Troybilt 440, 12A-446A711 Owner’s Manual

Safety o Assembly o Operation oTips &Techniques oMaintenance *Troubleshooting o Parts Lists oWarranty

®

21" Rotary Mower -- Model Series 440

READ SAFETY RULES AND mNSTRUCTmONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION

Warning: Thisunitis equippedwithan internalcombustionengineandshouldnotbeusedonornearanyunimprovedforest-covered,brush=
coveredor grass=coveredlandunlesstheengine'sexhaustsystemisequippedwitha sparkarrestermeetingapplicablelocalorstatelaws(if any),

If a sparkarresterisused,it shouldbemaintainedineffectiveworkingorderbytheoperator,Inthe StateofCaliforniatheaboveis requiredbylaw
(Section4442ofthe CaliforniaPublicResourcesCode),Otherstatesmayhavesimilarlaws,Federallawsapplyonfederallands,A sparkarrester

forthe mufflerisavailablethroughyournearestengineauthorizedservicedealeror contacttheservicedepartment,RO,Box361131Cleveland,
Ohio44136=0019,

PRINTEDiN U,S,A Troy-Bilt LLC, P.O. BOX 381131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44138-0019 FORMNO,769=02166

Phone: 1(888} 840-8483, 1-330-558-7220 10/2005

This Operator's Manua_ is an important part of your new lawn mower, mtwH_ he_p you assemble,

prepare and maintain the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.

Table of Contents

Slope Gauge ....................................................... 3

Safe Operation Practices ................................... 4

Setup and Adjustment ....................................... 6

Operating Your Lawn Mower .............................. 8

Finding and Recording Model Number

BEFOREYOU STARTASSEMBLING
YOURNEW EQUIPMENT,
please locatethe modelplate onthe equipmentand copythe
informationto the sample model plate providedto the righL

Youcan locatethe modelplate by standing at the operating
positionand lookingdown at the rearof the deck. This

informationwill be necessaryto usethe manufacturer'sweb
site and/or obtainassistancefrom theCustomerSupport

Departmentoran authorizedservice dealer.

Maintaining Your Lawn Mower ......................... 10

Trouble Shooting .............................................. 12

Off-Season Storage and Safety Labe{s .......... 13

Parts List ........................................................... 14

Warranty ............................................ Back Cover

Modem Number Serial Number

0 TRDV BILT TROY-B LTLLc

www.troybiit.com CLEVELAND,ON44136

P. O. BOX 361131

338=558=7228

Customer Support

PIease do NOTreturn the unit to the retai{er from which it was

purchased, without first contacting Customer Support.

ifyou havedifficulty assemblingthis productor have any

questions regardingthe controls, operationor maintenanceof
this unit, you can seek help from the expert& Choose fromthe

options below:

1_VisittroybHt.com for manyuseful suggestions.Clickon

CustomerSupport button and you will get the four options
reproducedin this sampleto the righLClick on the appro-
priatebutton and help is immediatelyavailable.

2_Phonea Customer Support Representative

at 1(866)840-6483.

3. The engine manufacturer is responsiblefor all engine-
relatedissueswith regardsto performance,power-rating,
specifications,warrantyand service. Pleasereferto the

eng Need a manual and/or parts list? Download

separatelywithyour unit, for more information, literature from recent model years.

Click here to search our knowledge base°
Searchby product, keyword, or phrase.

Login to check the status of your questions, modify
your inquiries, or update your personal profile.

Need local assistance? Click here to find authorized
service centers in your area.

2

yourlawnmoweronsuchslopes.

/

t

/

/

/

/

/

o

WARNING

w_

Do not mowon inclines

with a dope in excess

of 15 degrees (a rise

of approximately

2-"

feet). A riding r
couldoverturnand

cause serious injury.

if operatinga walb
behindmoweron such

a dope, it isextremely

footing and you could

dip, resultingin serious
injury.

OperateRiDiNG
mowersupand down

dopes, neveracross

o

3

theface of dopes.

Operate
WALK-BEHIND

mowersacrossthe

face of dopes, never

up and down slopes.

