MTD 679, 678, 677, 675, 674 Owner’s Manual

...

OPERATOR'S MANUAL

Model Series

660 thru 679

TRANSMATIC

LAWN TRACTORS

IMPORTANT: READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Warning: This unit is equipped with an intema! combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-

covered, brush-.covered or grass-covered tend unleas the engine's exhaust system is equipped with a spark an'eater 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 Caiifomia Public Resources Code). Other states may have similar laws, Federal laws apply on federal lands. A spark arrestar forthe muffler isavailable 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. 770-8637A

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 PROPERTY OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS. READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE

A'I-I-EMPTING TO OPERATE YOUR LAWN MOWER. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY. WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL, HEED ITS

WARNING.

WARNING: The Engine Exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the

State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

DANGER: Your lawn mower 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 lawn mower is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects.

Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.

1. GENERAL OPERATION

• Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the • operator's manual and on the machine before

starting. Keep this manual in a safe place for future and regular reference and for ordering replacement

pads, •

• Only allow responsible individuals familiar with the •

instructions to operate the machine. Know controls

and how to stop the machine quickly.

• Do not put hands or feet under cuttingdeck or near

rotatingparts.

• Clear the area of objects such as rocks, toys, wire,

etc., which could be picked up and thrown by the blade. A small object may have been overlooked and

could be agcidantally thrown by the mower in any ° direction and cause injury to you or a bystander. To

help avoid a thrown objects injury, keep children, • bystanders and helpers at least 75 feet from the

mower while it is in operation, Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles during operation or while performing an adjustment or repair, to protect eyes from foreign objects. Stop the blade(s) when

crossing gravel drives, walks or roads.

• Be sure the area is clear of other people before

mowing. Stop machine ifanyone enters the area.

• Never carry passengers.

• Disengage blade(s) before shifting into reverse and

backing up. Always look down and behind before and while backing.

• Be aware of the mower and attachment discharge

direction and do not point it at anyone. Do not operate the mower without either the entire grass

catcher or the chute guard in place.

• Slow down before turning. Operate the machine

smoothly. Avoid erratic operation and excessive speed.

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

Turn offblade(s)whennotmowing. Stop engine and wait until blade(s) comes to a

completestop before (a) removinggrass catcher or

unclogging chute, or (b) making any repairs, adjustingorremovinganygrassor debris.

Mow only in daylight or good artificial light. Do not operate the machine while under the

influence of alcohol or drugs.

Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing

roadways.

Use extra care when loading or unloading the machine into a trailer or truck. This unit should not be

driven up or down a ramp onto a trailer or truck under power, because the unit could tip over, causing sedous personal injury. The unit must be pushed manually on a ramp to load or unload prepedy.

Never make a cutting height adjustment while engine is running it operator must dismount to do so.

Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close- fitting slacks and shirts. Do not wear loose _ting clothes or jewelry. They can be caught in moving parts. Never operate a unit in bare feet, sandals, or

sneakers.

Check overhead clearance carefully before driving under power lines, wires, bridges or low hanging tree branches, before entedng or leaving buildings, or in any other situation where the operator may be struck

or pulled from the unit, which could result in serious injury.

Disengage all attachment clutches, thoroughly depress the brake pedal, and shift into neutral before

attempting to start engine.

• Yourmoweris designedto cutnormalresidential

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. Debris may build up on the mower deck or contact the engine exhaust

presenting a potential fire hazard.

2. 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 ifyou feel uneasy on it, do not mow it.

For your safety, use the slope gauge included as pert of this manual to measure slopes before operating this unit on a sloped or hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15° as shown on the slope gauge, do not operate this unit on that area or

serious injury could ras_lt

DO:

• Mow up and down slopes, not across.

• Remove oboes such as rooks, limbs, etc.

• Watch for holes, ruts or bumps. Uneven terrain could

overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide obstacles.

• Use slow speed. Choose a low enough gear so that you will not have to stop or shift while on the slope.

