MTD H763, 31AH763G401 Owner’s Manual
YaRD-MaN
Operator's Manual
Snow Thrower
Models
31AH763G401
IMPORTANT: Read safety rules and instructions carefully before operating equipment.
Warning; This unit isequipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on ornear any unimproved forest-
covered, brush-covered or grass-covered land unless the engine's exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting
applieabIe 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 attester 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. FOF',M NO. 770-10021B
ECONo.1481 (6/2000)
TABLEOFCONTENTS
Content Page
Important Safe Operation Practices ................................................................... 3
Assembling Your Snow Thrower ........................ _.............................................. 5
Know Your Snow Thrower ................................................................................. 8
Operating Your Snow Thrower .......................................................................... 10
Making Adjustments .......................................................................................... !2
Maintaining Your Snow Thrower ........................................................................ 13
Service .............................................................................................................. 14
Troubleshooting ................................................................................................. 17
Parts List ............................................................................................................ 18
FINDINGMODELNUMBER
This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new Snow Thrower, 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 informationfrom itin the space provided below, The information on
the model plate is very important ifyou need help from our Customer Support Department or
an authorized dealer.
You can locate the model number by looking at the lower frame cover in the rear of your snow
thrower. 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.
iv
(Model Number)
(Serial Number)
Copy the model number here:
Copy the serial number here:
[.M=ZpTOV/co.o.°oooc..,°c
• o,,o,,t3,j
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
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 vehic-le 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.
7.
Training
1. Read, understand and follow a]linstructions on the
machine and in the manual(s) before attempting to
assemble and operate. Keep this manual in a safe place
for future and regular reference and 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 machine without
proper instruction.
5. Thrown objects can cause serious personal injury. Plan
your snow throwing pattern to avoid discharge of material
toward roads, bystanders and the like.
6. Keep bystanders, helpers, pets and children at least 75
feet from the machine while it is in operation. Stop
machine if anyone enters the area.
7. Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling, especially
when operating in reverse.
Preparation
1_ Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to
be used. Remove all door mats, newspapers, sleds,
boards, wires and other foreign objects which could be
tripped over or thrown by the augedimpeller.
2_ Always wear safety glasses or eye shields during
operation and while performing an adjustment or repair to
protect your eyes. Thrown objects which ricochet can
cause serious injury to the eyes.
3. Do not operate without wearing adequate winter outer
garments. Do not wear jeweIry, long scarves or other
loose clothing which could become entangled in moving
parts. Wear footwear which will improve footing on
slippery surfaces.
4. Use a grounded three wire extension cord and receptacle
for all units with electric start engines.
5. Adjust collector housing height to clear gravel or crushed
rock surfaces.
_. Disengage all clutch levers before starting the engine.
Never attempt to make any adjustments while engine is
running, except where _pecifically recommended in the
operator's manual.
8.
Let engine and machine adjust to outdoor temperature
before starting to clear snow.
9_
To avoid personaI 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 imrnediately.
a. Use only an approved gasoline container.
b. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other
sources of ignition.
c. Never fuel machine indoors.
d. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the
engine is hot or running.
e. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before
refueling.
f. Never over fillfuel tank, Fill tank to no more than
_/2inch below bottom of filler neck to provide space
for fuel expansion.
g, Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
h. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and
equipment. Move machine to another area. Wait 5
minutes before starting the engine.
i. Never store the machine or fuel container inside
where there is an open flame, spark or pilot light
(e.g. furnace, water heater, space heater, clothes
dryer etc.).
j, Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes before
storing.
Operation
1. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts, in the auger/
impeller housing or discharge chute. Contact with the
rotating parts can ampul:ate hands and feet.
2_ The auger/impeller clutch lever isa safety device. Never
bypass its operation. Doing so, makes the machine
unsafe and may cause personal injury.
3. The clutch levers must c,perata easily in both directions
and automatically return to the disengaged position when
released.
4. Never operate with a mi_sing or damaged discharge
chute.Keepallsafetydevicesinplaceandworking.
5. Neverrunanengineindoorsorinapoorlyventilated
area.Engineexhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,an
odorlessanddeadlygas.
6. Donotoperatemachinewhileundertheinfluenceof
alcoholordrugs.
7. Mufflerandenginebecomehotandcancauseaburn,DO
nottouch_
8, Exerciseextremecautionwhenoperatingonorcrossing
gravelsurfaces.Stayalertforhiddenhazardsortraffic.
