Safety • Assembly • Operation • Tips & Techniques • Maintenance • Troubleshooting • Parts Lists • Warranty OPERATOR’S MANUAL 20-inch Rotary Mower — Model Series 020 IMPORTANT READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION Warning: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brushcovered or grass-covered land unless the engine’s exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting applicable local or state laws
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. Table of Contents Slope Gauge........................................................ 3 Safe Operation Practices.................................... 4 Setup and Adjustment........................................ 6 Operating Your Lawn Mower............................. 10 Maintaining Your Lawn Mower........................
1 Use this page as a guide to determine slopes where you may not operate safely. Do not operate your lawn mower on such slopes. Slope Gauge 3IGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE &O OR A FENCE POST OR A CORNER OF A BUILDING OT LD ALO NG D ESEN TED L I N E REPR LOPE TS A S WARNING Do not mow on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degrees (a rise of approximately 2-1/2 feet every 10 feet). Operate WALK-BEHIND mowers across the face of slopes, never up and down slopes.
2 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.
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 other safety protective devices in place and working.
3 Loose Parts Carton contents include: Wheels, Handles (upper & lower), Blade Control Handle, Chute Deflector & a Hardware Pack. Be certain to remove all loose parts before discarding the carton. Follow instructions below to attach these loose parts to your mower safely and properly for best performance. Hardware Pack Setup and Adjustment GROUP 2 GROUP 1 GROUP 6 Qty. 2 Qty. 2 Qty. 2 Qty. 2 Qty. 4 Qty. 4 GROUP 3 IMPORTANT This unit is shipped without gasoline or oil in the engine.
3 NOTE: Reference to right, left, front and rear of the lawn mower is in relation to the operating position. Flange Lock Nut Flat Washer Attaching the Chute Deflector NOTE: Use a 7/16” wrench and the hardware in Group 1 to complete the following steps. Setup and Adjustment 1. Align the holes on the chute deflector with the corresponding holes on the deck surface. 2. Insert carriage bolts up through the underside of the deck and through the chute deflector. See Figure 3-1. 3.
3 Setup and Adjustment Attaching the Wheels Wheel NOTE: Use an adjustable wrench, 7/16” wrench and the hardware in Group 3 to complete the following steps. Deck The holes in the deck provide three cutting heights. Use corresponding holes when attaching all four wheels (i.e. for the lowest cutting position, assemble each wheel at the highest hole on the deck). Refer to the Cutting Height Adjustment section for more information.
Securing Blade-Brake Cable NOTE: Use the hardware in Group 6 to complete the following steps. WARNING: The cable must be routed properly to avoid contact with all sharp edges and hot surfaces. Such contacts damage the cable and render the controls inoperative. 1. Press the stud found inside the snap fitting into the hole found on the left side of the upper handle, as shown in Figure 3- 7. stud inside snap fitting Upper Handle Snap Fitting 2. Secure the cable to the lower left handle with a cable tie.
4 Operating Your Lawn Mower Know Your Lawn Mower Blade Control Recoil Starter WARNING This blade control is a safety device. Do not bypass its operations. Use extreme care when handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive. Never fuel the machine indoors or while the engine is hot or running. Extinguish cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition. Figure 4-1: The main components on the mower.
WARNING: The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects being thrown into the eyes, which can damage your eyes severely. Always wear safety glasses while operating the mower or while performing any adjustments or repairs on it. 4 2 Starting Engine Operating Your Lawn Mower WARNING: Be sure no one other than the operator is standing near the lawn mower while starting engine or operating mower. Never run engine indoors or in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas.
5 Lubrication • Lubricate pivot points on the blade control at least once a season with light oil. The blade control must operate freely in both directions. See Figure 5-1. • Lubricate the wheels at least once a season with light oil (or motor oil). If wheels are removed for any reason, lubricate surface of the axle bolt and inner surface of the wheel with light oil. See Figure 5-1. Maintaining Your Lawn Mower • Follow the accompanying engine manual for engine lubrication schedule and instructions.
5 Blade Care WARNING: When removing the cutting blade for sharpening or replacement, protect your hands with a pair of heavy gloves or use a heavy rag to hold the blade. Maintaining Your Lawn Mower Periodically inspect the blade adapter for cracks, especially if you strike a foreign object. Replace when necessary. 1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug. Turn mower on its side making sure that the air filter and the carburetor are up. 2.
6 Engine fails to start 8. Fuel valve (if equipped) closed. 9. Engine not choked (if equipped w/choke). 8. 9. 1. Spark plug wire loose. 2. Blocked fuel line or stale fuel. Vent in gas cap plugged. Water or dirt in fuel system. Dirty air cleaner. Carburetor out of adjustment. 1. Connect and tighten spark plug wire. 2. Clean fuel line; fill tank with clean, fresh gasoline. 3. Clear vent. 4. Drain fuel tank. Refill with fresh fuel. 5. Refer to engine manual. 6. Refer to engine manual.
Safety Labels Found On Your Lawn Mower 7 Safety Labels TO REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURY, DO NOT OPERATE UNLESS DISCHARGE COVER IS IN ITS PROPER PLACE. IF DAMAGED, REPLACE IMMEDIATELY. WARNING /2 PLA CE MO DEL PLA TE HER ER H DEAT NJG DA Y OR ING PARTS. R U N T I A T S O U R HE O I T M AVOID SER D FEET AWAY FRO HROWN BYASSES. AN N BE TSAFET Y GL ND. A C • K E E P H AN D S T A H OU J E CT S T WEAR A R E A R O PE S • REMO VE OABNY DIRECTI ON. THERS E N O R O N O T MO W S L D O W N .
Model Series 020 26 5 4 20 18 17 19 16 25 7 6 3 16 27 28 24 2 15 23 22 12 21 1 20 14 10 11 13 9 8 16 29
Ref. No. Part No. Part Description 1 710-0654A Hex Ind. Washer Screw 3/8-16 x 1.0 2 782-0048 3 749-04037 Lower Handle 4 749-1092A Upper Handle 5 747-1161A Control Handle (Bail) 6 731-0872B Rear Flap 7 17098 Hinge Clip 8 710-1044 Screw 3/8-24 x 1.5” Group 8 9 736-0524B Blade Bell Support 10 748-0376C Blade Adapter 11 742-0640 Cutting Blade 12 731-0064 Discharge Chute 13 710-0932 Carriage Screw 1/4-20 x 1.0” 14 736-0173 Flat Washer 15 710-3008 Hex Screw 5/16-18 x .
NOTES Use this page to make notes and write down important information.
NOTES Use this page to make notes and write down important information.
MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR The limited warranty set forth below is given by MTD LLC with respect to new merchandise purchased and used in the United States, its possessions and territories. “MTD” warrants this product against defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year commencing on the date of original purchase and will, at its option, repair or replace, free of charge, any part found to be defective in materials or workmanship.