MTD 650, 652 User Manual

Operator’s Manual

Transmatic Lawn Tractor

MODELS 650

652

Model 652 Shown

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 44136-9722.

MTD LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-9722

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

FORM NO.

769-01047.fm

(1/08/2004)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

Customer Support 2 Important Safe Operation Practices 3 Tractor Set-up 8 Controls 10 Operation 11

Content Page

Maintenance 16 Service 18 Off-season Storage 22 Attachments & Accessories 23 Parts List 24

FINDING MODEL NUMBER

This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new lawn tractor. 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 mod el plate on th e equipment and copy the information from it in the space provided below. A sample model plate is also given below. You can locate the model plate by looking at the underside of the seat. This information will be necessary to use the manufacturer’s web site and/or help fr om the Customer Support Depart ment or an authorized service dealer.

Copy the model number here:

www.mtdproducts.com

MTD LLC P. O. BOX CLEVELAND,OH 330-220-4683 800-800-7310

361131

44136

Copy the serial number here:

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Please do NOT return the unit to the retailer without first contacting Customer Support.

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

Visit mtdproducts.com for many useful suggestions. Click on Customer Support button and you will get the four options reproduced here. Click on the appropriate button and help is immediately available.

The answer you are looking for could be just a mouse click away!

If you prefer to reach a Customer Support Representative, please call (330) 220-4MTD or 1(800) 800-7310.

The answer you are looking for could be just a mouse click away!

Engine Manual

The engine manufa cturer is responsible for all engin e-related issues with regard to performance, power-rating, specifications, wa rranty and service. Please refer to the engine manufacturer’s Owner’s/Operator’s Manua l, packed separately with your unit, for more information.

SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES

WARNING: This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed, could endanger

the personal safety and/or proper ty 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 rules for safe operation in this man-

ual. As with any type of power equipme nt, 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.

WARNING: Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain

or emit chemicals known to the State of Califor nia to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

GENERAL OPERATION

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 regu lar reference a nd 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 m achine without proper instruction.

5. To help avoid blade contact or a thrown object injury, keep bystanders, helpers, children and pets at least 75 feet from the machine while it is in operation. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.

6. 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 picked up and thrown by the blade(s). Thrown objects can cause serious personal injury.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes a nd closefitting slacks and shirts. Loose fitting clothes and jewelry can be caught in movable parts. Never operate this machine in bare feet or sandals.

10. Be aware of the mower and attachment discharge direction and do not point it at anyone. Do not operate the mower without the discharge cover or entire grass catcher in its proper place.

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

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

13. Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads and while not cutting grass.

14. Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing roadways. This machine is not intended for use on any public roadway.

15. Do not operate the machine wh ile under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

16. Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.

17. Never carry passengers.

18. Disengage blade(s) before shifting in to reverse. Back up slowly. Always look down and behind before and while backing to avoid a back-over accident.

19. Slow down before turning. Operate the machine smoothly. Avoid erratic operation and excessive speed.

20. Disengage blade(s), set parking brake, stop engine and wait until the blade(s) come to a complete stop before removing grass catcher, empt ying grass, unclogging chute, removing any grass or debris, or making any adjustments.

21. Never leave a running machine unattended. Always turn off blade(s), place transmission in neutral, set parking brake, stop engine and remove key before dismounting.

22. Use extra care when loading or unloading the machine into a trailer or truck. This unit should not be driven up or down ramp(s), because the unit could tip over, causing serious personal injury. The unit must be pushed manually on ramp(s) to load or unload properly.

23. Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do not touch.

24. Check overhead clearances carefully before driving under low hanging tree branches, wires, door openings etc., where the operator may be struck or pulled from the unit, which could result in serious injury.

25. Disengage all attachment clutches, depress the brake pedal completely and shift into neutral before attempting to start engine.

26. Your machine is designed to cut normal residential grass of a height no more than 10”. Do not attempt to mow through unusually tall, dry grass ( e.g., pasture) or piles of dry leaves. Dry grass or leaves may contact the engine exhaust and/or build up on the mower deck presenting a potential fire hazard.

