation. Doing so makes the
safety device inoperative and may result in personal injury
through contact with the rotating blade. The motor/blade
control handle must operate easily in both directions and
automatically return to the disengaged position when
released.

Never operate the mower in the rain or in damp or wet 18.
grass. Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can
cause serious personal injury. If you feel you are losing
your footing, release the motor/blade control handle
immediately and the blade will stop rotating within three
seconds.

Mow only in daylight or good artificial light. Walk, never 19.

run. Don’t force the lawn mower - It will do the job better

and safer at the rate for which it was designed.

Stop the motor/blade when crossing gravel drives, walks or 20.
roads.

If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop 21.
the motor and check immediately for the cause. Vibration
is generally a warning of trouble.

Shut the motor off and wait until the blade comes to a 22.
complete stop before unclogging the chute or removing
the grass catcher (if provided). The cutting blade continues
to rotate for a few seconds after the motor is shut off. Never
place any part of the body in the blade area until you are
sure the blade has stopped rotating.

Never operate mower without proper trail shield, discharge 23.
chute, grass catcher (if provided), motor/blade control
handle or other safety protective devices in place and
working. Never operate mower with damaged safety
devices. Failure to do so, can result in personal injury.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection should 24.
be provided on the circuit(s) or outlet(s) to be used for the
lawn mower. Receptacles are available having built-in GFCI
protection and may be used for this measure of safety.

To prevent electric shock use only with a UL listed 25.
extension cord set suitable for outdoor use, such as Type

SW-A, SOW-A, STW-A, STOW-A, SJW-A, SJOW-A, SJTW-A, or
SJTOW-A.

Extension Cord—Make sure your extension cord set is in 26.
good condition and is heavy enough to carry the current
load your lawn mower will draw. If in doubt, use the next
heavier gauge cord. The smaller the gauge number, the
heavier the cord. An undersized cord will cause a drop in
line voltage resulting in loss of power and overheating.

MINIMUM WIRE SIZE FOR EXTENSION CORDS

FOR 120 VOLT APPLIANCES USING 10 - 12 AMPS

Cord Length (ft.) 25 50 100 150

Wire Size (AWG) 16 16 14 12

To reduce the likelihood of disconnection of the extension 27.
cord set from the mower, be sure to use the cord restraint
provided as well as a modern, tightly fitting extension cord.

To reduce the risk of electric shock, this lawn mower has a 28.
polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other) and will
require the use of a polarized extension cord. The mower
plug will only fit into the polarized extension cord one way.
If the plug does not fit fully into the extension cord, reverse
the plug. If the plug still does not fit, obtain a correct
polarized extension cord. A polarized extension cord will
require the use of a polarized wall outlet. This plug will fit
into the polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not
fit fully into the wall outlet, reverse the plug. If the plug
still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install
the proper wall outlet. Do not change the equipment plug,
extension cord receptacle, or extension cord plug in any
way.

If extension cord is damaged in any manner during use, 29.
disconnect extension cord from house receptacle before
unplugging mower.

Circuit Breaker/Fuses—The mower should be operated 30.
on a 15 AMP or 20 AMP circuit. If difficulty in starting
is experienced with a standard 15 AMP fuse or circuit
breaker or the mower’s built-in overload protection switch

frequently trips, contact your nearest authorized service
dealer. Do not use a higher rated circuit breaker or fuse
without consulting your power company.

Do not abuse the cord by pulling the mower by the cord or 31.
yanking it to disconnect it from the receptacle. Keep cord
from heat, oil, and sharp edges.

Only use parts and accessories made for this machine by 32.
manufacturer. Failure to do so can result in personal injury.

4 se c t i O n 2 — iM p O r t a n t sa f e Op e r a t i O n pr a c t i c e s

If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use 33.
care and good judgment. Contact Customer Support for
assistance or the name of the nearest service dealer.

Slope Operation:

Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall accidents which

can result in severe injury. Operation on slopes requires extra

caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it. For your
safety, use the slope gauge included as part of this manual to
measure slopes before operating this machine on a sloped or
hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15 degrees, do not mow it.

Do:

Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down. Exercise 1.
extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.

Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects, or bumps 2.
which can cause you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide
obstacles.

Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can 3.
cause serious personal injury. If you feel you are losing
your balance, release the motor/blade control handle
immediately, and the blade will stop rotating within three
(3) seconds.

Do Not:

Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments, you 1.
could lose your footing or balance.

Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as shown on 2.
the slope gauge.

Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing could cause 3.
slipping.

Children

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

Keep children out of the mowing area and under watchful 1.
care of a responsible adult other than the operator.

Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the area.2.

Before and while moving backwards, look behind and 3.

down for small children.

Use extreme care when approaching blind corners, 4.
doorways, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure
your vision of a child who may run into the mower.

Never allow children under 14 years of age to operate this
machine. Children 14 and over should read and understand the
instructions and safe operation practices in this manual and on
the machine and be trained and supervised by an adult.

