Yard-Man 11A-589R755 Owner’s Manual

Safety • Assembly • Operation • Tips & Techniques • Maintenance • Troubleshooting • Parts Lists • Warranty

OF A -ro A AL

21" Rotary Mower- Model 589

iMPORTANT

READ SAFETY RULES AND iNSTRUCTiONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION

Warning: Thisunitisequippedwithaninternalcombustionengineandshouldnotbeusedon or nearanyunimprovedforest-covered,brush-
coveredor grass-coveredlandunlesstheengine'sexhaustsystemisequippedwitha sparkarrestermeetingapplicablelocalor statelaws(if any).
If a sparkarresterisused,it shouldbemaintainedineffectiveworkingorderby theoperator.IntheStateofCaliforniatheaboveisrequiredbylaw
(Section4442oftheCaliforniaPublicResourcesCode).Otherstatesmayhavesimilarlaws.Federallawsapplyonfederallands.A sparkarrester
forthemufflerisavailablethroughyournearestengineauthorizedservicedealeror contactthe servicedepartment,RO.Box361131Cleveland,

Ohio44136-0019.

FORMNO.770-10111G

PRINTEDIN U.S.A.

MTD LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019

10/11/2004

This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new lawn mower, it will help 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

Finding and Recording Model Number

BEFOREYOUSTARTASSEMBLING
YOURNEW EQUIPMENT,

please locatethe modelplate onthe equipmentand copythe
informationtothe sample modelplate providedtothe right.
Youcan locatethe model plate by standing at the operating

position and lookingdown atthe rear of the deck. This
informationwill be necessaryto usethe manufacturer'sweb
site and/or obtain assistancefrom theCustomerSupport

Departmentor an authorizedservice dealer.

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

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

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

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

Model Number

YaRD-MaN)//"

www.yardman.com 330-220-4683

Serial Number

P. O. BOX ;361131
CLEVELAND,OH44136

800-800-731 0

Customer Support

Please do IVOTreturn the unit to the retailer from which it was

purchased, without first contacting Customer Support.

Ifyou have difficulty assemblingthis product or have any

questions regardingthecontrols, operationor maintenanceof
this unit, youcan seek help from the experts.Choosefrom the
options below:

1. Visit yardman.com for many usefulsuggestions. Click
on CustomerSupport buttonandyou will get the four
options reproducedin this sampleto the right. Click on the
appropriate buttonand helpis immediatelyavailable.

2. Phonea Customer Support Representative
at 1(800)800-7310.

3. The engine manufacturer isresponsibleforall engine-

relatedissueswith regardsto performance, power-rating,
specifications,warranty and service. Pleasereferto the
engine manufacturer'sOwner's/Operator's Manual,packed
separatelywithyour unit, for more information.

Click here to search our knowledge base.
Search by product, keyword, or phrase.

Login to check the status of your questions, modify
your inquiries, or update your personal profile.

Need local assistance? Click here to find authorized

service centers in your area.

Need a manual and/or parts list? Download

literature from recent model years.

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WARNING: EngineExhaust,some of its constituents,andcertain vehicle compo-
nentscontain or emit chemicals knownto Stateof Californiato cause cancerand

birth defects or other reproductiveharm.

DANGER: This machinewas builtto beoperatedaccordingto the rulesfor safe operationin this
manual.As with anytypeof power equipment,carelessnessor error on the part of the operator can
result in seriousinjury.This machine iscapableof amputatinghands andfeet andthrowing objects.

Failureto observethe followingsafetyinstructionscould result in serious injury or death.

WARNING

Thissymbolpoints
out importantsafety

instructionswhich,if
notfollowed,could

endangerthe personal

i safetyand/or property
I ofyourselfandothers.

Readandfollowall
instructionsinthis

manualbeforeat-

temptingto operate

i this machine.Failure
I to complywiththese

instructionsmayresult

i inpersonalinjury.When

youseethis symbol.

i HEED ITS WARNING!

Your Responsibility

Restrictthe use
ofthis powermachine

to personswho read,

_understand

ano followthe warnings
and instructions

inthis manual

and on the machine.

