White Outdoor 978 Operator's Manual
Safety • Set-Up • Operation • Adjustments • Maintenance • Troubleshooting • Parts Lists • Warranty
OPERATOR’S MANUAL
O UT D O OR
21” Self-Propelled Rotary Mower — Model Series 900
IMPORTANT:
READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS
CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATING EQUIPMENT.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. MTD Products Ltd., P. O. Box 1386, KITCHENER, ONTARIO N2G 4J1
Model 978 shown.
769-02990B
12/8/08
This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new equipment. It will help you assemble,
XXX-XXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXX
Model Number
Numéro de modèle
Serial Number
Numéro de série
WHITE OUTDOOR CANADA
KITCHENER, ON N2G 4J1
OUTDOOR
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
Safety Symbols ...................................................7
Set-Up & Adjustments ........................................ 8
Operation ........................................................... 10
Finding and Recording Model Number
BEFORE YOU START ASSEMBLING
YOUR NEW EQUIPMENT,
please locate the model plate on the equipment and copy the
the model number and the serial number to the sample model
plate provided to the right. You can locate the model plate by
standing at the operating position and looking down at the rear
of the machine.
Maintenance & Off-Season Storage ................ 12
Trouble Shooting .............................................. 16
Warranty ............................................................ 17
Illustrated Parts Lists ....................................... 18
Customer Support
Please do
If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation or maintenance of this unit,
you can seek help from the experts. Choose from the options below:
1. Visit www.whiteoutdoor.ca for many useful suggestions, click on Customer Support button.
2. Call a Customer Support Representative at 1-800-668-1238.
3. The engine manufacturer is responsible for all engine-related issues in terms of performance, power-rating, specifications,
warranty, and service. Depending on the engine manufacturer, more information is included in this publication or packed
separately with this product.
Please have your unit’s model number and serial number ready when you call. See previous section to locate this information.
You will be asked to enter the serial number in order to process your call.
NOT
return the unit to the retailer from which it was purchased,
without rst contacting Customer Support.
2
Sight and hold this level with a vertical tree...
or a corner of a building...
or a fence post
Fold along dotted line (represents a 15° slope)
15°
Use this page as a guide to determine slopes where you may not operate safely. Do not operate
your lawn mower on such slopes.
1
Slope
Gauge
WARNING
Do not mow on inclines
with a slope in excess
of 15 degrees (a rise
of approximately
2-1/2 feet every 10
feet). A riding mower
could overturn and
cause serious injury.
If operating a walkbehind mower on such
a slope, it is extremely
difficult to maintain your
footing and you could
slip, resulting in serious
injury.
Operate RIDING
mowers up and down
slopes, never across
the face of slopes.
Operate
WALK-BEHIND
mowers across the
3
face of slopes, never
up and down slopes.
2
Safe
Operation
Practices
WARNING
This symbol points
out important safety
instructions which, if
not followed, could
endanger the personal
safety and/or property
of yourself and others.
Read and follow all
instructions in this
manual before attempting to operate
this machine. Failure
to comply with these
instructions may result
in personal injury. When
you see this symbol.
HEED ITS WARNING!
Your Responsibility
Restrict the use
of this power machine
to persons who read,
understand
and follow the warnings
and instructions
in this manual
and on the machine.
WARNING: Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain
or emit chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
DANGER: This machine was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this manual. As with
any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in serious injury. This
machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe the following safety
instructions could result in serious injury or death.
General Operation
1. Read this operator’s manual carefully in its entirety
before attempting to assemble this machine. Read,
understand, and follow all instructions on the machine and in the manual(s) before operation. Keep
this manual in a safe place for future and regular
reference and for ordering replacement parts.
2. Be completely familiar with the controls and the
proper use of this machine before operating it.
3. This machine is a precision piece of power equipment, not a plaything. Therefore, exercise extreme
caution at all times. Your unit has been designed to
perform one job: to mow grass. Do not use it for any
other purpose.
4. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate
this machine. Children 14 years old and over should
read and understand the instructions in this manual
and should be trained and supervised by a adult.
5. Only responsible individuals who are familiar with
these rules of safe operation should be allowed to
use this machine.
6. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is
to be used. Remove all stones, sticks, wire, bones,
toys and other foreign objects which could be tripped
over or picked up and thrown by the blade. Thrown
objects can cause serious personal injury.
7. Plan your mowing pattern to avoid discharge of
material toward roads, sidewalks, bystanders and the
like. Also, avoid discharging material against a wall
or obstruction which may cause discharged material
to ricochet back toward the operator.