\

manual.Aswithanytypeofpowerequipment,carelessnessorerroronthepartoftheoperatorcan

resultinseriousinjury.Thismachineiscapableofamputatinghandsandfeetandthrowingobjects.

! Failuretoobservethefollowingsafetyinstructionscouldresultinseriousinjuryordeath.

Children

Tragicaccidentscan occurifoperatorisnotalertto presence
ofchildren.Childrenare oftenattractedto mowerandmowing

activity.Theydonot understandthe dangers.Neverassume
thatchildrenwill remainwhereyoulastsawthem.

1. Keepchildrenoutofthe mowingareaandunderwatchful
careof aresponsibleadultotherthanthe operator.

2. Bealertandturnmoweroffifa childentersthearea.

3. Beforeand whilemovingbackwards,look behindanddown
forsmallchildren.

4. Useextremecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,
doorways,shrubs,trees,orotherobjectsthatmayobscure
yourvisionofa childwho mayrun intothemower.

5. Keepchildrenawayfromhot orrunningengines.Theycan
sufferburnsfroma hotmuffler.

6. Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsoldto operateapower
mower.Children14yearsold andovershouldreadand
understandoperationinstructionsandsafetyrulesinthis
manualandshouldbetrainedandsupervisedbyaparent.

endangerthepersonal
safetyand/orproperty

and followthewarnings 5. Tohelpavoidbladecontactora thrownobjectinjury, ._ generallya '_arningof!rouble.........

and i..struction2 stay inoperatorzonebehindhandlesandkeepchildren, "

u _ competestop beforeremovngthe grasscatcheror uncog

, ,; bystanders,helpers,andpetsat least75feet frommower .

un_nusmanuau glngthechute

1. Readthis operator'smanualcarefullyin its entiretybefore

2. Thismachineis aprecisionpieceof powerequipment,

3. Neverallowchildrenunder 14yearsoldto operatethis

4. Thoroughlyinspecttheareawherethe equipmentisto

General Operation

attemptingtoassemblethismachine.Read,understand,
andfollow allinstructionsonthe machineandin the

manual(s)beforeoperation.Becompletelyfamiliarwith
thecontrolsandthe properuseof thismachinebefore
operatingit.Keepthismanualin asafeplaceforfuture
andregularreferenceandfor orderingreplacementparts.

nota plaything.Therefore,exerciseextremecautionat all
times.Yourunithasbeendesignedto performonejob: to
mowgrass.Do notuseitfor anyotherpurpose.

machine.Children14yearsoldand overshouldreadand
understandthe instructionsinthis manualandshould

betrainedand supervisedbya parent.Onlyresponsible
individualswhoarefamiliarwiththese rulesof safe

operationshouldbeallowedtousethis machine.

beused.Removeall stones,sticks,wire,bones,toysand
otherforeignobjectswhichcould betripped overor picked
upand thrownbythe blade.Thrownobjectscancause
seriouspersonalinjury.Planyourmowingpatternto avoid
dischargeofmaterialtowardroads,sidewalks,bystanders
andthe like.Also,avoiddischargingmaterialagainsta
wallorobstructionwhichmaycausedischargedmaterial
toricochetbacktowardtheoperator.

whileit isin operation.Stopmachineifanyoneenters

6. Alwayswearsafetyglassesorsafetygogglesduringopera-
tionandwhileperforminganadjustmentor repairtoprotect
youreyes.Thrownobjectswhich ricochetcancauseserious
injurytothe eyes.

7. Wearsturdy,rough-soledworkshoesand close-fitting
slacksandshirts. Shirtsand pantsthatcoverthe armsand
legsandsteel-toedshoesare recommended.Neveroperate
thismachinein barefeet,sandals, slipperyor lightweight
(e.g.canvas)shoes.

8. Donotputhandsorfeet nearrotatingpartsor undercutting
deck.Contactwithbladecanamputatehandsandfeet.

9. Amissingor damageddischargecovercancauseblade
contactor thrownobject injuries.

10.Manyinjuriesoccurasa resultofthe mowerbeingpulled
overthefoot duringafall causedby slippingortripping.
Do notholdonto the mowerifyouarefalling;releasethe
handleimmediately.