27. Use only accessories and attachments approved for this machine by the machine manufacturer. Read, understand and follow all instructions provided with the approved accessory or attachment.

28. Data indicates that operators, age 60 years and above, are involved in a large percentage of riding mower-related injuries. These operators should evaluate their ability to operate the riding mower safely enough to protect themselves and others from serious injury.

29. If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use care and good judgment. Contact your customer service representative for assistance.

SLOPE OPERATION

Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and tip-over accidents which can result in severe injury or death. All slopes require extra caution. If you cannot back up the slope or if you feel uneasy on it, do n ot mow it.

For your safety, use the slope gauge included as part o f this manual to measure slopes before operating this unit on a sloped or hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15 degrees as shown on the slope gauge, do not operate this unit on that area or serious injury could result.

DO:

1. Mow up and down slopes, not across. Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.

2. Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden objects. Uneven terrain could overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide obstacles.

3. Use slow speed. Choose a low enough speed setting so that you will not have to stop or shift while on the slope. Tires may lose traction on slopes even though the brakes are functioning properly. Always keep machine in gear when going down slopes to take advantage of engine braking action.

4. Follow the manufacturer’s recommend ations for wheel weights or counterweights to improve stability.

5. Use extra care with grass catchers or other attachments. These can change the stability of the machine.

6. Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual. Do not make sudden changes in speed or dir ection. Rapid engagement or braking could cause the f ront of the machine to lift and rapidly flip over backwards which could cause serious injury.

7. Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. If tires lose traction, disengage the blade(s) and proceed slowly straight down the slope.

DO NOT:

1. Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then, turn slowly and gradually downhill, if possible.

2. Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments. The mower could suddenly turn over if a wheel is over the edge of a cliff, ditch, or if an edge caves in.

3. Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot on the ground.

4. Do not use a grass catcher on steep slopes.

5. Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could cause sliding.

6. Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill. Overspeeding may cause the operator to lose control of the machine resulting in serious injury or death.

7. Do not tow heavy pull behind attachments (e.g. loaded dump cart, lawn roller, etc.) on slopes greater than 5 degrees. When going down hill, the extra weight tends to push the tractor and may cause you to loose control. (e.g. tractor may speed up, braking and steering ability are reduced, attachment may jack-knife and cause tract or to overturn).

CHILDREN

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

a. Keep children out of the mowing area and in

watchful care of a responsible adult other than the operator.

b. Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters

the area.

c. Before and while backing, look behind and

down for small children.

d. Never carry children, even with the blade(s)

shut off. They may fall off and be seriously injured or interfere with safe machine operation.

e. Use extreme care when approaching b lind

corners, doorways, shrubs, trees or other objects that may block your vision of a child who may run into the machine.

f. Disengage the cutting blade(s) be fore

shifting in reverse. The “No-Cut-In Reverse” feature is a reminder not to cut in reverse and to help avoid back over accidents. Do not defeat it.

g. Keep children away from hot or running

engines. They can suffer burns from a hot muffler.

h. Remove key when machine is unattended to

prevent unauthorized operation.

9. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate the machine. Children 14 years old and over shou ld read and understand the operation instructions and safety rules in this manual and should be trained and supervised by a parent.

TOWING

1. Tow only with a machine that has a hitch designed for towing. Do not attach towed equipment except at the hitch point.

2. Follow the manufacturers recommendation for weight limits for towed equipment and towing on slopes.

3. Never allow children or others in or on towed equipment.

4. On slopes, the weight of the towed equipment may cause loss of traction and loss of control.

5. Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop.

6. Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill.

SERVICE

SAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE:

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. Wash your skin and change clothes immediately.

a. Use only an approved gasoline container. b. 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.

c. When practical, remove gas-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.

d. 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.

e. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and

other sources of ignition. f. Never fuel machine indoors. g. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the

engine is hot or running. Allow engine to cool

at least two minutes before refueling. h. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more

than ½ inch below bottom of filler neck to

allow space for fuel expansion. i. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely. j. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine

and equipment. Move unit to another area.

