Mtd OEM-190-181 owners guide

Operator’s Manual

Triple Bagger Kit

Model 190-181

IMPORTANT: Read safety rules and instructions carefully before operating equipment.

Warning:

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 44136-0019.

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

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

MTD LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019

FORM NO.

769-00658.fm
(1/2003)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

Important Safe Operation Practices................................................................... 3

Loose Parts ....................................................................................................... 6

Assembly........................................................................................................... 7

Operation .......................................................................................................... 10

Parts List............................................................................................................ 11

Warranty............................................................................................................ 12

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 model plate on the
equipment and copy the information from it in the space provided below. The information on the
model plate is very important if you need help from our Customer Support Department or an
authorized dealer.

• You can locate the model number in the front, left portion of the plastic grass catcher cover. A sample
model plate is explained below. For future reference, please copy model number and serial number of
the tractor accessoryin the space below.

Copy the model number here:

Copy the serial number here:

CALLING CUSTOMER SUPPORT

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.

For more details about your unit, visit our website at www.mtdproducts.com

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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 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:

The Battery and Engine Exhaust contains chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. The battery and posts contain lead;
wash hands after handling

WARNING:

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.

This machine was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this

.

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 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. Never allow adults to operate this machine
without proper instruction.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

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

9. 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.

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

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

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

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

14. Do not operate the machine while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.

15. Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.

16. Never carry passengers.

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

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

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

20. 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.

21. 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.

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

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

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

25. 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.

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

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

28. If situations occur which are not covered in this manual,
use care and good judgment. Contact your Yard-Man
dealer for assistance.

Slope Operation

Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and tip­over 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, do not mow it.

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

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 recommendations for wheel
weights or counterweights to improve stability of the
machine. Use extra care with grass catchers or other
attachments. These can change stability of the machine.

5. 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.

6. 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. Over-speeding
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 tractor to
overturn).

Children

1. 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. 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 blind

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) before shifting in

reverse. The “No-Cut-In Reverse” feature
emphasises not to cut in reverse and to 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 should 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

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