Yard Machines 232, 520, 238, 528 Owner's Manual

OWlUR'$

AMERICAN

M A DE

AMERICAN

0 WNED

OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT

IMPORTANT; Rec3rd the exact Model No, and Serial No.
which appear on the rear of your _nit Ion 1he deck) in the

space below. You must have these numbers, along with lhe

date ol purchase, irl o_der [o receive warren E, o_ set vice.

MEETS ANSI SAFETY STANDARDS

MODEL NO. SERIAL NO.

12_-I_llJIIll'llllJ

22"

SELF-PROPELLED

ROTARY MOWERS

Model Series

232 thru 238
520 thru 528

W,_RNING: This unit is equipped with _n internal combustion englne and should noi be used on or near any
uqlmproved foresl-covered, brush-covered or grass covered land unless the engine's exhaust syslem is equipped
with a spark arrester meeting applicable Focal or state laws (if any}. If a spark arrester is used¸ it should b_
maintained in effective workin_ order by the operator.

In _e State ol Calilornia the above is required b_' law (Section 4442 of I_e Califernia Public Resources Code}.
O_her States m_y haw similar laws Feder_.l Jaws a_ply on federal lands. A spark arrester for the mufllel is
avaJl_1318 through your nearesl engine _uthorized service desler ol col_tsc_ !he service dspsrtrrle_l, R,O. So_

368022, Cleveland, Ohio 44136 9722¸

MTD PRODUCTS INC • P,O. BOX 358022 • CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-9722

PRINTED IN U.S.A. FORM NO 770 8559L

iMPORTANT SAFEOPE.AT,O.P.ACT,

THIS SYN1BOL POINTS OUT IMPORTANT SAFET/ INSTRUCTIONS WHIOH, IF NOT FOLLOWED, COULD ENDANGER THE PERSONAL
SAFETY AND/OR PROPERTY OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS. READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE

_A. ATTEN'PTING TO OPERATE YOUR LAWN NIOWER FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL

INJURY. WHEN YOU SEETHIS SYMBOL-- _ HEED ITS WARNING,

DANGER:

_1. GENERAL OPERATION , ,

1. Readthis owner's guide oareTugyin Ns entirety before atMmpt-
in9 to assemble this machine Read, under_tand, and fellow all

MMructionson themachineand inthemanual(s)beforeopBrB-

ion Be cornpiMely familiar with the controls and the proper

use of_hismac] ifleb_IoreoperB in_it,Keep thismanJal in

safe place tor future _rd reoular reference and {OForde:ing
replacemeW parts,

2 Your rote')' mower is a precision piece of power eqb[pmenL

not E playlh[ro. Ther._fore. exercise extreme cautio_ at _1
times Your u,'_rt has bee_ designed to pe fom One job: to

mow grass. Do not useliforanyother purpose

You_lawg mower was built to be operatedaccording to the rules fBr sale operationin Ibis manual. As
wNb any type of power e!luipmenl, carelessnessDr errar _n _he pad of the opera!orcan r_sull in sBrious

the {ollowinq _atetyinMtucUon_ cDulgre_uNinSerlOU_n ury ot deah.

in ury. This lawn mower 18_apBbIe ofamputatingha[Id_axedfeet andthrowingoblects. FalN_r8tQob_erv8

nlo_ve" under close parental supervision Only responsible indi
vibuBI5 who are familiar with _hese rules of safe operaOon

should b_=alewed to useyou[ mower.

4 Keep the area of cp_raDon clear of all persons¸ parOeuIarIy

sm_ll cgildre[ and pets¸ Stop e_£me whet _hey are in the

oDjecl injury Adhough the area of operalion should be com-
a etely cleared oi loreign objects, an ebj_et maF have been

overlooked al_d eouIJ be Becldent&lly thro_,'n _1' _he rl,_Wel in

or anyothers agowed i_ th3 area

5 Tnorouohly insp et zhe a ea whine the equipment is to be

used Remove all stones sticks, wire, hones, to_s and other

_oreign ol_je_tswhicl: could be picked up and tmown by the

13 The blade control handle is a safebg device Never attempt to

_ r _ .

bypcs_ I £ opea or] Do,he so ma<e_ ,le safety dev _e hope
ative and may resuN in eFSonal injury _hrough contact with the

rotaS_g bI@b_,Th@bla_ control handle must operate easily in
bo!h dirseNons and automatically return to the disengaged

posiKon _'hen _el_ased.

14 Never operate tge mower in wet grass. Always be sJre of your

footing¸ A slip and fall can c_us_ serious personal injury¸ Keep

a firm hold on _he IlalPle _rd waR, ne\,_r F_n FAOVJonly in
daylight o_ in good artificial light¸

15 Stop the blade when crossing g_avel drives, w_lgs or roads¸
16 If the eguipmen_ should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the

e_gl_o and Gheekimme_iately lot tbe cause, Vibration is ge_-
orally a warning ol trouble.

17 ShLR the engine off and wait until the blade comes to a corn-

dime s!op before rerno¢ing th_ grass ca_cger or u_oJopgin_ the

the blade area until 2ou are sure the bade has stopped rotat-

ing¸

_ouah.

20, Ony use accessories approved for this machne byt,ae rna,u-

with the approvedaccessory.