Always keep machine in gear when going down slopes to take advantage of engine braking action.

• Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for wheel weights or counterweights to improve stability.

• Use extra care with grass catchers or other

attachments. These can change the stability of the

machine.

• Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual.

Do not make sudden changes in speed or direction. Rapid engagement or braking could cause the front

of the machine to lift and rapidly flip over backwards

which could cause serious injury.

• Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. If tires lose

traction, disengage the blade(s) and proceed slowly

straight down the slope.

DO NOT:

• Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then, tum

slowly and gradually downhill, if possible. •

• 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 or ditch, or ifan edge caves in.

• Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could

cause sliding.

• Do not try to stabilize the machine by puttingyour

footonthe ground.

• Do not use grass catcher on steep slopes.

3. CHILDREN

Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence of children. Children are often attracted to the

machine and the mowing activity. Never assume that children wilt remain where you tsst saw them.

• Keep children out of the mowing area and in watchful

care of an adult other than the operator.

• Be alert and turn machine off if children enter the

area,

• Before and when backing, look behind and down for

small children.

• Never carry children, even with the blades off. They

may fall off and be seriously injured or interfere with

the safe machine operation.

• Never allow childrenunder 14 years old to operate

the machine.Children14 years and overshouldonly operate machine under close parental supervision and properinstruction.

• Use extra care when approaching blind comers, shrubs, trees or other objects that may obscure your

vision of a child or other hazard.

• Remove key when machine is unattended to prevent

unauthorized operation.

4. SERVICE

• Use extreme care in handling gasoline and other

fuels. They are extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive.

• Use only an approved container.

• Never remove fuel cap or add fuel with the engine

running. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes

before refueling.

• Replace fuel cap securely and wipe off any spilled

fuel before starting the engine as it may cause a fire

or explosion.

• Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other

sources of ignition;

• Never refuel the machine indoors because fuel vapors will accumulate in the area.

• Never store the fuel container or machine inside where there is an open flame or spark, such as a gas

hot water heater, space heater or fumace.

• Never run a machine inside a closed area.

• To reduce fire hazard, keep the machine free of

grass, leaves or other ds_orisbuild-up. Clean up oil or fuel spillage. Allow machine to cool at least 5

minutes before storing.

• Before cleaning, repairing or inspecting, make certain the blade and all moving parts have stopped.

Disconnect the spark plug wire, and keep the wire away from the spark plug to prevent acc'ldenta| starting.

• Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at frequent intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect blade for damage (e.g., excessive wear, bent, cracked). Replace with blade which meets original equipment specifications.

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

• Never tamper with safety devices. Check their

proper operation regularly. Use all guards as

instructed in this manual.

• After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, remove the wire from the spark plug and

thoroughly inspect the mower for any damage.

Repair the damage before restarting and operating

the mower.

• Grass catcher components are subject to wear, damage and deterioration, which could expose

moving parts or allow objects to be thrown. For

your safety protection, frequently check components and replace with manufacturer's

recommended parts when necessary.

• Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the

blade(s) or wear gloves and use extra caution when servicing blade(s).

• Check brake operation frequently. Adjust and

service as required.

Muffler, engine and belt guards become hot during operation and san cause a bum. Allow to cool down before touching.

Do not change the engine governor settings or overspeed the engine. Excessive engine speeds are dangerous.

Observe proper disposal laws and regulations.

Improper disposal of fluids and materials can harm

the environment and the ecology.

Prior to disposal, determine the proper method to dispose of waste from your local Environmental Protection Agency. Recycling centers are established to properly dispose of materials in an

environmentally safe fashion. Use proper containers when draining fluids. DO not

use food or beverage containers that may mislead someone into drinking from them. Properly dispose

of the containers immediately following the draining of fluids.

DO NOT pour oil or other fluids into the ground, down a drain or into a stream, pond, lake or other

body of water. Observe Environmental Protection Agency regulations when disposing of oil, fuel,

coolant, brake fluid, filters, batteries, tires and other harmful waste.

