For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 Safety • Assembly • Operation • Tips & Techniques • Maintenance • Troubleshooting • Parts Lists • Warranty OPERATOR’S MANUAL 21” Rotary Mower — Model 44M 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 meeti
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 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...............................
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 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 www.mymowerparts.com 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).
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 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.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 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.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 3 1. Follow the steps below to position the handle. a. Lift the upper handle up from the folded position and pull it back to the extended position. See Figure 3-1. Do not crimp cables. The handle should click into this position. A b. Make sure the carriage bolt is seated properly in the handle. Tighten star knobs to secure upper handle to the lower handle. Setup and Adjustment 2. Follow these steps to secure the handle: a.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 3 5. Follow steps below to assemble the grass catcher: a. Place bag over frame so that its black plastic side is at the bottom. Check that the bag is turned right side out before assembling (warning label will be on the outside). See Figure 3-5. b. Slip plastic channel of grass bag over hooks on the frame. All the plastic channels except center top of bag attach from outside of bag. A Setup and Adjustment c. Attach center top of bag from inside of bag. 6.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 4 Operating Your Lawn Mower Know Your Lawn Mower Blade Control Drive Control Choke Control Recoil Starter Gasoline Fill Cutting Height Adjustment Lever (one at each wheel) WARNING The blade control is a safety device. Never attempt to 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.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 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. 2 1 Starting Engine 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.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 5 Lubrication • Lubricate pivot points on the blade and drive control at least once a season with light oil. The controls 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 pivot arm and inner surface of the wheel with light oil.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 5 Blade Care WARNING: When removing cutting blade for sharpening or replacement, protect your hands with a pair of heavy gloves or use a heavy rag to hold blade. 1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug. Turn mower on its side making sure that the air filter and the carburetor are up. Maintaining Your Lawn Mower 2. Remove bolt, bell blade support, blade, and blade adapter from the engine crankshaft. See Figure 5-3. 3.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 6 Problem Engine fails to start Trouble Shooting Engine runs erratic For repairs beyond the minor adjustments listed here, contact an authorized service dealer. Engine overheats Occasional skips (hesitates) at high speed Idles poorly Excessive Vibration Mower will not mulch grass (If Equipped) Cause Remedy 1. Blade control disengaged. 1. Engage blade control. 2. Spark plug boot disconnected. 2. Connect wire to spark plug. 3.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 Off-Season Storage The following steps should be taken to prepare your lawn mower for storage. 1. Clean and lubricate mower thoroughly as described in the lubrication instructions. 2. We do not recommend the use of a pressure washer or garden hose to clean your unit. 3. Refer to engine manual for correct engine storage instructions. 4. Coat mower’s cutting blade with chassis grease to prevent rusting. 5. Store mower in a dry, clean area.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 8 Engine Safe Operation Practices WARNING: Gasoline and its vapors are extremely flammable and explosive. Fire or explosion can cause severe burns or death. If gasoline is spilled on yourself or your clothes, wash your skin and change clothes immediately. Gasoline and its vapors are extremely flammable and explosive. Fire or explosion can cause severe burns or death.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 • Tie up long hair and remove jewelry. Running engine produces heat. Engine parts, especially muffler, • Do not wear loose-fitting clothing, dangling drawstrings or items that could become caught. become extremely hot. Severe thermal burns can occur on contact. Combustible debris, Rapid retraction of starter cord such as leaves, grass, brush, etc., (kickback) will pull hand and can catch fire. arm toward engine faster than you can let go.