Toro TimeMaster 20977 Operator's Manual

FormNo.3387-816RevA

TimeMaster76cmLawnMower

ModelNo.20975—SerialNo.315000001andUp

ModelNo.20977—SerialNo.315000001andUp

Operator'sManual

Introduction

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

Readthisinformationcarefullytolearnhowtooperateand
maintainyourmachineproperlyandtoavoidinjuryand
equipmentdamage.Y ouareresponsibleforoperatingthe
machineproperlyandsafely.

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

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

1

G017280

Figure1

1.Modelandserialnumberplate

ModelNo.

SerialNo.

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

Figure2

1.Safetyalertsymbol

Thismanualuses2wordstohighlightinformation.
Importantcallsattentiontospecialmechanicalinformation
andNoteemphasizesgeneralinformationworthyofspecial
attention.

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

Formodelswithstatedenginehorsepower,thegross
horsepoweroftheenginewaslaboratoryratedbytheengine
manufacturerinaccordancewithSAEJ1940.Ascongured
tomeetsafety,emission,andoperatingrequirements,the
actualenginehorsepoweronthisclassoflawnmowerwill
besignicantlylower.

Donottamperwiththeenginecontrolsoralterthegovernor
speed;doingsomaycreateanunsafeconditionresultingin
personalinjury.

Contents

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Setup............................................................................6

1AssemblingtheHandle..........................................6

2InstallingtheBlade-ControlBar..............................7

3FillingtheEnginewithOil......................................7

4ChargingtheBattery..............................................7

5AssemblingtheGrassBag......................................8

ProductOverview..........................................................9

Specications.........................................................9

Operation....................................................................10

FillingtheFuelTank...............................................10

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

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

AdjustingtheHandleHeight....................................12

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

©2014—TheToro®Company
8111LyndaleAvenueSouth
Bloomington,MN55420

Registeratwww.T oro.com.

OriginalInstructions(EN)

PrintedintheUSA

AllRightsReserved

*3387-816*A

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

StoppingtheEngine...............................................13

EngagingtheBlade.................................................13

DisengagingtheBlade.............................................13

CheckingtheBlade-StopSystemOperation................14

RecyclingtheClippings...........................................14

BaggingtheClippings.............................................15

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

OperatingTips......................................................16

Maintenance.................................................................17

RecommendedMaintenanceSchedule(s)......................17

PreparingforMaintenance.......................................17

ServicingtheAirFilter............................................18

ChangingtheEngineOil.........................................18

ChargingtheBattery...............................................19

ReplacingtheFuse..................................................20

ReplacingtheBattery..............................................20

AdjustingtheSelf-PropelDrive................................20

ServicingtheBlade-DriveSystem.............................21

ServicingtheCuttingBlades.....................................21

CleaningundertheMachine.....................................24

Storage........................................................................25

GeneralInformation...............................................25

PreparingtheFuelSystem.......................................25

PreparingtheEngine..............................................25

RemovingtheMachinefromStorage.........................25

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.

Training

•Readtheinstructionscarefully .Befamiliarwiththe

controlsandtheproperuseoftheequipment.

•Neverallowchildrenorpeopleunfamiliarwiththese

instructionstousethemachine.Localregulationscan
restricttheageoftheoperator.

•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.

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.

Operation

•Nevermowwhilepeople,especiallychildren,orpetsare

nearby.

•Mowonlyindaylightoringoodarticiallight.

•Stayalertforholesintheterrainandotherhiddenhazards.

2

•Donotputhandsorfeetnearorunderrotatingparts.

Keepclearofthedischargeopeningatalltimes.

•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

will t

partsandaccessories;

theymaycauseasafetyhazard.

Hauling

•Usecarewhenloadingorunloadingthemachineintoa

traileroratruck.

•Usefull-widthrampsforloadingthemachineintoa

traileroratruck.

•Tiethemachinedownsecurelyusingstraps,chains,cable,

orropes.Boththefrontandtherearstrapsshouldbe
directeddownandoutwardfromthemachine.

SoundPressure

Thisunithasasoundpressurelevelattheoperator’searof89
dBA,whichincludesanUncertaintyValue(K)of1dBA.

Thesoundpressurelevelwasdeterminedaccordingtothe
proceduresoutlinedinENISO5395:2013.

SoundPower

Thisunithasaguaranteedsoundpowerlevelof100dBA,
whichincludesanUncertaintyValue(K)of1dBA.

Thesoundpowerlevelwasdeterminedaccordingtothe
proceduresoutlinedinISO11094.

CAUTION

Long-termexposuretonoisewhileoperatingthe
machinemaycausesomehearingloss.

Wearadequatehearingprotectionwheneveryou
operatethemachineforanextendedperiodoftime.

3

Hand/ArmVibration

Measuredvibrationlevelforrighthand=7.5m/s

2

Measuredvibrationlevelforlefthand=5.5m/s

2

UncertaintyValue(K)=3.0m/s

2

Measuredvaluesweredeterminedaccordingtotheprocedures
outlinedinENISO5395:2013.

CAUTION

Long-termexposuretovibrationwhileoperating
themachinemaycausesomenumbnessinthe
handsandwrists.

Wearglovesthatdampenthevibrationwhenever
youoperatethemachineforanextendedperiodof
time.

SafetyandInstructionalDecals

Important:Safetyandinstructiondecalsarelocatednearareasofpotentialdanger.Replacedamageddecals.

Manufacturer'sMark

1.Indicatesthebladeisidentiedasapartfromtheoriginal
machinemanufacturer.

104-7953

Electric-startmodelonly

1.Warning—readtheOperator'sManualforinformationonchargingthebattery;containslead;donotdiscard.

