Yard-Man 31AH553G401 User Manual

OPERATOR’S MANUAL

Model

31AH553G401

IMPORTANT: READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Warning: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-

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.

MTD PRODUCTS INC. P.O. BOX 368022 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-9722

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

ECO No. 1281

FORM NO.

770-10028B
(10/2000)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

Important Safe Operation Practices...................................................................3

Assembling Your Snow Thrower .......................................................................5

Know Your Snow Thrower.................................................................................8

Operating Your Snow Thrower ..........................................................................10

Making Adjustments ..........................................................................................12

Maintaining Your Snow Thrower........................................................................13

Service ..............................................................................................................14

Troubleshooting.................................................................................................17

Parts List............................................................................................................18

FINDING MODEL NUMBER

This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new Snow Thrower. It will help you assemble, prepare
and maintain the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.

Before you star t to prepa re yo ur sno w thr ower for its first use, please locate the model
plate and copy the information from it in this Operator’s Manual. The information on the
model plate is very important if you need help from your dealer or the MTD customer support
department.

You can locate the model number by looking at the lower frame cover on the rear of your snow thrower. 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)

(Serial Number)

Copy the model number here:

Copy the serial number here:

MTD PRODUCTS INC

P.O. BOX 368022

CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136

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.

For more details about your unit, visit our website at www.mtdproducts.com

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 this machine. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in personal
injury. When you see this symbol—heed its warning.

WARNING: Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit

chemicals known to 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.

Tra in in g

1. Read, understand, a nd follow all in struction s on the
machine and in the manual(s ) before a ttempting to
assemble and o perate. Keep this ma nual in a safe pl ace
for future and regular re ference a nd for orde ring
replacement parts.

2. Be familiar with all controls and their prope r operation.
Know how to stop the mach ine and d isengage them
quickly.

3. Never allow childre n under 14 y ears old to operate this
machine. Children 14 years old and over should rea d and
understand the op eration in struction s and sa fety rules i n
this manual and should be trained and sup ervised b y a
parent.

4. Never allow adults to operate this machine without
proper instruction.

5. Thrown objects can cause seriou s personal injury . Plan
your snow throwin g pattern to avoid di scharge of mat erial
toward roads, bystanders and the like.

6. Keep bystanders, hel pers, pets and chi ldren at l east 75
feet from the machin e while it is in operatio n. Stop
machine if anyo ne enters the area.

7. Exercise caution to avoid s lipping o r falli ng, espe cially
when operating in reverse.

Preparation

1. Thoroughly inspect the area wh ere the eq uipment i s to
be used. Remove all door mat s, newspa pers, sle ds,
boards, wires and o ther foreig n object s which c ould be
tripped over or throw n by the auger/imp eller.

2. Always wear safet y glasses or eye s hields d uring
operation and while performing an adjustment or repair to
protect your eyes. T hrown ob jects whi ch ricochet can
cause serious inj ury to the eyes.

3. Do not operate wit hout wearing adequate winter outer
garments. Do not wear jewelry, long scarves or other
loose clothing which cou ld becom e entang led in m oving
parts. Wear footwear w hich wi ll improve footing on
slippery surfaces.

4. Use a grounded three wire ex tension cord and receptac le
for all units with electric start engi nes.

5. Adjust collector housing height to clear gravel or crushed
rock surfaces.

6. Disengage all cl utch levers before st arting the engin e.

7. Never attempt to m ake any adjustme nts while engine i s
running, except where spec ifically recomm ended in the
operator’s manual.