8. To help avoid blade contact or a thrown object injury,
stay in the operator zone behind the handles and
keep children, bystanders, helpers and pets at least
75 feet from the mower while it is in operation. Stop
machine if anyone enters the area.
9. Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles during
operation and while performing an adjustment or repair
to protect your eyes. Thrown objects which ricochet can
cause serious injury to the eyes.
10. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and closefitting slacks and shirts. Shirts and pants that
cover the arms and legs and steel-toed shoes are
recommended. Never operate this machine in bare
feet, sandals, slippery or light weight (e.g. canvas)
shoes.
11. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or under
the cutting deck. Contact with the blade can amputate
hands and feet.
12. A missing or damaged discharge cover can cause
blade contact or thrown object injuries.
13. Many injuries occur as a result of the mower being
pulled over the foot during a fall caused by slipping or
tripping. Do not hold on to the mower if you are falling;
release the handle immediately.
14. Never pull the mower back toward you while you are
walking. If you must back the mower away from a wall
or obstruction first look down and behind to avoid
tripping and then follow these steps:
a. Step back from the mower to fully extend your
arms.
b. Be sure you are well balanced with sure footing.
c. Pull the mower back slowly, no more than half way
toward you.
d. Repeat these steps as needed.
15. Do not operate the mower while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.
16. Do not engage the self-propelled mechanism on units
so equipped while starting engine.
17. The blade control handle is a safety device. Never
attempt to bypass its operation. Doing so makes the
safety device inoperative and may result in personal
injury through contact with the rotating blade. The
blade control handle must operate easily in both
directions and automatically return to the disengaged
position when released.
18. Never operate the mower in wet grass. Always be
sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause serious
personal injury. If you feel you are losing your footing,
release the blade control handle immediately and the
blade will stop rotating within three seconds.
19. Mow only in daylight or in good artificial light. Walk,
never run.
20. Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walks or
roads.
21. If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally,
stop the engine and check immediately for the cause.
Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.
4
22. Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes to
a complete stop before removing the grass catcher or
unclogging the chute. The cutting blade continues to
rotate for a few seconds after the engine is shut off.
Never place any part of the body in the blade area until
you are sure the blade has stopped rotating.
23. Never operate mower without proper trail shield,
discharge cover, grass catcher, blade control handle or
other safety protective devices in place and working.
Never operate mower with damaged safety devices.
Failure to do so, can result in personal injury.
24. Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn.
Do not touch.
25. Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height
adjustment while the engine is running.
26. Only use parts and accessories made for this machine
by the manufacturer. Failure to do so can result in
personal injury.
27. When starting engine, pull cord slowly until resistance
is felt, then pull rapidly. Rapid retraction of starter cord
(kickback) will pull hand and arm toward engine faster
than you can let go. Broken bones, fractures, bruises
or sprains could result.
28. If situations occur which are not covered in this
manual, use care and good judgment. Call customer
assistance for the name of your nearest servicing
dealer.
Slope Operation
Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall accidents
which can result in severe injury. Operation on slopes
requires extra caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do
not mow it. For your safety, use the slope gauge included
as part of this manual to measure slopes before operating
this unit on a sloped or hilly area. If the slope is greater
than 15 degrees, do not mow it.
Do:
1. Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down.
Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on
slopes.
2. Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects, or bumps
which can cause you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide
obstacles.
3. Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can
cause serious personal injury. If you feel you are
losing your balance, release the blade control handle
immediately, and the blade will stop rotating within 3
seconds.
Do Not:
1. Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments,
you could lose your footing or balance.
2. Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as shown on the
slope gauge.
3. Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing could
cause slipping.
Children
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to
the presence of children. Children are often attracted
to the mower and the mowing activity. They do not
understand the dangers. Never assume that children
will remain where you last saw them.
1. Keep children out of the mowing area and under the
watchful care of a responsible adult other than the
operator.
2. Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the area.
3. Before and while moving backwards, look behind
and down for small children.
4. Use extreme care when approaching blind corners,
doorways, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may
obscure your vision of a child who may run into the
mower.
5. Keep children away from hot or running engines.
They can suffer burns from a hot muffler.
6. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate a
power mower. Children 14 years old and over should
read and understand the operation instructions and
safety rules in this manual and shou
supervised by a parent.
ld be trained and
Service
Safe Handling Of Gasoline:
1. To avoid personal injury or property damage use
extreme care in handling gasoline. Gasoline is
extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive.