2.ReadtheOperator'sManual.

108-9751

Electric-startmodelonly

1.Engine—stop3.Engine—start

2.Engine—run

112-8760

1.Thrownobjecthazard—keepbystandersasafedistance
fromthemachine.

2.Cutting/dismembermentofhandorfoot—stayawayfrom
movingparts.

4

120-9570

1.Warning—stayawayfrommovingparts,keepallguards
andshieldsinplace.

131-0894

TractionAdjustment

1.Attention;readtheOperator'sManual—1)Loosenthe
knobbyturningitcounterclockwise;2)Pullthecable(s)
awayfromtheenginetodecreasethetraction,orpush
thecable(s)towardtheenginetoincreasethetraction;3)
Tightentheknobbyturningitclockwise.

131–4514

1.Warning—readtheOperator'sManual.

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

3.Cutting/dismembermenthazardofhandorfoot,mower
blade—disconnectthespark-plugwireandreadthe
instructionsbeforeservicingorperformingmaintenance.

4.Thrownobjecthazard—keepbystandersasafedistance
fromthemachine;stoptheenginebeforeleavingthe
operatingposition;pickupanydebrisbeforemowing.

5.Cutting/dismembermenthazardofhandorfoot,mower
blade—donotoperateupanddownslopes;operatesideto
sideonslopes;lookbehindyouwhenbackingup.

5

Setup

Important:Removeanddiscardtheprotectiveplastic

sheetthatcoverstheengine.

1

AssemblingtheHandle

NoPartsRequired

Procedure

WARNING

Assemblingandunfoldingthehandleimproperly
candamagethecables,causinganunsafeoperating
condition.

•Donotdamagethecableswhenunfoldingthe
handle.

•Ifacableisdamaged,contactanAuthorized
ServiceDealer.

1.Rotatetheupperhandlesothatitneststogetherwith
thelowerhandle(Figure3),andtightenbothknobson
thehandletolocktheupperhandleinplace(Figure4).

1

G016547

2

Figure3

1.Upperhandle

2.Knob(2)

1

G016551

Figure4

1.Handle-locklever

2.Releasethehandle-locklever(Figure4).

3.Pullthehandlerearwardandlockitintoposition
(Figure4).

6

2

InstallingtheBlade-Control
Bar

NoPartsRequired

Procedure

Installtheblade-controlbarintotheupperhandle(Figure5).

G017217

Figure5

3

FillingtheEnginewithOil

Partsneededforthisprocedure:

0.59LEngineoil

Procedure

Important:Thismachine

does not

comewithoilinthe
engine.Beforestartingtheengine,lltheenginewith
oil.

1.Movethemachinetoalevelsurface.

2.Removethedipstick(Figure6)andpourabout3/4of
thecrankcasecapacityofoilintotheoil-lltube.

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

G017514

Figure6

3.Wipeoffthedipstickendwithacleancloth.

4.Insertthedipstickintotheoil-lltube,andscrewit
inuntilitstops.

5.Removethedipstickandreadtheoillevelonthe
dipstick;refertoFigure7.

Figure7

1.Theoillevelistoolow;
addoiltothecrankcase.

3.Theoilleveliscorrect.

2.Theoillevelistoohigh;
removeoilfromthe
crankcase.

•Iftheoillevelistoolow,addasmallamountofoil

slowlytotheoil-lltube,andthenrepeatsteps
3through5untiltheoilleveliscorrectasshown
inFigure7.

•Iftheoillevelistoohigh,draintheexcessoiluntil

youobtainthecorrectoillevelonthedipstick.To
draintheexcessoil,refertoChangingtheEngine
Oil(page18).

Important:Iftheoillevelinthecrankcaseis
toolowortoohighandyouruntheengine,
youmaydamagetheengine.

6.Installthedipsticksecurelybyhand.

7

4

ChargingtheBattery

NoPartsRequired

Procedure

Electric-startmodelonly

RefertoChargingtheBattery(page19).

5

AssemblingtheGrassBag

NoPartsRequired

Procedure

1.SlipthegrassbagovertheframeasshowninFigure8.

1

2

3

g027215

Figure8

1.Handle

3.Grassbag

2.Frame

Note:Donotslipthebagoverthehandle(Figure8).

2.Hookthebottomchannelofthebagontothebottom
oftheframe(Figure9).

g027216

Figure9

3.Hookthetopandsidechannelsofthebagontothetop
andsidesoftheframe,respectively(Figure9).

8

ProductOverview

2

14

1

13

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

15

16

17

g027508

Figure10

1.Side-dischargedeector10.Adjustmentknobforthe
self-propeldrive

2.Sparkplug11.Battery(notshown;
electric-startmodelonly)

3.Dipstick/oil-lltube(not

shown)

12.Rearcutting-heightlever

4.Recoil-starthandle

13.Rear-dischargedeector

5.Fuel-tankcap14.Fuse

6.Handle-locklever

15.Airlter

7.Handleknob(2)

16.Washoutport

8.Upperhandle17.Frontcutting-heightlever

9.Ignitionswitch

2

1

3

4

g017218

Figure11

Upperhandle

1.Traction-assisthandle3.Blade-controlbar

2.Blade-controlbarlock4.Ignitionswitch

g017219

1

2

34

Figure12

1.Grassbag3.Side-dischargechute

2.Rear-dischargeplug
(installed)

4.Batterycharger
(electric-startmodelonly)

Specications

ModelWeightLengthWidthHeight

2097562kg

(137lb)

163cm

(64in)

81cm
(32in)

112cm

(44in)

2097765kg

(143lb)

163cm

(64in)

81cm
(32in)

112cm

(44in)

9