MTD A0, B0, A1, A2, B2 Operator's Manual

Safe Operation Practices • Set-Up • Operation • Service • Troubleshooting

OperatOr’s Manual

Self Propelled Mower

Front Wheel Drive

Model Series A0, A1, A2, B0, B1, & B2

Table of Contents

Safe Operation Practices ........................................ 2

Assembly & Set-Up .................................................. 6

Controls & Operation .............................................. 9

WARNING

READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL

BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS MACHINE.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.

NOTE: This Operator’s Manual covers several models. Features may vary by model. Not all features in this manual are applicable to all
models and the model depicted may differ from yours.

Printed In USA

Service .....................................................................11

Troubleshooting .....................................................14

Parts/Warranty .............. See Separate Supplement

Form No. 769-10956

(August 24, 2015)

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 attempting to operate this
machine. Failure to comply with these
instructions may result in personal injury.
When you see this symbol.

HEED ITS WARNING!

CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION

65

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. Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories contain
lead and lead compounds, chemicals
known to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash
hands after handling.

DANGER: This machine was
built to be operated according
to the safe operation practices in
this manual. As with any type of

power equipment, carelessness
or error on the part of the operator can result
in serious injur y. This machine is capable of
amputating fingers, hands, toes and feet and
throwing foreign objects. Failure to obser ve
the following safety instructions could result in
serious injury or death.

General Operation

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

2. Be completely familiar with the controls
and the proper use of this machine
before operating it.

3. This machine is a precision piece of
power equipment, not a plaything.
Therefore, exercise extreme caution
at all times. This machine has been
designed to perform one job: to mow
grass. Do not use it for any other
purpose.

4. Never allow children under 14 years of
age to operate this machine. Children 14
and over should read and understand
the instructions and safe operation
practices in this manual and on the
machine and should be trained and
supervised by an adult.

5. Only responsible individuals who
are familiar with these rules of safe
operation should be allowed to use this
machine.

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
tripped over or picked up and thrown
by the blade. 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. To help avoid blade contact or a thrown
object injury, stay in operator zone
behind handles and keep children,
bystanders, helpers and pets at least 75
feet from mower while it is in operation.
Stop machine if anyone enters area.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Do not put hands or feet near rotating
parts or under the cutting deck. Contact
with blade can amputate fingers, hands,
toes and feet.

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

13. Many injuries occur as a result of the
mower being 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.

14. Never pull the mower back toward
you while you are walking. If you must
back the mower away from a wall or
obstruction first look down and behind
to avoid tripping and then follow these

steps:

a. Step back from 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.

15. Do not operate the mower while under
the influence of alcohol or drugs.

16. Do not engage the self-propelled
mechanism on machines so equipped
while starting engine.

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17. The blade control 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 must
operate easily in both directions and
automatically return to the disengaged
position when released.

18. 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.

19. Mow only in daylight or good artificial
light. Walk, never run.

20. Stop the blade when crossing gravel
drives, walks or roads.

21. If the equipment should start to vibrate
abnormally, stop the engine and check
immediately for the cause. Vibration is
generally a warning of trouble.

22. Shut the engine off and wait until
the blade comes to a complete stop
before removing the grass catcher or
unclogging the chute. The cutting blade
continues to rotate for a few seconds
after the blade control is released. Never
place any part of the body in the blade
area until you are sure the blade has
stopped rotating.

23. Never operate mower without proper
trail shield, discharge cover, grass
catcher, blade control or other safety
protective devices in place and working.
Never operate mower with damaged
safety devices. Failure to do so can result
in personal injury.

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

25. Never attempt to make a wheel or
cutting height adjustment while the
engine is running.

26. Only use parts and accessories made
for this machine by the manufacturer.
Failure to do so can result in personal
injury.

27. When starting engine, pull cord
slowly until resistance is felt, then pull
rapidly. Rapid retraction of starter cord
(kickback) will pull hand and arm toward
engine faster than you can let go. Broken
bones, fractures, bruises or sprains could
result.

28. If situations occur which are not covered
in this manual, use care and good
judgement. Contact Customer Support
for assistance or the name of the nearest

service dealer.

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Slope Operation

Slopes are a major factor related to
slip and fall accidents, which can result
in severe injury. Operation on slopes
requires extra caution. The machine is
heavy and can speed up when going
downhill. Be prepared to maintain control
of the machine. 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 machine 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 to avoid loss of control.

2. Exercise extreme caution when
changing direction on slopes; turn uphill
not down.

3. Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden
objects, or bumps which can cause
you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide
obstacles.

4. 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 three (3) seconds.

Do Not:

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 watchful care of a responsible
adult other than the operator.

2. Be alert and turn mower of f 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 of
age to operate this machine. Children 14
and over should read and understand
the instructions and safe operation
practices in this manual and on the
machine and be trained and supervised
by an adult.

7. After stopping engine, remove Electric
Start Push Key (if equipped) and keep
it in a safe place out of the reach of

children.

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.

2. Use only an approved gasoline
contain er.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes
and other sources
of ignition.

7. Never fuel machine indoors because
flammable vapors will accumulate in
the area.

8. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while
engine is hot or running. Allow engine
to cool at least two minutes before
refueling.

9. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no
more than 1 inch below bottom of filler
neck to provide for fuel expansion.

10. Replace gasoline cap and tighten
securely.

11. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the
engine and equipment. Move machine
to another area. Wait 5 minutes before
starting engine.

12. Never store the machine or fuel
container near an open flame, spark or
pilot light as on a water heater, space
heater, furnace, clothes dryer or other
gas appliances.

13. To reduce fire hazard, keep machine free
of grass, leaves, or other debris build-up.
Clean up oil or fuel spillage and remove
any fuel soaked debris.

Section 1 — impo rtant Safe operation pract iceS

14. Allow machine to cool at least 5 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 and all moving
parts have stopped. Disconnect the
spark plug wire and ground against the
engine and remove Electric Start Push
Key (if equipped) to prevent unintended
starting.

3. Check the blade and engine mounting
bolts at frequent intervals for proper
tightness. Also, visually inspect blade
for damage (e.g., bent, cracked,
worn) Replace blade with the original
equipment manufacture’s (O.E.M.)
blade only, listed in this manual. “Use
of parts which do not meet the original
equipment specifications may lead to
improper performance and compromise
safety!”

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

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

6. Never tamper with safety devices. Check
their proper operation regularly.

7. After striking a foreign object, stop
the engine, disconnect the spark plug
wire and ground against the engine.
Thoroughly inspect the mower for any
damage. Repair the damage before
starting and operating the mower.

8. Never attempt to make a wheel or
cutting height adjustment while the
engine is running.

9. Grass catcher components, discharge
cover, and trail shield 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 safety!”

10. Do not change the engine’s governor
setting or over-speed the engine. The
governor controls the maximum safe
operating speed of the engine.

11. Check fuel line, tank, cap, and fittings
frequently for cracks or leaks. Replace if
necessary.

12. Do not crank engine with spark plug
removed.

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

14. Observe proper disposal laws and
regulations. Improper disposal of
fluids and materials can harm the
environment.

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15. According to the Consumer Products
Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
this product has an Average Useful Life of
seven (7) years, or 140 hours of operation.
At the end of the Average Useful Life
have the machine inspected annually by
an authorized service dealer to ensure
that all mechanical and safety systems
are working properly and not worn
excessively. Failure to do so can result in

accidents, injuries or death.

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), Oxidizing Catalyst (OC), Secondary Air
Injection (SAI) and Three Way Catalyst (TWC) if

so equipped.

Spark Arrestor

WARNING: This machine 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 arrestor meeting applicable local or state

laws (if any).

If a spark arrestor 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 arrestor for the muffler is available
through your nearest engine authorized
service dealer or contact the service
department, P.O. Box 361131 Cleveland, Ohio
44136-0 019.

Safety Symbols

This page depicts and describes safety symbols that may appear on this product. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine before
attempting to assemble and operate.

Symbol Description

READ THE OPERATOR’S MANUAL(S)
Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the manual(s) before attempting to assemble and operate.

DANGER — ROTATING BLADES
To reduce the risk of injury, keep hands and feet away. Do not operate unless discharge cover or grass catcher is
in its proper place. If damaged, replace immediately.

DANGER — BYSTANDERS
Do not mow when children or others are around.

DANGER — HAND/ FOOT CUT
Keep hands and feet away from rotating parts.

DANGER — THROWN DEBRIS
Remove objects that can be thrown by the blade in any direction. Wear safety glasses.

DANGER — SLOPES
Use extra caution on slopes. The machine is heavy and can speed up when going downhill. Be prepared to maintain
control of the machine. To avoid loss of control, operate across slopes, not up and down. When turning, turn uphill,
not down. Do not operate on slopes greater than 15°.

WARNING—GASOLINE IS FLAMMABLE
Allow the engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling.

WARNING— CARBON MONOXIDE
Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an
odorless and deadly gas.

WARNING— HOT SURFACE
Engine parts, especially the muffler, become extremely hot during operation. Allow engine and muffler to cool
before touching.

WARNING! 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.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!

4

Section 1 — impo rtant Safe operation pract iceS

To check the slope, proceed as follows:

1. Remove this page and fold along the dashed line.

2. Locate a vertical object on or behind the slope (e.g. a pole, building, fence, tree, etc.)

3. Align either side of the slope gauge with the object (See Figure 1 and Figure 2 ).

4. Adjust gauge up or down until the left corner touches the slope (See Figure 1 and Figure 2).

5. If there is a gap below the gauge, the slope is too steep for safe operation (See Figure 2 above).

WARNING! Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall accidents which can result in severe injury or death.

The machine is heavy and can speed up when going downhill. Be prepared to maintain control of the machine. To avoid loss of control, operate across slopes, not up and down. When turning,

turn uphill, not down. Do not operate machine on slopes in excess of 15 degrees.

(OK) (TOO STEEP)

IF A SLOPE IS TOO STEEP FOR SAFE OPERATION!

USE THIS SLOPE GAUGE TO DETERMINE

Slope Gauge

15° dashed line

Figure 2Figure 1

15° Slope

15° Slope

Section 1 — impo rtant Safe operation pract iceS

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