Toro 20996 Operator's Manual

FormNo.3387-970RevA

53cmRecycler

ModelNo.20996—SerialNo.315000001andUp

®

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.

ThisproductcomplieswithallrelevantEuropeandirectives.
Fordetails,seetheseparateproduct-specicDeclarationof
Conformity(DOC)sheet.

NetTorque:Thegrossornettorqueofthisenginewas
laboratoryratedbytheenginemanufacturerinaccordance
withtheSocietyofAutomotiveEngineers(SAE)J1940.
Asconguredtomeetsafety,emission,andoperating
requirements,theactualenginetorqueonthisclassofmower
willbesignicantlylower.Gotowww.Toro.comtoview
specicationsonyourmowermodel.

Donottamperwiththeenginecontrolsoralterthegovernor
speed;doingsomaycreateanunsafeconditionresultingin
personalinjury.

Figure1

1.Modelandserialnumberlocation

Writetheproductmodelandserialnumbersinthefollowing
space:

ModelNo.

SerialNo.

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

©2014—TheToro®Company
8111LyndaleAvenueSouth
Bloomington,MN55420

Registeratwww.T oro.com.

Contents

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

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

GeneralLawnMowerSafety.....................................2

SoundPressure......................................................3

SoundPower..........................................................3

Hand/ArmVibration..............................................4

SafetyandInstructionalDecals.................................4

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

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

2InstallingtheRecoil-StarterRopeintheRope

Guide.................................................................5

3FillingtheEnginewithOil......................................5

4InstalltheMulchPlugortheGrassBag....................6

5AssemblingtheGrassBag......................................7

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

Specications.........................................................8

Operation.....................................................................9

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

CheckingtheEngine-OilLevel..................................9

AdjustingtheCuttingHeight....................................10

AdjustingtheUpperHandleHeight..........................10

OriginalInstructions(EN)

PrintedintheUSA

AllRightsReserved

*3387-970*A

StartingtheEngine.................................................11

UsingtheSelf-PropelDrive.....................................12

StoppingtheEngine...............................................12

MulchingtheClippings...........................................12

BaggingtheClippings.............................................12

Side-DischargingtheClippings.................................14

OperatingTips......................................................14

Maintenance.................................................................15

RecommendedMaintenanceSchedule(s)......................15

PreparingforMaintenance.......................................16

ReplacingtheAirFilter............................................16

ChangingtheEngineOil.........................................16

LubricatingtheWheelGears....................................17

LubricatingtheUpperHandle..................................18

AdjustingtheSelf-PropelDriveCable.......................18

ReplacingtheBlade................................................19

CleaningundertheMachine.....................................20

Storage........................................................................20

PreparingtheMachineforStorage............................20

FoldingtheHandle.................................................20

RemovetheMachinefromStorage............................21

TestingtheMachineSafetySystem............................22

•Keepinmindthattheoperatororuserisresponsiblefor

accidentsorhazardsoccurringtootherpeopleortheir
property.

•Understandexplanationsforallpictogramsusedonthe

machineorintheinstructions.

Gasoline

WARNING-Gasolineishighlyammable.Takethe
followingprecautions.

•Storefuelincontainersspecicallydesignedforthis

purpose.

•Refueloutdoorsonlyanddonotsmokewhilerefueling.

•Addfuelbeforestartingtheengine.Neverremovethe

capofthefueltankoraddgasolinewhiletheengineis
runningorwhentheengineishot.

•Ifgasolineisspilled,donotattempttostarttheengine

butmovethemachineawayfromtheareaofspillageand
avoidcreatinganysourceofignitionuntilgasolinevapors
havedissipated.

•Replaceallfueltankandcontainercapssecurely.

Safety

ThismachinehasbeendesignedinaccordancewithENISO
5395:2013.

Improperlyusingormaintainingthismowercanresult
ininjury.T oreducethepotentialforinjury,complywith
thesesafetyinstructions.

