Safety • Assembly • Operation • Tips & Techniques • Maintenance • Troubleshooting • Parts Lists • Warranty A OF O AL \ \ \ 21" Self-Propelled \ \ Mower- Model 998 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 ....................
O Sight and hold this levelwith a vertical tree... o 1= o >:.
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. 20. Neveroperate mowerwithoutpropertrail shield, discharge cover,grass catcher,bladecontrol handleor othersafety protectivedevices in placeand working.Neveroperate mowerwithdamagedsafetydevices.Failureto do so,can resultin personalinjury. 21.
1. Removeanypackingmaterialwhich may be between upperand lowerhandles. a. Pull up and backon upperhandleas shownin Figure1. Makecertain the 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.
c. Lift chutedoor on thegrass bag adapterand slide grass bag ontothe adapter.See Figure5. 6. Followstepsbelowto install the sidedischargechute: a. Removemulchingbaffleor grass bagadapterfrom unit by disconnectingwing nuts. b. Attachside dischargechute to unitand secure with the threewing nuts.See Figure6. 7. The cuttingheightadjustmentleveris locatedabove the rearleft wheel. See Figure7A insert. a.
Know Your Lawn Mower BladeControl Control Shift Lever Recoil Height Adjustment Lever GasolineFill WARNING The blade control mechanism is a Oil Fill safety device. Never attempt to bypass its operations. 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. Extinguish cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition. Keep hands and feet away from the chute area on cutting deck.
WARNING:The operationof any lawn mowercan result in foreign objects being thrownintothe eyes,whichcan damageyoureyes severely.Always wear safetyglasseswhileoperating the mower,or while performing any adjustmentsor repairson it. Starting Engine Mower WARNING:Besure no one otherthan the operatoris standingnear the lawn mower whilestartingengine or operatingmower. Never run engine indoors or in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide,an odorless and deadly gas.
Lubrication 1. Lubricatepivot pointson theblade controlat least oncea seasonwith lightoil. The bladecontrol must operatefreely inboth directions.See Figure11. :, Lubricate these points before reassembly. Maintaining Your LaWn 2. Lubricatethe wheelsat least oncea seasonwith lightoil (or motoroil). If wheelsare removedfor any reason,lubricatethe axle boltand innersurfaceof the wheelwith lightoil. See Figure11. i 3.
Shift Lever Cable Periodicadjustmentof the six speedshiftcablemay be necessarydue to normalwearon the cable.Adjustment is neededif all six speedsdo notwork. The adjustablecablebracketis locatedon the left side of the mowerbesidetheengine.See Figure13.Start engineand placeshiftleverin the sixthspeedposition. Stop engineand disconnectspark plugwire and groundit againstengine. 1. Loosenhexnut which securesthe adjustablecable bracket.See Figure13. 2. Pushbackon theadjustablecable bracket. 3. Tightenhex nut.
f _ Belt Care 1. Disconnectthe spark plug wireand groundit against the engine. 2. Drainthe fueltank or placea pieceof plasticbeneath the capto preventgasolineleakage. i i 3. Placeshift leverin the first positionand tip moweron its side(air cleanersideof engine up). Maintaining I Your Lawn Mower 4. Moveheightadjustmentleverto the highestposition. 5. Removeblade,blade adapter,and relatedhardware as instructed in BladeCareabove. Removethe three hexscrewsholdingbaffle to the deck.See Figure16. 6.
16.Tightenthe idler pulleyboltand lock nut halfa turn. 17.Placethe belt betweenthe two pulleyhalveson the crankshaft.Makesureto routethe belt insidethe belt Six Speed CableSlot guard pin. See Figure21. 18.Pinchboth sidesof the belt togethersothat the belt is not in the pulleygroove,and the lowerpulleycan be pushedtowardsthe engine.See Figure22. Maintaining 19.Pivotthe controlarmback to its originalpositionand reinstallsix-speedcableintothe slot. See Figure23. 20.
Problem Cause Enginefails to start I Remedy I 1. Bladecontrol disengaged• Spark plug 2. wire disconnected. 1. Engageblade control• 2. Connectwireto spark plug. I I 3, Fueltank empty or stale fue 4. Enginenot primed• 3. Fil tank with clean fresh gasoline• 4. Primeengineas instructedin I I Shooting "OperatingYourLawnMower". 5.F aultyps ark pg. lu H I I J- Engineruns erratic For repairs beyond R 6. BIockedfue line. 7 En ne f coded g' " I I J 1. Connectand tightenspark plug wire. 2.
Safety Labels Found On Your Lawn Mower Labels WARNINC DONOT remove safety (or any)labels from mower for any reason, /' // / 15
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1 747-0824 BladeControl 42 747-0937 Grass CatcherFrame 2 731-0904A UpperControlHousing 43 631-0071 Grass CatcherCover 3 731-0620 Drive Control 44 726-0106 Cap Nut HexNut5/16-18 4 731-0905A LowerControl Housing 45 712-0429 5 710-1667A C SunkTap Screw,#10 x.
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1 736-0314 ThrustWasher3/8 x .70 42 750-1050 FlangeSpacer 2 736-0569 ThrustWasher.388x .625 43 741-0124 Bearing 3 736-0264 FiatWasher.330ID x.630 OD 44 736-3084 FiatWasher.510ID x 1.120OD 4 714-0104 CotterPin 45 682-3053 HandleBracketAssembly- LH 5 732-0306 CompressionSpring 46 682-3052 HandleBracketAssembly- RH 6 734-2044 Wheel9 x 2 47 725-0157 CableTie 7 712-0414 TopLockTabWeldNut 1/4-20 48 710-1348 Screw 1/4-14x.
MANUFACTURER'S LiMiTED WARRANTY FOR The limitedwarrantyset forth belowisgivenby MTDLLCwith respectto newmerchandisepurchasedand usedin the UnitedStates,its possessionsand territories. e. MTDdoes notextendany warrantyfor productssoldor exported outsideof the UnitedStates,its possessionsand territories,except those soldthroughMTD'sauthorizedchannelsof exportdistribution.