Wait 5 minutes before starting the engine. k. To reduce fire hazards, keep machine free of

grass, leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean

up oil or fuel spillage and remove any fuel

soaked debris. l. Never store the machine or fuel container

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. m. Allow a machine to cool at least five minutes

before storing.

GENERAL SERVICE:

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(s) and all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground against the engine to prevent unintended starting.

3. Periodically check to make sure the blades come to complete stop within approximately (5) five seconds after operating the blade disengagement control. If the blades do not stop within the this time frame, your unit should be serviced professionally by an authorized MTD Service Dealer.

4. Check brake operation frequently as it is subjected to wear during normal operation. Adjust and service as required.

5. Check the blade(s) and engine mounting bolts at frequent intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect blade(s) for damage (e.g., excessive wear, bent, cracked).

Replace the blade(s) with the original equipment manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) blade(s) only, listed in this manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the original equipment specifications may lead to improper performance and compromise safet y!”

6. Mower blades are sharp. Wrap the blade or wear gloves, and use extra caution when servicing them.

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

8. Never tamper with the safety interlock system or other safety devices. Check their proper operat ion regularly.

9. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect the spark plug wire(s) and ground against the engine. Thoroughly inspect the machine for any damage. Repair the damage before starting and operating.

10. Never attempt to make adjustments or repairs to the machine while the engine is running.

WARNING: YOUR RESPONSIBILITY- Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who

read, understand and follo w the warnings and instructio ns in this manual and on the mac hine.

11. Grass catcher components and the discharge cover 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 (O.E.M.) parts only, listed in this manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the original equipment specifications may lead to improper performance and compromise safet y!”

12. Do not change the engine governor settings or over-speed the engine. The gover nor controls t he maximum safe operating speed of the engine.

13. Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as necessary.

14. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas, oil, etc. to protect the environment.

WARNING

TO AVOID SERIOUS

INJURY OR DEATH

• GO UP AND DOWN SLOPES, NOT ACROSS.

• AVOID SUDDEN TURNS.

• DO NOT OPERATE THE UNIT WHERE IT

COULD SLIP OR TIP.

• IF MACHINE STOPS GOING UPHILL, STOP

BLADE(S) AND BACK DOWNHILL SLOWLY.

• DO NOT MOW WHEN CHILDREN

OR OTHERS ARE AROUND.

• NEVER CARRY CHILDREN EVEN WITH

BLADES OFF.

• LOOK DOWN & BEHIND BEFORE AND

WHILE BACKING.

• KEEP SAFETY DEVICES (GUARDS,

SHIELDS, AND SWITCHES, ETC.)

IN PLACE AND WORKING.

• REMOVE OBJECTS THAT COULD

BE THROWN BY THE BLADE(S).

• KNOW LOCATION AND FUNCTION OF ALL

CONTROLS.

• BE SURE BLADE(S) AND ENGINE ARE

STOPPED BEFORE PLACING HANDS

OR FEET NEAR BLADE(S).

• BEFORE LEAVING OPERATOR'S POSITION,

DISENGAGE BLADE(S), PLACE THE CONTROL

LEVER IN NEUTRAL, ENGAGE PARKING

BRAKE, SHUT OFF AND REMOVE KEY.

READ OPERATOR'S

MANUAL

DANGER

KEEP HANDS AND FEET AWAY. DO NOT OPERATE MOWER UNLESS CHUTE DEFLECTOR OR ENTIRE GRASS CATCHER IS

ASSEMBLE CHUTE DEFLECTOR TO THIS UNIT BEFORE OPERATING.

IN ITS PROPER PLACE.

•

S30018

S30503

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURY, DO NOT OPERATE UNLESS DISCHARGE COVER OR GRASS CATCHER IS IN ITS PROPER PLACE. IF DAMAGED, REPLACE IMMEDIATELY.

SECTION 2: SLOPE GAUGE

your footing and you could slip, resulting in serious injury.

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. If operating a walk-behind mower on such a slope, it is extremely difficult to maintain

Operate RIDING mowers up and down slopes, neve r across the face of slopes.

