Safety • Assembly • Operation • Tips & Techniques • Maintenance • Troubleshooting • Parts Lists • Warranty
OPERATOR’S MANUAL
21-inch Rotary Lawn Mower — Model 54M
IMPORTANT
READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION
Warning: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brushcovered 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 |
MTD LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019 |
FORM NO. 769-02396 |
3/3/2006 |
This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new mower. It will help you assemble, prepare, and maintain the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.
Table of Contents
Safety................................................................... |
4 |
Engine Appendix |
|
Setup and Adjustments ..................................... |
6 |
Engine Safety................................................ |
14 |
Operation............................................................. |
8 |
Engine Operation.......................................... |
16 |
Maintenance...................................................... |
10 |
Engine Maintenance..................................... |
18 |
Troubleshooting................................................ |
12 |
Part Lists ........................................................... |
24 |
Safety Labels .................................................... |
13 |
Warranty............................................. |
back cover |
Finding and Recording Model Number
BEFORE ASSEMBLING YOUR NEW EQUIPMENT, please locate the model plate on the equipment and copy the information to the sample model plate provided to the right. You can locate the model plate by standing at the operator’s position and looking down at the rear of the deck. This information is important for use when visiting the manufacturer’s web site, obtaining assistance from the Customer
Support Department, or when communicating with an authorized service dealer.
Model Number |
Serial Number |
|
MTD LLC |
www.whiteoutdoor.com |
P. O. BOX 361131 |
CLEVELAND,OH 44136 |
DEALER LOCATOR PHONE NUMBER: 800-949-4483
Customer Support
If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation, or maintenance of this unit, you can seek help from the experts. To reach a local White Outdoor dealer or retailer, visit www.whiteoutdoor.com or phone our Dealer Locator line at 1-800-949-4483.
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Use this page as a guide to determine slopes where you may not operate safely. Do not operate your lawn mower on such slopes.
1
Slope Gauge
WARNING
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 walkbehind 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 and down slopes, never across the face of slopes.
Operate
WALK-BEHIND mowers across the face of slopes, never up and down slopes.
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2
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!
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.
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.
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.
Children
Tragic accidents can occur if operator is not alert to presence of children. Children are often attracted to mower and 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 off 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 old to operate a power mower. Children 14 years old and over should read and understand operation instructions and safety rules in this manual and should be trained and supervised by a parent.
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. Be completely familiar with the controls and the proper use of this machine before operating it. Keep this manual in a safe place for future and regular reference and for ordering replacement parts.
2.This machine is a precision piece of power equipment, not a plaything. Therefore, exercise extreme caution at all times. Your unit has been designed to perform one job: to mow grass. Do not use it for any other purpose.
3.Never allow children under 14 years old to operate this machine. Children 14 years old and over should read and understand the instructions in this manual and should be trained and supervised by a parent. Only responsible individuals who are familiar with these rules of safe operation should be allowed to use this machine.
4.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. 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.
5.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.
6.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.
7.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.
8.Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or under cutting deck. Contact with blade can amputate hands and feet.
9.A missing or damaged discharge cover can cause blade contact or thrown object injuries.
10.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.
11.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.
12.Do not operate the mower while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
13.Do not engage the self-propelled mechanism on units so equipped while starting engine.
14.The blade control handle 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 handle must operate easily in both directions and automatically return to the disengaged position when released.
15.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.
16.Mow only in daylight or good artificial light. Walk, never run.
17.Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walks or roads.
18.If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the engine and check immediately for the cause. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.
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19.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 engine is shut off. Never place any part of the body in the blade area until you are sure the blade has stopped rotating.
20.Never operate mower without proper trail shield, discharge cover, grass catcher, blade control handle 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.
21.Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do not touch.
22.Only use parts and accessories made for this machine by manufacturer. Failure to do so can result in personal injury.
23.If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use care and good judgment. Contact your White Outdoor dealer or call (800) 949-4483 for the name of your nearest servicing dealer.
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. 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 unit 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. Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.
2.Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects, or bumps which can cause you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide obstacles.
3.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 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.
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.
2.Wash your skin and change clothes immediately.
3.Use only an approved gasoline container.
4.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.
5.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.
6.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.
7.Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition.
8.Never fuel machine indoor because flammable vapors will accumulate in the area.
9.Never remove gas cap or add fuel while engine is hot or running. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling.
10.Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½ inch below bottom of filler neck to provide for fuel expansion.
11.Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
12.If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equipment. Move unit to another area. Wait 5 minutes before starting engine.
13.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.
14.To reduce fire hazard, keep mower free of grass, leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel spillage and remove any fuel soaked debris.
15.Allow a mower 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 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 governor setting or over-rev the engine.The governor controls the maximum safe operating speed of the engine.
