Yard Machines 690, 699 User Manual
Operator’s Manual
Hydrostatic Lawn
Tractor
Model Series
690 through 699
IMPORTANT: Read safety rules and instructions carefully before operating equipment.
Warning:
covered, brush-covered or grass-covered land unless the engine’s exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting
applicable local or state laws (if any). If a spark arrester is used, it should be maintained in effective working order by the operator.
In the State of California the above is required by law (Section 4442 of the California Public Resources Code). Other states may have
similar laws. Federal laws apply on federal lands. A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest engine authorized
service dealer or contact the service department, P.O. Box 368022 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-9722.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-
MTD PRODUCTS INC. P.O. BOX 368022 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-9722
FORM NO.
770-10117A.fm
(11/99)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Content Page
Important Safe Operation Practices................................................................... 3
Slope Gauge...................................................................................................... 6
Assembling Your Lawn Tractor .......................................................................... 7
Know Your Lawn Tractor.................................................................................... 11
Operating Your Lawn Tractor ............................................................................. 13
Making Adjustments .......................................................................................... 14
Maintaining YourLawn Tractor ........................................................................... 16
Off-Season Storage ........................................................................................... 20
Optional Equipment ........................................................................................... 21
Troubleshooting ................................................................................................. 22
FINDING MODEL NUMBER
This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new lawn tractor. It will help you assemble, prepare and
maintain the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.
Before you start assembling your new equipment, please locate the model plate on the
equipment and copy the information from it in the space provided below. The information on
the model plate is very important if you need help from our Customer Support Department or
an authorized dealer.
• You can locate the model number by pivoting the seat forward and looking under it at the seat pivot
bracket. A sample model plate is explained below. For future reference, please copy the model
number and the serial number of the equipment in the space below.
(Model Number)
CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136
(Serial Number)
MTD PRODUCTS INC
Copy the model number here:
Copy the serial number here:
CALLING CUSTOMER SUPPORT
If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation or
maintenance of this unit, please call the Customer Support Department.
Call 1- (330) 220-4MTD (4683) or 1- (800)-800-7310 to reach a Customer Support
representative. 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 .
2
SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES
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
your rider mower. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in personal injury. When you see this
symbol—heed its warning.
Your rider mower 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. If you violate any
of these rules, you may cause serious injury to yourself or others.
WARNING: The engine exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the State of
California to casue cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.
General Operation
• Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the
operator’s manual and on the machine before
starting. Keep this manual in a safe place for future
and regular reference and for ordering replacement
parts.
• Only allow responsible individuals familiar with the
instructions to operate the machine. Know controls
and how to stop the machine quickly.
• Do not put hands or feet under cutting deck or near
rotating parts.
• Clear the area of objects such as rocks, toys, wire,
etc., which could be picked up and thrown by the
blade. A small object may have been overlooked
and could be accidentally thrown by the mower in
any direction and cause injury to you or a
bystander. To help avoid a thrown objects injury,
keep children, bystanders and helpers at least 75
feet from the mower while it is in operation. Always
wear safety glasses or safety goggles during
operation or while performing an adjustment or
repair, to protect eyes from foreign objects. Stop the
blade(s) when crossing gravel drives, walks or
roads.
• Be sure the area is clear of other people before
mowing. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.
• Never carry passengers.
• Disengage blade(s) before shifting into reverse and
backing up. Always look down and behind before
and while backing.
• Be aware of the mower and attachment discharge
direction and do not point it at anyone. Do not
operate the mower without either the entire grass
catcher or the chute guard in place.
• Slow down before turning. Operate the machine
smoothly. Avoid erratic operation and excessive
speed.
• Never leave a running machine unattended. Always
turn off blade(s), place transmission in neutral, set
park brake, stop engine and remove key before
dismounting.
• Turn off blade(s) when not mowing.
• Stop engine and wait until blade(s) comes to a
complete stop before (a) removing grass catcher or
unclogging chute, or (b) making any repairs,
adjusting or removing any grass or debris.
• Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.
• Do not operate the machine while under the
influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing
roadways.