A CORNER OF A BUILDING

SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE

A POWER POLE

WARNING

15°

OR A FENCE POST

SECTION 3: TRACTOR SET-UP

IMPORTANT:

starting the engine and operating. Refer to the separate Briggs & Stratton Operator/Owner Manual (or Tecumseh engine’s Owner’s Manual) packed with your tractor. Read instructions carefully.

Your tractor is shipped with motor oil in the engine. However, yo u MUST check the oil level before

NOTE: Reference to right or left hand side of the unit

is observed from the driver’s seat, facing forward.

Tools Required For Assembly

(1) 1/2" socket wrench (for steering wheel) (1) 9/16" wrench or socket wrench (for seat)

Attaching The Steering Wheel

• The hardware for attaching the steering wheel has been packed within the steering wheel, beneath steering wheel cap. Carefully pry off the steering wheel cap and remove the hardware.

• Remove the steering bellow from its packaged location on the deck engagement/lift lever (found on the right hand side of tractor).

• Place the steering bellow over the steering shaft extending through the dash. See Figure 1.

NOTE: If the openings on each end of the steering

bellow are two different sizes, the smaller end goes down, against the dash of the lawn tractor.

• With the wheels of the trac tor pointing st raight forward, place the steering wheel over the steering

shaft.

• Place the washer (with the cupped side down) over the steering shaft and secure with the hex bolt. See Figure 1.

• Place the steering wheel cap over the center of the steering wheel and push downward until it “clicks” into place.

Steering

Wheel Cap

Hex Bolt

& Washer

Steering

Shaft

Attaching The Seat

NOTE: For shipping reasons, seats are either

fastened to the tractor seat’s pivot bracket with a plastic tie, or mounted backward to the pivo t brack et. In e ither case, free the seat form its shipping position and remove the two hex screws from the bottom of seat before proceeding with instructions below.

1. Position the shoulder screws (found on the base of the seat) inside the slot openings in the seat pivot bracket. Figure 2.

Hex Screws

Shoulder

Screws

Opening

in Slot

Pivot Bracket

Figure 2

2. Slide the seat slightly rearward in the seat pivot bracket, lining up the rear slots in the pivot bracket with the remaining two holes in the seat’s base.

3. Select desired position for the seat, and secure with the two hex screws removed earlier. See Figure 2.

Steering

Bellow

Tire Pressure

WARNING: Maximum tire pressure under

any circumstances is 30 psi. Equal tire pressure should be maintained at all times.

The tires on your unit may be over-inflat ed for shipping purposes. Reduce the tire pressure befo re operating the tractor. Recommended operating t ire pressure is approximately 10 p.s.i for the rear tires & 14 p.s.i. for the front tires. Check sidewall of tire for maximum p.s.i.

Figure 1

Gas and Oil Fill-up

The gasoline tank is located under the hood and has a capacity of one and-a-half gallons. Do not overfill.

WARNING: Use extreme care when

handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive. Never fuel machine indoors or while the engine is hot or running. Extinguish cigarettes, cigars, pip es , and other sources of ignition.

Service the engine with gasoline and oil as instr ucted in the separate Briggs & Stratton Operator/Owner Manual (or Tecumseh engine’s Owner’s Manual) packed with your tractor. Read instructions carefully.

IMPORTANT:

engine. However, you MUST check the oil level before operating. Be careful not to overfill.

Your tractor is shipped with motor oil in the

Shipping Brace

Warning Tag

Figure 3

Shipping Brace Removal

WARNING: Make sure the riding mower’s

engine is off, remove the ignition key, and set the parking brake before removing the shipping brace

• Locate the shipping brace and accompanying warning tag found on the right side of the mower , between the discharge chute and the cutting deck. See Figure 3.

• While holding the discharge chute with your left hand, remove the shipping brace with your right hand by grasping it between your thumb and index finger and rotating it clockwise.

WARNING: The shipping brace, used for

packaging purposes only, must be removed and discarded before operating your riding mower.

WARNING: The mowing de ck is cap able o f

throwing objects. Failure to operate the riding mower without the discharge cover in the proper operating position could result in serious personal injury and/or property damage.

SECTION 4: KNOW YOUR LAWN TRACTOR

NOTE: Steering Wheel not shown for clarity.

