Toro 20961 Operator's Manual

55cmRecycler

ModelNo.20961—SerialNo.404320000andUp

®

Introduction

Thisrotary-blade,walk-behindlawnmowerisintended
tobeusedbyresidentialhomeowners.Itisdesigned
primarilyforcuttinggrassonwell-maintainedlawnson
residentialproperties.Usingthisproductforpurposes
otherthanitsintendedusecouldprovedangerousto
youandbystanders.

Readthisinformationcarefullytolearnhowtooperate
andmaintainyourproductproperlyandtoavoid
injuryandproductdamage.Youareresponsiblefor
operatingtheproductproperlyandsafely.

Visitwww.T oro.comformoreinformation,including
safetytips,trainingmaterials,accessoryinformation,
helpndingadealer,ortoregisteryourproduct.

Wheneveryouneedservice,genuineToroparts,or
additionalinformation,contactanAuthorizedService
DealerorToroCustomerServiceandhavethemodel
andserialnumbersofyourproductready .Figure1
identiesthelocationofthemodelandserialnumbers
ontheproduct.Writethenumbersinthespace
provided.

LawnMowerwithSmartStow

Thismanualuses2wordstohighlightinformation.
Importantcallsattentiontospecialmechanical
informationandNoteemphasizesgeneralinformation
worthyofspecialattention.

ThisproductcomplieswithallrelevantEuropean
directives;fordetails,pleaseseetheseparateproduct
specicDeclarationofConformity(DOC)sheet.

GrossorNetTorque:Thegrossornettorque
ofthisenginewaslaboratoryratedbytheengine
manufacturerinaccordancewiththeSocietyof
AutomotiveEngineers(SAE)J1940orJ2723.As
conguredtomeetsafety,emission,andoperating
requirements,theactualenginetorqueonthisclass
ofmowerwillbesignicantlylower.Pleasereferto
theenginemanufacturer’sinformationincludedwith
themachine.

FormNo.3428-124RevA

®

Operator'sManual

g000502

Figure2

Safety-alertsymbol

Important:Withyourmobiledevice,scanthe

QRcodeontheserialnumberdecaltoaccess
warranty,parts,andotherproductinformation.

Figure1

1.Modelandserialnumberlocation

ModelNo.

SerialNo.

Thismanualidentiespotentialhazardsandhas
safetymessagesidentiedbythesafety-alertsymbol
(Figure2),whichsignalsahazardthatmaycause
seriousinjuryordeathifyoudonotfollowthe
recommendedprecautions.

Donottamperwithordisablesafetydevicesonthe
machine,andchecktheirproperoperationregularly.
Donotattempttoadjustortamperwiththeengine
speedcontrol;doingsomaycreateanunsafe
operatingcondition,resultinginpersonalinjury.

g274803

©2018—TheT oro®Company
8111L yndaleAvenueSouth
Bloomington,MN55420

Registeratwww.Toro.com.

OriginalInstructions(EN)

PrintedinMexico

AllRightsReserved

*3428-124*A

Contents

Safety

Introduction...............................................................1

Safety.......................................................................2

GeneralSafety...................................................2

SafetyandInstructionalDecals..........................3

Setup........................................................................5

1UnfoldingtheHandle.......................................5

2InstallingtheRecoil-StarterRopeinthe

RopeGuide.....................................................6

3FillingtheCrankcasewithOil...........................7

4AssemblingtheGrassBag...............................7

ProductOverview.....................................................8

Specications....................................................8

Attachments/Accessories...................................8

Operation..................................................................8

BeforeOperation...................................................8

BeforeOperationSafety.....................................8

FillingtheFuelTank............................................9

CheckingtheEngine-OilLevel..........................10

AdjustingtheHandleHeight.............................10

AdjustingtheCuttingHeight..............................11

DuringOperation..................................................11

DuringOperationSafety....................................11

StartingtheEngine...........................................12

UsingtheSelf-PropelDrive...............................13

ShuttingOfftheEngine.....................................13

RecyclingtheClippings....................................13

BaggingtheClippings.......................................14

OperatingtheBag-on-DemandLever...............14

Side-DischargingtheClippings.........................15

OperatingTips.................................................15

AfterOperation....................................................16

AfterOperationSafety......................................16

CleaningundertheMachine.............................16

FoldingtheHandle...........................................17

StoringtheMachineintheVertical-Stow

Position.........................................................18

Maintenance...........................................................20

RecommendedMaintenanceSchedule(s)...........20

MaintenanceSafety..........................................20

PreparingforMaintenance...............................20

ServicingtheAirFilter.......................................21

ChangingtheEngineOil...................................21

ReplacingtheBlade..........................................22

AdjustingtheSelf-PropelDrive.........................23

Storage...................................................................24

StorageSafety..................................................24

PreparingtheMachineforStorage...................24

RemovingtheMachinefromStorage................24

Thismachinehasbeendesignedinaccordancewith
ENISO5395.

