MTD 380 User 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.
MTD LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
FORM NO
769-00747.fm
.
(6/2003)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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
FINDING MODEL NUMBER
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.
Before you start assembling your new snow thrower, please locate the mode l 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 standing behind the unit in the op erating position and looking down at
the dash panel . A sample model plate is explained below. For future reference, please copy the model
number and the serial number of the equipment in the sp ace below.
(Model Number)
(Serial Number)
Copy the model number here:
Copy the serial number here:
ENGINE INFORMATION
The engine manufacturer is responsible for all engine-rel ated issues with regards to perf ormance, power-rating,
specifications, warranty and service. Please refer to the engine ma nufacturer’s Owner’s/Oper ator’s Manual
packed separately with your unit for more information.
CALLING CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Please do NOT return the unit to the retailer from which it was purchased, without first contacting Customer Support.
If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any quest ions regarding the cont rols, 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 un it’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.
For more details about your unit, visit our website at www.mtdproducts.com
2
SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES
WARNING: This symbol points ou t important safety instructions which, if not followed, could endanger
the personal safety and/or property of yourself and othe rs. Read and follow all instructions in this manual
before attempting to operate this machine. Failure to comply with these instr uctions 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 op erated according to the rules for safe operat ion 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
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
for future and regular reference and for ordering
replacement parts.
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 snow-throwing 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
operation and while performing an adjustment or repair to
protect your eyes. Thrown objects which ricochet can
cause serious injury to the eyes.
3. Do not operate without wearing adequate winter outer
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
slippery surfaces.
4. Use a grounded three-wire extension cord and
receptacle for all units with electric start engines.
5. Adjust collector housing height to clear gravel or crushed
rock surfaces.
6. Disengage all clutch levers before starting the engine.
7. Never attempt to make any adjustments while engine is
running, except where specifically recommended in the
operator’s manual.
8. Let engine and machine adjust to outdoor temperature
before starting to clear snow.
9. 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 leas t two minutes befo re
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 it off 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.).
j. Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes before
storing.
Operation
1. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts, in the auger/
impeller housing or discharge chute. Contact with the
rotating parts can amputate hands and feet.
2. The auger/impeller clutch lever is a safety device. Never
bypass its operation. Doing so makes the machine
unsafe and may cause personal injury.
3. The clutch levers must operate easily in both directions
and automatically return to the disengaged position when
released.
4. Never operate with a missing or damaged discharge
chute. Keep all safety devices in place and working.
3
5. Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated
area. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an
odorless and deadly gas.
6. Do not operate machine while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.
7. Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do
not touch.
8. Exercise extreme caution when operating on or crossing
gravel surfaces. Stay alert for hidden hazards or traffic.
9. Exercise caution when changing direction and while
operating on slopes.
10. Plan your snow-throwing pattern to avoid discharge
towards windows, walls, cars etc. Thus, avoiding
possible property damage or personal injury caused by a
ricochet.
11. Never direct discharge at children, bystanders and pets
or allow anyone in front of the machine.
12. Do not overload machine capacity by attempting to clear
snow at too fast of a rate.
13. Never operate this machine without good visibility or
light. Always be sure of your footing and keep a firm hold
on the handles. Walk, never run.
14. Disengage power to the auger/impeller when
transporting or not in use.
15. Never operate machine at high transport speeds on
slippery surfaces. Look down and behind and use care
when backing up.
16. If the machine should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the
engine, disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it
against the engine. Inspect thoroughly for damage.
Repair any damage before starting and operating.
17. Disengage all clutch levers and stop engine before you
leave the operating position (behind the handles). Wait
until the auger/impeller comes to a complete stop before
unclogging the discharge chute, making any
adjustments, or inspections.
18. Never put your hand in the discharge or collector
openings. Always use the chute clean-out tool provided
to unclog the discharge opening. Do not unclog
discharge chute while engine is running. Shut off engine
and remain behind handles until all moving parts have
stopped before unclogging.
19. Use only attachments and accessories approved by the
manufacturer (e.g. wheel weights, tire chai ns, cabs etc.).
20. If situations occur which are not covered in this manual,
use care and good judgment. Contact your dealer or call
1-800-800-7310 for assistance 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.
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. The
safety labels are shown below for your reference.
Do not modify engine
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.
Notice regarding Emissions
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) if so equipped.
4
SECTION 2: ASSEMBLING YOUR SNOW THROWER
IMPORTANT:
without gasoline in the engine. After assembly, see
page 8 for fuel and oil fill-up details.
This unit is shipped with engine oil but
Removing From Carton
• Cut the corners of the carton and lay the sides fl at
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 requir ed if the
auger hex bolts, already on the unit, shear after
extended use. These are not req uired for assembly of
the unit. Make sure to save them appropriately for
future use. Refer to Figure 9 for location of bolts.
• Move the snow thrower out of the cart on.
• Make certain the carton has been comple tely
emptied before discarding it.
Before Assembly
NOTE: Reference to right, left, front or rear of the unit is
from the operating position unless otherwise stat ed.
• 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 o f the
handle. See Figure 1.
Raising The Upper Chute
• Loosen the hand knob on the left side of the upper
chute. See Figure 2.
• Raise the upper chute up and over the flan ge on
the lower chute. Follow the direction of the arrow in
Figure 2 to 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
Hand
Knob
Flange on
lower chute
Setting Up The Handle
Move upper handle
this way
Handle
Knob
Saddle
Washer
Saddle Bracket
Figure 1
Hex Bolt
Final
position
of upper
handle
Chute
Flat
Washer
Figure 2
Handle*
* Meant only to
rotate the chute
WARNING: Do not lift the snow thrower by
the chute handle.
Chute Clean-Out Tool
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.
Final Adjustments
IMPORTANT:
necessary before operating the unit. Fa ilure to do so
may cause damage to the equipment.
Check and make any final adjustments
5
Tire Pressure (Pneumatic Tires)
The tires are over-inflated for shipping purposes. Check
and reduce tire pressure, if needed, t o 10-15 psi.
Maintain equal pressure on both wheels of the snow
thrower.
WARNING: Maximum tire pressure un der
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
Skid Shoe
The space between the shave plate and the g round 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.
• 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:
tightness.
Check all nuts and bolts for correct
Drive Cable
• Make sure that the drive cable is rout ed 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 t he 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
Upper
Handle
Skid Shoe
Figure 3
Hex Nut
Auger
Cable
Lower Handle
Figure 4
6
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