Serious personal injury can occur when gasoline is
spilled on yourself or your clothes which can ignite.
Wash your skin and change clothes immediately.
2. Use only an approved gasoline container.
3. Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck or
trailer bed with a plastic liner. Always place containers on the ground away from your vehicle before
filling.
4. Remove gas-powered equipment from the truck
or trailer and refuel it on the ground. If this is not
possible, then refuel such equipment on a trailer with
a portable container, rather than from a gasoline
dispenser nozzle.
5. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel
tank or container opening at all times until fueling is
complete. Do not use a nozzle lock-open device.
6 Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other
sources of ignition.
7. Never fuel machine indoors because flammable
vapors will accumulate in the area.
8. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine
is hot or running. Allow engine to cool at least two
minutes before refueling.
2
Safe
Operation
Practices
WARNING
This machine is equipped
with an internal combustion engine and should
not be used on or near
any unimproved forestcovered, brushcovered or
grass-covered land unless
the engine’s exhaust
system is equipped with a
spark arrester meeting applicable local or provincial
laws (if any).
If a spark arrester is used,
it should be maintained in
effective working order by
the operator.
A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your
nearest engine authorized
service dealer.
Notice regarding Emissions
Engines which are certified
to comply with California
and federal EPA emission
regulations for SORE (Small
Off Road Equipment) are
certified to operate on regular unleaded gasoline, and
may include the following
emission control systems:
Engine Modification (EM)
and Three Way Catalyst
(TWC) if so equipped.
5
2
Safe
Operation
Practices
WARNING
This symbol points
out important safety
instructions which,
if not followed,
could endanger the
personal safety and/
or property of yourself
and others. Read and
follow all instructions
in this manual before
attempting to operate
this machine. Failure
to comply with these
instructions may result
in personal injury. When
you see this symbol.
HEED ITS WARNING!
Your Responsibility
Restrict the use
of this power machine
to persons who read,
understand
and follow the warnings
and instructions
in this manual
and on the machine.
9. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½
inch below bottom of filler neck to provide for fuel
expansion.
10. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
11. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equipment. Move unit to another area. Wait 5 minutes
before starting the engine.
12. Never store the machine or fuel container near an
open flame, spark or pilot light as on a water heater,
space heater, furnace, clothes dryer or other gas
appliances.
13. To reduce fire hazard, keep mower free of grass,
leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel
spillage and remove any fuel soaked debris.
14. Allow a mower to cool at least 5 minutes before
storing.
General Service:
1. Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated
area. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an
odorless and deadly gas.
2. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make
certain the blade and all moving parts have stopped.
Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground against
the engine to prevent unintended starting.
3. Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at
frequent intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually
inspect blade for damage (e.g., bent, cracked, worn)
Replace blade with the original equipment manufacture’s (O.E.M.) blade only, listed in this manual. “Use
of parts which do not meet the original equipment
specifications may lead to improper performance
and compromise safety!”
4. Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the blade
or wear gloves, and use extra caution when servicing
them.
5. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the
equipment is in safe working condition.
6. Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper
operation regularly.
7. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine,
disconnect the spark plug wire and ground against
the engine. Thoroughly inspect the mower for any
damage. Repair the damage before starting and
operating the mower.
8. Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height
adjustment while the engine is running.
9. Grass catcher components, discharge cover, and trail
shield are subject to wear and damage which could
expose moving parts or allow objects to be thrown. For
safety protection, frequently check components and
replace immediately with original equipment manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only, listed in this manual. “Use
of parts which do not meet the original equipment
specifications may lead to improper performance and
compromise safety!”
10. Do not change the engine governor setting or
overspeed the engine. The governor controls the
maximum safe operating speed of the engine.
11. Check fuel line, tank, cap, and fittings frequently for
cracks or leaks. Replace if necessary.
12. Do not crank engine with spark plug removed.
13. Maintain or replace safety labels, as necessary.
14. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations.
Improper disposal of fluids and materials can harm the
environment.
15. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), this product has an
of seven (7) years, or 60 hours of operation. At the
end of the Average Useful Life, buy a new machine or
have the machine inspected annually by an authorized
service dealer to ensure that all mechanical and safety
systems are working properly and not worn excessively. Failure to do so can result in accidents, injuries
or death.
Do not modify engine
To avoid serious injury or death, do not modify engine in
any way. Tampering with the governor setting can lead
to a runaway engine and cause it to operate at unsafe
speeds. Never tamper with factory setting of engine
governor.
Average Useful Life
6
Loading...