Safety • Assembly • Operation • Tips & Techniques • Maintenance • Troubleshooting • Parts Lists • Warranty OF A O AL 21" Rotary Mower- Model 446 iMPORTANT READ SAFETY RULES AND iNSTRUCTiONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION Warning: This unit is equippedwith an internalcombustionengineand shouldnot be usedon or nearany unimprovedforest-covered,brushcoveredor grass-coveredland unlesstheengine'sexhaustsystemis equippedwith a sparkarrestermeetingapplicablelocalor statelaws(if any).
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 ....................................................... Safe Operation Practices ................................... Setup and Adjustment ....................................... Operating Your Lawn Mower .............................. 3 4 6 8 Maintaining Your Lawn Mower ....................
Usethispageasa guidetodetermine slopeswhereyoumaynotoperatesafely.Donotoperate yourlawnmoweronsuchslopes. ! i! I ! i i iii_i ii_ _ :iii 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). A riding mower could overturn and cause serious injury. If operating a walkbehind mower on such a slope, it is extremely difficult to maintain your footing and you could slip, resulting in serious injury.
WARNING: Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals known to State of Californiato cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductiveharm. 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.
The cuttingbladecontinuesto rotatefor a fewseconds after the engine is shut off. Neverplaceany part of the bodyin the bladearea untilyou are surethe blade hasstopped rotating. 7. Extinguishall cigarettes,cigars, pipesand othersources of ignition. 8. Neverfuel machineindoorsbecauseflammablevapors will accumulatein the area. 20. Neveroperate mowerwithoutpropertrailshield, discharge cover,grass catcher,bladecontrol handle,or othersafety protectivedevices in placeand working.
1. Removeanypackingmaterialwhich may be between upperand lowerhandles. a. Pull up and backon upperhandleas shownin Step 1.Makecertainthe lowerhandleis seated securelyintothe handle mountingbrackets. b. Tightenhandknobs securingupperhandleto lowerhandle.Make surethat eachcarriagebolt is seatedproperlyin the handle. 2. Locatehairpinclip in one holeon the weldpin on each sideof lowerhandle. a. Removehairpinclipfrom this hole.Usinga pair of pliers,insert hairpinclip intothe other holeon the weldpin.
F 5. An adjustingplateand thumb leverat each wheel positionprovidescuttingheightadjustment. a. Depresslevertowardswheel. b. Moveit to anyof the ninepositionsfor desired cutting height.SeeStep 5. c. Releaselevertowardsmowerdeck. 6. Followstepsbelowto assemblethe grasscatcher: a. Placebag overframe sothat its black plasticside is at the bottom. uStment b. Slip plasticchannelof grass bagoverhooks on the frame.See Step6. All the plasticchannelsexcept centertop of bagattachfrom outsideof bag. c.
Know Your Lawn Mower /'I BladeControl -- Drive Control Recoil Starter Oil Fill/Dipstick WARNING Grass Bag The blade control mechanism is a GasolineFill safety device. Never attempt to bypass its operations. Height Adjustment I 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.
=, /i_k Starting mowercan result in foreign objects WARNING: The operationof any lawn beingthrownintothe eyes,whichcan damageyoureyes severely.Always wear safetyglasseswhileoperating the mower,or while performing any adjustmentsor repairson it. Engine Mower WARNING:Besure no one otherthan the operatoris standingnear the lawn mower whilestartingengine or operatingmower. Neverrun engine indoors or in enclosed,poorly ventilatedareas. Engine exhaustcontainscarbon monoxide,an odorlessand deadly gas.
Lubrication 1. Lubricatepivot pointson theblade controlat least oncea seasonwith lightoil. The bladecontrol must operatefreely in both directions.See Figure3. 2. Lubricatethe wheelsat least oncea seasonwith lightoil (or motoroil). If wheelsare removedfor any reason,lubricatesurfaceof the pivotarm and inner surfaceof thewheelwith light oil. See Figure3. Maintaining 3. Lubricatethe torsionspringand pivot pointon the rear dischargedoor periodicallywith lightoil to prevent rust.See Figure3. 4.
_lllk bladefor sharpeningor replacement, ARNING:Whenremovingcutting protectyourhands with a pairof heavy gloves or use a heavy rag to hold blade. _ _ i i i iii _ _ ii _i ii Maintaining 1. Disconnectsparkplug wirefrom spark plug.Turn moweron its side makingsurethat the air filter and the carburetorare up. You r LaWn 2. Removebolt, blade bell support,blade,and blade adapterfrom the enginecrankshaft.See Figure5. \ J 3. The bladecan be sharpenedwith a fileor on a grinding wheel.
Problem Cause Engine fails to start I ii 3. 4. 5. 6. Engine overheats I I I Occasional skips (hesitates) at high speed !iiiiiLi i Iiiiii 1. Engineoil levellow. 1. Fillcrankcasewith proper oil 2. Air flow restricted. 2. Removeblowerhousing and clean. 3. Referto engne manua. 3. Carburetornot adjustedpropery. I 1. Sparkplug gap too close. 1. Adjust gapto .030". 2. Carburetoridlemixtureadjustment 2. Referto engine manual. I 1 Sparkplug fouled, faulty or gap too wide. I 2.
Off-Season Storage The followingstepsshouldbe taken to prepareyour lawn mowerfor storage. 1. Cleanand lubricatemowerthoroughlyas describedin the lubricationinstructions. 2. We do not recommendthe useof a pressurewasher or gardenhoseto cleanyour unit. 3. Referto enginemanualfor correctengine storageinstructions. 4. Coat mower'scuttingblade with chassisgreaseto preventrusting. 5. Storemowerin a dry, cleanarea. Donot storenext to corrosivematerials,suchas fertilizer.
Model 446 \ ) \\ 14
1 747-1161A Blade Control 35 716-0102 Snap Ring 2 749-1092A UpperHandle 36 731-04998 Trailshield 3 747-04080 37 732-0700 TrailshieldWire 4 749-0928A LowerHandle 38 712-0397 WingNut, 1/4-20 5 720-0279 WingNut 39 747-04035 RearDoorPivot Rod 6 710-1205 RopeGuide 40 732-04175 Spring Lever 7 710-1174 CarriageBolt ,5/16-18x 2 41 687-02071 PivotArm Assembly- RH 8 664-04007A Grass BagAssembly 687-02070 PivotArm Assembly- LH 9 720-04072 GrassCatcherFrame HandKnob 42 782-7551A W
MANUFACTURER'S LiMiTED WARRANTY The limitedwarrantyset forth belowisgivenby MTDLLCwith respect to newmerchandisepurchasedand usedin the UnitedStates,its possessionsand territories. "MTD"warrantsthis productagainstdefectsin materialand workmanshipfor a periodof two (2) years commencingon the date of original purchaseand will, at its option,repairor replace,freeof charge,any part foundto be defectiveinmaterialsor workmanship.
