Use and Care Manual

a. Determine if your house wiring has a Ground Fault
Interrupted (G.F.I.) Three-Wire Grounded System; if
you are not sure, ask a Licensed Electrician.
b. If your house wiring does not have a G.F.I. Three-
Wire Grounded System, DO NOT USE THIS ELECTRIC
STARTER UNDER ANY CONDITION.
c. If your house wiring is grounded and a G.F.I.
three-Prong Wall Receptacle is not available at the
location where your starter will be used, one must
be installed by a Licensed Electrician BEFORE USING
THE ELECTRIC STARTER!
1. To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, be sure engine is
outdoors in a well-ventilated area.
2. Be sure fuel valve, if present (see equipment Operator’s
Manual instructions) is open and all switches are on.
NOTE: If your engine is equipped with a 12V battery-
operated electric starter, proceed Step 5.
3. Plug an extension cord into the outlet located on the
engine’s surface. Plug the other end of extension cord
into a three-prong 120-volt, grounded, AC outlet in a well-
ventilated area.
CAUTION: The extension cord can be any length,
but must be rated for 15 amps at 125 volts, grounded
and rated for outdoor use.
IMPORTANT: When connecting the power cord, always
connect the power cord to the switch box on the engine
first; then into the outlet.
4. Move engine speed control, if equipped, in the “Fast”
position.
5. If equipped, set the choke control to “FULL CHOKE”
position.
6. Hold the primer bulb in for one full second each time you
press it.
• Make sure you cover the vent hole with your
thumb.
• Prime between 3 and 5 times.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT operate an electric starter for
more than 5 seconds during each attempt.
NOTE: DO NOT use the primer bulb to restart a warm
engine after a short shutdown. Doing so will flood the
engine and may result in equipment malfunction.
NOTE: If restarting a warm engine after a short shutdown,
move the engine speed control (if equipped) the “FAST”
position and move the choke control to the “NO CHOKE”
position.
7. Push the starter button to start the engine.
NOTE: If the engine fails to start after 3 attempts, repeat
steps 1 through 8.
8. When the engine starts:
• Release the starter button.
• Move the choke control to 1/2 “CHOKE” position
until the engine runs smoothly.
• Next, move the choke control to the NO CHOKE
position.
9. Move the engine speed control (if equipped) to the desired
speed in the “RUN” range.
NOTE: If the engine starts but falters when the choke
control is moved to the “NO CHOKE” position:
• Momentarily move choke control back to “FULL
CHOKE” position.
• Next, move the choke control to “!/2 CHOKE”
position until engine runs smoothly.
• Finally, move the choke control to the NO
CHOKE position.
If the engine dies after choke control is moved to “NO CHOKE”
position, repeat steps 5 through 10 to restart engine.
10. If the engine fails to start after 3 attempts in the “NO
CHOKE” position, move the choke control to “FULL CHOKE”
position and start engine.
NOTE: When disconnecting the power cord, always
disconnect the power cord from the outlet first; then
disconnect the power cord from the switch box on the
engine.
11. Disconnect the power cord form the outlet.
12. Disconnect the power cord form the switch box on the
engine.
13. If engine does not start after following steps 1 through
12, contact your Authorized MTD Service Dealer. DO NOT
attempt to troubleshoot this engine in any other way.
Engines with Recoil Starters
If you have an electric starter, see Engines with Electric Starters
earlier in this section.
WARNING! DO NOT pull starter rope with engine
running. Doing so may VOID YOUR WARRANTY.
1. To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, be sure engine is
outdoors in a well-ventilated area.
2. Be sure fuel valve, if present (see equipment Operator’s
Manual instructions) is open and all switches are on.
3. Move the engine speed control, if equipped, to the “FAST”
position.
4. If equipped, set the choke control to “FULL CHOKE”
position.
5. Hold the primer bulb in for one full second each time you
press it.
• Make sure you cover the vent hole with your
thumb.
• Prime between 3 and 5 times.
NOTE: DO NOT use the primer bulb to restart a warm
engine after a short shutdown. Doing so will flood the
engine and may result in equipment malfunction.
NOTE: If restarting a warm engine after a short shutdown,
move the engine speed control (if equipped) the “FAST”
position and move the choke control to the “NO CHOKE”
position.
11Section 5 — operation