Toensuremaximumsafety,bestperformance,and
togainknowledgeoftheproduct,itisessentialthat
youandanyotheroperatorofthemowerreadand
understandthecontentsofthismanualbeforethe
engineiseverstarted.Payparticularattentiontothe
safetyalertsymbol(Figure2),whichmeansCaution,
Warning,orDanger—“personalsafetyinstruction.”
Readandunderstandtheinstructionbecauseithasto
dowithsafety.Failuretocomplywiththeinstruction
mayresultinpersonalinjury.

GeneralLawnMowerSafety

Thiscuttingmachineiscapableofamputatinghandsandfeet
andofthrowingobjects.Failuretoobservethefollowing
safetyinstructionscouldresultinseriousinjuryordeath.

Preparation

•Whilemowing,alwayswearsubstantial,slip-resistant

footwearandlongtrousers.Donotoperatethe
equipmentwhenbarefootorwearingopensandals.

•Thoroughlyinspecttheareawheretheequipmentisto

beusedandremoveallstones,sticks,wires,bonesand
otherforeignobjects.

•Beforeusing,alwaysvisuallyinspecttoseethatguardsand

safetydevices,suchasdeectorsand/orgrasscatchers,
areinplaceandworkingcorrectly.

•Beforeusing,alwaysvisuallyinspecttoseethattheblades,

bladeboltsandcutterassemblyarenotwornordamaged.
Replacewornordamagedbladesandboltsinsetsto
preservebalance.

Starting

•Donottiltthemachinewhenstartingtheengineunless

themachinemustbetiltedforstarting.Inthiscase,do
nottiltitmorethanabsolutelynecessaryandliftonlythe
partwhichisawayfromtheoperator.

•Starttheenginecarefullyaccordingtoinstructionsand

withfeetwellawayfromtheblade(s)andnotinfrontof
thedischargechute.

Training

•Readtheinstructionscarefully .Befamiliarwiththe

controlsandtheproperuseoftheequipment.

•Neverallowchildrenorpeopleunfamiliarwiththese

instructionstousethemachine.Localregulationscan
restricttheageoftheoperator.

Operation

•Nevermowwhilepeople,especiallychildren,orpetsare

nearby.

•Mowonlyindaylightoringoodarticiallight.

•Stayalertforholesintheterrainandotherhiddenhazards.

•Donotputhandsorfeetnearorunderrotatingparts.

Keepclearofthedischargeopeningatalltimes.

2

•Neverpickuporcarryalawnmowerwhiletheengineis

running.

•Useextremecautionwhenreversingorpullinga

pedestrian-controlledmowertowardyou.

•Walk,neverrun.

•Slopes:

–Donotmowexcessivelysteepslopes.

–Exerciseextremecautionwhenonslopes.

–Mowacrossthefaceofslopes,neverupanddown,

andexerciseextremecautionwhenchangingdirection
onslopes.

–Alwaysbesureofyourfootingonslopes.

•Reducespeedonslopesandinsharpturnstoprevent

overturningorlossofcontrol.

•Stopthebladeifthemachinemustbetiltedfor

transportationwhencrossingsurfacesotherthangrass
andwhentransportingthemachinetoandfromthearea
tobemowed.

•Donotoperatetheengineinaconnedspacewhere

dangerouscarbonmonoxideandotherexhaustgasses
cancollect.

•Stoptheengine

–wheneveryouleavethemachine.

–beforerefueling.

–beforeremovingthegrasscatcher.

–beforemakingheightadjustmentunlessadjustment

canbemadefromtheoperatingposition.

•Stoptheengineanddisconnectthespark-plugwire.

–beforeclearingblockagesoruncloggingchute.

–beforechecking,cleaningorworkingonthemachine.

–afterstrikingaforeignobject,inspectthemachine

fordamageandmakerepairsbeforerestartingand
operatingthemachine.

–ifthemachinestartstovibrateabnormally(check

immediately).

•Lightningcancausesevereinjuryordeath.Ifyousee

lightningorhearthunderinthearea,donotoperatethe
machine;seekshelter.

•Watchoutfortrafcwhencrossingornearroadways.