Service

When servicing mower, use original equipment 1.

manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts listed in this

manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the original
equipment specifications may lead to improper
performance and compromise safety!”

Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain the 2.
blade and all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the
power cord when not in use and to prevent unintended
starting.

Follow instructions for lubricating and changing 3.
accessories.

Inspect lawn mower cord and extension cords periodically 4.
and replace immediately, if damaged. Lawn mower cord
should be repaired by an authorized service dealer only.

Keep handles dry, clean and free from oil and grease.5.

To reduce a fire hazard, keep the motor free of grass, leaves 6.
and debris build-up.

Check the blade and motor mounting bolts at frequent 7.
intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect blade
for damage (e.g., bent, cracked, and worn) Replace blade

with the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) blade

only, listed in this manual.

Maintain your mower with care — Keep mower blade sharp 8.
and clean for best and safest performance. Mower blades
are sharp and can cut, wrap the blade or wear gloves and
use extra caution when servicing them.

Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the 9.
equipment is in safe working condition.

Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper 10.
operation regularly.

After striking a foreign object, stop the motor and 11.
disconnect the power cord. Thoroughly inspect the mower
for any damage. Repair the damage before operating the
mower.

Grass catcher components (if provided), discharge cover, 12.
and trail shield are subject to wear and damage which
could expose moving parts or allow objects to be thrown.
For safety protection, frequently check components
and replace immediately with original equipment

manufacturer’s (OEM) parts only, listed in this manual.

When not in use, store lawn mower indoors in a dry area, 13.
locked-up and/or out of the reach of children.

Maintain or replace safety and instructional labels, as 14.
necess ary.

According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission 15.
(CPSC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),

this product has an Average Useful Life of seven (7) years,
or 140 hours of operation. At the end of the Average Useful
Life have the machine inspected annually by an authorized
service dealer to ensure that all mechanical and safety
systems are working properly and not worn excessively.
Failure to do so can result in accidents, injuries or death.

5se c t i O n 2 — iM p O r t a n t sa f e Op e r a t i O n pr a c t i c e s

Safety Symbols

This page depicts and describes safety symbols that may appear on this product. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the
machine before attempting to assemble and operate.

Symbol Description

READ THE OPERATOR’S MANUAL(S)
Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the manual(s) before attempting to
assemble and operate

DANGER — ROTATING BLADES
To reduce the risk of injury, keep hands and feet away. Do not operate unless discharge cover
or grass catcher (if provided) is in its proper place. If damaged, replace immediately.

DANGER — BYSTANDERS
Do not mow when children or others are around.

DANGER — HAND/ FOOT CUT
Keep hands and feet away from rotating parts.

DANGER — THROWN DEBRIS
Remove objects that can be thrown by the blade in any direction. Wear safety glasses.

DANGER — SLOPES

Use extra caution on slopes. Do not mow slopes greater than 15°.

WARNING— ELECTRICAL SHOCK
Do not operate the mower in the rain.

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.

6 se c t i O n 2 — iM p O r t a n t sa f e Op e r a t i O n pr a c t i c e s

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!

Sight and hold this level with a vertical tree...

or a corner of a building...

or a fence post

Fold along dotted line (represents a 15° slope)

15°

Use this page as a guide to determine slopes where you may not operate safely.

WARNING! Do not operate your lawn mower on such slopes. 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 riding mower could overturn and cause serious injury. Operate riding

mowers up and down slopes, never across the face of slopes. Operate walk-behind mowers across the face of slopes, never

up and down slopes.

7se c t i O n 2 — iM p O r t a n t sa f e Op e r a t i O n pr a c t i c e s

Assembly & Set-Up

B

D

A

C

Contents of Carton

One Electric Mower• One Side Discharge Chute• Two Cord Guides•

One Operator’s Manual• Two Toggle Clamps• One Cord Retainer•

3

NOTE: All references to the left and right side of the mower are

from the operator’s position behind the mower.

NOTE: Cord guides and cord retainer may already be installed.

Unpacking the Unit

Cut the corners of the carton and lay the sides flat on the 1.
ground. Remove all packing inserts.

Move the mower out of the carton.2.

Make certain the carton has been completely emptied 3.
before discarding it.

Handle Assembly

To assemble the lower handle:1.

Pivot the lower handle backward. See Fig. 3-1A.a.

Place the bolts in the lower handle in the slots of the b.
handle bracket. See Fig. 3-1B.

Make sure the bolts in the lower handle are fully c.
positioned in the slots of the handle bracket. See
Fig. 3-1C.

NOTE: Make sure motor cord is clear of wing knobs before
tightening.

Tighten the lower handle wing knobs. See Fig. 3-1D.d.

NOTE: Cord retainer may already be installed.

Slide the cord retainer (if packed separately) onto the 2.
right hand side of the upper handle with the motor/blade
control handle. See Fig. 3-2.

NOTE: The clip will be facing down toward the motor.

Figure 3-2

Figure 3-1

8