Children

Tragicaccidentscanoccurifoperatorisnotalertto presence
ofchildren.Childrenareoftenattractedtomowerandmowing
activity.Theydonot understandthe dangers.Neverassume
thatchildrenwill remainwhereyoulastsawthem.

1. Keepchildrenoutof the mowingareaandunderwatchful
careof a responsibleadultotherthanthe operator.

2. Bealert andturn moweroff if a childentersthearea.

3. Beforeandwhilemovingbackwards,lookbehindanddown
forsmallchildren.

4. Useextremecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,
doorways,shrubs,trees,or otherobjectsthatmayobscure
yourvisionofachild whomayrunintothe mower.

5. Keepchildrenawayfromhotorrunningengines.Theycan
sufferburnsfroma hotmuffler.

6. Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsoldto operateapower
mower.Children14yearsoldandovershouldreadand
understandoperationinstructionsandsafetyrulesinthis
manualandshouldbetrainedandsupervisedbya parent.

General Operation

1. Readthis operator'smanual carefullyinitsentiretybefore
attemptingtoassemblethismachine.Read,understand,

andfollowall instructionsonthemachineandin the
manual(s) beforeoperation.Becompletelyfamiliarwith

thecontrolsandthe properuseofthis machinebefore
operatingit.Keepthis manualin asafeplaceforfuture
andregularreferenceandfor orderingreplacementparts.

2. Thismachineisaprecisionpieceof powerequipment,
nota plaything.Therefore,exerciseextremecautionat all
times.Yourunithas beendesignedto performonejob: to
mowgrass.Do notuseitfor anyotherpurpose.

3. Neverallow childrenunder 14yearsoldto operatethis
machine.Children14yearsoldand overshould readand

understandthe instructionsinthismanualandshould
betrainedand supervisedbya parent.Onlyresponsible

individualswhoarefamiliarwiththeserulesofsafe
operationshouldbeallowedto usethis machine.

4. Thoroughlyinspectthe areawherethe equipmentisto
beused.Removeallstones,sticks,wire,bones,toysand
otherforeignobjectswhichcouldbetrippedoverorpicked
upandthrownby the blade.Thrownobjectscancause
seriouspersonalinjury.Planyourmowingpatternto avoid
dischargeof materialtowardroads,sidewalks,bystanders
andthe like.Also,avoiddischargingmaterialagainsta
wallorobstructionwhichmaycausedischargedmaterial
toricochetbacktowardtheoperator.

5. Tohelpavoidbladecontactorathrownobjectinjury,
stayinoperatorzone behindhandlesand keepchildren,
bystanders,helpersandpetsatleast75feetfrom mower
whileitis inoperation.Stopmachineifanyoneenters

area.

6. Alwayswearsafetyglassesor safetygogglesduringopera-
tionandwhile performinganadjustmentor repairto protect
youreyes.Thrownobjectswhichricochetcancauseserious
injurytothe eyes.

7. Wearsturdy,rough-soledworkshoesand close-fitting
slacksandshirts. Shirtsand pantsthatcoverthe armsand
legsandsteel-toedshoesarerecommended.Neveroperate
thismachinein barefeet,sandals,slipperyorlightweight
(e.g.canvas)shoes.

8. Do notputhandsorfeet nearrotatingpartsor undercutting
deck.Contactwithbladecanamputatehandsandfeet.

9. A missingor damageddischargecovercancauseblade
contactor thrownobject injuries.

10.Manyinjuriesoccuras a resultofthemowerbeing pulled
overthefoot duringa fall causedbyslippingor tripping.
Do notholdontothe mowerifyouarefalling;releasethe
handleimmediately.

11.Neverpullthe mowerbacktowardyouwhileyouare
walking.Ifyoumust backthe mowerawayfroma wallor
obstructionfirstlookdownandbehindtoavoidtrippingand
thenfollowthesesteps:

a. Stepbackfrommowertofullyextendyourarms.
b. Besure youarewellbalancedwithsurefooting.

c. Pullthe mowerbackslowly,no morethan half way

towardyou.

d. Repeatthesestepsas needed.

