Toro 20990 Operator's Manual

FormNo.3374-361-ASMRevA

53cmRecycler

ModelNo.20990—SerialNo.313000001andUp

®

LawnMower

Operator'sManual

Introduction

Thisrotary-blade,walk-behindlawnmowerisintended
tobeusedbyresidentialhomeowners.Itisdesigned
primarilyforcuttinggrassonwell-maintainedlawns
onresidentialproperties.Itisnotdesignedforcutting
brushorforagriculturaluses.

Readthisinformationcarefullytolearnhowtooperateand
maintainyourmachineproperlyandtoavoidinjuryand
equipmentdamage.Youareresponsibleforoperatingthe
machineproperlyandsafely.

YoumaycontactTorodirectlyatwww .Toro.comforproduct
andaccessoryinformation,helpndingadealer,ortoregister
yourproduct.

Wheneveryouneedservice,genuineToroparts,oradditional
information,contactanAuthorizedServiceDealerorToro
CustomerServiceandhavethemodelandserialnumbersof
yourmachineready.Figure1identiesthelocationofthe
modelandserialnumbersontheproduct.

Figure2

1.Safetyalertsymbol

Thismanualuses2wordstohighlightinformation.
Importantcallsattentiontospecialmechanicalinformation
andNoteemphasizesgeneralinformationworthyofspecial
attention.

Safety

Readandunderstandthecontentsofthismanualbefore
youstarttheengine.

Thesafetyalertsymbol(Figure2)isusedtoalertyouto
potentialpersonalinjuryhazards.Obeyallsafetymessages
thatfollowthissymboltoavoidpossibleinjuryordeath.
Improperlyusingormaintainingthismachinecouldresultin
injuryordeath.T oreducethispotential,complywiththe
followingsafetyinstructions.

Thefollowinginstructionshavebeenadaptedfromthe
ANSI/OPEIstandardB71.1-2003.

Figure1

1.Modelandserialnumberlocation

Writetheproductmodelandserialnumbersinthefollowing
space:

ModelNo.

SerialNo.

Thismanualidentiespotentialhazardsandhassafety
messagesidentiedbythesafetyalertsymbol(Figure2),
whichsignalsahazardthatmaycauseseriousinjuryordeath
ifyoudonotfollowtherecommendedprecautions.

©2012—TheToro®Company
8111LyndaleAvenueSouth
Bloomington,MN55420

Registeratwww.T oro.com.

Thiscuttingmachineiscapableofamputatinghands
andfeetandofthrowingobjects.Failuretoobserve
thefollowingsafetyinstructionscouldresultinserious
injuryordeath.

GeneralOperation

•Read,understand,andfollowallinstructionsonthe

machineandinthemanual(s)beforestarting.

•Donotputhandsorfeetnearorunderthemachine.

Keepclearofthedischargeopeningatalltimes.

•Onlyallowresponsibleadultswhoarefamiliarwiththe

instructionstooperatethemachine.

•Cleartheareaofobjectssuchasrocks,wire,toys,etc.,

whichcouldbethrownbytheblades.Staybehindthe
handlewhentheengineisrunning.

•Besurethattheareaisclearofbystandersbefore

operating.Stopthemachineifanyoneentersthearea.

•Donotoperatethemachinebarefootedorwhilewearing

sandals.Alwayswearsubstantialfootwear.

OriginalInstructions(EN)

PrintedintheUSA

AllRightsReserved

*3374-361-ASM*A

•Donotpullthemachinebackwardunlessitisabsolutely

necessary.Alwayslookdownandbehindbeforeand
whilemovingbackward.

•Neverdirectdischargedmaterialtowardanyone.Avoid

dischargingmaterialagainstawallorobstruction.
Materialmayricochetbacktowardtheoperator.Stopthe
bladeswhencrossinggravelsurfaces.

•Donotoperatethemachinewithouttheentiregrass

catcher,dischargeguard,rearguard,orothersafety
protectivedevicesinplaceandworking.

•Neverleavearunningmachineunattended.

•Stoptheengineandwaituntilthebladescometoa

completestopbeforecleaningthemachine,removingthe
grasscatcher,oruncloggingthedischargeguard.

•Operatethemachineonlyindaylightoringoodarticial

light.

•Donotoperatethemachinewhileundertheinuence

ofalcoholordrugs.

•Neveroperatethemachineinwetgrass.Alwaysbesure

ofyourfooting.Walk,neverrun.

•Disengagethedrivesystem,ifsoequipped,before

startingtheengine.

•Ifthemachineshouldstarttovibrateabnormally,stop

theengineandcheckforthecauseimmediately.Vibration
isgenerallyawarningoftrouble.

