MTD 520-EDGER, 25B-550A765 Owner’s Manual

Safety ®Assembly ®Operation oTips & Techniques ®Maintenance oTroubleshooting ®Parts Lists oWarranty

Gas Lawn Edger- Model Series 520 & 550

READ SAFETY RULES AND mNSTFIUCTmONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPEFIATmON

Warning: Thisunit isequippedwithan internalcombustionengineandshouldnotbeusedon or nearanyunimprovedforest-covered,brush= coveredor grass=coveredlandunlesstheengine'sexhaustsystemis equippedwitha sparkarrestermeetingapplicablelocalorstate laws(ifany),

If a sparkarresterisused,it shouldbemaintainedineffectiveworkingorderbytheoperator,Inthe StateofCaliforniatheaboveisrequiredbylaw (Section4442ofthe CaliforniaPublicResourcesCode),Otherstatesmayhavesimilarlaws,Federallawsapplyonfederallands,A sparkarrester

forthe mufflerisavailablethroughyournearestengineauthorizedservicedealeror contacttheservicedepartment,RO,Box361131Cleveland, Ohio44136=0019,

PRINTEDINU,S,A

MTD LLC, RO. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019 FORMNO, 769=00527F

10/04/2004

This Operator's Manua_ is an important part of your new gas lawn edger, mtwH_ he_p you assemble,

prepare and maintain the unit for best performance. P_ease read and understand what it says.

Table of Contents

1. Safety Labels .................................................. 3

2. Safe Operation Practices ............................ 4-5

3. Setup & Assembly .......................................... 6

4. KnowYour Edger ............................................ 7

5. Operating Your Edger ..................................... 8

Finding and Recording iVlodei Number

BEFOREYOU STARTASSEMBLINGYOUR NEW EQUIP= MENT,pleaselocate themodel plateon the equipment and

copy theinformationto the sample modelplate providedto the righLYoucan locate the model plate by standingat the

operating positionand lookingdown at the rearof the gas

lawnedger.This informationwillbe necessaryto use the manufacturer'sweb site and/or help from the CustomerSup= port Departmentor an authorizedservice dealer.

6. Making Adjustments ................................. 9-10

7. Maintaining & Servicing .......................... 11-12

8. Off-Season Storage ...................................... 12

9. Troubleshooting ............................................ 13

10. Parts List ................................................ 14-15

11. Warranty ...................................................... 16

Modem Number

www, mtdproducts,com

Serial Number

MTD LLC

P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OH 44136

330-220-4683

800-800-731 O

Customer Support

P_ease do NOTretum the unit to the retai_er from which it was

purchased, without first contacting Customer Support.

ifyou havedifficulty assemblingthis productor haveany

questions regardingthe controls,operation or maintenanceof this unit, you can seek helpfrom the experts. Choosefromthe

optionsbelow:

1. Visit mtdproducts.com for many usefulsuggestions. Click on CustomerSupportbutton and you will get the four options reproducedin this sampleto the right. Click onthe appropriatebutton and help is immediatelyavailable.

2. Phonea Customer Support Representative at 1(800)800=7310.

3. Theengine manufacturer is responsiblefor allengine° related issueswith regards to performance,power=rating, specifications,warrantyand service. Please referto the enginemanufacturer'sOwner's/Operator'sManual, packed separatelywithyour unit, for more

Click here to search our knowledge base. Search by product, keyword, or phrase.

Need local assistance? Click here to find authorized service centers in your area.

Need a manual and/or parts list? Download

literature from recent model years.

r Labels

Pleasetakeamomenttoreviewyoursafetylabels.

__4=i=1"_V:V,Vl±_"-- -_.[o]IIV±_IIII_[_ L:]lr±Ym] -

i ii _ ii iii

manual.As withany type of powerequipment, carelessnessor erroronthe partof the operator can

resultin seriousinjury.This machineis capable of amputatinghands and feet and throwing objects.

, Failureto observethe following safetyinstructionscould resultin seriousinjuryor death.

Children

Tragicaccidentscanoccurifoperatorisnotalert topresence ofchildren.Childrenareoftenattractedto powerequipment

suchaslawnedgers.Theydonot understandthe dangers. Neverassumethatchildrenwill remainwhereyoulastsaw

them.