8. Let engine and m achine adju st to outd oor tem perature
before starting to clear snow.

9. To avoid personal injury or pro perty damage use extre me
care in handling gasolin e. Gasol ine is e xtremely
flammable and the v apors are explosiv e. Serious
personal injury c an occur w hen gas oline is spilled o n
yourself or your c lothes which c an ignit e. Wash y our skin
and change clot hes immedi ately.

a. Use only an approved gasoline container.
b. Extinguish all cigarettes, cig ars, pipes and other

sources of ignition.
c. Never fuel machine indoo rs.
d. Never remove gas cap or add fue l whil e the

engine is hot or running.
e. Allow engine to cool at leas t two minu tes before

refueling.
f. Never over fill fuel tank. Fil l tank to no more tha n

½ inch below bottom of fill er neck to provide space

for fuel expansi on.
g. Replace gasoli ne cap an d tighten secu rely.
h. If gasoline is sp illed, wip e it off th e engine and

equipment. Move machine to another area . Wait 5

minutes before start ing the e ngine.
i. Never store the machine or fuel containe r inside

where there is an o pen flam e, spark or pilot l ight

(e.g. furnace, water heater, space heate r, clothes

dryer etc.).
j. Allow machine to cool 5 minute s before storin g.

Operation

1. Do not put hands o r feet near rotating p arts, in the a uger/
impeller housing o r disc harge chu te. Cont act wit h the
rotating parts can am putate ha nds and feet.

2. The auger/impelle r clutch lev er is a safety de vice. Nev er
bypass its operati on. Doing so, makes the ma chine
unsafe and may cause p ersonal i njury.

3. The clutch leve rs must o perate easily in both d irections
and automatical ly return to the disengaged pos ition when
released.

4. Never operate with a miss ing or da maged di scharge
chute. Keep all safe ty devic es in pl ace and working.

3

5. Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly vent ilated
area. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide , an
odorless and dea dly gas .

6. Do not operate mac hine while under the influenc e of
alcohol or drugs.

7. Muffler and engine be come hot and c an cause a burn. D o
not touch.

8. Exercise extreme ca ution when operating on or cro ssing
gravel surfaces. Stay alert for hidden hazards or traffic.

9. Exercise caution w hen changi ng directi on and w hile
operating on slop es.

10. Plan your snow t hrowing pat tern to av oid disc harge
towards windows, wa lls, cars e tc. To avoid prope rty
damage or personal injury caus ed by a ricochet.

11. Never direct disc harge at c hildren, b ystander s and pet s
or allow anyone in front of t he machi ne.

12. Do not overload machine capa city by attemptin g to clear
snow at too fast of a rate.

13. Never operate this machin e without good visib ility or light.
Always be sure of your footi ng and k eep a firm hold on
the handles. Walk, n ever run.

14. Disengage power to t he aug er/impeller w hen
transporting or not in use.

15. Never operate mach ine at hi gh transp ort speeds on
slippery surfaces. Look down and b ehind an d use ca re
when in reverse.

16. If the machine shoul d start to vibrate abn ormally, stop the
engine, disconnect the spark plug an d grou nd it agai nst
the engine. Inspect thoroughly for dam age. Repair any
damage before starting and ope rating.

17. Disengage all cl utch lev ers and st op engin e before y ou
leave the operating position (be hind the handles). Wai t
until the auger/im peller come s to a complete stop befo re
unclogging the d ischarge chute, m aking an y
adjustments, or inspecti ons.

18. Never put your hand in the d ischarge or colle ctor
openings. Always use a cl earing to ol to unc log the
discharge opening.

19. Use only attach ments a nd acce ssories approved by the
manufacturer (e.g. wheel weigh ts, tire c hains, cabs etc.) .

20. If situations occur which are not covered in this manua l,
use care and good judgment. Cont act your dealer or
telephone [phone] for assistance and the name
of your nearest s ervicing dealer.

Maintenance And Storage

1. Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper
operation regularly.

2. Disengage all cl utch lev ers and stop engi ne. Wait u ntil
the auger/impelle r come to a complet e stop. D isconn ect
the spark plug wi re and grou nd again st the en gine to
prevent unintended starting before cl eaning, repairi ng, or
inspecting.

3. Check bolts, and sc rews for pro per tig htness at frequent
intervals to keep t he ma chine in safe worki ng condi tion.
Also, visually inspe ct mach ine for an y damag e.