• Use extra care when loading or unloading the
machine into a trailer or truck. This unit should not
be driven up or down a ramp onto a trailer or truck
under power, because the unit could tip over,
causing serious personal injury. The unit must be
pushed manually on a ramp to load or unload
properly.
• Never make a cutting height adjustment while
engine is running if operator must dismount to do
so.
• Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and closefitting slacks and shirts. Do not wear loose fitting
clothes or jewelry. They can be caught in moving
parts. Never operate a unit in bare feet, sandals, or
sneakers.
• Check overhead clearance carefully before driving
under power lines, wires, bridges or low hanging
tree branches, before entering or leaving buildings,
or in any other situation where the operator may be
struck or pulled from the unit, which could result in
serious injury.
• Disengage all attachment clutches, thoroughly
depress the brake pedal, and shift into neutral
before attempting to start engine.
• Your mower is designed to cut normal residential
grass of a height no more than 10". Do not attempt
to mow through unusually tall, dry grass (e.g.,
pasture) or piles of dry leaves. Debris may build up
on the mower deck or contact the engine exhaust
presenting a potential fire hazard.
Slope Operation
Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and tipover accidents which can result in severe injury or death.
3
All slopes require extra caution. If you cannot back up the
slope or if you feel uneasy on it, 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° as shown on the slope
gauge, do not operate this unit on that area or
serious injury could result.
Do:
• Mow up and down slopes, not across.
• Remove obstacles such as rocks, limbs, etc.
• Watch for holes, ruts or bumps. Uneven terrain
could overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide
obstacles.
• Use slow speed. Choose a low enough gear so that
you will not have to stop or shift while on the slope.
Always keep machine in gear when going down
slopes to take advantage of engine braking action.
• Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for
wheel weights or counterweights to improve
stability.
• Use extra care with grass catchers or other
attachments. These can change the stability of the
machine.
• Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual.
Do not make sudden changes in speed or direction.
Rapid engagement or braking could cause the front
of the machine to lift and rapidly flip over backwards
which could cause serious injury.
• Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. If tires lose
traction, disengage the blade(s) and proceed slowly
straight down the slope.
•
Do Not:
• Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then, turn
slowly and gradually downhill, if possible.
• Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or
embankments. The mower could suddenly turn over
if a wheel is over the edge of a cliff or ditch, or if an
edge caves in.
• Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could
cause sliding.
• Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting your
foot on the ground.
• Do not use grass catcher on steep slopes.
Children
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the
presence of children. Children are often attracted to the
machine and the mowing activity. Never assume that
children will remain where you last saw them.
• Keep children out of the mowing area and in
watchful care of an adult other than the operator.
• Be alert and turn machine off if children enter the
area.
• Before and when backing, look behind and down for
small children.
• Never carry children, even with the blades off. They
may fall off and be seriously injured or interfere with
the safe machine operation.
• Never allow children under 14 years old to operate
the machine. Children 14 years and over should
only operate machine under close parental
supervision and proper instruction.
• Use extra care when approaching blind corners,
shrubs, trees or other objects that may obscure
your vision of a child or other hazard.
• Remove key when machine is unattended to
prevent unauthorized operation.
Service
• Use extreme care in handling gasoline and other
fuels. They are extremely flammable and the vapors
are explosive.
• Use only an approved container.
• Never remove fuel cap or add fuel with the engine
running. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes
before refueling.
• Replace fuel cap securely and wipe off any spilled
fuel before starting the engine as it may cause a fire
or explosion.
• Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other
sources of ignition.
• Never refuel the machine indoors because fuel
vapors will accumulate in the area.
• Never store the fuel container or machine inside
where there is an open flame or spark, such as a
gas hot water heater, space heater or furnace.
• Never run a machine inside a closed area.
• To reduce fire hazard, keep the machine free of
grass, leaves or other debris build-up. Clean up oil
or fuel spillage. Allow machine to cool at least 5
minutes before storing.
• Before cleaning, repairing or inspecting, make
certain the blade and all moving parts have
stopped. Disconnect the spark plug wire, and keep
the wire away from the spark plug to prevent
accidental starting.
• Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at
frequent intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually
inspect blade for damage (e.g., excessive wear,
bent, cracked). Replace with blade which meets
original equipment specifications.
• Keep all nuts, bolts and screws tight to be sure the
equipment is in safe working condition.
