Yard-Man 589 User Manual

OPERATOR’S MANUAL

21” Rear Discharge

Rotary Mower

Model 589

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 forestcovered, 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

ECO # 2844
PRINTED IN U.S.A.	FORM NO. 770-10111C.fm

(10/2000)

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
Making Adjustments ..........................................................................................	11
Maintaining Your Lawn Mower...........................................................................	11
Storing Your Lawn Mower..................................................................................	13
Troubleshooting.................................................................................................	13
Parts List............................................................................................................	14

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 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 looking down at the rear of the deck. 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
	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 proper lawn care, visit our website at www.mtdproducts.com/machines/tips

2

SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES

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 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.

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 the 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 this manual in a safe place for future and regular reference and for ordering replacement parts.

2.This machine is a precision piece of power equipment, not a plaything. Therefore, 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 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. 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 behind 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 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.

7.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.

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 you 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.

12.Do not operate the mower while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

13.Do not engage the self-propelled mechanism on units so equipped while starting engine.

14.The blade control handle is a safety device. Never attempt to bypass its operation. Doing so makes the safety device inoperative and may 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.

15.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 control handle immediately and the blade will stop rotating within three seconds.

16.Mow in daylight or good artificial light. Walk, never run.

17.Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walkways or roads.

18.If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the engine and check immediately for the cause. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.

19.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.

20.Never operate mower without proper trail shield, discharge cover, grass catcher, blade control handle or

3

other safety protective devices in place and working. Never operate mower with damaged safety devices. Failure to do so, can result in personal injury.

21.Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do not touch.

22.Only use parts and accessories made for this machine by the original equipment manufacturer (O.E.M). Failure to do so can result in personal injury.

23.If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use care and good judgment. Contact your dealer for assistance. Telephone [phone] for the name of your nearest dealer.

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 uneasy on a slope, 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 degrees, do not mow it.

Do:

1.Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down. Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.

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, ditches or embankments, you could lose your footing or balance.

2.Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as shown on the slope gauge.

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 often attracted to the mower and the mowing activity. They do not understand the dangers. Never assume that children 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 than 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 into 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 operate 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 parent.

Service

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.When practical, remove gas-powered equipment from 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 from 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.

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 ,clothes dryer or other gas appliances.

14.To reduce fire hazard, keep mower free of grass, leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel spillage and remove any fuel soaked debris.

15.Allow a mower to cool at least 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.) blade

4

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 before starting and 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 original equipment manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only, listed in this manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the original equipment specifications may lead to improper performance and compromise safety!”

10.Do not change the engine governor setting 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 persons who read, understand and follow the warnings and instructions in this manual and on the machine.

1299 AC

5