MTD 31A-380D062 Owner’s Manual
Operator's Manual
Two-Stage
Snow Thrower
Model 380
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 44136-0019.
MTDLLC,P.O.BOX361131CLEVELAND,OHIO44136-0019
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
FORM NO. 769-00747
(6/2003)
TABLEOFCONTENTS
Content Page
Important Safe Operation Practices ............................................................................ 3
Assembling Your Snow Thrower ................................................................................. 5
Know Your Snow Thrower ........................................................................................... 7
Operating Your Snow Thrower .................................................................................... 8
Maintaining Your Snow Thrower ............................ 10
Servicing Your Snow Thrower ..................................................................................... 11
Off-Season Storage ......................................... 13
Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................... 14
Parts List ................................................................................................................ 15
FINDINGMODELNUMBER
This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new snow thrower. It will help you to assemble, prepare and
maintain the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.
equipment and copy the informationfrom it in the space provided below. The information on the
Before you start assembling your new snow thrower_ please locate the model plate on the
model olate is very important ifyou need help from our Customer Support Department oran
authorized dealer.
You can locate the model number by standing behind the unit in the operating position and looking down at
the dash panel. A sample model plate isexplained below. For future reference, please copy the model
number and the serial number of the equipment in the space below.
Copy the model number here:
_h IVITD LLC Copy the serial number here:
_l 330_220,_468_
CLEYE_N D,OH 4_ 1 _3_i
ENGINEINFORMATION
The engine manufacturer is responsible for all engine-related issues with regards to performance, 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
CALLINGCUSTOMERSUPPORT
PleasedoNOTreturntheunit to theretailer fromwhichit waspurchased, withoutfirst contactingCustomerSupport.
If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation or
maintenance of this unit. please 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.
,_ WARNING: Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain
or emit chemicals known to State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
DANGER: This machine was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation 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 hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe the following safety
instructions could result in serious injury or death.
Training 7.
1. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the
machine and in the manual(s) before attempting to
assemble and operate. Keep this manual in a safe place 8.
for future and regular reference and for ordering
replacement parts. 9.
2. Be familiar with all controls and their proper operation.
Know how to stop the machine and disengage them
quickly.
3. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate 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.
4. Never allow adults to operate this machine without
proper instruction.
5. Thrown objects can cause serious personal injury. Plan
your snow4hrowing pattern to avoid discharge of material
toward roads, bystanders and the like.
6. Keep bystanders, helpers, pets and children at least 75
feet from the machine while it is in operation. Stop
machine if anyone enters the area.
7. Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling, especially
when operating in reverse.
Preparation
1. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to
be used. Remove all doormats, newspapers, sleds,
boards, wires and other foreign objects, which could be
tripped over or thrown by the auger/impeller.
2. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields during j.
operation and while performing an adjustment or repair to
protect your eyes. Thrown objects which ricochet can
cause serious injury to the eyes. Operation
3. Do not operate without wearing adequate winter outer 1.
garments. Do not wear jewelry, long scarves or other
loose clothing, which could become entangled in moving
parts. Wear footwear which will improve footing on 2.
slippery surfaces.
4. Use a grounded three-wire extension cord and
receptacle for all units with electric start engines. 3.
5. Adjust collector housing height to clear gravel or crushed
rock surfaces.
6. Disengage all clutch levers before starting the engine. 4.
Never attempt to make any adjustments while engine is
running, except where specifically recommended in the
operator's manual.
Let engine and machine adjust to outdoor temperature
before starting to clear snow.
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. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other
sources of ignition.
c. Never fuel machine indoors.
d. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the
engine is hot or running.
e. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before
refueling.
f. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than
½ inch below bottom of filler neck to provide space
for fuel expansion.
g. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
h. If gasoline is spilled, wipe itoff the engine and
equipment. Move machine to another area. Wait 5
minutes before starting the engine.
i. Never store the machine or fuel container inside
where there is an open flame, spark or pilot light
(e.g. furnace, water heater, space heater, clothes
dryer etc.).
Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes before
storing.
Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts, inthe auger/
impeller housing or discharge chute. Contact with the
rotating parts can amputate hands and feet.
The auger/impeller clutch lever is a safety device. Never
bypass its operation. Doing so makes the machine
unsafe and may cause personal injury.
The clutch levers must operate easily in both directions
and automatically return to the disengaged position when
released.