GeneralSafety

Thisproductiscapableofamputatinghandsand
feetandofthrowingobjects.Alwaysfollowallsafety
instructionstoavoidseriouspersonalinjury .

•Read,understand,andfollowtheinstructions

andwarningsinthisOperator’sManualandon
themachineandattachmentsbeforestartingthe
engine.

•Donotputyourhandsorfeetnearmovingpartsof

orunderthemachine.Keepclearofanydischarge
opening.

•Donotoperatethemachinewithoutallguards

andothersafetyprotectivedevicesinplaceand
functioningproperlyonthemachine.

•Keepbystandersandchildrenoutoftheoperating

area.Donotallowchildrentooperatethemachine.
Allowonlypeoplewhoareresponsible,trained,
familiarwiththeinstructions,andphysically
capabletooperatethemachine.

•Stopthemachine,shutofftheengine,andwaitfor

allmovingpartstostopbeforeservicing,fueling,
oruncloggingthemachine.

Improperlyusingormaintainingthismachinecan
resultininjury.T oreducethepotentialforinjury,
complywiththesesafetyinstructionsandalways
payattentiontothesafety-alertsymbol
meansCaution,Warning,orDanger—personalsafety
instruction.Failuretocomplywiththeseinstructions
mayresultinpersonalinjuryordeath.

,which

2

SafetyandInstructionalDecals

Safetydecalsandinstructionsareeasilyvisibletotheoperatorandarelocatednearanyarea
ofpotentialdanger.Replaceanydecalthatisdamagedormissing.

Manufacturer'sMark

1.Thismarkindicatesthatthebladeisidentiedasapart
fromtheoriginalmachinemanufacturer .

decaloemmarkt

112-8760

1.Thrownobjecthazard—keepbystandersaway.

2.Cutting/dismembermenthazardofhandorfoot,mower
blade—stayawayfrommovingparts.

decal112-8760

decal125-5026

125-5026

1.Recyclingmode2.Baggingmode

decal133-8198

133-8198

1.Warning—readtheOperator'sManual;1)Addfueluptothe
indicatedlevel.2)Tipthemachineforwardforstorage.

3

131-4514

1.Warning—readtheOperator'sManual.

2.Cutting/dismembermenthazardofhand,mower
blade—stayawayfrommovingparts;keepallguardsand
shieldsinplace.

3.Cutting/dismembermenthazardofhand,mower
blade—disconnectthespark-plugwirebeforeperforming
maintenance.

4.Thrownobjecthazard—keepbystandersaway.

5.Cutting/dismembermenthazardoffoot,mowerblade—do
notoperateupanddownslopes;operatesidetosideon
slopes;shutofftheenginebeforeleavingthemachine;
pickupanydebrisbeforemowing;lookbehindyouwhen
movinginreverse.

decal131-4514

137-9196

1.Lock2.Unlock

decal137-9196

4

Setup

Important:Removeanddiscardtheprotectiveplasticsheetthatcoverstheengineandanyother

plasticorwrappingonthemachine.

1

UnfoldingtheHandle

NoPartsRequired

Procedure

WARNING

Unfoldingthehandleimproperlycandamagethecables,causinganunsafeoperating
condition.

•Donotdamagethecable(s)whenfoldingorunfoldingthehandle.

•Ensurethatthecable(s)areroutedtotheoutsideofthehandle.

•Ifacableisdamaged,contactanAuthorizedServiceDealer.

Important:Holdthehandlewhileengagingthehandlelockstoavoidpinchingyourhands.

Figure3

g272938

5

2

InstallingtheRecoil-StarterRopeintheRopeGuide

NoPartsRequired

Procedure

Important:Tostarttheenginesafelyandeasilywheneveryouusethemachine,installtherecoil-starter

ropeintheropeguide.

Figure4

g230719

6

3

FillingtheCrankcasewithOil

NoPartsRequired

Procedure

Important:Iftheoillevelinthecrankcaseistoolowortoohighandyouruntheengine,youmay

damagetheengine.