1. Keepchildrenoutofthe mowingareaandunderwatchful careof aresponsibleadultotherthantheoperator.

2. Bealertandturnlawnedgeroff ifa childentersthearea.

3. Beforeandwhilemovingbackwards,look behindanddown forsmallchildren.

4. Useextremecarewhenapproachingblindcorners, doorways,shrubs,trees,orotherobjectsthatmayobscure yourvisionofa childwho mayrun intothelawnedger•

5. Keepchildrenawayfromhot orrunningengines.Theycan sufferburnsfroma hotmuffler.

6. Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsoldto operatean edger•Children14years oldand overshouldreadand understandoperationinstructionsandsafetyrulesinthis manualandshouldbetrainedandsupervisedbyaparent.

endangerthe personal safetyand/or property

Safe HandlingOf Gasoline:

1. Toavoidpersonalinjuryor propertydamageuse extremecarein handlinggasoline•Gasolineisextremely flammableandthevaporsare explosive.Seriouspersonal injurycanoccurwhengasolineis spilledonyourselfor yourclotheswhichcan ignite.

2. Washyourskinandchangeclothesimmediately.

3. Useonly anapprovedgasolinecontainer.

4. Neverfill containersinsidea vehicleor onatruck ortrailer bedwith a plasticliner•Alwaysplacecontainersonthe

groundawayfromyour vehiclebeforefilling.

5. Removegas-poweredequipmentfromthetruckor trailerandrefuelit on theground•Ifthis is notpossible, thenrefuelsuchequipmenton a trailerwitha portable container,ratherthanfroma gasolinedispensernozzle.

6. Keepthe nozzlein contactwith therimof thefuel tankor containeropeningat alltimesuntilfuelingis complete.Do notusea nozzlelock-opendevice•

7. Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipesandothersources ofignition•

8. Neverfuelmachineindoorsbecauseflammablevapors willaccumulateinthearea.

9. Neverremovegascap oraddfuel whileengineis hotor running•Allowengineto coolatleasttwo minutesbefore refueling•

and followthewarnings 10 Neveroverf fue tank F tankto nomorethan_Jznch

Operation

• is running exceptwnerespecmcallyrecommendedinthe

12.Ifgasolineisspilled,wipeitofftheengineandequipment.Move unitto anotherarea.Wait5minutesbeforestartingengine.

13.Neverstorethemachineorfuel containernearanopen flame,sparkorpilot lightas onawater heater,space heater, furnace,clothesdryeror othergasappliances.

14.Toreducefire hazard,keeplawnedgerfreeofgrass, leaves,orotherdebrisbuild-up•Cleanupoilor fuelspillage andremoveanyfuelsoakeddebris•

15.Allowalawnedgerto coolatleast5 minutesbeforestoring.

GeneralOperation:

1. Readthis operator'smanual carefullyin its entiretybefore attemptingtoassemblethismachine•Read,understand,

andfollow allinstructionsonthe machineandin the manual(s) beforeoperation.Becompletelyfamiliarwith

thecontrolsandthe properuseof thismachinebefore operatingit.Keepthismanualin asafeplaceforfutureand regularreferenceandfororderingreplacementparts•

2. Thismachineis aprecisionpieceof powerequipment,not a plaything•Therefore,exerciseextremecautionat alltimes.

Yourunithas beendesignedto performonejob: to mow grass•Donotuse itfor anyotherpurpose.

3. Neverallowchildrenunder 14yearsold to operatethis machine•Children14yearsoldand overshould readand

understandthe instructionsinthis manualandshould betrainedand supervisedbya parent.Onlyresponsible

individualswhoarefamiliarwiththese rulesof safe opera- tionshouldbeallowedto usethismachine•

4. Tohelpavoidbladecontactorathrownobjectinjury,stayin operatorzonebehindhandlesandkeepchildren,bystand-

ers,helpersand petsatleast75feetfrom lawnedgerwhile it isin operation.Stopmachineifanyoneentersarea•

5. Thoroughlyinspecttheareawherethe equipmentisto be used.Removeallstones, sticks,wire, bones,toysandother foreignobjectswhichcouldbe trippedoverorpickedup andthrownbythe blade.Thrownobjectscancause serious personalinjury•

6. Alwayswearsafetyglassesorsafetygogglesduringopera- tionandwhileperforminganadjustmentor repairtoprotect

youreyes•Thrownobjectswhichricochetcancauseserious injurytothe eyes•

7. Wearsturdy,rough-soledworkshoesandclose-fitting slacksandshirts. Shirtsand pantsthatcoverthe armsand legsandsteel-toedshoesare recommended•Neveroperate thismachinein barefeet,sandals, slipperyor lightweight (e.g.canvas)shoes.

8. Neverattemptto makeany adjustmentswhiletheengine

and nstructons belowbottomof fillerneckto provideforfuelexpansion, operator's'manua

_.L_.. _.... 11.Replacegasolinecap andtightensecurely•

i IH LHUI5 m_HU_! i

and Onthe machin÷

..... ,J

9. Toavoidpersonalinjuryor propertydamageuseextreme carein handlinggasoline.Gasolineisextremelyflammable andthevaporsare explosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycan occurwhengasolineis spilledonyourselforyourclothes whichcanignite.Washeryourskinandchangeclothes

immediately.