4. Do not change the engi ne governor settin g or over-speed
the engine. The g overnor c ontrols the m aximum s afe
operating speed o f the eng ine.

5. Snow thrower shave plates an d skid shoes are subj ect to
wear and damage. F or your s afety protecti on, freque ntly
check all compon ents and replace with origin al
equipment manuf acturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only. Use of
parts which do not m eet the ori ginal eq uipment
specifications may lea d to imp roper perfor mance an d
compromise safety.

6. Check clutch co ntrols period ically to verify they engage
and disengage prope rly and adjust, if ne cessary. Refer to
the adjustment s ection i n this op erator’s man ual for
instructions.

7. Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as
necessary.

8. Observe proper disposal l aws and regulations for ga s, oil,
etc. to protect the environmen t.

9. Prior to storing, run machine a few minutes to clear snow
from machine an d prevent freeze up of auger/i mpeller.

10. Never store the machine or fuel c ontainer i nside whe re
there is an open flame, spark or pilot light such as a wate r
heater, furnace ,cloth es dryer etc .

11. Always refer to the operator’s ma nual for p roper
instructions on off-season storage.

Your Responsibility:

Restrict the use of this p ower ma chine to persons wh o read,
understand and fo llow the w arnings and ins tructions in this
manual and on t he mach ine. The s afety la bels ar e given
below for your refer ence.

4

SECTION 2: ASSEMBLING YOUR SNOW THROWER

Unpacking

• Remove screws from the top sides and ends of the
shipping crate.

• Set panel aside to avoid tire punctures or personal
injury.

• Remove and discard plastic bag that covers unit.

• Roll unit out of crate.

• Check crate thoroughly for loose parts before
discarding.

Handle Pane l

Loose Parts

• The snow throw er is ship ped wi th fo llowi ng lo ose
parts in the carton. See Figure 1 for illustration,
description of item and part number. Please
remove all loose parts from the carton before
discarding it.

Shear Bolts
(710-0890A)

Hex Lock Nuts
(712-0429)

Figure 1

• Please note that these shear bolts and hex lock
nuts are not meant for initial assembly of the
equipment. If the snow thrower hits a foreign object
or ice jam, the bolts, securing the auger shaft, may
shear. Use these two shear bolts and nuts as
replacement then. Store these in a safe place until
needed.

IMPORT ANT :

standard hex bolts. Any damage to the auger gearbox
or other components from standard hex bolts will not be
covered by your snow thrower’s warranty.

NEVER replace the auger shear bolts with

Assembling Handle

Upper Handle

Wing Nuts,

Washers

and Bolts

Figure 2

• Raise the upper handle assembly in the direction
shown in Figure 2. Make sure that the upper handle
locks into position over the lower handle.

Carriage
Bolt

Tighten these

wing nuts

Wing
Nut

Cupped

Washer

Upper
Handle

Lower
Handle

NOTE: Reference to the left or right side of the s now

thrower in this manual is obser ved from the operator’s
position.

IMPORT ANT :

later on in this section, before operating your snow
thrower. Failure to follow these instructions may cause
damage to the snow thrower.

• Remove the lower plastic wing nut, cupped washer
and carriage bolt from each side of the lower
handle. See Figure 2.

Make any final adjustments, as instructed

Figure 3

• Look at low er rear of snow throw er frame t o be sure
all cables are aligned with cable roller guides.

• Secure the upper handle and lower handle with the
two plastic wing nuts, cupped washers and carriage
bolts previously removed. Attach these hardware
on the lower hole in the handles. See Figure 3.

• Tighten th e two win g nuts alre ady in plac e on the
upper holes and secure the handles firmly. See
Figure 3.

5

• Slide the shift rod connector down over the end of
the lower shift rod. See Figure 4. Tap the connector
until it locks on the lower shift rod.

NOTE: If the conn ector is not prop erly assembled , the
shift rod will pivot and y ou will not be able to change
direction or speed of the snow thrower.