9. Exercisecautionwhenchangingdirectionandwhile
operatingonslopes.
10.Planyoursnowthrowingpatterntoavoiddischarge
towardswindows,walls,carsetc. To avoid property
damage or personal injury caused by a ricochet.
11. Never direct discharge at children, bystanders and pets
or allow anyone in front of the machine.
12. DOnot overload machine capacity by attempting to clear
snow at too fast of a rate.
13. Never operate this machine without good visibility or light.
Always be sure of your footing and keep a firm hold on
the handles. Walk, never run.
14. Disengage power to the auger/impeller when
transporting or not in use.
15. Never operate machine at high transport speeds on
slippery surfaces. Look down and behind and use care
when in reverse.
16. If the machine should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the
engine, disconnect the spark plug and ground it against
the engine. Inspect thoroughly for damage. Repair any
damage before starting and operating.
17. Disengage all clutch levers and stop engine before you
leave the operating position (behind the handles). Wait
until the augedimpeller comes to a complete stop before
unclogging the discharge chute, making any
adjustments, or inspections.
18: Never put your hand in the discharge or collector
openings. Always use a clearing tool to unclog the
discharge opening.
19. Use only attachments and accessories approved by the
manufacturer (e,g. wheel weights, tire chains, cabs etc.).
20. If situations occur which are not covered in this manuaI,
use care and good judgment, Contact your dealer or
telephone 1-800-800-7310 for assistance and the name
of your nearest servicing dealer.
MaintenanceAndStorage
1. Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper
operation regularly.
2. Disengage all clutch levers and stop engine. Wait until
the augedimpeller come to a complete stop. Disconnect
the spark plug wire and ground against the engine to
prevent unintended starting before cleaning, repairing, or
inspecting.
3. Check bolts, and screws for proper tightness at frequent
intervals to keep the machine in safe working condition,
Also, visually inspect machine for any damage.
4. Do not change the engine governor setting or over-speed
the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe
operating speed of the engine.
5. Snow thrower shave plates and skid shoes are subject to
wear and damage. For your safety protection, frequently
check all components and replace with original
equipment manufacturer's (O,EM.) parts only, "Use of
parts which do not meet the original equipment
specifications may lead to improper performance and
compromise safety!"
6, Check clutch controls periodically to verify they engage
and disengage properly and adjust, if necessary. Refer to
the adjustment section in this operator's manual for
instructions.
7. Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as
necessary.
8. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas, oil,
etc. to protect the environment.
9. Prior to storing, run machine a few minutes to clear snow
from machine and prevent freeze up of auger/impeller.
10. Never store the machine or fuel container inside where
there is an open flame, spark or pilot light such as a water
heater, furnace ,clothes dryer etc.
11. Always refer to the operator's manual for proper
instructions on off-season storage.
YourResponsibility:
Restrict the use of this power machine to persons wbo read,
understand and follow the warnings and instructions in this
manual and on the machine. The safety labels are given
below for your reference.
o o
SECTION2: ASSEMBLINGYOURSNOWTHROWER
Unpacking
• Remove screws from the top sides and ends of the
shipping crate.
• Set panel aside to avoid tire punctures or personal
injury.
• Remove and discard plastic bag that covers unit.
• Roll unit out of crate.
° Check crate thoroughly for loose parts before
discarding.
LooseParts
The snow thrower is shipped with following loose
parts in the carton. See Figure 1 for illustration,
description of item and part number. Please
remove all loose parts from the carton before
discarding it.
_ ",,-.\, Shear Bolts
j2 (710-0890A)
Raise the upper handle assembly in the direction
shown in Figure 2. Make sure that the upper handle
locks into position ovar the lower handle.
Handle Panel
and Bolts
Fiigure 2
[_ "-._. Hex Lock Nuts Upper
(712-0429) Carriage
[_} -_" Tighten these
Please note that these shear bolts and hex lock
nuts are not meant for initial assembly of the
equipment. If the snow thrower hits a foreign object
or ice jam, the bolts, securing the auger shaft, may
shear, Use these two shear bolts and nuts as
replacement then. Store these in a safe place until
needed.
IMPORTANT:NEVER replace the auger shear bolts with
standard hex bolts. Any damage to the auger gearbox
or other components from standard hex bolts will not be
covered by your snow thrower's warranty.