Never operate with a missing or damaged discharge
chute. Keep all safety devices in place and working.
5. Neverrunanengineindoorsorinapoorlyventilated
area.Engineexhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,an
odorlessanddeadlygas.
6. Donotoperatemachinewhileundertheinfluenceof
alcoholordrugs.
7. Mufflerandenginebecomehotandcancauseaburn.Do
nottouch.
8. Exerciseextremecautionwhenoperatingonorcrossing
gravelsurfaces.Stayalertforhiddenhazardsortraffic.
9. Exercisecautionwhenchangingdirectionandwhile
operatingonslopes.
10.Planyoursnow-throwingpatterntoavoiddischarge
towardswindows,walls,carsetc.Thus,avoiding
possiblepropertydamageorpersonalinjurycausedbya
ricochet.
11.Neverdirectdischargeatchildren,bystandersandpets
orallowanyoneinfrontofthemachine.
12.Donotoverloadmachinecapacitybyattemptingtoclear
snowattoofastofarate.
13.Neveroperatethismachinewithoutgoodvisibilityor
light.Alwaysbesureofyourfootingandkeepafirmhold
onthehandles.Walk,neverrun.
14.Disengagepowertotheauger/impellerwhen
transportingornotinuse.
15.Neveroperatemachineathightransportspeedson
slipperysurfaces.Lookdownandbehindandusecare
whenbackingup.
16.Ifthemachineshouldstarttovibrateabnormally,stopthe
engine,disconnectthesparkplugwireandgroundit
againsttheengine.Inspectthoroughlyfordamage.
Repairanydamagebeforestartingandoperating.
17.Disengageallclutchleversandstopenginebeforeyou
leavetheoperatingposition(behindthehandles).Wait
untiltheaugedimpellercomestoacompletestopbefore
uncloggingthedischargechute,makingany
adjustments,orinspections.
18.Neverputyourhandinthedischargeorcollector
openings.Alwaysusethechuteclean-outtoolprovided
tounclogthedischargeopening.Donotunclog
dischargechutewhileengineisrunning.Shutoffengine
andremainbehindhandlesuntilallmovingpartshave
stoppedbeforeunclogging.
19.Useonlyattachmentsandaccessoriesapprovedbythe
manufacturer(e.g.wheelweights,tirechains,cabsetc.).
20.Ifsituationsoccurwhicharenotcoveredinthismanual,
usecareandgoodjudgment.Contactyourdealerorcall
1-800-800-7310forassistance and the name of your
nearest servicing dealer.
Maintenance & Storage
1. Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper
operation regularly. Refer to the maintenance and
adjustment sections of this manual.
2. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting machine
disengage all levers and stop the engine. Wait until the
auger/impeller come to a complete stop. Disconnect the
spark plug wire and ground against the engine to prevent
unintended starting.
3. Check bolts and screws for proper tightness at frequent
intervals to keep the machine in safe working condition.
Also, visually inspect machine for any damage.
4. Do not change the engine governor setting or over-speed
the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe
operating speed of the engine.
5. Snow thrower shave plates and skid shoes are subject to
wear and damage. For your safety protection, frequently
check all components and replace with original
equipment manufacturer's (OEM) parts only. "Use of
parts which do not meet the original equipment
specifications may lead to improper performance and
compromise safety!"
6. Check controls periodically to verify they engage and
disengage properly and adjust, if necessary. Refer to the
adjustment section in this operator's manual for
instructions.
7. Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as
necessary.
8. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas,
oil, etc. to protect the environment.
9. Prior to storing, run machine a few minutes to clear snow
from machine and prevent freeze up of auger/impeller.
10. Never store the machine or fuel container inside where
there is an open flame, spark or pilot light such as a water
heater, furnace, clothes dryer etc.
11. Always refer to the operator's manual for proper
instructions on off-season storage.
YourResponsibility
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. The
safety labels are shown below for your reference.
DOnet modifyengine
To avoid serious injury or death, do not modify engine in any
way. Tampering with the governor setting can lead to a
runaway engine and cause it to operate at unsafe speeds.
Never tamper with factory setting of engine governor.
NoticeregardingEmissions
Engines which are certified to comply with California and
federal EPA emission regulations for SORE (Small Off Road
Equipment) are certified to operate on regular unleaded
gasoline, and may include the following emission control
systems: Engine Modification (EM) and Three Way Catalyst
(TWC) ifso equipped.