11.Neverpullthe mowerbacktowardyouwhileyouare
walking.Ifyou mustbackthe mowerawayfromawallor
obstructionfirstlookdownandbehindtoavoidtrippingand
thenfollow thesesteps:

a. Stepbackfrommowertofully extendyourarms.
b. Besureyou arewell balancedwithsurefooting.

c. Pullthe mowerbackslowly,no morethanhalfway

towardyou.

d. Repeatthese stepsasneeded.

12.Donotoperatethe mowerwhileunderthe influenceof
alcoholor drugs.

13.Donotengage theself-propelledmechanismon unitsso
equippedwhilestartingengine.

14.Thebladecontrolhandleis asafetydevice.Neverattempt
tobypassits operation.Doingso makesthesafetydevice
inoperativeandmay resultinpersonal injurythrough
contactwiththe rotatingblade.The bladecontrolhandle
mustoperateeasilyin bothdirectionsandautomatically
returntothe disengagedpositionwhenreleased.

15.Neveroperatethe mowerinwetgrass. Alwaysbesure of
yourfooting. A slipandfallcan causeseriouspersonal
injury.If youfeelyouare losingyourfooting,releasethe
bladecontrolhandleimmediatelyandthe bladewillstop
rotatingwithinthreeseconds.

16.Mowonlyindaylightor goodartificiallight.Walk,neverrun.

17.Stopthe bladewhencrossinggraveldrives,walksor roads.

18.Ifthe equipmentshouldstart tovibrateabnormally,stopthe
engineandcheck immediatelyforthecause.Vibrationis

]_ _nutthe engne errandwar unl: me Daaecomes-coa

and on the machine, area.

..... ,J

4

Thecuttingbladecontinuesto rotatefora fewsecondsafter
the engineisshutoff. Neverplaceanypartofthe bodyin
the bladeareauntilyou aresurethe blade hasstopped

rotating.

20.Neveroperatemowerwithoutpropertrailshield,discharge
cover,grasscatcher,bladecontrolhandle,or othersafety

protectivedevicesin placeandworking.Neveroperate
mowerwithdamagedsafetydevices.Failuretodo socan
resultin personalinjury.

21.Mufflerandenginebecomehotand cancauseaburn.Do

nottouch.

22.Onlyuseparts andaccessoriesmadefor thismachineby

manufacturer.Failureto doso canresultinpersonalinjury.

23.Ifsituationsoccurwhichare not coveredinthis manual,

usecareand goodjudgment.Contactyourdealerfor
assistance.Telephone[phone]forthe nameofyour

nearestdealer.

SJope Operation

Slopesareamajorfactorrelatedto slipandfallaccidentswhich
canresultinsevereinjury.Operationonslopesrequiresextra

caution.Ifyoufeel uneasyonaslope,donotmowit.Foryour
safety,usethe slopegaugeincludedas partofthis manualto
measureslopesbeforeoperatingthisunitona slopedor hilly
area.Iftheslopeis greaterthan15degrees,donotmowit.

Do:

1. Mowacrossthefaceof slopes;neverup anddown.

Exerciseextremecautionwhenchangingdirectionon
slopes.

2. Watchfor holes,ruts,rocks,hiddenobjects,or bumpswhich
can causeyou toslipor trip.Tallgrasscan hideobstacles.

3. Alwaysbesureofyourfooting.A slip andfall cancause

seriouspersonalinjury.If youfeelyouarelosingyour
balance,releasetheblade controlhandleimmediately,and

the bladewillstop rotatingwithin3seconds.

Do Not:

1. Donotmowneardrop-offs, ditchesorembankments,where
you couldloseyour footingorbalance.

2. Donotmowslopesgreaterthan15degrees asshownon
the slopegauge.

3. Donotmowon wetgrass.Unstablefootingcouldcause

slipping.

Service

Safe HandlingOf Gasoline:

1. To avoidpersonalinjuryor propertydamageuseextreme
carein handlinggasoline.Gasolineisextremelyflammable

andthevaporsare explosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycan
occurwhengasolineis spilledonyourselforyourclothes

whichcanignite.

