Troybilt 556, 12AV556O711 Owner’s Manual
SafetyoAssemblyoOperation o Adjustments oMaintenance oTroubleshooting o Parts Lists oWarranty
®
m M B_ m _ __m
21" Seifopropelted Mutching Mower -- Model 556
READ SAFETY RULES AND mNSTRUCTmONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION
Warning: Thisunit isequippedwithan internalcombustionengineandshouldnotbeusedon or nearanyunimprovedforest-covered,brush-
coveredor grass-coveredlandunlesstheengine'sexhaustsystemisequippedwithasparkarrestermeetingapplicablelocalorstatelaws(ifany),
If a sparkarresterisused,it shouldbemaintainedineffectiveworkingorderbythe operator,Inthe StateofCaliforniatheaboveis requiredbylaw
(Section4442ofthe CaliforniaPublicResourcesCode),Otherstatesmayhavesimilarlaws,Federallawsapplyonfederallands,A sparkarrester
forthe mufflerisavailablethroughyournearestengineauthorizedservicedealeror contacttheservicedepartment,RO,Box361131Cleveland,
Ohio44136-0019,
FORMNO,769-02186
PRINTEDIN U,S,A TROYBILT LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019 11/2005
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
Maintaining Your Lawn Mower ......................... 10
Trouble Shooting .............................................. 12
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 atthe operating
positionand lookingdown at the rearof the deck. This
informationwill be necessaryto usethe manufacturer'sweb
site and/or obtainassistancefrom theCustomerSupport
Departmentoran authorizedservice dealer.
Off-Season Storage .......................................... 13
Safety Labels .................................................... 14
Parts List ........................................................... 15
Notes .................................................................. 18
Warranty ............................................ Back Cover
Model Number Serial Number
OTPDV B T TRO¥-B LTLc
www.troybimt.com CLEVELAND,OH44136
£. O. gOX 361131
338-558-7228
Customer Support
P_ease do NOTreturn the unit to the retailer from which it was
purchased, without first contacting Customer Support.
ifyou havedifficulty assemblingthis productor have any questions regardingthe controls,operation ormaintenanceofthis unit,
you canseek helpfromtheexpert& Choosefrom the options below:
1.Visit troybHt.com for many usefulsuggestions.Click on CustomerSupport buttonand you will get the fouroptions
reproducedin this sampleto the right. Clickon theappropriatebutton and help
2. Phonea Customer Support Representative
at 1(866)840=648&
3. The engine manufacturer is responsibb for allengine-relatedissues withregards to performance,power-rating,
specifications,warrantyand service. Pleaserefer tothe engine manufacturer'sOwner's/Operator'sManual,packed
separatelywithyour unit, for more information.
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 is extremely
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.Theydonotunderstandthedangers.Neverassume
thatchildrenwill remainwhereyoulastsawthem.
1. Keepchildrenoutof the mowingareaandunderwatchful
careof aresponsibleadultotherthanthe operator.
2. Bealert andturn moweroffifachildentersthearea.
3. Beforeandwhilemovingbackwards,lookbehindanddown
forsmallchildren.
4. Useextremecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,
doorways,shrubs,trees,orotherobjectsthatmayobscure
yourvisionofa childwho mayrun intothemower.
5. Keepchildrenawayfromhot orrunningengines.Theycan
sufferburnsfroma hotmuffler.
6. Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsoldto operatea power
mower.Children14yearsold andovershouldreadand
understandoperationinstructionsandsafetyrulesinthis
manualandshouldbetrainedandsupervisedbyaparent.
endangerthepersonal
safetyand/orproperty
and followthewarnings 5. Tohelpavoidbladecontactora thrownobjectinjury, ._ 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. Thismachineisa precisionpieceof powerequipment,
3. Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsoldto operatethis
4. Thoroughlyinspectthe areawherethe 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. Alwayswearsafetyglassesor safetygogglesduringopera-
tionandwhileperforminganadjustmentor repairtoprotect
youreyes.Thrownobjectswhich ricochetcancauseserious
injurytothe eyes.
7. Wearsturdy,rough-soledworkshoesandclose-fitting
slacksandshirts. Shirtsand pantsthatcoverthe armsand
legsandsteel-toedshoesare recommended.Neveroperate
thismachinein barefeet,sandals, slipperyor lightweight
(e.g.canvas)shoes.
8. Do notputhandsorfeetnearrotatingpartsor undercutting
deck.Contactwithbladecanamputatehandsandfeet.
9. A missingor 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 morethan halfway
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
]_ _nut theengne errandwar unl: me Daaecomes-coa
and on the machine, area.
..... ,J
4
Thecuttingbladecontinuesto rotatefora fewseconds after
the engineisshutoff. Neverplaceanypart ofthe 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.Telephone1-866-840-6483forthe nameofyour
nearestdealer.
SJope Operation
Slopesareamajorfactorrelatedto slipandfallaccidentswhich
canresultinsevereinjury.Operationonslopesrequiresextra
caution.Ifyoufeel uneasyonaslope,donotmowit.Foryour
safety,use theslopegaugeincludedaspartofthis manualto
measureslopesbeforeoperatingthisunitona slopedor hilly
area.Iftheslopeis greaterthan15degrees,donotmowit.
Do:
1. Mowacrossthe faceof slopes;neverup anddown.
Exerciseextremecautionwhenchangingdirectionon
slopes.
2. Watchfor holes,ruts,rocks,hiddenobjects,or bumpswhich
can causeyou toslipor trip.Tallgrasscan hideobstacles.
