MTD Yard Machines 520, Yard Machines 530 Operator's Manual

OPERATOR'S MAN UAL

22', Self-Propelled

Mower

Model Series 520

Thru 530

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

Warning: This unit 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 arrester meeting
applicable local or state laws (if any). Ifa 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 Cede). Other states may have
similar laws. Federal laws apply on federal lands. A spark arrester for the 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. 770-10349

(11/99)

TABLEOFCONTENTS

Content Page

Maintaining Safety ............................................................................................. 3

Slope Gauge .............................................. i....................................................... 6

Assembling Your Lawn Mower ........................................................................... 7

Know Your Lawn Mower .................................................................................... 8

Operating Your Lawn Mower ............................................................................. 9

Making Adjustments .......................................................................................... 11

Maintaining Your Lawn Mower ........................................................................... 12

Storing Your Lawn Mower .................................................................................. 14

Troubleshooting ................................................................................................. 15

Parts List ............................................................................................................ 16

FINDINGMODELNUMBER

This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new lawn mower. Itwill 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 by looking down at the rear of the deck. 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.

(Model Number) (Serial Number)

_')k MTD PRODUCTSINC

CLEVELAND, OHiO 44136

Copy the model number here:

Copy the serial number here:

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.

2

SECTION1: MAINTAININGSAFETY

This Warning symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not fol!owed could endanger the

personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all instructions in this manual
before attempting to operate your lawn mower. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in

eersonal injury. When you see this symbol, heed its waming,

DANGER: Your lawn mower was built to be ooerated 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.
FailL re to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.

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

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

GENERALOPERATION

• 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 manua!(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.

• Your rotary mower 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.

• Never allow children under 14 years old to operate a
power mower. Children 14 years old and over should
only operate mower under close parental supervision,

Only responsible individuals who are familiar with

these rules of safe operation should be allowed to

use your mower.

• Keep the area of operation clear of all persons,

particularly small children and pets. Stop engine
when they are in the vicinity of your mower to help
prevent blade contact or thrown object injury.

Al[hough the area of operation should be completely
cleared of foreign objects, an object may have been
overlooked and could be accidentally thrown by the

mower in any direction and cause serious personal
injury to the operator or any others allowed in the

area.

• Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-fitting

slacks and shirts. Shirts and pants that cover the
an'ns and legs and steeFtoed shoes are

recommended. Do not wear loose fitting clothes or

jewelry. They can be caught in moving parts. Never

operate a unit in bare feet, sandals, slippery or light
weight (e.g. canvas) shoes,

• Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles during

operation or while performing an adjustment or repair,
to protect eyes from foreign objects that may be

thrown from the machine in any direction.

o

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 mower in any direction and

cause sedous personal injury to the operator or any
others allowed in the area. Plan your mowing pattern

to avoid discharge of material toward roads,
sidewalks, bystanders and the like. To help avoid a
thrown objects injury, keep children, bystanders and

helpers at least 75 feet from the mower while it is in

operation.

Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts.

Keep clear of discharge opening at all times as the

rotating blade can cause injury.

Many injudes occur as a result of the mower being

pulled over the foot during a fall. Do not hang on to

the mower if you are falling; release the handle

immediately.

Never pull the mower toward you while you are

walking. If you must back the mower away from a

wall or obstruction first look down and behind, and

then follow these steps:

• Step back from the mower to fully extend your

arms.

• Be sure you are well balanced with sure footing.

• Pull the mower back slowly, no more than half
way toward you.

o Repeat these steps as needed,

Do not operate the mower while under the influence

of alcohol or drugs.

Do not engage the self-propelled mechanism on units

so equipped while starting engine.
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

iniury 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.

• Neveroperatethemowerinwetgrass.Alwaysbe
sureofyourfooting.Aslipandfallcancauseserious

personalinjury.Keepafirmholdonthehandleand
walk,neverrun.If youfeelyouarelosingyour

footing,RELEASETHEBLADECONTROLHANDLE

IMMEDIATELYandthebladewillstoprotatingwithin

threeseconds.

• MowonlyindaylightorgoodartificialIight.

• Stopthebladewhencrossinggraveldrives,walksor
roads.

• If theequipmentshouldstarttovibrateabnormally,
stoptheengineandcheckimmediatelyforthecause.
Vibrationisgenerallyawarningoftrouble.

• Shuttheengineoffandwaituntilthebladecomesto
acompletestopbeforeremovingthegrasscatcheror

uncloggingthechute.Thecuttingbladecontinuesto
rotateforafewsecondsaftertheengine is shut off.

Never place any part of the body in the blade area

until you are sure the blade has stopped rotating.

• Never operate mower without proper guards, grass
catcher, plates or other safety protective devices in
place.

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

• Only use accessories approved for this machine by
the manufacturen Read, understand, and follow all

instructions provided with the approved accessory.

• If situations occur which are not covered in this
manual, use care and good judgment. Contact your

dealer for assistance. Telephone [phone] for
the name of your nearest dealer.

SLOPEOPERATION

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 or serious injury could result.

DO:

• Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down.
Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on

sIopes.

• Watch for holes, ruts, hidden objects, or bumps. Tall
grass can hide obstacles.

• 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 in less than 3
seconds.

DO NOT:

• Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments.
The operator could lose footing or balance.

• Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as
shown on the slope gauge.

• Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced 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, Never assume that children
will remain where you last saw them.

• Keep children out of the mowing area and under the
watchful care of a responsible adult other than the
operator.

• Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the area.

• Before and while moving backwards, look behind and
down for small children or other objects.

Never allow children under age 14 to operate the
mower. Children 14 years of age and above should

read and understand the operation instructions and

safety rules in this manual.

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

vision of a child or hazard.

SERVICE

Use extreme care in handling gasoline and other
fuels. They are extremely flammable and the vapors
are explosive.

Use only an approved gasoline container.

Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine is
running. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes

before refueling.
Replace gasoline cap securely and wipe off any

spilled gasoline before starting the engine as it may
cause a fire or explosion.

Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other

sources of ignitien.
Never refuel machine indoors because flammable

vapors will accumulate in the area.
Never store the machine or fuel container inside

where there is an open flame or spark such as a gas
water heater, space heater, or furnace.

Never run an engine inside a closed area.
To reduce fire hazard, keep mower free of grass,

leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel
spillage. Allow mower to cooI 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 accidental
starting.

Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at
frequent intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually

inspect blade for damage (e.g., bent, cracked or
worn). Replace with blade which meets original
equipment specifications listed in this manual

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

• Never tamBer with safety devices. Check their proper
operation reguIarly.

• 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 starting and operating the mower

• Never attempt to make a whee or cutting height
adjustment while the engine usrunning,

• Grass catcher components are subject to wear
damage and deterioration which could expose
moving parts or allow objects to be thrown. For safety
protection, frequently check components and repIace
with manufacturer's recommended parts, when
necessary.

• Mower blades are sharp ant can cut. Wrap the
blade(s) or wear gloves, and use extra caution when

servicing them.

• Do not change the engine governor setting or
oversoeed the engine, Excessive engine speeds are

dangerous.

_llb ARNING - 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.

NOTE: Not all safety labels shown may apply to your lawn mower.

DANGER

5

O

o

0

SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE

!

A POWER POLE

A CORNER OF A BUILDING

OR A FENCE POST

I

"0

o

"OJO '& &WARNING

_ _ Do not mow on inclines with a stope 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

_ O

.- _ and you could slip, resulting in serious injury.
.c: o 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.