Operator's Manual 21" Rear-Discharge Lawn Mower Model Series 440 & 450 IMPORTANT: Read safety rules and instructions carefully before operating equipment. 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 (if any).
TABLEOFCONTENTS Content Page 3 6 7 Important Safe Operation Practices Slope Gauge Assembling Your Lawn Mower Know Your Lawn Mower Operating Your Lawn Mower Maintaining Your Lawn Mower Content Servicing Your Lawn Mower Making Adjustments Off Season Storage Page 13 15 16 10 11 Trouble Shooting Guide Illustrated Parts 17 18 12 Warranty 20 FINDINGMODELNUMBER This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new lawn mower.
SECTION1: IMPORTANT SAFEOPERATION 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.
Do Not: 8. Neveroperatethemowerinwetgrass.Alwaysbe sureofyourfooting.A slipandfallcancause 1. Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or seriouspersonalinjury.Ifyoufeelyouarelosing embankments, you could lose your footing or yourfooting,releasethebladecontrolhandle balance. immediately andthebladewillstoprotatingwithin 2. Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as threeseconds. shown on the slope gauge. 9. Mowindaylightorgoodartificiallight.Walk,never 3. Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing could run.
7. Extinguish allcigarettes, cigars,pipesandother sourcesofignition. 8. Neverfuelmachineindoorsbecause flammable vaporswillaccumulate inthearea. 9. Neverremovegascapor addfuelwhiletheengine ishotor running.Allowenginetocoolatleasttwo minutesbeforerefueling. 10.Neveroverfillfueltank.Filltanktonomorethan½ inchbelowbottomoffillernecktoprovidespacefor fuelexpansion. 11.Replacegasolinecapandtightensecurely. 12.If gasolineisspilled,wipeitofftheengineand equipment. Moveunittoanotherarea.
USE THIS PAGE AS A GUIDE TO DETERMINE SLOPES WHERE YOU MAY NOT OPERATE SAFELY. ¢O U.I .=1: I 15° u.I a= nl 0'3 &i Z I-U.I 0'3 _kWARNING 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 walk-behind mower on such a slope, it is extremely difficult to maintain your footing and you could slip, resulting in serious injury.
SECTION3: ASSEMBLING YOURLAWNMOWER RemovingUnitFromCarton • • • • Remove staples, break glue on top flaps or cut tape at carton end and peel top flap to open carton. Remove loose parts if included with unit. Cut corners and lay carton down flat. Remove packing material. Roll or slide unit out of carton. Check carton • • Raise the upper handle as shown in Figure 2. Tighten the two wing nuts which are already on the handle. See Figure 3. Tighten these wing nuts thoroughly for loose parts.
Insertpostofcabletiesthatareonlowerhandle intotheholesprovided onthelowerhandle.The holesmaybeontheinsideoroutside.Pullcable tiestightandcutofftheextra.SeeFigure5 below. AssemblingSoft GrassBag • Cable Tie • Post on Cable Place the bag over the frame (black plastic side is the bottom of bag). Slip the openings in the side of the plastic channels on the bag over the hooks on the grass catcher frame. Secure bag to frame by working the plastic channels on bag over frame as shown in Figure 7B.
Never operate the mower unless the hooks on the grass catcher are seated in the slots on the handle bracket assemblies, and the rear discharge door rests firmly against the top of the grass catcher. • • Slide the rod into the upper edge of the chute deflector so the tab on the rod is toward the left side of the chute deflector. When assembled correctly, the rod will extend further to the left side than the right side. See Figure 9. Slide the push nut onto the right side of the rod to secure.
SECTION4: KNOWYOURLAWNMOWER Read this owner's manual and safety rules before operating your lawn mower. Compare the illustrations in Figure 11 with your lawn mower to familiarize yourself with the location of various controls and adjustments. Blade Control Handle Lower Bail Handle Chute Deflector (Optional) _ Recoil Starter_ Grass Height Adjustment Lever Figure 11 BladeControlHandle Throttle Control The blade control handle is located on the upper handle of the mower.
SECTION5: OPERATING YOURLAWNMOWER GasandOilFill-Up ,i_ • StoppingEngine WARNING" fuel tank or when engine is Never runningfill or hot. Do indoors, not smoke when filling up the fuel tank. Service the engine with gasoline and oil as instructed in the separate engine manual packed with your mower. Read the instructions carefully. Release blade control handle to stop the engine and the blade. • Disconnect spark plug wire and move away from spark plug to prevent accidental starting.
• BaggingGrassClippings You can use the grass catcher bag to collect clippings while you are operating the mower. • • • Lift discharge door and pull grass bag up and away from the mower to dispose of the grass clippings. AdjustingCuttingHeight Attach the grass catcher following instructions on page 8 of this manual. Grass clippings will automatically collect in the bag as you run mower. Operate mower till the grass bag is full. Stop the engine completely by releasing the control handle.
Lubrication (SeeFigure12) Wheels • Lubricate the wheels and bearings, if so equipped, at least once a season with light oil or engine oil. Also, if the wheels are removed for any reason, lubricate the surface of the pivot arm axle and the inner surface of the wheel with light oil. Chute Deflector& Rear DischargeDoor • Lubricate the torsion springs and the pivot point on each end of the rear discharge door using a light oil. This will prevent rusting.
• • • • Be sure to install the blade with the side of the blade marked "Bottom" (or with part number) facing the ground when the mower is in the operating position. Slide the blade adapter assembly onto the engine crankshaft. Place the blade on the adapter. Be certain the blade is aligned and seated on the blade adapter flanges. Place blade bell support on blade. Make sure the notches on the blade bell support are aligned with small holes in the blade.
Replacing RearFlap • • To remove rear flap, cut off the flat end of the wire rod which secures it to the deck. See Figure 16. Attach the new flap and new rod to deck, bending the ends of the new rod over to secure to deck. Handle Door Rear Discha_ Bracket __ _ _ Rear Flap Hand,e Bracket Figure 16 SECTION8: MAKINGADJUSTMENTS AdjustingHandleHeight \ Your mower is shipped with the handle in the higher height position. To lower height, proceed as follows.
Simply depress the lever towards the wheel and move the lever assembly to desired position. See Figure 18. AdjustingCarburetor NOTE: A dirty air cleaner may cause an engine to run rough too. Make sure that the air cleaner is clean and attached to the carburetor before deciding to adjust the carburetor. ght _ WARNING: any adjustments are engine made tois the engine (e.g.Ifcarburetor) while the running, keep clear of all moving parts. Be careful of heated surfaces like the muffler.
SECTION10: TROUBLE-SHOOTING GUIDE Problem Engine fails to start Possible Cause Corrective Action 1. 2. 3. 4. Blade control handle disengaged Spark plug wire disconnected Fuel tank empty, or stale fuel Blocked fuel line 1. 2. 3. 4. Engage blade control handle. Connect wire to spark plug. Fill up tank with fresh gasoline. Clean fuel line. 5. 6. Faulty spark plug Engine flooded 5. 6. Clean, adjust gap, or replace. Wait a few minutes and start again. 1. 2.
SECTION11: PARTSLISTFORMODELSERIES440 1 15 ii 911- iI I I i 24 29 41@ 76 42 / 77 89 I I I 38 56 I 31 _ ." 70 "_" 66 68 37 I_59 71 \ 68 88 Wheel Treads 1 If Equipped Zag Tread Wheel Bar Tread Wheel 18
ModelSeries440 Ref, No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 18. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. Part No.
MANUFACTURER'S LIMITED WARRANTY 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 wilt, at its option, repair or replace, free of charge, any part found to be defective in materials or workmanship.