MaintenanceandStorage

•Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstighttobesurethatthe

equipmentisinsafeworkingcondition.

•Donotusepressure-cleaningequipmentonthemachine.

•Neverstoretheequipmentwithgasolineinthetankand

insideabuildingwherefumescanreachanopename
orspark.

•Allowtheenginetocoolbeforestoringinanyenclosure.

•Toreducetherehazard,keeptheengine,silencer,

batterycompartmentandgasolinestorageareafreeof
grass,leaves,orexcessivegrease.

•Checkgrasscatchercomponentsandthedischargeguard

frequentlyandreplacewithmanufacturer'srecommended
parts,whennecessary.

•Replacewornordamagedpartsforsafety.

•Replacefaultysilencers.

•Ifthefueltankhastobedrained,dothisoutdoors.

•Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingsoroverspeed

theengine.Operatinganengineatexcessivespeedcan
increasethehazardofpersonalinjury.

•Becarefulwhileadjustingthemachinetoprevent

entrapmentofthengersbetweenmovingbladesand
xedpartsofthemachine.

•Toensurethebestperformanceandsafety ,

purchaseonlygenuineT ororeplacementpartsand
accessories.Donotuse
theymaycauseasafetyhazard.

will t

partsandaccessories;

Hauling

•Usecarewhenloadingorunloadingthemachineintoa

traileroratruck.

•Usefull-widthrampsforloadingthemachineintoa

traileroratruck.

•Tiethemachinedownsecurelyusingstraps,chains,cable,

orropes.Boththefrontandtherearstrapsshouldbe
directeddownandoutwardfromthemachine.

SoundPressure

Thisunithasasoundpressurelevelattheoperator’searof89
dBA,whichincludesanUncertaintyValue(K)of1dBA.

Thesoundpressurelevelwasdeterminedaccordingtothe
proceduresoutlinedinENISO5395:2013.

SoundPower

Thisunithasaguaranteedsoundpowerlevelof98dBA,
whichincludesanUncertaintyValue(K)of1dBA.

Thesoundpowerlevelwasdeterminedaccordingtothe
proceduresoutlinedinISO11094.

CAUTION

Long-termexposuretonoisewhileoperatingthe
machinemaycausesomehearingloss.

Wearadequatehearingprotectionwheneveryou
operatethemachineforanextendedperiodoftime.

3

Hand/ArmVibration

Measuredvibrationlevelforrighthand=5.1m/s

Measuredvibrationlevelforlefthand=4.8m/s

UncertaintyValue(K)=2.0m/s

Measuredvaluesweredeterminedaccordingtotheprocedures
outlinedinENISO5395:2013.

2

2

2

CAUTION

Long-termexposuretovibrationwhileoperating
themachinemaycausesomenumbnessinthe
handsandwrists.

Wearglovesthatdampenthevibrationwhenever
youoperatethemachineforanextendedperiodof
time.

SafetyandInstructionalDecals

Important:Safetyandinstructiondecalsarelocatednearareasofpotentialdanger.Replacedamageddecals.

Manufacturer'sMark

1.Indicatesthebladeisidentiedasapartfromtheoriginal
machinemanufacturer.

1.Heightofcut

1.Heightofcut

108-7450

1.Thrownobjecthazard—keepbystandersasafedistance
fromthemachine.

2.Cutting/dismembermentofhandorfoot—stayawayfrom
movingparts.

108-7451

110-9457

112-8760

1.EngineswitchOff

2.EngineswitchOn

3.Unlocked

4.Locked

1.Handleinraisedposition3.Footpedallocation

2.Handleinloweredposition

4

121–2370

Setup

g027331

Important:Removeanddiscardtheprotectiveplastic
sheetthatcoverstheengine.

1

UnfoldingtheHandle

NoPartsRequired

Procedure

1.Steponthefootpedalandholditdown(Figure3).

Figure5

2

Figure3

2.UnfoldthehandleasshowninFigure4.