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

who read, understand and followthe warnings and instructions in this manual end on the machine.

ASSEMBLE CHUTE DEFLECTOR

TO THIS UNIT

BEFORE OPERATING MACHINE.

DANGER

Figure 1 Safety labels found on your unit

USE THIS PAGE AS A GUIDE TO DETERMINE SLOPES WHERE YOU MAY NOT OPERATE SAFELY.

i --,9[ ...... SIGHT AND HOLDTHIS LEVELWITH A VERTICALTREE

| i _ - A POWER POLE

.... ....., i-"....... ACO°--O AOU,'O,NO

ooee • i

....•. I _., ORA_ENCEPOS,

","......"'-...."OLD

eaeDoe

LL!

U'J

15°

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

Operate RIDING mowers up end down slopes, never across the face of slopes. Operate WALK-BEHIND mowers across the face of slopes, never up and down slopes.

SECTION 2: FINDING YOUR MODEL NUMBER

This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new lawn tractor. It will help you assemble, prepare and maintain your lawn tractor. Please read and understand what itsays. Before you start to prepare your lawn tractor for its first use, please locate the model plate and copy the information from it in this Operator's Manual. The information on the model plate is very important if you need help from your dealer or the MTD customer support department.

• Every lawn tractor has a model plate. You can locate it by pivoting the seat forward and looking under

the seat at the seat pivot bracket.

• The model plate will look like Figure 2.

XXX-X-XXX-X-XXX XXXXXXXXXXX

_ II_F_P_R_J_J_J_, CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136_

Copy the model number here:

Copy the sedal number here:

Figure 2

This is where your model number will be.

This is where your serial number will be.

SECTION 3: CALLING CUSTOMER SUPPORT

If you are having difficulty assembling this product or if you have any question regarding the controls, operation or maintenance of this unit, please call the Customer Support Department. You can reach them by calling:

1-800-800-7310

Before you call, make sure that you have your model and serial numbers ready. By having the model and serial numbers ready, you help the Customer Support Representative give you faster service. To find your unit's model and serial number, see SECTION 2: FINDING YOUR MODEL NUMBER.

SECTION 4: UNPACKING

TO REMOVE UNIT FROM CRATE

1. Remove all screws from the top of the crate using a 1/4" hex head socket or a flat blade

screwdriver.

2. To remove ends, grasp top board on the end,

and pull towards you in a downward motion.

(A hammer may be helpful).

3. Set panel aside to avoid tire punctures.

4. Repeat procedure for each side of the crate.

5. Remove and discard plastic bag which covers unit.

SECTION 5: ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

IMPORTANT: After assembly, service engine i

with gasoline, and check oil level as instructed i

in the separate engine manual packed with your

unit.

NOTE: Reference to right or left hand aide of

the unit is observed from the ,driver's seat, facing forward.

TOOLS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY

(1) 1/4" socket wrench or flat blade screwdriver (1) 1/2" wrench or socket wrench* (1) 9116" wrench orsocket wrench

(2) 7/16" wrenches or socket wrenches *If your steering wheel cap is square, you must

have a socket wrench in order to install the steering wheel.

BATTERY INFORMATION

Loose parts (may include the owner's guide, steering wheel, optional oil drain sleeve or hose, battery fluid, chute deflector, optional

mulching plug, etc.) are on the seat or in a box wrapped in plastic. Carefully cut and remove the plastic wrap. Remove the loose parts.

Make certain parking brake is released and deck is raised. Push the unitoff the skid.

NOTE: For detailed instructions on raising the

deck and releasing the parking brake, refer to the control section in this manual.

E. NEVER connect or disconnect charger clips to

battery while charger is turned on as it can cause sparks.

Keep all lighted materials (cigarettes, matches,

lighters) away from the battery as the hydrogen gas generated during charging can be combusti-

ble.

G. As a further precaution, only charge the battery

in a well-ventilated area.

*Always shield ayes, protect skin and clothing

when working near batteries.

