Yard-Man 552 Operator's Manual

Operator's Manual

Model 552

Edger

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 361131 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019.

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

PRINTED IN U.S.A. FORM NO. 769-00528c

(12/03)

TABLEOFCONTENTS

Content

Important Safe Operation Practices
Assembling Your Edger
Know Your Edger
Operating Your Edger
Making Adjustments

Page

3

5
6
6

7

Content

Maintaining And Servicing Your Edger
Off Season Storage
Trouble Shooting

Illustrated Parts List
Warranty

Page

FINDINGMODELNUMBER

This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new edger. 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 inthe 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 on the left rear frame of the edger. 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:

Copy the serial number here:

YaRD-MaN)#=:° LLo

www.yardman.com 338-228-4683

P. O. BOX 361131

CLEVELAND,OH 44136

800-800-7318

9

11
11
12
16

CUSTOMERSUPPORT

Please doNOTreturntheunit to the retailer fromwhereit waspurchased,withoutfirstcontactingCustomerSupport.

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 options below:

Visit yardman.com for many useful suggestions. Click on Customer Support button and you
will get the four options reproduced here. Click on the appropriate button and help is
immediately available.

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If you prefer to reach a Customer Support Representative, please call 1-800-800-7310.

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The engine manufacturer is responsible for all engine-related issues with regards to

performance, power-rating, specifications, warranty and service. Please refer to the engine
manufacturer's Owner's/Operator's Manual, packed separately with your unit, for more

information.

SECTION1: IMPORTANTSAFEOPERATIONPRACTICES

WARNING: 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: The Engine Exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

DANGER: This machine was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation inthis 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.

,

TRAINING

1. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the
machine and in the manual(s) before attempting to

assemble and operate. Keep this manual in a safe
place for future and regular reference and for
ordering replacement parts.

2. Be familiar with all controls and their proper
operation. Know how to stop the machine and
disengage them quickly.

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.

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

5. To help avoid blade contact or a thrown object
injury, 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.

PREPARATION

1. Thoroughly inspect the area where the 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.

2. Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles
during operation and while performing an
adjustment or repair to protect your eyes. Thrown
objects which ricochet can cause serious injury to
the eyes.

3. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-

fitting slacks and shirts. Shirts and pants that cover

the arms and legs and steel-toed shoes are
recommended. Never operate this machine in bare

feet, sandals, slippery or light weight (e.g. canvas)

shoes.

Never attempt to make any adjustments while the

engine is running, except where specifically

recommended in the operator's manual.

,

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.
Washer your skin and change clothes immediately.

a. Use only an approved gasoline container.
b. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and

other sources of ignition.

c. Neverfuel machine indoors.
d. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the

engine is hot or running.

e. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes

before refueling.

f. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more

than ½ inch below bottom of filler neck to

provide space for fuel expansion.
g. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
h. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine

and equipment. Move unit to another area.

Wait five minutes before starting the engine.
i. 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,clothes dryer or other gas

appliances.

j. Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes

before storing.

OPERATION

1. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts.
Contact with the rotating blade can amputate hands

and feet.

2. The blade control handle is a safety device. Never

bypass its operation. Doing so, makes the machine
unsafe and may cause personal injury.

3. Never operate without blade guard, debris shield
and blade control handle in place and working.

4. Neveroperatewithdamagedsafetydevices.
Failuretodoso,canresultinpersonalinjury.

5. Neverrunanengineindoorsorinapoorly
ventilatedarea.Engineexhaustcontainscarbon
monoxide,anodorlessanddeadlygas.

6. Donotoperatemachinewhileundertheinfluence
ofalcoholordrugs.

7. Mufflerandenginebecomehotandcancausea
burn.Donottouch.

8. Neveroperatethismachinewithoutgoodvisibility
orlight.Alwaysbesureofyourfootingandkeepa

firmholdonthehandles.Walk,neverrun.

9. Donotoperatethismachineifithasbeendropped
ordamaged.Returnmachinetoyournearest
authorizedservicingdealerforexaminationand
repair.

