MTD 520 THRU 530, 12A-529N062, 12A-526L062 Owner’s Manual

YARD
OPERATOR'S MANUAL
22" Self-Propelled
Mower
Model Series
520 Thru 530
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MTD"#!!:;(.....
IMPORTANT: READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
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 368022 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-9722.
MTD PRODUCTS INC. P.O. BOX 368022 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-9722
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
FORM NO. 770-10349A
(lo/oo)
TABLEOFCONTENTS
Content Page
Maintaining Safety ............................................................................................. 3
Slope Gauge ...................................................................................................... 6
Assembling Your Lawn Mower ........................................................................... 7
Know Your Lawn Mower .................................................................................... 8
Operating Your Lawn Mower ............................................................................. 9
Making Adjustments .......................................................................................... 10
Maintaining Your Lawn Mower ........................................................................... 11
Storing Your Lawn Mower .................................................................................. 13
Troubleshooting ................................................................................................. 14
Parts List ............................................................................................................ 16
FINDINGMODELNUMBER
This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new lawn mower. It will help you assemble, prepare and maintain the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.
Before you start assembling your new equipment, please locate the model plate on the equipment and copy the information from itin 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 looking down at the rear of the deck. A sample model plate is explained below. For future reference, please copy the model number and the serial number of the equipment in the space below.
(Model Number) (Sedal Number)
MTD PRODUCTS INC
;: ; ,:;; CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136
Copy the model number here:
Copy the serial number here:
CALLINGCUSTOMERSUPPORT
If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation or
maintenance of this unit, please call the Customer Support Department.
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.
GeneralOperation
1. Read this operator's manual carefully in its entirety before attempting to assemble this machine. Read,
understand, and follow all instructions on the machine and in the manual(s) before operation. Be completely
familiar with the controls and the proper use of this machine before operating it. Keep this manual in a safe place for future and regular reference and for ordering replacement parts.
2. This machine is a precision piece of power equipment, not a plaything. Therefore, exercise extreme caution at all times. Your unit has been designed to perform one job: to mow grass. Do not use it for any other purpose.
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. Only responsible individuals who are familiar with
these rules of safe operation should be allowed to use this machine.
4. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to be 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 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.
5. To help avoid blade contact or a thrown object injury, stay in the operator zone behind the handles and keep children, bystanders, helpers and pets at least 75 feet from the mower while it is in operation. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.
6. Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles during operation and while performing an adjustment or repair to protect your eyes. Thrown objects which ricochet can cause serious injury to the eyes.
7. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-fitting slacks and shirts. Shirts and pants that cover the arms and legs and steel-toed shoes are recommended. Never operate this machine in bare feet, sandals, slippery or light weight (e.g. canvas) shoes.
8. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or under the cutting deck. Contact with the blade can amputate hands
and feet.
9. A missing or damaged discharge cover can cause blade contact or thrown object injuries.
10. Many injuries occur as a result of the mower beiog pulled 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.
11. Never pull the mower back toward you while you are walking. Ifyou must back the mower away from awall or obstruction first look down and behind to avoid tripping and then follow these steps:
a. Step back from the mower to fully extend your
arms.
b. Be sure you are well balanced with sure footing. c. Pull the mower back slowly, no more than half way
toward you.
d. Repeat these steps as needed.
12. Do not operate the mower while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
13. Do not engage the self-propelled mechanism on units so equipped while starting engine.
14. The blade control handle is a safety device. Never 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 blade control handle must operate easily in both directions and automatically return to the disengaged position when
released.
15. Never operate the mower in wet 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 blade control handle immediately and the blade will stop rotating within three seconds.
16. Mow only in daylight or in good artificial light. Walk, never run.
17. Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walks or roads.
18. If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the engine and check immediately for the cause. Vibration is generally awarning of trouble.
19,
Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes to a
3
completestopbeforeremovingthegrasscatcheror uncloggingthechute.Thecuttingbladecontinuesto rotateforafewsecondsaftertheengineisshutoff.Never placeanypartofthebodyinthebladeareauntilyouare surethebladehasstoppedrotating.
20.Neveroperatemowerwithoutpropertrailshield, dischargecover,grasscatcher,bladecontrolhandleor othersafetyprotectivedevicesinplaceandworking. Neveroperatemowerwithdamagedsafetydevices. Failuretodoso,canresultinpersonalinjury.
21.Mufflerandenginebecomehotandcancauseaburn.Do nottouch.
22.Onlyusepartsandaccessoriesmadeforthismachineby themanufacturer.Failuretodoso,canresultinpersonal injury.