Figure 1
AssemblingHandle
NOTE: Reference to the left or right side of the snow
thrower in this manual is observed from the operator's
position.
IMPORTANT:Make any final adjustments, as instructed
later on in this section, before operating your snow
thrower. Failure to follow these instructions may cause
damage to the snow thrower.
• Remove the lower plastic wing nut, cupped washer
and carriage bolt from each side of the lower
handle. See Figure 2.
Bolt
wing nuts
Wing
Nut
Cupped
Washer
Lower
Handle
Figure 3
• Look at lower rear of snow thrower frame to be sure
all cables are aligned with cable roller guides.
• Secure the upper handle and lower handle with the
two plastic wing nuts, cupped washers and carriage
bolts previously removed. Attach these hardware
on the lower hole in the handles. See Figure 3.
• Tighten the two wing nuts already in place on the
upper holes and secure the handles firmly. See
Figure 3.
5
• Slide the shift rod connector down over the end of
the lower shift rod, See Figure 4. Tap the connector
until it locks on the lower shift rod.
NOTE: If th, ! connector is not properly assembled, the
shift rod will _ivot and you will not be able to change
direction or; _eed of the snow thrower,
_Connector
Lower
Shift Rod
Note: Cut-out view of lower handle shown for clarity.
Figure 4
If not already attached, slip the cables that run from
the handle panel to the chute into the cable guide
located on top of the engine. See Figure 5,
Figure 5
If for shipping purposes, the headlight wire was left
unattached to the alternator lead, follow the steps
below to attach it now:
• Unwrap the headlight wire which isattached to the
headlight beneath the handle panel. Wind the
headlight wire around the right side of the lower
handle until excess slack is removed, See Figure 6.
• Plug the wire from the headlight into the alternator
lead coming from the right side of the engine,
underneath the fuel tank. See Figure 6 inset.
\
Upper Shift
Rod
Cable Guide
Figure 6
FinalAdjustments
TractionControlandShiftLever
To check the adjustment of the traction control and shift
lever, proceed as follows:
• Move the shift lever into sixth (6) position.
• With traction control released, gently push the
snow thrower forward, then pull it back. The
machine should move freely.
• Engage traction control, and try to move the
machine both forward and back. You should
experience resistance.
• Move the shift lever into thefast reverse (R2)
position and repeat the previous two steps,
If you experienced resistance either when repositioning
the shift lever from 6to R2 or when attempting to move
the machine with the traction control released, adjust
the traction control immediately. To adjust, proceed as
follows:
• Loosen the jam nut on the traction control cable
and UNTHREAD the cable one full turn.
- Recheck adjustment.
• Retighten the jam nut to secure the cable when
correct adjustment is reached.
NOTE: For more details, refer to Traction Control
Adjustment on page 12.
AugerControl
Check the adjustment of the auger control as follows:
• Push clown on the auger control until the small
rubber bumper contacts the upper handle. There
should be slack in the auger control cable.
• Release the auger control. The cable should be
straight. Make certain you can depress the auger
control against the left handle completely.
If adjustment is necessary, proceed as follows:
• Loosen the jam nut and thread the cable in (for less
slack) or out (for more slack) as necessary. See
Figure 7.
6
"Z" End _
Jam Nut
Adjust skid shoes as follows:
• Loosen, but do not n.-.move,the two hex nuts which
fasten the skid shoe to the auger housing,
° Raise or lower the sldd shoe to desired position.
• Retighten the hex nuts loosened earlier.
° Repeat on the other side of the snow thrower.
Auger Control
J
Cable
Figure 7
• Recheck adjustment; readjust as necessary and
tighten the jam nut.
SkidShoe
The space between the shave plate and the ground can
be adjusted by repositioning the skid shoes. For close
snow removal, place skid shoes in the low position. Use
middle or high position when area to be cleared is
uneven. See Figure 8. When operating on gravel,
always put skid shoes in the high position.
Shoes _Hex Nuts
Figure 8
NOTE: Make certain the entire bottom surface of skid
shoe is against the ground to avoid uneven wear on the
skid shoes.
SECTION3: KNOWINGYOURSNOWTHROWER
_k WARNING: Be familiar with all the controls and their proper operation. Know how to stop the machine
and disengage them quickly.
• See Figure 9 to identify all the controls described below.