•Alwaysweareyeprotectionwhenoperatingthemachine.

•Lightningcancausesevereinjuryordeath.Ifyousee

lightningorhearthunderinthearea,donotoperatethe
machine;seekshelter.

•Seemanufacturer'sinstructionsforproperoperationand

installationofaccessories.Onlyuseaccessoriesapproved
bythemanufacturer.

SlopeOperation

Slopesareamajorfactorrelatedtoslip-and-fallaccidents,
whichcanresultinsevereinjury.Operationonallslopes
requireextracaution.Ifyoufeeluneasyonaslope,donot
mowit.

•Mowacrossthefaceofslopes;neverupanddown.

Exerciseextremecautionwhenchangingdirectionon
slopes.

•Watchforholes,ruts,bumps,rocks,orotherhidden

objects.Uneventerraincouldcauseaslip-and-fall
accident.Tallgrasscanhideobstacles.

•Donotmowonwetgrassorexcessivelysteepslopes.

Poorfootingcouldcauseaslip-and-fallaccident.

•Donotmowneardrop-offs,ditches,orembankments.

Youcouldloseyourfootingorbalance.

machineandthemowingactivity.Neverassumethatchildren
willremainwhereyoulastsawthem.

•Keepchildrenoutofthemowingareaandunderthe

watchfulcareofaresponsibleadultotherthanthe
operator.

•Bealertandturnmachineoffifachildentersthearea.

•Neverallowchildrentooperatethemachine.

•Useextracarewhenapproachingblindcorners,shrubs,

trees,orotherobjectsthatmayblockyourviewofachild.

Service

SafeHandlingofGasoline

Toavoidpersonalinjuryorpropertydamage,use
extremecareinhandlinggasoline.Gasolineisextremely
ammableandthevaporsareexplosive.

•Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipes,andothersources

ofignition.

•Useonlyanapprovedgasolinecontainer.

•Neverremovethefueltankcaporaddfuelwiththe

enginerunning.Allowtheenginetocoolbeforerefueling.

•Neverrefuelthemachineindoors.

•Neverstorethemachineorfuelcontainerwherethereis

anopename,spark,orpilotlight,suchasonawater
heateroronotherappliances.

•Neverllcontainersinsideavehicleoronatruckor

trailerbedwithaplasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainerson
thegroundawayfromyourvehiclebeforelling.

•Removegas-poweredequipmentfromthetruckortrailer

andrefuelitontheground.Ifthisisnotpossible,then
refuelsuchequipmentwithaportablecontainerrather
thanfromagasolinedispensernozzle.

•Keepthenozzleincontactwiththerimofthefueltank

orcontaineropeningatalltimesuntilfuelingiscomplete.
Donotuseanozzlelock-opendevice.

•Iffuelisspilledonclothing,changeclothingimmediately .

•Neveroverllthefueltank.Replacethefueltankcap

andtightenitsecurely.

WARNING

Exhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,anodorless,
deadlypoisonthatcankillyou.

Donotruntheengineindoorsorinanenclosed
area.

Children

Tragicaccidentscanoccuriftheoperatorisnotalerttothe
presenceofchildren.Childrenareoftenattractedtothe

GeneralService

•Neveroperatethemachineinanenclosedarea.

•Keepallnutsandboltstighttoensurethattheequipment

isinsafeworkingcondition.

2

•Nevertamperwithsafetydevices.Checktheirproper

operationregularly.

•Keepthemachinefreeofgrass,leaves,orotherdebris.

Cleanupoilorfuelspillsandremoveanyfuel-soaked
debris.Allowthemachinetocoolbeforestoring.

•Checkthegrasscatchercomponentsandthedischarge

guardfrequentlyandreplacethemwithmanufacturer's
recommendedpartswhennecessary.

•Mowerbladesaresharp.Wrapthebladesorweargloves,

anduseextracautionwhenservicingthem.

•Ifyoustrikeaforeignobject,stopandinspectthe

machine.Repairthemachine,ifnecessary,beforestarting.

•Nevermakeanyadjustmentsorrepairswiththeengine

running.Disconnectthespark-plugwireandground

•Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingoroverspeed

theengine.

•Maintainorreplacesafetyandinstructionlabelsas

necessary.

againsttheenginetopreventunintendedstarting.

SafetyandInstructionalDecals

Important:Safetyandinstructiondecalsarelocatednearareasofpotentialdanger.Replacedamageddecals.

Manufacturer'sMark

1.Indicatesthebladeisidentiedasapartfromtheoriginal
machinemanufacturer.