InstallingtheRecoil-Starter RopeintheRopeGuide

NoPartsRequired

Procedure

Important:Youmustinstalltherecoil-starterropein

theropeguide.

Holdtheblade-controlbartotheupperhandleandpullthe
recoil-starterropethroughtheropeguideonthehandle
(Figure6).

Figure4

3.Tightenallhandleknobs.

4.Movetheupperhandletothedesiredpositionand
tightentheupperhandleknobrmly(Figure5).

Figure6

1.Recoil-starterrope2.Ropeguide

5

draintheexcessoil,refertoChangingtheEngine

Oil(page16).

3

FillingtheEnginewithOil

NoPartsRequired

Procedure

Important:Thismachinedoesnotcomewithoilinthe

engine.Beforestartingtheengine,lltheenginewith
oil.

Important:Changetheengineoilaftertherst5
operatinghours;changeityearlythereafter.Referto

ChangingtheEngineOil(page16).

1.Movethemachinetoalevelsurface.

2.Removethedipstick(Figure7)andpourabout3/4of
thecrankcasecapacityofoilintotheoil-lltube.

Note:Max.ll:0.59L(20oz),type:SAE30
detergentoilwithanAPIserviceclassicationofSF ,
SG,SH,SJ,SL,orhigher.

Important:Iftheoillevelinthecrankcaseistoo
lowortoohighandyouruntheengine,youmay
damagetheengine.

6.Installthedipsticksecurelybyhand.

4

InstalltheMulchPlugorthe GrassBag

NoPartsRequired

Procedure

Important:Youmustcorrectlyinstallthemulchplug

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

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

Figure7

3.Wipeoffthedipstickendwithacleancloth.

4.Insertthedipstickintotheoil-lltube,andscrewit
inuntilitstops.

5.Removethedipstickandreadtheoillevelonthe
dipstick;refertoFigure7.

•Iftheoillevelistoolow ,addasmallamountof

oilslowlytotheoil-lltube,andthenrepeatsteps

3through5untiltheoilleveliscorrectasshown

inFigure7.

•Iftheoillevelistoohigh,draintheexcessoiluntil

youobtainthecorrectoillevelonthedipstick.To

Fortheswitchtodetectthepresenceofthemulchplug,the

topofthemulchpluglevermustliefullyinthebottom
ofthechannel(Figure8).

Figure8

1.Topofmulchplugleverinchannelbottom

1.Insertthemulchplugintothemachineifitisn'talready
installed(Figure9).

6

Figure9

1

2

3

g027156

Figure11

2.Squeezethebuttonontheleverwithyourthumb,and
fullyinsertthemulchplugintotheopening(Figure10).

Figure10

3.Releasethebuttonontheleverandensurethatthetop
oftheleverisliesfullyintheswitchchannel(Figure

11).Ifthetopoftheleverisnotintheswitch

channel,yourmachinewillnotstart.

Note:Iftheleverdoesnotlatchproperly,disconnect
thewirefromthesparkplugandcheckforandremove
anydebrisbuildupinthetunnel.

5

AssemblingtheGrassBag

NoPartsRequired

Procedure

1.SlipthegrassbagovertheframeasshowninFigure12.

Figure12

1.Handle

2.Frame

Note:Donotslipthebagoverthehandle(Figure12).

2.Hookthebottomchannelofthebagontothebottom
oftheframe(Figure13).

7

3.Grassbag

g027157

ProductOverview

G020408

Figure14

Figure13

3.Hookthetopandsidechannelsofthebagontothetop
andsidesoftheframe,respectively(Figure13).

1.Cutting-heightlever(4)

2.Airlter

3.Fuel-tankcap8.Upper-handleknob

4.Oilll/Dipstick9.Sparkplug

5.Footpedal

6.Recoil-starthandle

7.Blade-controlbar

Figure15

1.Grassbag3.Mulchplug(installed)

2.Side-dischargechute

Specications

ModelWeightLengthWidthHeight

2099637kg

(82lb)

8

157cm

(62

inches)

56cm

(22

inches)

112cm

(44

inches)