Traction Drive / Auger
Discharge
Chute
Control Lock
Gas Tank
\
Auger
Control
\
Track
Electric
Chute-Rotation
Switch
Heated Handles
Switch
hute
Left Turn Tilt Right Turn
Trigger Control Trigger
Auger
Skid
Shoe
TractionControl
The traction control is located on the right handle.
Squeeze traction control to engage the wheel drive;
release to stop.
AugerControlLock
The traction control lever also locks the auger control
so that you can turn the chute directional control without
interrupting snow throwing. If the auger control lock is
engaged along with the traction control, you can
release the auger drive clutch on the left handle and still
keep the augers engaged. When the auger control lock
is released, you can release the traction control to stop
both the augers and the wheel drive.
AugerDrive
The auger drive clutch is located on the left handle.
Squeeze the clutch grip to engage the augers. Release
to stop the snow throwing action, Traction drive clutch
must also be released in order to stop auger,
Figure 9
Shift Lever
The shift lever is located in the center of the
handle panel and is used to determine both
ground speed and direction of travel. It can
be moved into any of eight positions for
speed and direction variations as described
below. Always release traction control before
changing speeds.
Forward: Your snow thrower has six forward
(F) speeds. Position number one (1) is the
slowest. Position number six (6) is the
fastest.
Reverse: Your snow thrower has two
reverse (R) speeds. R1 is the slower, while R2 is faster.
ElectricChute-RotationSwitch
The electric chute-rotation switch is located on the left
side of the snow thrower handle panel.
To change the direction in which discharged snow is
thrown, proceed as follows:
8
• Push the toggle switch to the left to rotate the chute
counterclockwise.
• Push the toggle switch to the right to rotate the
chute clockwise.
IMPOFrI'ANT:Release the switch once the chute has
completed its rotation cycle in either direction. Failure to
do so can result in damage to the electric chute motor
and/or its drive gear.
Turn Trigger
The left and right turn triggers are located on the
underside of the handles and are used to assist in
steering the snow thrower. Squeeze the right trigger
when turning right; squeeze the left trigger when turning
left. Operate snow thrower in open areas until you
become familiar with these controls,
"Stay Warm" HandlesSwitch
This switch is located on the right side of the snow
thrower handle panel. To activate the heated handles,
toggle the switch to the right to generate heat within the
handles. Toggle the heated handles switch to the left
intothe OFF position after using the snow thrower.
NOTE: The heated handles are a compliment to, not a
substitute for, proper cold weather outerwear for hands.
It is recommended that the user wear adequate winter
protection for hands (like gloves/mittens) when
operating this snow thrower,
ChuteTilt Control
The distance snow isthrown can be changed by
adjusting the angle of the chute assembly. Move the
chute tilt control forward to decrease the distance, and
towards the rear to increase the distance.
DischargeChute
The angle of the discharge chute controls the distance
that the snow is thrown. Tilt the discharge chute up for
greater distance; tilt down for less distance.
SkidShoe
The position of the skid shoe is determined by the
condition of the ground from where snow has to be
removed. Refer to page 7 for details.
FuelShut-offValve(if equipped)
The fuel shut-oft valve, if so equipped, is located under
the fuel tank. This valve controls fuel flow from the tank,
Always make sure it isin the open (vertical) position
before attempting to start the engine. See Figure 10.
Headlight
The headlight is on whenever the engine is running,
ThrottleControl
The throttle control is located on the engine, it regulates
the speed of the engine. See Figure 10.
SafetyIgnition Key
The safety ignition key must be fully inserted in the
switch before the unit will start. Remove key when snow
thrower is not in use, Do not attempt to turn the key.
See Figure 10.
Primer
Switch
Box
Starter
Button
Control Starter
?°se_/L_ "_.- Fuel Shut-Off
Op_n-F _1 Valve (if equipped)
Handle
Figure 10
Track LockLever
The track lock lever is located on the right side of the
snow thrower and is used to select the position of the
housing and the method of track operation. Move the
lever to the right, then ronsard or backward to one of the
three positions as described below. See Figure 11.
Transport: Raises the front end of the snow threwe rfor
easy transport. Using proper caution, this position may
also be used on many gravel driveways to clear snow
while leaving gravel undisturbed.
Normal Snow: Allows the tracks to be suspended
independently for continuous ground contact.
Packed Snow: Locks the front end of the snow thrower
down to the ground for hard-packed or icy snow
conditions.
\
Packe¢
Figure 11
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