User manual MTD ZYJ1450A

[. . . ] 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. WARNING: The Engine Exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. DANGER: Your lawn mower 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. [. . . ] A riding mower could overturn and cause serious injury. If operating a walk-behind mower on such a slope, it is extremely difficult to mainta in your footing and you could slip, resulting in serious injury. Operate RIDING mowers up and down slopes, never across the face of slopes. Operate WALK-BEHIND mowers across the face of slopes, never up and down slopes. 5 SECTION 1: FINDING YOUR MODEL NUMBER This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new walk behind. It will help you assemble, prepare and maintain your walk behind. Please read and understand what it says. Before you start to prepare your walk behind for its first use, please locate the model plate and copy the information from it in this Operator’s Manual. The information on the model plate is very important if you need help from your dealer or customer support department. • Every walk behind has a model plate. You can locate it by standing behind the unit in the operating position and looking down at the rear of the deck. SECTION 2: UNPACKING INSTRUCTIONS REMOVE UNIT FROM CARTON • Remove staples, break glue on top flaps, or cut tape at carton end and peel along top flap to open carton. • Remove loose parts if included with unit (i. e. , owner’s manual, etc. ). See Figure 3. NOTE: For rough or uneven lawns, move the height adjustment lever to a higher position. This will help stop scalping. ENGINE CONTROLS See the engine manual for the location and function of the controls located on the engine. SECTION 5: OPERATION WARNING: Keep hands and feet away from the chute area on cutting deck. The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects being thrown into the eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields. NOTE: For best results raise the cutting position until it is determined which height is best for your lawn. See CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVER in the CONTROLS section. GAS AND OIL FILL-UP Service the engine with gasoline and oil as instructed in the separate engine manual. Use SAE 10W30, API Service class SE or higher, 19 oz (0. 6 qts). WARNING: Never fill fuel tank indoors, with engine running or until the engine has been allowed to cool for at least two minutes after running. 11 EACH TIME BEFORE YOU START YOUR MOWER • Attach spark plug wire to spark plug. Make certain the metal cap on the end of the spark plug wire is fastened securely over the metal tip on the spark plug. TO START ENGINE AND ENGAGE BLADE • Move the throttle control lever all the way forward. (This will activate choke on some models). • Prime engine as instructed in the separate engine manual. Stand behind the unit, squeeze and hold the blade control handle against the upper handle. • Grasp starter handle and pull rope out slowly until engine reaches start of compression cycle (rope will pull slightly harder at this point). [. . . ] Do not mow when grass is wet; wait until later to cut. Mow once at a high cutting height, then mow again at desired height or make a narrower cutting swath (1/2 width). Place all four wheels in same height position. Sharpen or replace blade. Engine runs erratic Engine overheats Engine oil level low. [. . . ]