23.Ifsituationsoccurwhicharenotceveredinthismanual, usecareandgoodjudgment.Contactyourdealerfor
assistance.Telephone1-800-800-7310forthenameof yournearestdealer.
SlopeOperation
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 unit on a sloped or hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15 degrees,
do not mow it.
DO:
1. Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down. Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.
2. Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects, or bumps which can cause you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide
obstacles.
3. Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause serious personal injury. If you feel you are losing your balance, release the blade control handle immediately, and the blade will stop rotating within 3 seconds.
DoNot:
1. Do not mow near drop"offs, ditches or embankments, you could lose your footing or balance.
2. Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as shown on the slope gauge.
3. Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing could cause 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.
1. Keep children out of the mowing area and under the watchful care of a responsible adult other than the operator.
2. Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the area.
3. Before and while moving backwards, look behind and down for small children.
4. Use extreme care when approaching blind corners,
doorways, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure your vision of a child who may run into the
mower.
5,
Keep children away from hot or running engines. They
can suffer burns from a hot muffler.
6.
Never allow children under 14 years old to operate a power mower. 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.
Service
Safe HandlingOfGasoline:
1, 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.
2. Wash your skin and change clothes immediately.
3. Use only an approved gasoline container.
4. Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck or trailer bed with a plastic liner. Always place containers on
the ground away from your vehicle before filling.
5. When practical, removegas-powered equipment from the truck or trailer and refuel it on the ground. If this is not possible, then refuel such equipment on a trailer with a portable container, rather than from a gasoline dispenser
nozzle.
6. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel tank or container opening at all times until fueling is complete. Do not use a nozzle lock-open device.
7. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition.
8. Never fuel machine indoors because flammable vapors will accumulate in the area.
9. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine is hot or running. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling.
10. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½ inch below bottom of filler neck to provide space for fuel
expansion.
11. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
12. Ifgasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equipment.
Move unit to another area. Wait 5 minutes before starting
the engine.
13. Never store the machine or fuel centainer inside where there is an open flame, spark or pilot light as on a water
heater, space heater, furnace ,clothes dryer or other gas appliances.
14. To reduce fire hazard, keep mower freeofgrass, leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel spillage and remove any fuel soaked debris.
15. Allow a mower to cool at least 5 minutes before storing.
GeneralService:
1. Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas.
2. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain the blade and all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground against the engine to prevent unintended starting.
3. Checkthebladeandenginemountingboltsatfrequent
9. Grasscatchercomponents,dischargecover,andtrail
intervalsforpropertightness.Also,visuallyinspectblade fordamage(e.g.bent,cracked,worn)Replaceblade withtheoriginalequipmentmanufacture's(O.EM.)blade only,listedinthismanual."Useofpartswhichdonot meettheoriginalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto improperperformanceandcompromisesafetyr'
4. Mowerbladesaresharpandcancut.Wrapthebladeor weargloves,anduseextracautionwhenservicingthem.
5. Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstighttobesurethe
10.Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingoroverspeed
equipmentisinsafeworkingcondition.
6. Nevertamperwithsafetydevices.Checktheirproper operationregularly.
11.Maintainorreplacesafetyandinstructionlabels,as
7. Afterstrikingaforeignobject,stoptheengine,disconnect thesparkplugwireandgroundagainsttheengine.
12.Observeproperdisposallawsandregulations.Improper Thoroughlyinspectthemowerforanydamage.Repair thedamagebeforestartingandoperatingthemower.
8. Neverattempttomakeawheelorcuttingheight adjustmentwhiletheengineisrunning.
understand and follow the warnings and instructions in this manual and on the machine.
WARNING - YOUR RESPONSIBILITY: Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who read,
NOTE: Not all safety labels shown may apply to yourlawn mower.
shieldaresubjecttowearanddamagewhichcould exposemovingpartsorallowobjectstobethrown.For safetyprotection,frequentlycheckcomponentsand
replaceimmediatelywithoriginalequipment
manufacturer's(O.EM.)partsonly,listedinthismanual. "Useofpartswhichdonotmeettheoriginalequipment specificationsmayleadtoimproperperformanceand compromisesafetyr'
theengine.Thegovernorcontrolsthemaximumsafe operatingspeedoftheengine.
necessary. disposaloffluidsandmaterialscanharmthe
environment.
SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE
' ql A POWER POLE
A CORNER OF A BUILDING
OR A FENCE POST
_D
O
15°
03
cO
._. 5 WARNING
O3
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¢0 _ 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
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a. --_ and you could slip, resulting in serious injury.
r_ o, overturn and cause serious injury. Ifoperating a walk-behind mower on such a slope, it is extremely difficult to maintain your footing
'-_ "= 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.
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