12.Donotoperatethe mowerwhileunderthe influenceof
alcoholordrugs.

13.Donotengage theself-propelledmechanismon unitsso
equippedwhilestartingengine.

14.Thebladecontrolhandleisasafetydevice.Neverattempt
tobypassitsoperation.Doingso makesthe safetydevice
inoperativeandmayresult in personalinjurythrough
contactwiththe rotatingblade.Thebladecontrolhandle
mustoperateeasily in bothdirectionsandautomatically
returntothe disengagedpositionwhenreleased.

15.Neveroperatethe mowerinwetgrass.Alwaysbesureof
yourfooting. A slipandfall cancauseseriouspersonal
injury.If youfeelyouarelosingyourfooting,releasethe
bladecontrolhandleimmediatelyand the bladewillstop

rotatingwithinthreeseconds.

16.Mowonlyin daylightor goodartificiallight.Walk,neverrun.

17.Stopthe bladewhencrossinggraveldrives,walksor roads.

18.Iftheequipmentshouldstartto vibrateabnormally,stopthe
engineandcheckimmediatelyforthe cause.Vibrationis
generallya warningoftrouble.

4

19.Shuttheengineoff andwait untilthebladecomesto a
completestopbeforeremovingthegrasscatcheror unclog-
ging thechute.
The cuttingbladecontinuesto rotatefor a fewsecondsafter
the engineisshutoff.Neverplaceany partofthe bodyin
the bladearea untilyou are surethe blade hasstopped

rotating.

20. Neveroperatemowerwithoutpropertrail shield,discharge
cover,grasscatcher,bladecontrolhandleor othersafety

protectivedevicesin placeandworking.Neveroperate
mowerwithdamagedsafetydevices.Failuretodo so,can
resultin personalinjury.

21. Mufflerandenginebecomehotandcan causeaburn.Do

nottouch.

22.Onlyusepartsand accessoriesmadeforthis machineby

manufacturer.Failuretodo so canresultinpersonalinjury.

23. Ifsituationsoccurwhicharenotcoveredinthis manual,

usecareand goodjudgment.Contactyourdealerfor

assistance.Telephone[phone]forthe nameofyour

nearestdealer.

Slope Operation

Slopesare amajorfactorrelatedto slipandfallaccidentswhich
can resultinsevereinjury.Operationonslopesrequiresextra

caution.Ifyoufeeluneasyona slope,do notmowit.Foryour
safety,usetheslopegaugeincludedaspartof this manualto

measureslopesbeforeoperatingthis unitonaslopedor hilly

area.Iftheslopeisgreaterthan 15degrees,donot mowit.

Do:

1. Mowacrossthefaceof slopes;neverupanddown.Exercise
extremecautionwhenchangingdirectiononslopes.

2. Watchfor holes,ruts,rocks, hiddenobjects,or bumpswhich
can causeyouto slipor trip.Tallgrass can hideobstacles.

3. Alwaysbesureofyourfooting.A slip andfallcancause
seriouspersonalinjury.Ifyoufeelyouare losingyour

balance,releasethebladecontrolhandleimmediately,and

the bladewill stoprotatingwithin 3seconds.

Do Not:

1. Donot mowneardrop-offs,ditchesorembankments,you
could loseyourfootingorbalance.

2. Donot mowslopesgreaterthan 15degreesasshownon
the slopegauge.

3. Donot mowon wetgrass.Unstablefootingcouldcause
slipping.

Service

Safe HandlingOf Gasoline:

1. To avoidpersonalinjury orpropertydamageuseextreme
care inhandlinggasoline.Gasolineisextremelyflammable
andthevaporsareexplosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycan
occurwhengasolineisspilledonyourselforyourclothes
whichcanignite.

2. Wash yourskin andchangeclothesimmediately.

3. Useonlyanapprovedgasolinecontainer.

4. Neverfill containers insideavehicleoron a truckortrailer
bedwitha plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainersonthe

groundawayfromyourvehicle beforefilling.

