Operator's Manual 21" Self Propelled Mulching Mower Model No. 12A-559K401 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, brush*covered 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 Maintaining Safe Operation Practices ............................................................... 3 Slope Guage ...................................................................................................... 6 Hardware Pack .................................................................................................. 7 Unpacking ..........................................................................................................
SECTION1: MAINTAININGSAFEOPERATION 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 YOUR LAWN MOWER. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY. WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL, HEED ITS WARNING.
Thebladecontrolhandleis a safetydevice.Never DONOT: attempttobypassitsoperation. Doingsomakes Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or thesafetydeviceinoperative andmayresultin embankments. The operator could lose footing or personalinjurythroughcontactwiththerotating balance. blade.Thebladecontrolhandlemustoperate Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as easilyinbothdirections andautomatically returnto shown on the slope gauge. thedisengaged positionwhenreleased. Do not mow on wet grass.
• Beforecleaning,repairing,or inspecting, make certain thebladeandallmoving partshavestopped. Disconnect the sparkplugwire,andkeepthewire awayfromthe sparkplugto preventaccidental starting. • Checkthe bladeand enginemountingboltsat frequent intervals forpropertightness. Also,visually inspectbladefor damage(e.g.,bent,crackedor worn).Replacewith bladewhichmeetsoriginal equipment specifications listedinthismanual. • Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstightto besurethe equipment isinsafeworking condition.
SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE .11 I >, nq ,_ A POWER POLE A CORNER lq I """""-'. I 'i _ OF A BUILDING ORA FENCEPOST oJrOo L.IIV £O ._. _ & _D m 69 A 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 walk-behind mower on such a slope, it is extremely difficult to maintain your footing and you could slip, resulting in serious injury.
SECTION3: HARDWARE PACK Please identify each piece of the hardware pack as shown in Figure 1. Wing Nut 1/4-20 (2) Carriage Figure 1 Bolt 1/4-20 (2) SECTION4: UNPACKING RemovingUnitFromCarton Remove staples, break glue on top flaps, or cut tape at carton end and peel along top flap to open carton. Remove loose parts included with unit (i.e., operator's manual, oil, etc.). Cut corners and lay carton clown flat. Remove packing matedaL Roll or slide unit out of carton.
Raisetheupperhandleinthedirectionshownin Figure3 (step3).Tightenthewingnutswhichare alreadyonthehandle.SeeFigure4. UpperHandle /_ \ \/ Cable Tie Lower Handle Lower Handle t Figure 6 Figure 4 NOTE: Make sure to route the cables inside the lower handle. Also do not crimp the cables while lifting the handle up. For shipping purposes, the hairpin clip is placed in the outer hole of the weld pin on the lower handle. Remove the hairpin clip from the outer hole of the weld pin.
NOTE: Make sure that the cables are routed to the outside of the handle and out of the way when attaching the grasscatcher. door Place the hooks of the grasscatcher into the slots in the handle bracket assemblies on both sides. See Figure 9. Release the rear discharge door. To remove the grasscatcher, lift the rear discharge door on the mower. Lift the grasscatcher up, out of the slots in the handle bracket assemblies. Reinstall the plastic rear mulching baffle and release the rear discharge door.
StarterRope The blade control handle is located on the upper handle of the mower. The blade control handle must be The starter rope is attached to the handle. Stand behind the unit and pull the starter rope to start the unit. depressed in order to operate the unit. Release the blade control handle to stop the engine and the blade. Primer DriveClutchControl The primer is used to pump gas into the carburetor.
For best results, do not cut wet grass because it tends to stick to the underside of the mower, preventing proper discharge of grass clippings, and could cause you to slip and fall. New grass, thick grass or wet grass may require a narrower cut. For a healthy lawn, always cut off one-third or less of the total length of the grass. Lawn should be trimmed in fall as long as there is growth.
SECTION8: MAINTAININGYOURLAWNMOWER &, WARNING: disconnect performing adjustments Always stop the engine and the spark plug wire before any maintenance work or on your lawn mower. Service foam filter in the air cleaner every 25 hours of use and replace the paper filter component every 100 hours. You may have to service the air filter more frequently if you are operating the mower under extremely dusty conditions. Clean the engine periodically. Remove dirt and debris with a cloth or brush.
