MTD Yard-Man 109 User Manual

Operator’s Manual

20" Mulching Push

Lawn Mower

MODEL 109

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). 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.

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

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

FORM NO.

770-10074F.fm

(10/2003)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

Important Safe Operation Practices 3
Slope Gauge 6
Assembling Your Lawn Mower 7
Know Your Lawn Mower 8
Operating Your Lawn Mower 9

Content Page

Maintaining Your Lawn Mower 11
Off Season Storage 12
Trouble Shooting Guide 13
Illustrated Parts 14
Warranty 16

Making Adjustments 10

FINDING MODEL NUMBER

This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new lawn mower. 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, p lease locate the model plate on th e
equipment and copy the information from it in the space pr ovided below. A sample model plate is
also given below. You can locate the model plate by standing at the operating position an d
looking down at the rear of the deck. This information will be necessary to use the
manufacturer’s web site and/or help from the Customer Suppor t Department or an authorized
service dealer.

Copy the model number here:

www.yardman.com

MTD LLC
P. O. BOX
CLEVELAND,OH
330-220-4683
800-800-7310

361131

44136

Copy the serial number here:

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Please do NOT return the unit to the retailer from where it was purchased, without first contacting Customer Support.

If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, opera tion or
maintenance of this unit, you can seek help from the experts. Choose from the options below:

Visit yardman.com for many useful suggest ions. Click on Customer Support but ton and you
will get the four options reproduced here. Click on the appropriate button and help is
immediately available.

The answer you are
looking for could be just
a mouse click away!

If you prefer to reach a Customer Support Representat ive, please call 1-800-800-7310.

The answer you are
looking for could be just
a mouse click away!

Engine

Manual

The engine manufactur er is responsible for all engine-related issu es with regards to
performance, power-rating, specifica tions, warranty and service. Please re fer to the engine
manufacturer’s Owner’s/Operator’s Manual, packed separately with your unit, for more
information.

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SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES

WARNING: This symbol points out important safety instr ucti ons which , if not followed, could endanger

the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Rea d and f ollow all inst r uctions in t his manual
before attempting to operate this machine. Fa ilure 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 vehicle components contain or emit

chemicals known to State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or ot her 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 seri ous 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.

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 purp ose.

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. Only responsible individuals who are familiar with
these safe operation rules should 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 the operator zone behind the handles and 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.

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 the
cutting deck. Contact with the 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 the 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 in daylight or good artificial light. Walk, never run.

17. Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walkways
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.

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

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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
the original equipment manufacturer (O.E.M). 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 dealer for
assistance. Telephone [phone] for the name of
your nearest 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. Before operating this un it on a slope or hill y area, use
the slope gauge on page 6 to measure slopes. 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.

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 the
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 the operation instructions and
safety rules in this manual and should be trained and
supervised by a parent.

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. If possible, 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 indoors because flammable vapors
will accumulate in the area.

9. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the 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 space 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 the engine.

13. Never store the machine or fuel container inside where
there is 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

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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 overspeed
the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe
operating speed of the engine.

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

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

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.

1299 AC

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