5. Removegas-poweredequipmentfromthe truck ortrailer

andrefuelit onthe ground.Ifthis is notpossible,thenrefuel
suchequipmenton a trailerwitha portablecontainer,rather
thanfroma gasoline dispensernozzle.

6. Keepthenozzlein contactwiththe rimofthefueltankor

containeropeningat alltimesuntil fuelingis complete.Do

notuseanozzlelock-opendevice.

7. Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars, pipesandothersources
ofignition.

8. Neverfuel machineindoorsbecauseflammablevaporswill
accumulatein thearea.

9. Neverremovegascap oraddfuelwhileengineishot or
running. Allowengineto coolatleasttwo minutesbefore
refueling.

10.Neveroverfillfueltank.Filltankto nomorethanY2inch
belowbottomoffiller neckto providefor fuelexpansion.

11.Replacegasolinecap andtightensecurely.

12.Ifgasolineis spilled,wipeitoff theengineandequipment.
Moveunitto anotherarea.Wait5minutesbeforestarting
engine.

13.Neverstorethe machineorfuel containernearanopen
flame,sparkor pilot lightasona waterheater,space
heater,furnace,clothesdryeror othergasappliances.

14.Toreducefire hazard,keepmowerfreeof grass,leaves,
orotherdebrisbuild-up.Cleanupoil orfuelspillageand
removeanyfuel soakeddebris.

15.Allowa mowertocool at least5 minutesbeforestoring.

GeneralService:

1. Neverrunanengineindoorsorina poorlyventilatedarea.
Engineexhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,anodorlessand
deadlygas.

2. Beforecleaning,repairing,orinspecting,makecertainthe
bladeandall movingpartshavestopped.Disconnectthe
sparkplugwireandgroundagainstthe engineto prevent
unintendedstarting.

3. Checkthebladeandenginemountingboltsatfrequent
intervalsfor propertightness.Also,visuallyinspectbladefor

damage(e.g.,bent,cracked,worn)Replacebladewiththe
originalequipmentmanufacture's(O.E.M.)bladeonly,listed

inthismanual."Useof partswhichdo notmeetthe original
equipmentspecificationsmayleadto improperperformance

andcompromisesafety!"

4. Mowerbladesaresharpandcancut.Wrapthebladeor wear
gloves,anduseextracautionwhenservicingthem.

5. Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstightto besurethe equip-
mentis insafeworkingcondition.

6. Nevertamperwithsafetydevices.Checktheirproperopera-
tionregularly.

7. Afterstrikingaforeignobject,stopthe engine,discon-
nectthesparkplugwireandgroundagainsttheengine.

Thoroughlyinspectthemowerforanydamage.Repairthe
damagebeforestartingandoperatingthemower.

8. Neverattemptto makeawheelor cuttingheightadjustment
whiletheengineis running.

9. Grasscatchercomponents,dischargecover,andtrail
shieldaresubjecttowear anddamagewhichcouldexpose
movingpartsor allowobjectsto bethrown.Forsafety
protection,frequentlycheckcomponentsandreplaceim-
mediatelywithoriginal equipmentmanufacturer's(O.E.M.)
partsonly,listedinthis manual."Useofpartswhich do
notmeetthe originalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto
improperperformanceandcompromisesafety!"

10.Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingor overspeedthe
engine.Thegovernorcontrolsthe maximumsafeoperating
speedoftheengine.

11.Maintainorreplacesafetylabels,asnecessary.

12.Observeproperdisposallawsand regulations.Improper
disposaloffluidsand materialscanharmtheenvironment.

WARNING

Thissymbol points
out importantsafety
instructionswhich, if
notfollowed,could

endangerthe personal
safety and/or property

of yourselfand others.

Readand followall

instructions inthis man-
ual before attemptingto

operatethis machine.

Failureto comply with

these instructionsmay
result in personalinjury.
Whenyou seethis

symbol.

HEED iTS WARNING!

YourResponsibility

Restrictthe use

of this powermachine
to personswho read.

understand
and followthe warnings
and instructions

in this manua
and on the machine.

5