A Clutch-brake Pedal D Ignition Switch B Throttle Control Lever E Shift Lever C Deck Engagement / Lift Lever F Speed Control Lever / Parking Brake

Ignition Switch

The ignition switch is located on the right side of the tractor’s dash.To start the engine, insert the key into the ignition switch and turn clockwise to the START position. Release the key into the ON position once engine has fired.

Refer to Starting The Engine on page 12 of this manual for detailed starting instructions

WARNING: Never leave a running

machine unattended. Always disengaged PTO, Shift into neutral, set parking brake, stop engine and remove key to prevent unintended starting.

STOP

Figure 4

Throttle Control Lever

RUN

START

The throttle control lever is located on the left side of the tractor’s dash panel. This lever controls the speed of the engine and, when pushed all the wa y forward, the choke control also. When set in a given position, the throttle will maintain a uniform engine speed.

Refer to Starting The Engine on page 12 of this manual for detailed starting instructions

IMPORTANT:

tractor with the cutting deck engaged, be certain that the throttle lever is always in the FAST (rabbit) position.

When operating the

Choke

Position

Fast

Position

Slow

Position

Speed Control Lever

The speed control lever, located on the right side of the center console, allows you to regulate the ground speed of the lawn tractor. To use, depress the clutchbrake pedal and move the lever out of the parking brake notch and forward to increase the tracto r’s ground speed. When a desired speed has been reached, release the lever into an appropriate notch to maintain that speed. To slow the tractor’s ground speed, depress the clutch-brake pedal and move the speed control lever rearward and release it into a notch.

Clutch-brake Pedal

The clutch-brake pedal is located on the left side of the lawn tractor, along the running board. Depre ss the clutch-brake pedal part way down when slowing the tractor by changing speeds (Refer to Speed Control Lever). Depress the pedal all the way down to engage the disc brake and bring the tractor to a complete stop.

NOTE: The pedal must be depressed to start the

engine. Refer to Safety Interlock Switches on page 11.

Parking Brake

To set the parking brake, fully depress the clutch-brake pedal. Move the speed control lever all the way to the rear and release it into the parkin g brake position. Release the clutch-brake pedal to allow the parking brake to engage.

To release the parking brake, depress the clut ch-brake pedal and move the speed control lever out of th e notches to the desired position. Release the speed control lever and the clutch-brake pedal.

NOTE: The parking brake must be set if the operator

leaves the seat with the engine running or the engine will automatically shut off.

IMPORTANT:

leaving the tractor unattended.

Always set the parking brake when

Shift Lever

The shift lever is located in the center of the console and has three positions, F (Forward), N (Neutral) and R (Reverse ). See Figure 4. The clutchbrake pedal must be fully depressed and the tractor must not be in motion when the moving shift lever.

IMPORTANT:

result in serious damage to the tractor’s transmission.

Never force the shift lever. Doing so may

NOTE: If difficulty is encountered while attempting to

shift, release the clutch-brake pedal slightly before fully depressing the pedal again.

Shift

Knob

Deck Engagement / Lift Lever

Found on the right side of the tractor , the deck engagement/lift lever is used to set the mowing deck’s cutting height and engage the po wer to the cutting deck or other (separately available) attachments. To operate, move the lever to the right and forward, b efore placing it a notch for your desired cutting height . Moving the lever to the right and all the way rearward placing it into the BLADES STOP position disengages p ower to the cutting deck/ attachment.

NOTE: The deck engagement/lift lever must be in the

disengaged (BLADES STOP) position when starting the engine, when traveling in reverse and if the operator leaves the seat.

SECTION 5: OPERATING THE LAWN TRACTOR

Safety Interlock System

WARNING: Read, understand, and follow

all instructions and warnings on the machine and in this manual before op erating.

This tractor is equipped with a safety interlock system for the protection of the opera tor. If the interlock system should ever malfunction, do not operate the tractor.

Contact an authorized MTD service dealer. The safety interlock system prevents the engine from cranking or starting unless the parking brake is engaged, and the deck engagement/lift lever is in the disengaged (BLADES STOP) position.