11.Maintain or replace safety labels, as necessary.
12.Observe proper disposal laws and regulations. Improper disposal of fluids and materials can harm the environment.
2
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 IT’S 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.
5
3
Setup and
Adjustment
Stand behind the mower as if you were going to operate it. Your right hand corresponds to the right side of the mower; your left hand corresponds to the left side of the mower.
Make sure to route cable outside the lower handle. Do not crimp cable while lifting the handle up.
IMPORTANT
This unit is shipped without gasoline or oil in the engine. Fill up gasoline and oil as instructed in the accompanying engine manual BEFORE operating your mower.
Figure 3-1: Attach wheels.
A
B
Handle Bracket
Figure 3-2: Unfold handle and tighten hardware.
Hardware Pack
Wing Nuts (2) Carriage Bolts (2)
B
A
handle to mounting brackets.
1.Remove any packing material. The first step in assembly is to attach the rear wheels.
a.Place rear of the mower deck on raised blocks.
b.Remove lock nut and washer from pivot arm assembly, Figure 3-1. (On select models, these may be included separately in a plastic bag).
c.Slide washer followed by the wheel (both with hollow side in) onto pivot arm, Figure 3-1.
d.Secure with lock nut removed earlier.
e.Assemble the other side in the same manner. Remove blocks and lower deck when complete.
2.Follow the steps below to setup the handle.
a.Pull up and back on upper handle as shown in Figure 3-2. Make certain the lower handle is seated securely into the handle mounting brackets. Do not crimp cable while lifting the handle up.
b.Tighten star knobs to secure upper handle to lower handle. Make sure that each carriage bolt is seated properly in the handle.
3.Locate the hairpin clip on the weld pin on each side of lower handle.
a.Remove hairpin clip from this hole. Using a pair of pliers, insert hairpin clip into the hole on pin closest to the bracket, Figure 3-3. Repeat on other side.
b.Insert a carriage bolt from the hardware pack into the upper hole on the handle mounting bracket. Secure with one plastic wing nut, also included in the hardware pack. Repeat on other side.
4.The rope guide is attached to the right side of the upper handle, Figure 3-4. Loosen the wing nut which secures the rope guide.
a.Hold blade control handle against upper handle.
b.Pull starter rope out of the engine. Release blade control handle.
c.Slip starter rope into rope guide.
d.Tighten wing nut.
A
B
D
C
Figure 3-4: Pull recoil starter through rope guide and tighten.
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5.To secure cables to the handle, insert posts on cable ties into holes provided on the lower handle. Pull cable ties tight and trim excess.
6.Follow steps below to assemble the grass catcher. Make certain bag is turned right side out before assembling (warning label will be on the outside)
a.Place bag over frame so that its black plastic side is at the bottom.
b.Slip plastic channel of grass bag over hooks on the frame, Figure 3-5. All the plastic channels except center top of bag attach from outside of bag.
c.Attach center top of bag from inside of bag.
7.Follow the steps below to attach the grass catcher:
a.Lift rear discharge door, Figure 3-6.
b.Place grass catcher on the pivot rod. Let go of discharge door so that it rests on the grass catcher.
WARNING: Never operate mower unless the hooks on the grass catcher are firmly seated
on the pivot rod and the rear discharge door rests firmly against top of the grass catcher.
A
C 
B
Figure 3-5: Assemble the grass catcher.
B
A
Figure 3-6: Attach the grass catcher.
8.Your mower is shipped as a mulcher. To convert to side discharge, make sure grass catcher is off of the unit and rear discharge door is closed.
a.On the side of the mower, lift the mulching plug, Figure 3-7.
b.Slide two hooks of side discharge chute under hinge pin on mulching plug assembly. Lower the mulching plug. Do not remove side mulching plug at any time, even when you are not mulching.
A
B 
Figure 3-7: Lift mulch plug and install side discharge chute.
Adjustments
An adjusting plate and thumb lever at each wheel provides cutting height adjustment.
1.Depress lever towards wheel.
2.Move it to any one of the positions for desired cutting height, Figure 3-8. Make sure that each wheel is positioned at the same height.
3.Release lever towards mower deck.
2
1 
3
Figure 3-8: Use levers to adjust cutting height.
3
Setup and
Adjustment
When adjusting the cutting height, all wheels must be positioned at the same height.
WARNING
Never operate mower without the mulching plug, the grass catcher, or the discharge chute properly installed.
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4
Operating
Your Lawn
Mower
WARNING
This blade control mechanism is a safety device. Do not bypass its operations.
Use extreme care when handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive. Never fuel the machine indoors or while the engine is hot or running. Extinguish cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and other sources of ignition.