WARNING

A. Battery acid must be handled with great care as

contact with it can burn and blister the skin. It is also advisable to wear protective clothing (gog-

gles, rubber gloves and apron) when working

with it.

B. Should battery acid accidentally splatter into the

eyes or onto the face, dnse the affected area

immediately with clean cold water. If there is any

further discomfort, seek prompt medical attention.

C. If acid spills on clothing, first dilute it with clean

water, then neutralize with a solution of ammonia/ water or baking soda/water.

D. Since battery acid is corrosive, do not pour it into

any sink or drain. Before discarding empty elec- trolyte containers, rinse them with a neutralizing

solution.

&=DANGER

Battery contains sulfuric acid, Refer to warning

at right. Antidote: EXTERNAL--Flush with water.

INTERNAL---Drink large quantities of water or milk. Follow with milk of magnesia, beaten eggs or

vegetable oil. Call physician immediately. EYES:

Flush with cool water for at least 15 minutes, then

get prompt medical attention. Since batteries produce explosive gases, keep

all lighted materials (cigarettes, lighters,

matches, etc.) away. Be sure to charge battery

only in well-ventilated areas. Make certain venting

path of battery drain tube (if equipped) is always

open.

KEEP BATTERIES

OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDRENI

BA'I-FERY IDENTIFICATION

Type "A"

Type "B" "

Compare the battery in your lawn tractor (located under the seat) with the illustration above. Type "A" batteries are activated and are ready to use. Type

"B" batteries must be filled with battery fluid (acid) and charged before they are put into service. Follow

the instructions which apply to the battery in your

lawn tractor.

ACTNATING AND CHARGING THE BA'FrERY

(TYPE "B" BAI"rERY ONLY)

Do not activate battery (fill with battery acid) until battery is actually placed in service. Be

certain to read previous battery warnings before activating the battery.

1. Pivot the seat pivot bracket forward. Unhook the strap which secures the battery (hook is on rear frame, under fender). Disconnect the positive cable from the positive terminal. Save the hardware for reassembly.

2. Remove the battery from the lawn tractor, paying attention to how the battery is placed in

the unit, and how the drain tube (attached to the

battery) is routed.

3. Activate the battery as instructed in the "Quick

Start" brochure included with the battery fluid. Read Instructions carefully.

NOTE: You can continua assembling the lawn

tractor while battery is standing for 30 minutes (after filling with acid), and later while you are charging

the battery.

IMPORTANT:To obtain the maximum life

from your battery, it MUST BE CHARGED prior to Initial use.

CHARGE THE BATI'ERY after the 30 minute

standing period. Battery P/N 725-1705C_--Charge at 2-3 amps for one hour. Battery P/N 725-1707C and

725-0453F_harge at 6 amps for one hour.

NOTE: If you charge the battery at a lower AMP

rate, use a hydrometer to make sure the battery is completely charged. The hydrometer should read

1.260 minimum at an electrolyte temperature of 60- 110°F. DO NOT CHARGE AT MORE THAN 6

AMPS.

A'I-rACHING THE STEERING WHEEL

The hardware for attaching the steering wheel has been packed inside the steering wheel. Carefully pry off the steering wheel cap and

remove the hardware.

2. Remove the steering bellow from the lift lever on the right hand side of lawn tractor. Place

steering bellow over the steering shaft extending through the dash.

NOTE: If the openings on each end of the steenng

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

3. With the wheels of the tractor pointing straight forward, place the steering wheel over the steering shaft, positioning steedng wheel as

desired.

4. Place the washer with the cupped side down over the steering shaft. Secure with hex lock

bolt.

NOTE: If your steering wheel cap is square, you

must use a socket wrench.

Place the steering wheel cap over the center of

the steering wheel and seat it with your hand.

Steer ng=

Wheei, XCap

Flex Lock "X_

Bolt_ Cupped

Washer

SteeringBellow

SteerinL__....._

Shaft --

Figure 3

+ 18 hidden pages