User manual MTD MULCHING MOWER 540

[. . . ] OPERATOR'S MANUAL 21" Rear & Side Discharge Mulching Mower Model Series 540 IMPORTANT: READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY Warning: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forestcovered, 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). If a spark arrester is used, it should be maintained in effective working order by the operator. In the State of California the above is required by law (Section 4442 of the California Public Resources Code). A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest engine authorized service dealer or contact the service department, P. O. [. . . ] See Figure 4. Cable Tie Setting Up Your Lawn Mower Assembling Handle · Lift up and pull back on the upper handle to raise the handle into the operating position. Make certain the lower handle is seated securely into the handle bracket assemblies. Tighten the wing nuts on each side of the handle (carriage bolts must be seated properly into the handle). See Figure 2. Lower Handle Figure 4 NOTE: Your mower is shipped with the handle in the higher position. If you wish to lower the height of the handle, refer to the Adjustment Section at this time. 7 Attaching Rear Wheels · · · Remove hardware from rear pivot bars. Insert shoulder screw through flat washer, wave washer, rear wheel, and spring washer. Secure shoulder screw with hardware to rear pivot bar. See Figure 5. Spring Washer Wave Washer Rear Mulching Baffle Shoulder Screw Figure 7 IMPORTANT: Make sure cables are routed to the outside of the handle so they are not in the way when attaching the grass catcher. Flat Washer Rear Wheel · · Figure 5 Attaching Starter Rope · The rope guide is attached to the right side of upper handle. Loosen the wing nut which secures the rope guide. See Figure 6. Starter Rope Upper Handle Wing Nut Rope Guide Lower Handle Lift the rear discharge door on the mower. Place the hooks, found on both sides of the grass catcher frame, over the chute door pivot rod at the rear of the mower. See Figure 8. Discharge Door Grass Bag Figure 6 · With the spark plug wire disconnected and grounded, hold the blade control handle against the upper handle, and pull the starter rope out of the engine. Slip the starter rope into the rope guide. Figure 8 · To remove the grass catcher, lift the rear discharge door on the mower, lift the grass catcher up and off the pivot rod. Reinstall the mulching baffle and release the rear discharge door. WARNING: Never operate the mower unless the hooks on the grass catcher are firmly seated on the chute pivot rod, and the rear discharge door rests firmly against the top of the grass catcher. Attaching Grass Catcher To Mower NOTE: The mulching baffle, if so equipped, is already in place on the mower for shipping purposes. Your lawn mower may be equipped with both a mulching baffle and a mulching plug. While the mulching baffle is located at the rear of the mower, the mulching plug is located on the right side of the cutting deck. Do not remove the mulching plug from the mower even when you are not mulching the grass. · To remove the mulching baffle, lift the rear discharge door on the mower. See Figure 7. Converting To Side Discharge If your unit is equipped with a side discharge chute, you can convert to a side discharge mower as follows: · · Lift the rear discharge door and install the mulching baffle. [. . . ] Damage resulting from the installation or use of any accessory or attachment not approved by MTD Products Inc. for use with the product(s) covered by this manual will void your warranty as to any resulting damages. Normal wear parts or components thereof are subject to separate terms as follows: All normal wear part or component failures will be covered on the product for a period of 90 days regardless of cause. After 90 days, but within the two year period, normal wear part failures will be covered ONLY IF caused by defects in material or workmanship of OTHER component parts. [. . . ]