Yard-Man 549 User Manual
Operator’s Manual
21” Mulching Mower
Model 549
Warning:
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 361131
Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019.
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-covered, brush-
MTD LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019
Form No.
769-00964A
(4/5/2004)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Content Page
Important Safe Operation Practices 3
Slope Gauge 6
Assembling Your Lawn Mower 7
Know Your Lawn Mower 9
Operating Your Lawn Mower 10
Content Page
Maintaining Your Lawn Mower 12
Servicing Your Mower 12
Troubleshooting 13
Illustrated Parts List 14
Warranty 16
Making Adjustments 11
FINDING MODEL NUMBER
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 r ead and understand wh at it says.
Before you start assembling your new equipment, please locate the mod el plate on th e equipment and
copy the information from it in the space provided below. A sample model plate is also given below. You can
locate the model plate by standing at the operating position and looking down at the rear of the deck. This
information will be necessary to use the manufacturer’s web site and/or help from the Customer Support
Department or an authorized service dealer.
Copy the model number here:
www.yardman.com
MTD LLC
P. O. BOX
CLEVELAND,OH
330-220-4683
800-800-7310
361131
44136
Copy the serial number here:
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Please do NOT return the unit to the retailer from where it was purchased, without first contacting Customer Support.
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 op tions below:
Visit yardman.com for many useful suggest ions. Click on Customer Support butt on and you
will get the four options reproduced here. Click on the appropriate button and help is
immediately available.
The answer you are
looking for could be just
a mouse click away!
To reach a Customer Support Representative, please call 1(800) 800-7310.
The answer you are
looking for could be just
a mouse click away!
Engine
Manual
The engine manufactur er is responsible for all engine-related issu es with regards to
performance, power-rating, specifica tions, warranty and service. Please r efer to the engine
manufacturer’s Owner’s/Operator’s Manual, packed separately with your unit, for more
information.
2
SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES
WARNING: This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not follo wed, could endanger
the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all inst ructions in this manual
before attempting to operate this m achine. Failure to comply with these instructions may r esult in personal
injury. When you see this symbol—HEED ITS WARNING.
WARNING: Engine exhaust, some of its constituents , and certain vehi cle components contain or emit
chemicals known to State of California to cause cancer and birt h defects or other reproductive ha rm.
WARNING: This machine was built to be operated according to the rule s for safe operation in this
manual. As with any type of power equipment , carelessness or error on the part o f the operator can result in
serious injury. This machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and th rowing 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 t he
machine and in the manual(s) before operation. Be
completely familiar with the controls and the proper
use of this machine before operating it. Keep thi s
manual in a safe place for future and regular
reference and for ordering replacement par ts.
2. This machine is a precision piece of power
equipment, not a plaything. Therefor e, 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.
3. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate
this machine. Children 14 years old and over
should read and understand the operation
instructions and safety rules in this manual and
should be trained and supervised by a parent . Only
responsible individuals who are familiar with these
safe operation rules should use this machine.
4. Thoroughly inspect the area where 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.
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.
5. To help avoid blade contact or a thrown object
injury, stay in the operator zone beh ind the handles
and keep bystanders, helpers, children and pets at
least 75 feet from the machine while it is in
operation. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.
6. Always wear safety glasses to protect your eyes
during equipment operation and while p erforming
an adjustment or repair. Thrown objects which
ricochet can cause serious injury to the eyes.
7. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes a nd closefitting slacks and shirts. Shirts and pants that cover
the arms and legs and steel-toed shoes are
recommended. Never operate this ma chine in bare
feet, sandals, slippery or light weight (e.g. canvas)
shoes.
8. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or
under the cutting deck. Contact with the blade can
amputate hands and feet.
9. A missing or damaged discharge cover can cause
blade contact or thrown object injuries.
10. 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 yo u are
falling; release the handle immediately.
11. 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.
5. Do not operate the mower while under the inf luence
of alcohol or drugs.
6. Do not engage the self-prop elled mechanism on
units so equipped while starting engine.
7. The blade control handle is a safety device. Never
attempt to bypass its operation. Doing so makes
the safety device inoperative and ma y 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.
8. 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 co ntrol handle
3
immediately and the blade will stop rotating within
three seconds.
9. Mow in daylight or good artificial light; walk, not run.
10. Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives,
walkways or roads.
11. If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally,
stop the engine and check immediately for the
cause. Vibration is generally a warning of troub le.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. Muffler and engine become hot and ca n cause a
burn. Do not touch.
15. Only use parts and accessories made by the
original equipment manufacturer (O.E.M). Failure
to do so can result in personal injury.
16. If situations occur which are not covered in this
manual, use care and good judgment. Contact your
dealer for assistance. Call 1-800-800-7310 for the
name of your nearest dealer.
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 oft en attracted to
the mower and the mowing activit y. They do not
understand the dangers. Never assume that ch ildren
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 tha n
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 in to 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 operat e
a power mower. Children 14 years old and over
should read and understand the operation
instructions and safety rules in this manual and
should be trained and supervised by a p arent.
Service
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 unea sy on a
slope, do not mow it. Before operating this unit on a
slope or hilly area, use the slope gauge on page 6 to
measure slopes. If the slope is greater than 15 deg rees,
do not mow it.
Do:
1. Mow across the face of slopes; never up an d down.
Exercise caution when changing direction.
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, dit ches or
embankments, you could lose your footing or
balance.
2. Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as
shown on the slope gauge.
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.
2. Wash your skin and change clothes immediately.
3. Use only an approved gasoline container.
4. 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.
5. If possible, remove gas-powered equipment fro m
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 fr om a
gasoline dispenser nozzle.
6. 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.
7. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other
sources of ignition.
8. Never fuel machine indoors because flammable
vapors will accumulate in the area.
9. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine
is hot or running. Allow engine to cool at least two
minutes before refueling.
4
10. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½
inch below bottom of filler neck to provide space for
fuel expansion.
11. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
12. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and
equipment. Move unit to another area. Wait 5
minutes before starting the engine.
13. Never store the machine or fuel container inside
where there is an open flame, spark or pilot light as
on a water heater, space heater, furnace, cloth es
dryer or other gas appliances.
14. To reduce fire hazard, keep mowe r free of grass,
leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel
spillage and remove any fuel soaked debris.
15. Allow mower to cool 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.) blad e 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 befor e starting an d
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 origin al
equipment manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only,
listed here. Use of parts which do not meet the
original equipment specifications may lead to
improper performance and compromise safet y.
10. Do not change the engine governor set ting or
overspeed the engine. The governor controls the
maximum safe operating speed of the engine.
11. Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as
necessary.
12. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations.
Improper disposal of fluids and materials can harm
the environment.
Your Responsibility
• Restrict the use of this power machine to pe rsons who read, understan d and follow the warnings a nd
instructions in this manual and on the machine.
1299 AC
5
Loading...