10.Donotoperatethismachinewithadamagedor
excessivelyworncuttingblade.

11.Neverattempttoclearmaterialfromtheblade
guardwhiletheengineisrunning.Shuttheengine
off,disconnectthesparkplugwireandground
againsttheenginetopreventunintendedstarting.

12.Donotoverloadmachinecapacitybyattemptingto
edgeattoofastofarate.

13.Stayalertforunevensidewalks,terrainetc.Always
pushslowlyoverroughsurfaces.Donotusethis
machineongravelsurfaces.

14.Donotoperatemachineinrainorwetsoil
conditions.

15.Alwaysoperatemachinefrombehindthehandles
andpositionyourselfwherethedirectlineofsight
tocuttingbladeisblockedbyguards.

16.Alwaysstopenginewhenedgingortrimmingis
delayedorwhentransportingmachinefromone

locationtoanother.

17.Neverleavearunningmachineunattended.Stop
theengine,disconnectsparkplugwireandground
againsttheenginetopreventunintendedstarting.

18.Onlyusepartsandaccessoriesmadeforthis

machinebythemanufacturer.Failuretodoso,can
resultinpersonalinjury.

19.Ifsituationsoccurwhicharenotcoveredinthis
manual,usecareandgoodjudgment.Contactyour

dealerortelephone1-800-800-7310forassistance
andthenameofyournearestservicingdealer.

MAINTENANCEANDSTORAGE

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

2. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting,

disconnect the spark plug wire and ground against
the engine to prevent unintended starting.

3. Check bolts, and screws for proper tightness at

frequent intervals to keep the machine in safe
working condition. Also, visually inspect machine
for any damage.

4. Do not change the engine governor setting or over-
speed the engine. The governor controls the

maximum safe operating speed of the engine.

5. The blade, blade guard and debris shield are
subject to wear and damage. For your safety

protection, frequently check all components and
replace with original equipment manufacturer's
(O.E.M.) parts only. "Use of parts which do not
meet the original equipment specifications may
lead to improper performance and compromise

safety!"

6. Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as

necessary.

7. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for
gas, oil, etc. to protect the environment.

8. Never store the machine or fuel container inside
where there is an open flame, spark or pilot light

such as a water heater, furnace,clothes dryer etc.

9. Always refer to the operator's manual for proper

instructions on off-season storage.

Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who read, understand and follow the warnings

WARNING: YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
and instructions in this manual and on the machine.

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4

SECTION2: ASSEMBLINGYOUREDGER

IMPORTANT:This unit is shipped WITHOUT
GASOLINE or OIL. After setting up the unit, service
engine with gasoline and oil as instructed in the
separate engine manual packed with your unit.

NOTE: Reference to right or left hand side of the edger
is observed from the operating position.

Groundingthe Engine'sSpark Plug

• Disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug
and ground against the engine.

Positioning the EdgerHandles

• Remove and discard any packaging cardboard that
may be present between the upper handle and the

lower handle.

• Depress the blade control bail at the top of the
upper handle and pivot the upper handle upward
until it snaps into place.

• Tighten the wing knobs which are located on both
the left and right sides of the handle. See Figure 2.

Wing Knobs Handle

Rope Guide

IMPORTANT:Make certain that the engine's spark plug

wire is properly grounded as instructed earlier in this

section before proceeding on to the next step.

• Stand behind the unit and hold the blade control

Upper Handle

\

BladeControl Bail

Wing Knob

Figure 3

bail against the upper handle and gently pull the

starter rope out of the engine.

Lower Handle

Figure 2

AttachingtheStarterRope

• Locate the eyebolt found on the right side of the
upper handle.

• Loosen, but do NOT remove, the wing knob which
secures the rope guide to the upper handle. See
Figure 3.

i_ WARNING: The edger blade WILL rotate

NOTE: The starter rope will not pull out of the engine
unless the blade control bail (refer to Figure 3) is
depressed against the upper handle.

• Slip the starter rope through the top of the rope

• Retighten the wing knob which secures the rope

when the starter rope is pulled.

guide.

guide to the upper handle.