21 If sguations 3at'Jr which are _lot covered in tFis manual use

e ONra Dr or any otaersalloV_edg] N18a_ea =l_n you" mow

ing pattern to avoid ciscbarge of naleriW toward roads side. _ SLOPEOPERATION

_Jalks bystanders a_d the like TO help a'Joida lhfown abieets Foryour safety, usetheslope gaugeincluded as paE of this manua

_n[ury keep children bystanders _nd helpers at least 75 feet to measure slopes belore operating KNs unit on a slepe_ or hilly

6 Always weal safety glasses or safet_ goggles during operation

ol while pcrfolmin{} ar adjustment or repair. _ protect eyes

7. Wear slurdy, rough-_oled ¢iotk goe and cJose fil_illg slacks

N. [30no: NU hands or fee near or under ro_ahngparts Keep

O0:

MOW acioss _he face of elopL ne_e, up and oown. exercise

hideobstaMe£

• Always b_ sur_ o! yDul footing¸ K slia a_d fall can Causeserious
h_rsonalk]iu_.

DONOT:

cat, so injury¸

9. Ma#y injuries occur as a resvll of the mower being pulled over

falling; release the handJe immediate y

10 Never pull the mower toward you while you are _vaking If you

must back th_ moweF away from a wag OFodstrueNon firs_
look down and behind, and tllen follow thes_ s_eps:

_ Step _a_k Nora tPe rnc_werto fuliy exlen_ your _rms

tot could loosefooting or balance

• Do not mew sopes greater than 15_ as sho_.In orl tie slope

gauge,

EI. CHILDREN

Tragi_ aceidelds can oeeu d _qe opeia_or is 3or aleFl _e th P e_-

O. Pull the r_ower back SIcwJv, [30 more than FNI way toward

you

d. Rep_a_th_se sMps as nested

11 Do not operate tl_e mower while under the intluene_ of aicoPol

or dr_gs

12 DisEngage the seN-propel!ed mechanism Or glive elut,_h o_

[as1saw tkafl

Keep children out ol timemowing area and under the w_lchful

_re of a responsible a_ult other than the npera_or

2 Bealerl and _ur_ mower off if a child enters the area,

3. S_ore and whge moving backwards¸ look behind and Gown for

g, Neverallowchildrenundelage14to aperatethemcwer.

5 Use extreme care wge_ approaching hgnd corners, shrugs,

trees or other objects tha_ may obscur_ your vision of a enid

or hazard

IV, SERVICE

1, Use Bxtreme care In handling gasoline and other fuels. They

areextremely flammable andthe vapors are explosive

a. Useonly anapproved container.
b. Never remove gas cap or add fuel wgNe the engine i_

running. Mow engine to cool at least two minutes before
rethegng.

c. R_place gasstJne cap securery and wipe off any spilled

gasoline before slargng the engine as it may cause a Rreor
exptosion.

d Exlinguish ag cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources oi

ignition.

e Never refuel machine indoors because Nammable vapors

wig accumulate in the area.

f Never store the machine or fuel contaner inside where

there ISan open flame or spark such asa gaswaler heater,
spaceheater, or furnace.

2. Neverrun en engne irside aclosed area

3. TO reducefire hazard, seep mower free of grass, leaves, or
other debris build-up Cl_an up oil or fuelspillage Allow
n'Jowerto cool atleast 5 minutes before storing

4, Refore cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain the

bladeand _ll moving parts gave stopped. Disconnectthe _pa k
plug wire, and keep,the wire away from the spark plug to pre-

ventaocidente.Istarting.

g Check the blade and engine mounting bogs at frequent

intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually inspecl blade for
damage e_L, Pent, cracked, Replacewith gladewhich mo_ts

originalequipment_geclficatJons,

6. Keepag nuts, gorts, and screws tight to besue the equipment
is in safeworking condition.

7. Nevertamper with safety devices, Sheik their properoperation
regularl_ , ,

O After strlkrng aforeign oblect, stopthe engine, removethe wire

from the spark plug, and thorough!y inspect the mDwerfor any
damage, Repairthe damage before starting and operating the

mower.

9. Never aKempt to make a wheel orcutting heighladjustment
while the engine is runnfng.

10 Grass catcher components are subject to wear, damage and

gstarrorahan, wh_cP coulg expose moving parts o," _llow
nbi_cts to be thrown. For safety protection fr uuen y check

components and replace with manofathureYs recommended

harts, when necessary

11 Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the blade(s) or

wear gloves,and us9extra caution whet servicing them

12, DOnot change the engine governor sorting or overspeed the

engine Ex:esstvo _nglne speeds are dangerous.

OWNER'S

WARNING-- rOU, ,' ESPONS/BZkfZYRestrict the use of this power machine to poisons who reap

and _ slapd *co foiler the ,_armngs and instrueNnns in this

/

UNPACKING

TO REMOVE UNIT FROM CARTON

1. Remove elapses, b_eak g_ue o_ top flaps, or cut
lace at carton end and peer along lop flap le

open carton.

2. Remove loose parts if incJuded with unit (J.e.,
owner's ma.nual, etc.)

3. Cut along dotted lines a_d lay cErton down fiat.

4. Remove packing material

5. Roll or slide unit out of carton. Check carton
thoroughly for loose parts.

TOOLS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY

Pair of PEers(Not necessary, bu helpfd)

DISCONNECT SPARK PLUG WIRE

Before setting up your lawn mower, dsoonnecl the
spark plug wire from the spark plug, and ground it
against the engine. See figure 1

NOTE: On engines with a rdbbet" boot, attach rubber

boot to a bolt on the engine to ground

S.park Plug Wtre

Nrth Rubber Boot !

i,,

Spark Plug

All Engines with

Rubber Boot

_on Englne

_"_'_ Spa rk

Sriggs &Stratton Engines

Retaining S ar_

Post .!ug

Spark Plug Wire

Tecumseh Engines

F_GURE 1.--Grounding the Spark Plug Wire

3