• The engine will automatically shut off if the operator leaves the seat before engaging the parking brake.

WARNING

AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH

• GO UP AND DOWN SLOPES, NOT ACROSS.

• AVOID SUDDEN TURNS.

• DO NOT OPERATE THE UNIT WHERE IT COULD SLIP OR TIP.

• IF MACHINE STOPS GOING UPHILL, STOP BLADE(S) AND BACK DOWNHILL SLOWLY.

• DO NOT MOW WHEN CHILDREN OR OTHERS ARE AROUND.

• NEVER CARRY CHILDREN, EVEN WITH BLADES OFF.

• LOOK DOWN AND BEHIND BEFORE AND WHILE BACKING.

• KEEP SAFETY DEVICES (GUARDS, SHIELDS, AND SWITCHES) IN PLACE AND WORKING.

• REMOVE OBJECTS THAT COULD BE THROWN BY THE BLADE(S).

• KNOW LOCATION AND FUNCTION OF ALL CONTROLS.

• BE SURE BLADE(S) AND ENGINE ARE STOPPED BEFORE PLACING HANDS OR FEET NEAR BLADE(S).

• BEFORE LEAVING OPERATOR’S POSITION, DISENGAGE BLADE(S), PLACE THE SHIFT LEVER IN NEUTRAL, ENGAGE PARKING BRAKE, SHUT ENGINE OFF AND REMOVE KEY.

READ OPERATOR’S MANUAL

• The engine will automatically shut off if the operator leaves the tractor’s seat with the deck engagement/ lift lever in ANY position other than BLADES STOP.

• The engine will automatically shut off if the deck engagement/lift lever is moved out of the BL ADES STOP position with the shift lever in R (reverse).

Before Starting Engine

WARNING: Read, understand, and f o llo w

all instructions and warnings on the machine and in this manual before op erating.

Starting the Engine

WARNING: Do not operate the tractor if the

interlock system is malfunctioning. This system was designed for your safety and protection.

NOTE: Refer to the TRACTOR SET-UP on page 8 of this

manual for Gasoline and Oil fill-up instructions.

• Insert the tractor key into the ignition switch.

• Place the deck engagement/lift lever in the BLADES STOP position.

• Engage the tractor’s parking brake.

• Activate the choke control.

• Turn the ignition key clockwise to the START position. After the engine starts, release the key. It will return to the ON position.

IMPORTANT:

position for longer than ten seconds at a time. Doing so may cause damage to your engine’s electric starter.

Do NOT hold the key in the START

• After the engine starts, move the throttle control into the FAST position.

IMPORTANT:

operating the tractor. Doing so will result in a "rich" fuel mixture and cause the engine to run poorly.

Do NOT leave the choke control on while

NOTE: If Starting problems are encountered, refer to

TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE on page 23.

Stopping the Engine

WARNING: If you strike a foreign object,

stop the engine, disconnect the spark plug wire(s) and ground against the engine. Thoroughly inspect the machine for any damage. Repair the damage before restarting and operating

• If the blades are engaged, place the deck engagement/lift lever in the BLADES STOP position.

• Depress the clutch-brake pedal to bring th e tractor to a complete stop.

• Turn the ignition key counterclockwise to the OFF position.

• Engage the tractor’s parking brake.

• Remove the key from the ignition switch to prevent unintended starting.

Operating The Lawn Tractor

WARNING: Always l ook d own and behind

before and while backing up to avoid a backover accident.

WARNING: Before leaving the operator’s

position. Always place the deck engagement/ lift lever in the BLADES STOP position, shift into neutral, set parking brake, stop engine and remove key to prevent unintended starting.

• Move throttle control lever to full throttle.

NOTE: Always operate the tractor with the throttle

control lever in the FAST (rabbit) p osition for the most efficient use of the cutting deck or other (separately available) attachments.

• Place the shift lever in either the FORWARD or REVERSE position.

• Release the parking brake by depressing the clutch-brake pedal and positioning the speed control lever in desired position.

IMPORTANT:

positions 1 or 2. Become completely familiar with the tractor’s operation and controls before operat ing the tractor in higher speed positions.

First-time operators should use speed

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