2. Washyourskinand changeclothesimmediately.

3. Useonly anapprovedgasolinecontainer.

4. Neverfill containersinsideavehicleoronatruckor trailer

bedwith a plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainerson the
groundawayfromyourvehiclebeforefilling.

5. Removegas-poweredequipmentfromthe truck ortrailer

andrefuelit on theground.Ifthisis notpossible,then refuel
suchequipmentonatrailerwitha portablecontainer,rather

thanfroma gasolinedispensernozzle.

6. Keepthe nozzleincontactwiththerim of thefuel tankor
containeropeningat alltimesuntilfuelingis complete.Do

notusea nozzlelock-opendevice.

7. Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipesandothersources
ofignition.

8. Neverfuelmachineindoorsbecauseflammablevaporswill
accumulatein the area.

9. Neverremovegascap oraddfuelwhileengineishot or
running. Allowengineto coolat leasttwominutesbefore
refueling.

10.Neveroverfillfueltank. Filltankto nomorethan_ inch
belowbottomof fillerneckto provideforfuelexpansion.

11.Replacegasolinecapandtightensecurely.

12.Ifgasolineis spilled,wipeit off theengineand equipment.
Moveunitto anotherarea.Wait5 minutesbeforestarting
engine.

13.Neverstorethemachineorfuel containernearanopen
flame,sparkorpilot lightas onawater heater,space
heater,furnace,clothesdryer,orothergas appliances.

14.Toreducefire hazard,keepmowerfreeofgrass,leaves,
or otherdebrisbuild-up.Cleanupoil orfuel spillageand
removeanyfuel soakeddebris.

15.Allowamowertocool at least5 minutesbeforestoring.

General Service:

1. Neverrunanengineindoorsorina poorlyventilatedarea.
Engineexhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,an odorlessand
deadlygas.

2. Beforecleaning,repairing,or inspecting,makecertainthe
bladeandall movingpartshavestopped.Disconnectthe
sparkplugwireandgroundagainsttheengineto prevent

unintendedstarting.

3. Checkthe bladeandenginemountingboltsatfrequent
intervalsfor propertightness.Also,visuallyinspectbladefor
damage(e.g.,bent,cracked,worn)Replacebladewiththe
originalequipmentmanufacture's(O.EM.) bladeonly,listed
inthismanual."Useofpartswhichdo notmeettheoriginal
equipmentspecificationsmayleadto improperperformance
andcompromisesafety!"

4. Mowerbladesare sharpandcancut.Wrapthebladeorwear
gloves,anduseextracautionwhenservicingthem.

5. Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstighttobe surethe equip-
mentisin safeworkingcondition.

6. Nevertamperwithsafetydevices.Checktheirproperopera-
tionregularly.

7. Afterstrikinga foreignobject,stopthe engine,discon-
nectthe sparkplugwireandgroundagainsttheengine.
Thoroughlyinspectthemowerforanydamage.Repairthe
damagebeforestartingandoperatingthemower.

8. Neverattempttomakea wheelorcuttingheight adjustment
whiletheengineis running.

9. Grasscatchercomponents,dischargecover,andtrail
shieldaresubjecttowear anddamagewhichcould expose
movingpartsorallow objectsto bethrown.Forsafety
protection,frequentlycheckcomponentsand replaceim-
mediatelywithoriginal equipmentmanufacturer's(O.EM.)
partsonly,listedin this manual.'Use of partswhich do
not meettheoriginalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto
improperperformanceandcompromisesafety!"

10.Donot changetheenginegovernorsettingor overspeedthe
engine.Thegovernorcontrolsthe maximumsafeoperating
speedofthe engine.

11.Maintainorreplacesafetylabels,asnecessary'.

12.Observeproperdisposallawsand regulations.Improper
disposaloffluidsand materialscanharmtheenvironment.

ThisSymbolpoints

ua! before attemptingto

resuUt in personalinjury_
::When you see th s
_symbol

,EEDMTSWARNmNG

Responsibility

Restrictthe use

of this powermachine

to personswhoread

understand

5