• Never tamper with safety devices. Check their
proper operation regularly. Use all guards as
instructed in this manual.
• After striking a foreign object, stop the engine,
remove the wire from the spark plug and thoroughly
inspect the mower for any damage. Repair the
damage before restarting and operating the mower.
• Grass catcher components are subject to wear,
damage and deterioration, which could expose
4
moving parts or allow objects to be thrown. For your
safety protection, frequently check components and
replace with manufacturer’s recommended parts
when necessary.
• Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the
blade(s) or wear gloves and use extra caution when
servicing blade(s).
• Check brake operation frequently. Adjust and
service as required.
• Muffler, engine and belt guards become hot during
operation and can cause a burn. Allow to cool down
before touching.
• Do not change the engine governor settings or
overspeed the engine. Excessive engine speeds
are dangerous.
• Observe proper disposal laws and regulations.
Improper disposal of fluids and materials can harm
the environment and the ecology.
• Prior to disposal, determine the proper method to
dispose of waste from your local Environmental
Protection Agency. Recycling centers are
established to properly dispose of materials in an
environmentally safe fashion.
• Use proper containers when draining fluids. Do not
use food or beverage containers that may mislead
someone into drinking from them. Properly dispose
of the containers immediately following the draining
of fluids.
• DO NOT pour oil or other fluids into the ground,
down a drain or into a stream, pond, lake or other
body of water. Observe Environmental Protection
Agency regulations when disposing of oil, fuel,
coolant, brake fluid, filters, batteries, tires and other
harmful waste.
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.
5
SECTION 2: SLOPE GUAGE
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A POWER POLE
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15°
WARNING
N
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F
A CORNER OF A BUILDING
OR A FENCE POST
USE THIS PAGE AS A GUIDE TO DETERMINE SLOPES WHERE YOU MAY NOT OPERATE SAFELY.
SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE
6
riding mower could overturn and cause serious injury. If operating a walk-behind mower on such a slope, it is
extremely difficult to maintain your footing and you could slip, resulting in serious injury.
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
Operate RIDING mowers up and down slopes, never across the face of slopes.
Operate WALK-BEHIND mowers across the face of slopes, never up and down slopes.
SECTION 3: ASSEMBLING YOUR LAWN TRACTOR
NOTE: This manual covers various models of
hydrostatic tractors within the 690 series. Please use
instructions pertaining only to your tractor.
Unpacking
• Remove all screws from top of the crate using 1/4"
hex head socket or a flat blade screwdriver.
• To remove ends, grasp top board on the end, and
pull towards you in downward motion. (A hammer
may be helpful). Set panel aside to avoid tire
damage.Repeat procedure on other sides.
• Remove and discard plastic bag which covers unit.
• Loose parts (may include the owner’s guide,
steering wheel, optional oil drain sleeve or hose,
battery fluid, chute deflector, optional mulching
plug, etc.) are on the seat or in a box wrapped in
plastic. Carefully cut and remove the plastic wrap.
Remove the loose parts.
• Make sure that parking brake and hydrostatic
transmission relief valve are released and unit is in
neutral. See page 11-12 for the location of the
parking brake release and the hydrostatic relief
valve.
• Raise the deck and push the unit off the skid.
NOTE: Reference to right or left side of the unit is
observed from the operating position on the driver’s
seat, facing forward.
Tools Required
1. Socket wrench 1/4" or flat blade screwdriver
2. Adjustable or socket wrench 1/2" *
3. Adjustable or socket wrench 9/16"
4. Pair of adjustable or socket wrenches 7/16"
* If your tractor steering wheel cap is square, you must
use a socket wrench to install the steering wheel.
Antidote
Use the following antidotes if you come in contact with
the battery acid.
EXTERNAL — Flush with water.
INTERNAL — Drink large quantities of water or milk.
Follow with milk of magnesia, beaten eggs or vegetable
oil. Call physician immediately.
EYES — Flush with cool water for at least 15 minutes,
then get prompt medical attention.
If acid spills on clothing, first dilute it with clean water,
then neutralize with a solution of ammonia/ water or
baking soda/water.
IMPORTANT:
it into any sink or drain. Before discarding empty
electrolyte containers, rinse with a neutralizing solution.