112-8760

1.Heightofcut

108-7450

1.Thrownobjecthazard—keepbystandersasafedistance
fromthemachine.

2.Cutting/dismembermentofhandorfoot—stayawayfrom
movingparts.

1.Heightofcut

1.EngineswitchOff

2.EngineswitchOn

108-7451

110-9457

3.Unlocked

4.Locked

3

114-2820

1.Warning—readthe
Operator'sManual.

2.Thrownobject
hazard—keepbystanders
asafedistancefromthe
machine.

3.Thrownobjecthazard—do
notoperatethemower
withoutthereardischarge
plugorbaginplace;do
notoperatethemower
withoutthesidedischarge
coverordeectorinplace.

Setup

4.Cutting/dismemberment
hazardofhandorfoot,
mowerblade—stayaway
frommovingparts.

5.Cutting/dismemberment
hazardofhandorfoot,
mowerblade—remove
theignitionkeyandread
theinstructionsbefore
servicingorperforming
maintenance.

6.Cutting/dismemberment
hazardofhandorfoot,
mowerblade—donot
operateupanddown
slopes;operatesideto
sideonslopes;stopthe
enginebeforeleavingthe
operatingposition;and
lookbehindyouwhen
backingup.

LooseParts

Usethechartbelowtoverifythatallpartshavebeenshipped.

ProcedureDescription

1
2
3

Important:Removeanddiscardtheprotectiveplasticsheetthatcoverstheengine.

Nopartsrequired

Nopartsrequired

Nopartsrequired

Qty.

Use

–

–

–

Unfoldthehandle.

Filltheenginewithoil.

Installthemulchplugorthegrassbag.

4

1

G019343

G019340

UnfoldingtheHandle

NoPartsRequired

Procedure

1.UnfoldthehandleasillustratedinFigure3and
Figure4.

Important:Changetheengineoilaftertherst5
operatinghours;changeityearlythereafter.Referto
ChangingtheEngineOil.

1.Movethemachinetoalevelsurface.

2.Removethedipstick(Figure5)andpourabout3/4of
thecrankcasecapacityofoilintotheoil-lltube.

Note:Max.ll:0.59l(20oz.),type:SAE30detergent
oilwithanAPIserviceclassicationofSF,SG,SH,
SJ,SL,orhigher.

Figure3

Figure4

2.Tightenallhandleknobs.

2

FillingtheEnginewithOil

NoPartsRequired

Figure5

3.Wipeoffthedipstickendwithacleancloth.

4.Insertthedipstickintotheoil-lltube,andscrewit
inuntilitstops.

5.Removethedipstickandreadtheoillevelonthe
dipstick;refertoFigure5.

•Iftheoillevelistoolow ,addasmallamountof

oilslowlytotheoil-lltube,andthenrepeatsteps
3through5untiltheoilleveliscorrectasshown
inFigure5.

•Iftheoillevelistoohigh,draintheexcess

oiluntilyouobtainthecorrectoillevelon
thedipstick.Todraintheexcessoil,referto
ChangingtheEngineOil(page14).

Important:Iftheoillevelinthecrankcaseistoo
lowortoohighandyouruntheengine,youmay
damagetheengine.

6.Installthedipsticksecurelybyhand.

Procedure

Important:Thismachinedoesnotcomewithoilinthe

engine.Beforestartingtheengine,lltheenginewith
oil.

5

3

InstalltheMulchPlugorthe
GrassBag

NoPartsRequired

Procedure

Important:Youmustcorrectlyinstallthemulchplug

(formulchingorside-discharging)orthegrassbag(for
bagging);otherwise,theenginewillnotstart.

Themachinehasasafetyswitch,locatedatthebottomofthe
channelatthetop,rightrearofthemachine,thatprevents
themachinefromoperatingwithoutamulchplugoragrass
bag.Thispreventsthemachinefromthrowingdebrisatthe
operatorthroughtherearchute.

Fortheswitchtodetectthepresenceofthemulchplug,the

topofthemulchpluglevermustliefullyinthebottom
ofthechannel(Figure6).

Figure7

2.Squeezethebuttonontheleverwithyourthumband
fullyinsertthemulchplugintotheopening(Figure8).

Figure6

1.Topofmulchplugleverinchannelbottom

1.Insertthemulchplugintothemachineifitisn'talready
installed(Figure7).

Figure8

3.Releasethebuttonontheleverandensurethatthetop
oftheleverisliesfullyintheswitchchannel(Figure9).

Ifthetopoftheleverisnotintheswitchchannel,
yourmachinewillnotstart.

6