4

AssemblingtheGrassBag

NoPartsRequired

Procedure

g222533

Figure5

g230447

Figure6

7

ProductOverview

Specications

ModelWeightLengthWidthHeight

35kg152cm58cm104cm

20961

(77lb)(60

inches)

(23

inches)

(41

inches)

Attachments/Accessories

AselectionofToroapprovedattachmentsand
accessoriesisavailableforusewiththemachine
toenhanceandexpanditscapabilities.Contact
yourAuthorizedServiceDealerorauthorizedT oro
distributororgotowww.T oro.comforalistofall
approvedattachmentsandaccessories.

Toensureoptimumperformanceandcontinuedsafety
certicationofthemachine,useonlygenuineToro
replacementpartsandaccessories.Replacement
partsandaccessoriesmadebyothermanufacturers
couldbedangerous,andsuchusecouldvoidthe
productwarranty.

Figure7

1.Handle

2.Self-propelbar10.Sparkplug

3.Blade-controlbar

4.Adjustmentforthe
self-propeldrive

5.Reardeector(notshown)

6.Washoutport(notshown)14.Handlelock(2)

7.Fuel-tankcap15.Recoil-starthandle

8.Airlter

1.Grassbag2.Side-dischargechute

9.Cutting-heightlever(4)

11.Side-dischargedeector

12.Oil-lltube/dipstick

13.Bag-on-demandlever

Figure8

g272915

Operation

Note:Determinetheleftandrightsidesofthe

machinefromthenormaloperatingposition.

BeforeOperation

BeforeOperationSafety

GeneralSafety

•Alwaysshutoffthemachine,waitforallmoving

partstostop,andallowthemachinetocoolbefore
adjusting,servicing,cleaning,orstoringit.

•Becomefamiliarwiththesafeoperationofthe

equipment,operatorcontrols,andsafetysigns.

•Checkthatallguardsandsafetydevices,suchas

g036586

deectorsand/orgrasscatcher,areinplaceand
functioningproperly.

•Alwaysinspectthemachinetoensurethatthe

bladesandbladeboltsarenotwornordamaged.

•Inspecttheareawhereyouwillusethemachine,

andremoveallobjectsthatcouldinterferewith
theoperationofthemachineorthatthemachine
couldthrow.

•Contactwiththemovingbladewillcauseserious

injury.Donotputyourngersunderthehousing
whenadjustingthecuttingheight.

8

FuelSafety

•Fuelisextremelyammableandhighlyexplosive.

Areorexplosionfromfuelcanburnyouand
othersandcandamageproperty.

–Topreventastaticchargefromignitingthefuel,

placethecontainerand/ormachinedirectlyon
thegroundbeforelling,notinavehicleoron
anobject.

Refertoyourengineowner’smanualforadditional
information.

–Fillthefueltankoutdoors,inanopenarea,

whentheengineiscold.Wipeupanyfuelthat
spills.

–Donothandlefuelwhensmokingoraroundan

openameorsparks.

–Donotremovethefuelcaporaddfueltothe

tankwhiletheengineisrunningorhot.

–Ifyouspillfuel,donotattempttostartthe

engine.Avoidcreatingasourceofignitionuntil
thefuelvaporshavedissipated.

–Storefuelinanapprovedcontainerandkeep

itoutofthereachofchildren.

•Fuelisharmfulorfatalifswallowed.Long-term

exposuretovaporscancauseseriousinjuryand
illness.

–Avoidprolongedbreathingofvapors.

–Keepyourhandsandfaceawayfromthe

nozzleandthefuel-tankopening.

–Keepfuelawayfromyoureyesandskin.

g230458

Figure9

FillingtheFuelTank

•Forbestresults,useonlyclean,fresh,unleaded

gasolinewithanoctaneratingof87orhigher
((R+M)/2ratingmethod).

•Oxygenatedfuelwithupto10%ethanolor15%

MTBEbyvolumeisacceptable.

•Donotuseethanolblendsofgasoline,such

asE15orE85,withmorethan10%ethanolby
volume.Performanceproblemsand/orengine
damagemayresult,whichmaynotbecovered
underwarranty.

•Donotusegasolinecontainingmethanol.

•Donotstorefueleitherinthefueltankorinfuel

containersoverthewinterunlessfuelstabilizer
hasbeenaddedtothefuel.

•Donotaddoiltogasoline.

Fillthefueltankwithfreshunleadedregulargasoline
fromamajorname-brandservicestation(Figure9).

Important:T oreducestartingproblems,addfuel

stabilizer/conditionertofreshfuelasdirectedby
thefuel-stabilizermanufacturer.

9