Since battery acid is corrosive, do not pour
WARNING: To avoid sparks, NEVER
connect or disconnect charger clips to
battery while charger is turned on.
Keep all lighted materials (cigarettes,
matches, lighters) away from the battery
as the hydrogen gas generated during
charging can be combustible.
As a further precaution, only charge the
battery in a well-ventilated area. Make
certain venting path of battery drain tube
(if equipped) is always open.
Identifying Battery Type
Handling Battery
WARNING: The battery contains sulfuric
acid. This battery acid must be handled
with great care as contact with it can burn
and blister skin. Wear protective clothing
(goggles, rubber gloves and apron) when
working with it.
Keep batteries out of the reach of children.
IMPORTANT:
into the eyes or onto the face, rinse the affected area
immediately with clean, cold water. Refer to the
antidotes mentioned below. If there is any further
discomfort, seek prompt medical attention.
Should battery acid accidentally splatter
Type "A"
Type "B"
Figure 1
7
• Compare the battery in your lawn tractor (located
under the seat) with the illustration above. Type “A”
batteries are activated and are ready to use. Type
“B” batteries must be filled with battery fluid (acid)
and charged before they are put into service.
Follow instructions which apply to the battery in
your lawn tractor only.
Activating & Charging Battery
(Type “B” Battery Only)
WARNING: Do not activate battery (i.e. fill
with battery acid) until battery is actually
placed in service. Read warnings about
battery usage in the previous page before
activating the battery.
• Pivot the seat pivot bracket forward. Unhook the
strap which secures the battery (hook is on rear
frame, under the fender). Disconnect the positive
cable from the positive terminal. Save the hardware
for reassembly.
• Remove the battery from the lawn tractor, paying
attention to how the battery is placed in the unit,
and how the drain tube (attached to the battery) is
routed.
• Activate the battery as instructed in the “Quick
Start” brochure included with the battery fluid. Read
instructions carefully.
• Place the steering bellow over the steering shaft
extending through the dash. See Figure 2 .
NOTE: If the openings on each end of the steering
bellow are of two sizes, the smaller end goes down
against the dash of the lawn tractor.
• With the wheels pointing straight, place the steering
wheel over the steering shaft, positioning the
steering wheel as desired.
• Place the washer with the cupped side down over
the steering shaft. Secure with hex lock bolt. See
Figure 2 .
NOTE: If your tractor steering wheel cap is square, you
must use a socket wrench.
• Place the steering wheel cap over the center of the
steering wheel and press it with your hand.
Steering
Wheel Cap
Steering
Shaft
Hex Lock
Bolt
Cupped
Washer
Steering
Bellow
NOTE: You can continue to assemble the lawn tractor
while the battery is standing for 30 minutes after acid
fill-up, and later while you are charging the battery.
IMPORTANT:
charge it prior to initial use.
• Battery P/N 725-1705D: Charge at 2-3 amps for
one hour.
• Battery P/N 725-1707D, 725-0453G, and 7251750: Charge at 6 amps for one hour.
• Charge battery after the 30-minute standing period.
NOTE: If you charge the battery at a lower AMP rate,
use a hydrometer to make sure the battery is
completely charged. The hydrometer should read 1.260
minimum at an electrolyte temperature of 60-110
To obtain maximum life from the battery,
o
F.
WARNING: Do not charge the tractor
battery at more than 6 amps.
Attaching Steering Wheel
• The hardware for attaching the steering wheel has
been packed inside the steering wheel. Carefully pry
off the steering wheel cap and remove the hardware.
• Remove the steering bellow from the lift lever on
the right side of the tractor.
Figure 2
Attaching Seat
NOTE: Your tractor is equipped with one of the
following types of seats. Identify the seat type from the
illustrations below, and follow instructions pertaining to
your tractor.
Manual Adjustment Seat
• Remove the four screws which secure the seat to
the seat pivot bracket. See Figure 3 .Turn the seat
around and place it in position against the seat
pivot bracket, lining up the slotted holes in the pivot
bracket with the holes in the seat. Select desired
position for the seat, and secure with the four
screws removed earlier.
Screws
Seat
Pivot
Bracket
Figure 3
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