Toro 20655 Operator's Manual

55cm Recycler

)

Lawn Mower

Model No. 20655—Serial No. 250000001 and Up

Form No. 3352-580 Rev B

Operator’s Manual

Introduction

Read this manual carefully to learn how to operate
and maintain your product properly and to avoid injury
and product damage. You are responsible for
operating the product properly and safely.

You may contact Toro directly at www.Toro.com for
product and accessory information, help finding a
dealer, or to register your product.

Whenever you need service, genuine Toro parts, or
additional information, contact an Authorized Service
Dealer or Toro Customer Service and have the model
and serial numbers of your product ready. The
illustration below identifies the location of the model
and serial numbers on the product. Write the numbers
in the space provided below:

Model #:

Serial #:

m-5607

This manual identifies potential hazards and has
safety messages identified by the following words:

• Danger signals an extreme hazard that will

cause serious injury or death if you do not follow
the recommended precautions.

• Warning signals a hazard that may cause

serious injury or death if you do not follow the
recommended precautions.

• Caution signals a hazard that may cause minor

or moderate injury if you do not follow the
recommended precautions.

This manual uses two other words to highlight
information. Important: calls attention to special
mechanical information and Note: emphasizes
general information worthy of special attention.

 2005—The Toro Company
8111 Lyndale Ave., Bloomington, MN 55420, USA

Printed in the USA

All Rights Reserved

Safety

This lawn mower meets or exceeds the EN 836 and
the ISO 5395 standards in effect at the time of
production.

Read and understand the contents of this manual
before the engine is ever started.

This is the safety alert symbol. It is used to
alert you to potential personal injury hazards.
Obey all safety messages that follow this symbol
to avoid possible injury or death.

Improperly using or maintaining this mower
could result in injury or death. To reduce this
potential, comply with the following safety
instructions.

The following instructions have been adapted from
ANSI/OPEI standard B71.1 and ISO standard 5395.

General Operation

• Read, understand, and follow all instructions on

the machine and in the manual. Be thoroughly
familiar with the controls and the proper use of
the mower before starting.

• Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating

parts. Keep clear of the discharge opening at all
times.

• Only allow responsible individuals, who are

familiar with the instructions, to operate the
mower.

• Clear the area of objects such as rocks, toys,

wire, bones, sticks etc., which could be picked up
and thrown by the blade.

• Be sure the area is clear of other people before

mowing. Stop mower if anyone enters the area.

• Do not operate the mower when barefoot or

wearing open sandals. Always wear substantial
foot wear.

• Do not pull the mower backward unless

absolutely necessary. Look down and behind
before and while moving backward.

• Do not operate the mower without proper guards,

plates, grass catcher or other safety protective
devices in place.

• See the Toro instructions for proper operation and

installation of accessories. Only use Toro
accessories.

Original Instructions (EN)

Register your product at www.Toro.com

2

• Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives,
walks, or roads.

• Stop the engine whenever you leave the
equipment, before cleaning the mower or
unclogging the chute.

• Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes
to complete stop before removing grass catcher.

• Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.

• Do not operate the mower while under the

influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Never operate mower in wet grass. Always be
sure of your footing; keep a firm hold on the
handle and walk; never run.

• Never pick up or carry a lawn mower while the
engine is running.

• Disengage the self-propelled mechanism before
starting the engine.

• If the equipment should start to vibrate
abnormally, stop the engine and check
immediately for the cause. Vibration is generally a
warning of trouble.

• Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses
with side shields when operating mower.

• Be alert and turn mower off if children enter the
area.

• Before and while moving backward, look behind
and down for small children.

• Never allow children to operate the mower.

• Use extra care when approaching blind corners,

shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure
vision.

Service

• Use extra care in handling gasoline. It is
flammable and vapors are explosive.

• Use only an approved container.

• Never remove gas cap or add fuel with the

engine running. Allow engine to cool before
refueling. Do not smoke.

• Never refuel the machine indoors.

• Never store the machine or fuel container

inside where there is an open flame, such as
a water heater.

• Never run an engine inside a closed area.

Slope Operation

• Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall
accidents which can result in severe injury. All
slopes require extra caution. If you feel uneasy on
a slope, do not mow it.

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

• Remove objects such as rocks, tree limbs, etc.
Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Tall grass can
hide obstacles.

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

• Do not mow excessively steep slopes.

• 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

Exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless,
deadly poison that can kill you.

Do not run the engine indoors or in an enclosed
area.