SECTION9: SERVICE BladeCare Secure the blade to the assembly with two hex bolts and lock nuts. Tighten the hex bolts to the recommended torque. Refer to 'Blade Mounting Torque' section on this page. Install the blade assembly on the crankshaft. Secure with the hex bolt and bell washer (cupped side of washer to blade) and tighten to the recommended torque. Refer to 'Blade Mounting Torque' section on this page.
Loosenthecenterhexboltandlowerthebladeand enginepulleyuntilthereisadequate clearance to movethebeltpastthebeltkeeper. Removethebeltfromtheenginepulleyandaround theblade.SeeFigure14. Reassemble inreverseorderwithnewbelt(part# 754-0465). NOTE:Beginidlerreassembly by insertingboltupthroughtheidlerbrackethole. Adjustthedriveclutchfollowinginstructions on page14. Drive Belt NOTE: The wheels have been moved forward in this picture for clarity.
An adjusting plate and thumb lever at each wheel position provides cutting height adjustment. Each adjusting plate has nine height positions. Height of cut will be changed when the thumb lever is moved from one location to another. AdjustingHandleHeight Your mower is shipped with the handle in the higher height position. To lower the handle height, proceed as follows. Remove the starter rope from the rope guide. Remove the upper handle by removing the hand knobs and carriage bolts.
SECTION10: OFF-SEASONSTORAGE Prepare your lawn mower for storage at the end of the season or if the unit will not be used for 30 days or more. Store the mower in a clean, dry area. Engine Follow recommendations in the accompanying engine manual for off-season storage of the engine. Change oil if it has not been changed in the last three months. For instructions on how to change oil, refer to the engine manual.
SECTION11: TROUBLE-SH00TING GUIDE PROBLEM Engine fails to start Engine runs erratic 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 to restart, Do not prime. 1. 2.
SECTION12: PARTSLIST FORMODEL559K 7 12 8_ / 13 27 '_ 17 _,18 19 75 45 74 79 72 23 68 24 65 6\ 36 63 78 64 37 42 18 41
MODEL559K Re& No Pad No. Description Ref. No Part No. Description 1. 731-1057 Upper Drive Cover 39. 756-1146 Drive Pulley 2. 731-0620 Drive Lever 40. 748-0411 Blade Adapter 21" Mulching Blade 3. 731-1058 Lower Drive Cover 41. 742-0741 4. 731-1059 Mounting Cap 42. 736-0452 Fiat Washer.516 5. 710-1667A Screw# 43. 710-0606 Hex Screw 1/4-26 x 1.66 6. 746-0960 Drive Cable 44. 710-1257 Hex Screw 3/8-24 x 2.56 7. 747-0824 Control Lever 45. 749-0907A Lower Handle 8.
MODEL559K 51 39 / 4o ® 46 52 13 47 36 35 38 ." .- •• 32 ® 30 31 19 \ 52 53 20 21 46
MODEL559K Re_ No Part No. Description Ref. No Pad No. Description 1. 712-3025 Hex Jam Nut 5/16-24 30. 732-0708 Bearing Retainer 2. 736-0425 Bell Washer .325 x .930 x .045 31. 741-0604 Bearing Sleeve .50 I.D. 3. 756-1042 Pulley, 3.82 x .313 x .68 32. 748-0355 Bearing Support 4. 5. 736-0425 712-0896 Bell Washer .325 x .930 x .045 736-0447 Wave Washer 1.5 x 1.0 x .029 Lock Nut 1/4-28 33. 34. 782-0512B RH Height Adj. Plate 6. 736-0406 Flat Washer .442 x 1.38 x .060 35.
MANUFACTURER'S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR: c. Routine maintenance items such as lubricants, filters, blade sharpening and tune-ups, or adjustments such as brake adjustments, clutch adjustments or deck adjustments; and normal deterioration of the exterior finish due to use or exposure. d. MTD does not extend any warranty for products sold or exported outside of the United States of America, its possessions and territories, except those sold through MTD's authorized channels of export distribution.