10.Donotput handsor feet nearrotatingparts.Contactwith the rotatingbladecan amputatehandsandfeet.

11.The bladecontrolhandleis asafety device.Neverbypass

itsoperation.Doingso, makesthemachineunsafeandmay

causepersonal injury.

12.Neveroperatewithoutbladeguard,debrisshieldandblade controlhandlein placeandworking.

13.Neveroperatewithdamagedsafetydevices.Failuretodo so,can resultinpersonalinjury.

14.Neverrunanengineindoorsor ina poorlyventilatedarea.

Engineexhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,an odorlessand

deadlygas.

15.Donotoperatemachinewhileunderthe influenceof alcohol or drugs.

16.Mufflerandenginebecomehotandcancause aburn.Do

nottouch.

17.Neveroperatethismachinewithoutgoodvisibility or light. Alwaysbe sureofyourfootingandkeepa firmholdonthe

handles.Walk,neverrun.

18.Donotoperatethis machineif it hasbeendroppedordam- aged.Returnmachinetoyournearestauthorizedservicing dealerforexaminationandrepair.

19.Donotoperatethis machinewitha damagedorexcessively worncutting blade.

20. Neverattempttoclear materialfromthe bladeguardwhile the engineisrunning.Shuttheengineoff,disconnectthe sparkplugwireandgroundagainsttheengineto prevent

unintendedstarting.

21. Donotoverloadmachinecapacityby attemptingtoedgeat toofast ofa rate.

22.Stayalertfor unevensidewalks,terrainetc.Alwayspush slowlyoverroughsurfaces.Donotusethis machineon gravelsurfaces.

23. Donotoperatemachinein rainorwet soilconditions. Alwaysoperatemachinefrombehindthe handlesand

positionyourselfwherethe directlineof sighttocutting bladeis blockedbyguards.

24.Alwaysstopenginewhen edgingor trimmingis delayedor whentransportingmachinefromonelocationto another.

Neverleavea runningmachineunattended.Stopthe engine,disconnectsparkplugwireand groundagainstthe enginetopreventunintendedstarting.

25.Onlyuseparts andaccessoriesmadefor thismachineby the manufacturer.Failureto doso,canresult inpersonal

injury.

26. Ifsituationsoccurwhichare notcoveredinthis manual,use careandgoodjudgment.Telephone330_220-4683 or

1-800-800-7310 for CustomerSupportandthe nameof

yournearestdealer.

Service

1. Neverrunanengineindoorsor ina poorlyventilatedarea. Engineexhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,anodorlessand

deadlygas.

2. Beforecleaning,repairing,orinspecting,makecertainthe bladeandall movingpartshavestopped.Disconnectthe sparkplugwireandgroundagainsttheengineto prevent unintendedstarting.

3. Checkthe bladeandenginemountingbolts atfrequent intervalsfor propertightness.Also,visuallyinspectblade fordamage(e.g.,bent,cracked,worn) Replacebladewith theoriginalequipmentmanufacture's(O£.M.) bladeonly, listedin thismanual.'Useof partswhichdo notmeetthe originalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto improper performanceandcompromisesafety!"

4. Lawnedgerbladesaresharp andcancut.Wrapthe blade orweargloves,and useextracautionwhenservicingthem.

5. Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstightto besurethe equip- mentisin safeworkingcondition.

6. Nevertamperwithsafetydevices.Checktheirproper operationregularly'.

7. Afterstrikinga foreignobject,stopthe engine,discon- nectthe sparkplugwireandgroundagainsttheengine. Thoroughlyinspectthe lawnedgerforanydamage.Repair thedamagebeforestartingandoperatingthelawnedger.

8. Neverattempttomakea wheelorcuttingheight adjust- mentwhilethe engineis running.

9. Manycomponentsonyournewedgercanwearwith continueduse. Forsafetyprotection,frequentlycheck alledgercomponentsandreplaceimmediatelywith originalequipmentmanufacturer's(O.E.M.)partsonly, listedin thismanual."Useofpartswhichdo notmeetthe originalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto improper performanceand compromisesafety!"

10.Donot changetheenginegovernorsettingor overspeed theengine.Thegovernorcontrolsthemaximumsafe operatingspeedoftheengine.

11.Maintainorreplacesafetylabels,asnecessary.

12.Observeproperdisposallawsand regulations.Improper disposaloffluidsand materialscanharmtheenvironment.

uaubefore attemptingto

resuUt in personaUinJury_

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