• Never make adjustments or repairs with the
engine running. Disconnect the spark plug wire,
and keep the wire away from the plug to prevent
accidental starting.

• Keep all nuts and bolts, especially blade
attachment bolts, tight and keep equipment in
good condition.

• Never tamper with safety devices. Check their
proper operation regularly.

• Keep mower free of grass, leaves, or other debris
build-up. Clean up oil or fuel spillage. Allow
mower to cool before storing.

• Stop and inspect the equipment if you strike an
object. Repair, if necessary, before restarting.

• Never attempt to make wheel height adjustments
while the engine is running.

• Grass catcher components are subject to wear,
damage, and deterioration, which could expose
moving parts or allow objects to be thrown.
Frequently check components and replace with
genuine Toro parts, when necessary.

• Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the
blade or wear gloves, and use extra caution when
servicing them.

3352-580

3

• Replace a faulty muffler.

• Do not change the engine governor setting or

overspeed the engine.

Sound Power

This unit has a guaranteed sound power level of
98 dBA, based on measurements of identical
machines per Directive 2000/14/EC.

Sound Pressure

This unit has a maximum sound pressure level at the
operator’s ear of 85 dBA, based on measurements of
identical machines per Directive 98/37/EC.

Vibration

This unit does not exceed a hand/arm vibration level
of 4.5 m/s2, based on measurements of identical
machines per Directive 98/37/EC.

Safety/Instruction Decals

Important: Safety and instruction decals are located near areas of potential danger. Replace damaged decals.

94-8072

104-7908

1. Warning—do not operate the mower without the rear discharge
plug or bag in place; do not operate the mower without the side
discharge cover or deflector in place.

104-7909

1. Warning—read the Operator’s Manual.

2. Thrown object hazard—keep bystanders a safe distance from
the machine.

3. Thrown object hazard, mower—keep the deflector in place.

4. Cutting/dismemberment hazard of hand or foot, mower
blade—stay away from moving parts.

5. Cutting/dismemberment hazard of hand or foot, mower
blade—do not operate up and down slopes; operate side to side
on slopes; stop the engine before leaving the operating position;
and look behind you when backing.

3352-580

4

Product Overview

4

m-7308

5

6

7

1

8

1. Cutting height lever

2. Oil fill/Dipstick

3. Recoil start handle

4. Blade control bar

3

2

5. Fuel tank cap

6. Air filter

7. Primer

8. Spark plug

Setup

Important: Remove and discard the protective plastic

sheet that covers the engine.

Unfolding the Handle

Folding or unfolding the handle improperly can
damage the cables, causing an unsafe operating
condition.

S Do not damage the cables when folding or

unfolding the handle.

S If a cable is damaged, contact an Authorized

Service Dealer.

1. Carefully move the upper handle forward until the

handle halves are in line and nest together as shown.

1. Grass bag

2. Side discharge chute

1

2

m-7309

2. Tighten the handle
knobs.

3

m-5630/m-5637/m-5587

3. Rear discharge plug
(installed)

m-6289

3. Rotate the handle rearward (as shown) until it
clicks into place.

3352-580

m-7309

Filling the Engine with Oil

5

Important: Your mower does not come with oil in the
engine.

1. Remove the dipstick.

m-7317

m-7310

Before Operating

Gasoline is extremely flammable and explosive. A fire or explosion from gasoline can
burn you and others.

S To prevent a static charge from igniting the gasoline, place the container and/or

mower directly on the ground before filling, not in a vehicle or on an object.

S Fill the tank outdoors when the engine is cold. Wipe up spills.

S Do not handle gasoline when smoking or around an open flame or sparks.

S Store gasoline in an approved fuel container, out of the reach of children.

2. Slowly pour oil into the oil fill tube to raise the oil
level to the Full mark on the dipstick. Do not overfill.

3. Install the dipstick securely.

Important: Change the engine oil after the first
5 operating hours; change it yearly thereafter. Refer

to Changing the Engine Oil on page 12.

Max. fill: 20 oz., type: SAE 30W detergent oil with an
API service classification of SF, SG, SH, SJ, SL, or
higher.

Adjusting the cutting height may bring you into contact with the moving blade, causing
serious injury.

S Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop.

S Do not put your fingers under the housing when adjusting the cutting height.

Filling the Fuel Tank

Fill the fuel tank with fresh unleaded regular gasoline
from a major name-brand service station.

Important: To reduce starting problems, add fuel
stabilizer to the fuel all season, mixing it with gasoline
less than 30 days old.

1/2 in. (1 cm)

m-7318

m-7317

3352-580