SECTION2: ASSEMBLINGYOURSNOWTHROWER
IMPORTANT:This unit is shipped with engine oil but
without gasoline in the engine. After assembly, see
page 8 for fuel and oil fill-up details.
RemovingFromCarton
Cut the corners of the carton and lay the sides flat
on the ground. Remove all packing inserts.
Remove (i) plastic bag (containing owner's manual,
two ignition keys and two pairs of replacement
auger shear bolt and lock nut), and (ii) electric
extension cord (optional).
NOTE: These two shear bolts will only be required if the
auger hex bolts, already on the unit, shear after
extended use. These are not required for assembly of
the unit. Make sure to save them appropriately for
future use. Refer to Figure 9for location of bolts.
Move the snow thrower out of the carton.
Make certain the carton has been completely
emptied before discarding it.
BeforeAssembly
NOTE: Reference to right, left, front or rear of the unit is
from the operating position unless otherwise stated.
Make sure the spark plug wire is disconnected
and moved away from the spark plug.
Cut the cable tie that secures the handle and the
bails to the upper chute for shipping purposes.
Loosen the handle knob, saddle washer and saddle
bracket on each side of the handle. See Figure 1.
Hold both control bails against the upper handle
and pull up as shown in Figure 1. Make sure that
the upper handle locks over the lower handle and
the saddle brackets align with the handle. You may
have to carefully manouever the upper handle to
clear the discharge chute.
CAUTION: Be careful not to bend or kink the cables.
Tighten the handle knobs on each side of the
handle. See Figure 1.
RaisingTheUpperChute
Loosen the hand knob on the left side of the upper
chute. See Figure 2.
Raise the upper chute up and over the flange on
the lower chute. Follow the direction of the arrow in
Figure 2to place it in the operating position.
Tighten the hand knob back making sure the flat
washer and carriage bolt are correctly positioned.
See Figure 2.
Upper
Chute
Carriage
Bolt
lower chute
Hand
Knob
SettingUpTheHandle
Move u
this way
Handle
Knob
Sadd,eI
I Saddle Bracket
Hex Bolt
Figure 1
position
of upper
handle
Chute
Flat
Washer rotatethe chute
Figure 2
Handle*
* Meant only to
,_ WARNING: DO not lift the snow thrower by
the chute handle.
ChuteClean-OutTool
This tool is fastened with a cable tie to the rear of the
auger housing for shipping purposes. Cut the cable tie
and remove the extension cord(if equipped) now.
FinalAdjustments
IMPORTANT:Check and make any final adjustments
necessary before operating the unit. Failure to do so
may cause damage to the equipment.
TirePressure(PneumaticTires)
The tires are over-inflated for shipping purposes. Check
and reduce tire pressure, if needed, to 10-15 psi.
Maintain equal pressure on both wheels of the snow
thrower.
_ WARNING: Maximum tire pressure under
SkidShoe
The space between the shave plate and the ground can
be adjusted. For close snow removal, place skid shoes
in the low position. Use middle or high position when
area to be cleared is uneven.
NOTE: It is not recommended that you operate this
snow thrower on gravel as loose gravel can be easily
picked up and thrown by the auger causing personal
injury or damage to the snow thrower. If you are
compelled to operate the snow thrower on gravel, keep
the skid shoe in the highest position for maximum
clearance between the ground and the shave plate.
any circumstance is 15 psi. Equal tire pressure
should be maintained at all times. Excessive
pressure (over 15 psi) when seating beads
may cause tire!rim assembly to burst with force
sufficient to cause serious injury
Adjust skid shoes by loosening two hex nuts and
carriage bolts on each skid shoe, and moving the
skid shoe to the desired position. See Figure 3.
Make certain the entire bottom surface of skid shoe
is against the ground to avoid uneven wear on the
skid shoes.
Tighten nuts and bolts securely.
IMPORTANT:Check all nuts and bolts for correct
tightness.
DriveCable
Make sure that the drive cable is routed parallel to
the left upper handle, then across the top of the
lower handle and finally parallel to the right lower
handle. Cable ties (included in the plastic bag that
also contained this manual) should secure the
cable to the top of the lower handle. See Figure 4.
Drive Cable
Cable Tie
l o o]
Hex Nut
Figure 3
Handle
Cable
Lower Handle
Figure4
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