Troybilt 542 Owner’s Manual

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

®

21-inch Rotary Mower- Model 542

READ SAFETY RULES AND mNSTRUCTmONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION

Warning: This unitis equippedwithan internalcombustionengineandshouldnotbeusedonornearanyunimprovedforest-covered,brush=
coveredor grass=coveredlandunlesstheengine'sexhaustsystemisequippedwithasparkarrestermeetingapplicablelocalorstatelaws(ifany),

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

forthe mufflerisavailablethroughyournearestengineauthorizedservicedealerorcontacttheservicedepartment,RO,Box361131Cleveland,
Ohio44136=0019,

PRINTEDiN U,S,A MTD LLC, RO. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHiO 44136-0019 FORMNO,769=02232

11/29/2005

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. P_ease read and understand what it says.

Table of Contents

Smope Gauge ....................................................... 3

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

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

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

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

Finding and Recording Model Number

BEFOREASSEMBLINGYOUR NEWEQUIPMENT,please
locate the model plateon theequipmentand copythe infor=

mationto the sample modelplate providedtothe right. You
can locatethe model plate by standingat the operatingposi=

tionand lookingdown at the rearof the deck. This information
will be necessarywhen usingthe manufacturer'sweb site, to

obtainassistancefrom the CustomerSupport Department,or
whencontactingan authorizedservice dealer.

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

Safety Labels .................................................... 13

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

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

lVlodet Number Serial Number

0 TRO_XX--T" TROY=O[LT LLC

P. 0. BOX 361131

www.troybimt.com CLEVELAND, OH 44136

330=558=7220

Customer Support

P_ease do NOTreturn the unit to the retailer from which it was purchased, without first

contacting Customer Support.

if you havedifficulty assemblingthis productor haveany questions regardingthe controls, operation,or maintenance of this
unit,youcan seek helpfrom the experts. Choosefrom the optionsbelow:

o Visitwww.troybilt.com

Phonea Customer Support Representativeat 1-866-840-6483.

0

The enginemanufactureris responsibleforall engine-relatedissueswith regardto performance, power=rating,specifications,
warranty,and service. Please refertothe engine manufacturer'sOwner's/Operator'sManual,packedseparately with your

unit,for more information.

2

yourlawnmoweronsuchslopes.

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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. Tohelpavoidbladecontactorathrownobjectinjury, ._ generallya'_arningof!rouble.........

and i..struction2 stayinoperatorzone behindhandlesandkeepchildren, "

u _ competestop beforeremovngthe grasscatcheror uncog

, ,; bystanders,helpers,andpetsat least75feet frommower .

un_nusmanuau glngthechute

1. Readthis operator'smanualcarefullyin its entiretybefore

2. Thismachineisaprecisionpieceof 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 arewellbalancedwithsurefooting.

c. Pullthe mowerbackslowly,no morethanhalfway

towardyou.

d. Repeatthesestepsasneeded.

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 dosocanresult inpersonalinjury.

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. Alwaysbesure ofyourfooting.A slip andfallcan cause

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 Gaso%e:

1. Toavoidpersonalinjuryor propertydamageuseextreme
carein handlinggasoline.Gasolineisextremelyflammable

andthevaporsare explosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycan
occurwhengasolineis spilledonyourselforyourclothes

whichcanignite.

2. Washyour skinand 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."Useof partswhichdo
not meettheoriginalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto
improperperformanceandcompromisesafety!"

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

11.Maintainorreplacesafetylabels,asnecessary'.

12.Observeproperdisposallawsand regulations.Improper
disposaloffluidsand materialscanharmtheenvironment.

w o°,°o

ThisSymbolpoints

ua! before attemptingto

resuUt in personal injury_
::When you see th s
_symbol

,EEDMTSWARNmNG

Responsibility

Restrictthe use

of this powermachine

to personswhoread

understand

5