Connector

Lower Handle

Conduit

Power Lead

Wiring

Harness

Figure 6

Lower

Shift Rod

Note: Cut-out view of lower handle shown for clarity.

Upper Shift
Rod

Figure 4

• If not already attached, slip the cables that run from
the handle panel to the chute into the cable guide
located on top of the engine. See Figure 5.

Cable Guide

Figure 5

If for shippi ng purpo ses the wir ing harn ess was left
unattached to the power lead, follow the steps below to
attach it now:

• Follow the conduit that holds the wiring harness
from under the right side of the handle panel to
where the connectors are located at the bottom of
the right hand lower handle. See Figure 6.

• Plug the wiring harness into the power lead located
on the right side of the engine, underneath the fuel
tank. See Figure 6 inset.

Final Adjustments

Traction Control and Shift Lever

To check the adjustment of the traction control and shift
lever, proceed as follows:

• Move the shift lever into sixth (6) position.

• With traction control released, gently push the
snow thrower forward, then pull it back. The
machine should move freely.

• Engage traction control, and try to move the
machine both forward and back. You should
experience resistance.

• Move the shift lever into the fast reverse (R2)
position and repeat the previous two steps.

If you experienced resistance either when repositioning
the shift lever from 6 to R2 or when attempting to move
the machine with the traction control released, adjust
the traction control immediately. To adjust, proceed as
follows:

• Loosen the jam nut on the traction control cable
and UNTHREAD the cable one full turn.

• Recheck a djust ment .

• Retighten the jam nut to secure the cable when
correct adjustment is reached.

NOTE: For more details, refer to Traction Control
Adjustment on page 12.

Auger Control

Check the adjustment of the auger control as follows:

• Push down on the auger control until the small
rubber bumper contacts the upper handle. There
should be slack in the auger control cable.

• Release the auger control. The cable should be
straight. Make certain you can depress the auger
control against the left handle completely.

If adjustment is necessary, proceed as follows:

• Loosen the jam nut and thread the cable in (for less
slack) or out (for more slack) as necessary. See
Figure 7.

6

“Z” End

Jam Nut

Auger Control
Cable

Figure 7

• Recheck adjustment; readjust as necessary and
tighten the jam nut.

Skid Shoe

The space between the shave plate and the ground can
be adjusted by repositioning the skid shoes. For close
snow removal, place skid shoes in the low position. Use
middle or high position when area to be cleared is
uneven. See Figure 8. When operating on gravel,
always put skid shoes in the high position.

Adjust skid shoes as follows:

• Loosen, but do not remove, the two hex nuts which
fasten the skid shoe to the auger housing.

• Raise or lower the skid shoe to desired position.

• Retighten the hex nuts loosened earlier.

• Repeat on the other side of the snow thrower.

Shave Plate

Carriage Bolts

Skid

Shoes

High

Low

Hex Nuts

Figure 8

NOTE: Make certain the en tire bottom surface of skid

shoe is against the ground to avoid uneven wear on the
skid shoes.

Tire Pressure (Pneumatic Tires)

The tires are overinflated for shipping purposes.

• Check tire pressure. Maintain pressure between 15
to 20 psi. Refer to tire sidewalls for recommended
tire pressure.

NOTE: If the tire pressure is not equal in both tires, the
unit may pull to one side or the other.

WARNING: Maximum tire pressure under

any circumstance is 30 psi. Equal tire pressure
should be main tained at all times. Exc essive
pressure (over 30 psi) when seating beads
may cause tire/rim assembly to burst with
force sufficient to cause serious injury.

7

SECTION 3: KNOWING YOUR SNOW THROWER

WARNING: B e familiar with al l the controls an d their proper op eration. Know how to stop the mach ine

and disengage them quickly.

• See Figure 9 to identify all the controls described below.