3. Alwaysbesureof yourfooting.A slip andfall cancause
seriouspersonalinjury.If youfeelyouarelosingyour
balance,releasetheblade controlhandleimmediately,and
the bladewillstop rotatingwithin3seconds.
Do Not:
1. Do notmowneardrop-offs,ditchesorembankments,where
you couldloseyour footingorbalance.
2. Do notmowslopesgreaterthan 15degreesas shownon
the slopegauge.
3. Do notmowon wetgrass.Unstablefootingcouldcause
slipping.
Service
Safe HandlingOf Gasoline:
1. To avoidpersonalinjury or propertydamageuseextreme
carein handlinggasoline.Gasolineisextremelyflammable
andthevaporsare explosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycan
occurwhengasolineis spilledonyourselforyourclothes
whichcanignite.
2. Washyourskinand changeclothesimmediately.
3. Useonlyanapprovedgasolinecontainer.
4. Neverfill containersinsidea vehicleor ona truckor trailer
bedwith a plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainerson the
groundawayfromyourvehiclebeforefilling.
5. Removegas-poweredequipmentfromthe truckortrailer
andrefuelit on theground.Ifthisis notpossible,then refuel
suchequipmentonatrailerwitha portablecontainer,rather
thanfroma gasolinedispensernozzle.
6. Keepthe nozzlein contactwith therim ofthefueltank or
containeropeningat alltimesuntilfuelingis complete.Do
notusea nozzlelock-opendevice.
7. Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars, pipesandothersources
ofignition.
8. Neverfuel machineindoorsbecauseflammablevaporswill
accumulatein the area.
9. Neverremovegascap oradd fuelwhileengineishot 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. Neverrunanengineindoorsor inapoorlyventilatedarea.
Engineexhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,an odorlessand
deadlygas.
2. Beforecleaning,repairing,orinspecting,makecertainthe
bladeandall movingpartshavestopped.Disconnectthe
sparkplugwireandgroundagainsttheengineto prevent
unintendedstarting.
3. Checkthebladeandenginemountingboltsatfrequent
intervalsfor propertightness.Also,visuallyinspectbladefor
damage(e.g.,bent,cracked,worn)Replacebladewiththe
originalequipmentmanufacture's(O.EM.) bladeonly,listed
inthismanual."Useofpartswhichdo notmeettheoriginal
equipmentspecificationsmayleadto improperperformance
andcompromisesafety!"
4. Mowerbladesaresharpandcancut.Wrapthebladeorwear
gloves,anduseextracautionwhenservicingthem.
5. Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstight tobesuretheequip-
mentisin safeworkingcondition.
6. Nevertamperwithsafetydevices.Checktheirproperopera-
tionregularly.
7. Afterstrikingaforeignobject,stopthe engine,discon-
nectthe sparkplugwireandgroundagainsttheengine.
Thoroughlyinspectthemowerforanydamage.Repairthe
damagebeforestartingandoperatingthemower.
8. Neverattempttomakeawheel orcutting heightadjustment
whiletheengineis running.
9. Grasscatchercomponents,dischargecover,and trail
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 personal injury_
::When you see th s
_symbol
,EEDMTSWARNmNG
Responsibility
Restrictthe use
of this powermachine
to personswhoread
understand
5
NOTE:Stand behind
Ihemoweras if you
were going to operate
it,Your righthandcor-
respondsto the right
sideof the mower;your
left hand corresponds
to the left sided the
mower.
mMPORTANT
DO NOTcrimp the
cableswhen liftingthe
handleup.Makesure
to routethe cables
insidethe lower handle,
IMPORTANT
This unit isshipped
without gasoline or
oil inthe engine, Fiil
Step 1
HardwarePack
(2) CarriageBolts(2
>
Step 2
1, Removeanypackingmaterialwhichmaybebetween
upperand lowerhandbs,
a, Pullupand backon upperhandb as shownin
Step1,Makecertainthelowerhandb isseated
securelyintothe handb mountingbrackets,
b, Tightenstarknobssecuringupperhandleto
lowerhandle,Makesurethateach carriageboltis
seatedproperlyinthe handb,
2, Locatehairpinclip in onehob ontheweldpinon each
sideof lowerhandle,
a, Removehairpinclipfromthis hob, Usinga pairof
plbrs, inserthairpinclipintotheotherhob on the
weldpin, Repeaton otherside,
b, inserta carriageboltfromthe hardwarepackinto
theupperhob on thehandlemountingbracket,
J
Securewithoneplastb wing nut,alsoincluded
inthe hardwarepack,Repeatonothersidewith
remainingitemsfromhardwarepack,
3, The ropeguideisattachedtothe rightsideofthe
upperhandle,Loosenthewingnutwhichsecuresthe
ropeguide,
a, Holdthebladecontrolagainstupperhandb,
b, Pullstarterropeoutof theengine,Rebasethe
bladecontrol,
c, Slipstarterropeintoropeguide,
d, Tightenwingnut,
4, Insertpostoncane ties into hobs providedon the
lowerhandle,Pullcane tie tightandtrimexcess,
5, Anadiustingplateandthumbleverat eachwheel
positionprovidescuttingheightadiustment,
a, Depressbver towardswheel,
b, Moveit toany ofthe ninepositionsfordesired
cuttingheight,SeeStep5,
c, Rebase levertowardsmowerdeck,
manual BEFORE
operatingyour mower.
Step 3 Step 4
6
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