KnowYour Lawn Mower
Blade Control
Choke Knob
Recoil Starter 
Grass Bag |
Gas Fill |
|
Oil FIll
Cutting Height Adjustment Levers (one at each wheel)
Mulching Plug
Chute Deflector 
Figure 4-1:The major components on the mower.
Now that you have setup your lawn mower for operation, it’s important to become familiar with its controls.
Blade Control
The blade control is attached to the upper handle. Depress and squeeze it against the upper handle to operate the unit. Release it to stop engine and blade.
WARNING: This blade control is a safety device. Do not bypass its operations.
Mulching Plug
The mulching plug is used for mulching purpose. Instead of collecting the grass clippings in the grass catcher, your mower has the option of recirculating the clippings back to the lawn. Make sure that the rear discharge door is closed and the grass catcher is removed from unit while mulching.
Gas and Oil Fill-Up
Refer to the engine section in this manual for engine information.
Cutting Height Adjustment Levers
One adjustment lever is located at each wheel and is used to adjust the cutting height. All four wheels must be positioned at the same height to ensure a uniform cut.
Recoil Starter
The recoil starter is attached to the right upper handle. Stand behind the unit and pull the recoil starter to start the unit.
Choke Knob
Pull the choke knob to activate the choke on the engine. Use of the choke may not be necessary if the engine is warm or the air temperature is high.
1.Add oil provided before starting unit for the first time out of the box.
2.Service the engine with gasoline as instructed in the engine section of this manual.
WARNING: Use extreme care when handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive. Never fuel the
machine indoors or while the engine is hot or running. Extinguish cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition.
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WARNING: The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects being
thrown into the eyes, which can damage your eyes severely. Always wear safety glasses while operating the mower, or while performing any adjustments or repairs on it.
Starting Engine
WARNING: Be sure no one other than the operator is standing near the lawn mower while starting engine or operating mower.
Never run engine indoors or in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas. Keep hands, feet, hair and loose clothing away from any moving parts on engine and lawn mower.
1.Pull out the choke knob located on the left side of the upper handle, Figure 4-2.
Note: Use of the choke may not be necessary if the engine is warm or the air temperature is high.
2.Standing behind the mower, squeeze and hold the blade control against upper handle, Figure 4-2.
3.Pull the recoil starter lightly until resistance is felt, then pull rapidly to overcome compression, prevent kickback, and start the engine. Repeat if necessary, Figure 4-2.
Important: Do not allow the recoil starter to snap back against the rope guide.
4.When engine warms up, push in the choke knob, Figure 4-2.
Stopping Engine
1.Release blade control handle to stop the engine and the blade.
2.Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and ground against the engine.
WARNING: Wait for the blade to stop completely before performing any work on the mower or to remove the grass catcher.
UsingYour Lawn Mower
Be sure the lawn is clear of stones, sticks, wire, or other objects which could damage the lawn mower or the engine. Such objects could be accidently thrown by the mower in any direction and cause serious personal injury to the operator and others.
WARNING: If you strike a foreign object, stop the engine. Remove spark plug boot from the spark plug, thoroughly inspect
the mower for any damage, and repair the damage before restarting and operating the mower. Extensive vibration of the mower during operation is an indication of damage. The unit should be promptly inspected and repaired.
2
1 
4
3
Figure 4-2: Starting the mower.
1.Once the engine is running, squeeze and hold blade control against upper handle to engage the blade. For best results, do not cut wet grass and never cut off more than one-third of the total length of the grass.
Using as a Mulcher
For mulching grass, remove the grass catcher (or side chute deflector) from the mower and lower the mulching baffle.
Using the Grass Catcher
You can use the grass catcher to collect clippings while you are operating the mower.
1.Attach grass catcher following instructions in setup section. Grass clippings will automatically collect in bag as you run mower. Operate mower till grass bag is full.
2.Stop engine completely by releasing the blade control. Make sure that the unit has come to a complete stop.
3.Lift discharge door and pull grass bag up and away from the mower to remove the bag. Dispose of the grass clippings and reinstall the bag when complete
Operating Tips
•New grass, thick grass, or wet grass may require a narrower cut.
•For effective mulching, do not cut wet grass.
•Adjust ground speed according to condition of lawn.
•If the grass has been allowed to grow in excess of four inches, mulching is not recommended. Mow using the side discharge to reduce the grass height to 3-1/4 inches or less before mulching.
4
Operating
Your Lawn
Mower
WARNING
The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects being thrown into the eyes, which can damage your eyes severely. Always wear safety glasses while operating the mower,
or while performing any adjustments or repairs on it.
Be sure no one other than the operator is standing near the lawn mower while starting engine or operating mower. Never run engine indoors or
in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas. Keep hands, feet, hair and loose clothing away from any moving parts on engine and lawn mower.
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