Traction Control / Auger

Control Lock

Gas Tank

Discharge

Chute

Auger

Skid

Shoe

Auger

Control

Steering Control

Chute-Rotation

Left Wheel

Electric

Switch

Traction Control /

Auger Control Lock

Stay Warm

Grips Switch

Stay Warm Grips

Shift

Lever

Chute

Tilt

Control

Steering Control

Right Wheel

Figure 9

Traction Control / Auger Control Lock

The traction control is located on the right handle. See
Figure 9. Squeeze the traction control to engage the
wheel drive. Release to stop.

This same lever also locks the auger control so you can
operate the electric chute rotation switch without
interrupting the snow throwing process. If the auger
control is engaged simultaneously with the traction
control, the operator can release the auger control (on
the left handle) and the augers will remain engaged.
Release the traction control to stop the augers and
wheel drive (the auger control must also be released).

IMPORT ANT :

changing speeds.

Always release traction control before

Auger Control

The auger control is located on the left handle.
Squeeze the clutch grip to engage the augers. Release
to stop the snow throwing action. The traction control
must also be rel eased in or der to stop the auge r.

Shift Lever

The shift lever is located in the center of the
handle panel and is used to determine both
ground speed and direction of travel. It can
be moved into any of eight positions for
speed and direction variations as described
below. Always release traction control before
changing speeds.

Forward: Your snow thrower has six forward
(F) speeds. Position number one (1) is the
slowest. Position number six (6) is the
fastest.

Reverse: Your snow thrower has two reverse (R)
speeds. R1 is the slower, while R2 is faster.

8

Electric Chute-Rotation Switch

The electric chute-rotation switch is located o n the left
side of the snow thrower handle panel.
To change the direction in which discharged snow is
thrown, proceed as follows:

• Push the toggle switch to the left to rotate the chute
counterclockwise.

• Push the toggle switch to the right to rotate the
chute clockwis e.

IMPORT ANT :

Release the switch once the chute has
completed its rotation cycle in either direction. Failure to
do so can result in damage to the electric chute motor
and/or its drive gear.

Wheel Steering Controls

The left and right wheel steering controls are located on
the underside of the handles and are used to assist in
steering the snow thrower. Squeeze the right wheel
steering control when turning right; squeeze the left
control when turning left. Operate snow thrower in open
areas until you become familiar with these controls.

Stay Warm Grips Switch

The Sta y Warm grips switc h is located on the right side
of the snow thrower handle panel. To activate the Stay
Warm grips, toggle the switch to the right to generate
heat within the handles. Toggle the switch to the left
into the OFF position after using the snow thrower.

NOTE: The Stay Warm grips are a compliment to, not a
substitute for, proper cold weather outerwear for hands.
It is recommended that the user wear adequ ate winter
protection for hands (like gloves/mittens) when
operating this snow thrower.

Chute Tilt Control

The distance snow is thrown can be changed by
adjusting the angle of the chute assembly. Move the
chute tilt control forward to decrease the distance,
toward the rear to increase.

Discharge Chute

The angle of the discharge chute controls the distance
that the snow is thrown. Tilt the discharge chute up for
greater distance; tilt down for less distance.

Skid Shoe

The position of the skid shoe is determined by the
condition of the ground from where snow has to be
removed. Refer to page 7 for details.

Fuel Shut-off Valve

The fuel shut-off valve is located under the fuel tank.
This valve controls fuel flow from the tank. Always
make certain it is in the open (vertical) position before
attempting to start the engine. See Figure 10.

Headlight

The headlight is on whenever the engine is running.

Throttle Control

The throttle control is located on the engine. It regulates
the speed of the engine. See Figure 10.

Safety Ignition Key

The safety ignition key must be fully inserted in the
switch before the unit will start. Remove key when snow
thrower is not in use. Do not attempt to turn the key.
See Figure 10.

Choke

Safety

Ignition

Key

Closed

Open

Throttle
Control

Fuel Shu t-Off
Valve

Figure 10

Primer

Recoil
Starter
Handle

9