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 9 Operating Your Engine Know Your Engine Fuel Cap Air Cleaner Starter Grip Oil Fill Cap Oil Drain Spark Plug Muffler Figure 9-1: The major components of the engine. IMPORTANT: This engine is shipped without gasoline or oil in the engine. Running the engine with insufficient oil can cause serious engine damage and void the engine warranty. IMPORTANT: Using non- detergent oil or 2stroke engine oil could shorten the engine’s service life.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 9 Check Oil Level IMPORTANT: Be sure to check the engine on a level surface with the engine stopped. 1. Remove the oil filler cap and wipe the dipstick clean. See Figure 9-2. 2. Insert the dipstick into the oil filler neck, but do not screw it in. Oil Fill Cap/ Dipstick 3. If the level is low, slowly add oil to the upper limit on the dipstick. See Figure 9-2 inset. 4. Tighten dipstick firmly before starting engine. Upper Level IMPORTANT: Do not overfill.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 10 Maintaining Your Engine WARNING: Shut off the engine before performing any maintenance. To prevent accidental start-up, disconnect the spark plug boot. IMPORTANT: If engine must be tipped to transport equipment or to inspect or remove grass, keep spark plug side of engine up. Transporting or tipping engine spark plug down may cause smoking, hard starting, spark plug fouling, or oil saturation of air cleaner.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 IMPORTANT: Used motor oil may cause skin cancer if repeatedly left in contact with the skin for prolonged periods. Although this is unlikely unless you handle used oil on a daily basis, it is still advisable to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water as soon as possible after handling used oil. Paper Element Maintaining Your Engine NOTE: Please dispose of used motor oil in a manner that is compatible with the environment.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 10 Maintaining Your Engine Storage Engines stored over 30 days need to be drained of fuel to prevent deterioration and gum from forming in fuel system or on essential carburetor parts. If the gasoline in your engine deteriorates during storage, you may need to have the carburetor, and other fuel system components, serviced or replaced. 1. Remove all fuel from tank by running engine until it stops from lack of fuel. Electrode 2. Change oil.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 NOTES 21 www.mymowerparts.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 Model 44M 1 8 3 48 2 50 35 21 34 10 5 6 14 9 15 7 11 36 4 37 39 38 13 33 16 18 47 20 12 54 45 46 44 29 42 64 17 43 41 43 31 55 40 29 58 19 57 56 22 28 60 59 61 63 53 43 26 62 49 52 30 Wheel Treads 23 27 32 25 S-Wave Tread Bar Tread 22 www.mymowerparts.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 Ref. No. Part No. Description Ref. No. Part No. Description 1 747-1161A Blade Control 34 746-04299 Control Cable - 48” 2 749-1092A Upper Handle 35 710-0606 Screw, 1/4-20 x 1.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 Engine 1P70 29 21 8 9 15 20 1 7 3 13 2 19 18 24 25 11 26 17 10 17 6 28 4 5 12 14 27 22 23 16 24 www.mymowerparts.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 Ref. No. Part No. Description 1. 951-10368 Fuel Tank 2. 951-10369 Flywheel Shroud 3. 951-10335 Rubber Fuel Tank Mounting Washer 4. 951-10334 Oil Filler Tube Assembly 5. 951-10333 Dipstick Assembly 6. 951-10413 Cylinder Head Complete 7. 951-10414 Short Block Assembly 8. 951-10321 Stop Switch and Brake Assembly 9. 951-10319 Recoil Spring and Pulley Assembly 10. 951-10344 Push Rod Kit 11. 951-10345 Valve Kit 12.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 MTD LLC (MTD), The United States Environment Protection Agency (U. S. EPA) Emission Control System Warranty Statement (Owner’s Defect Warranty Rights and Obligations) The U. S. EPA and MTD are pleased to explain the emissions control system warranty on your model year 2005 and later small off-road engine. New small off-road engines must be designed, built and equipped to meet the stringent anti-smog standards.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 (7) The engine manufacturer is liable for damages to other engine components proximately caused by a failure under warranty of any warranted part. (8) Throughout the engine’s warranty period defined in Subsection (a)(2), MTD will maintain a supply of warranted parts sufficient to meet the expected demand for such parts. (9) Any replacement part may be used in the performance of any warranty maintenance or repairs and must be provided without charge to the owner.
For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 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 two (2) years 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.
