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Safe Operation Practices • Set-Up • Operation • Maintenance • Service • Troubleshooting • Warranty
Otraep Or ’s M launa
Rover Raider 1438 & 1842 Lawn Tractor
WARNING
READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL
BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS MACHINE.
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
MTD LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019
Printed In USA Form No. 769-05382
(September 7, 2009)
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To The Owner 1 Thank You Thank you for purchasing a lawn tractor manufactured by If you have any problems or questions concerning the machine, MTD LLC. It was carefully engineered to provide excellent phone your local authorized MTD service dealer or contact us performance when properly operated and maintained. directly. MTD’s Customer Support telephone numbers, website address and mailing address can be found on this page. We want Please read this entire manual prior to operating the equi
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Important Safe Operation Practices 2 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. When you see this symbol. HEED ITS WARNING! CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65 WARNING! Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain v
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12. A missing or damaged discharge cover can cause blade Slope Operation contact or thrown object injuries. Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and tip-over 13. Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel drives, walks, or accidents which can result in severe injury or death. All slopes roads and while not cutting grass. require extra caution. If you cannot back up the slope or if you feel uneasy on it, do not mow it. 14. Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing roa
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Children Service 1. Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the Safe Handling of Gasoline: presence of children. Children are often attracted to the machine and the mowing activity. They do not understand 1. To avoid personal injury or property damage use extreme the dangers. Never assume that children will remain where care in handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely you last saw them. flammable and the vapors are explosive. Serious personal injury can occur when gasolin
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3. Periodically check to make sure the blades come to Do not modify engine complete stop within approximately (5) five seconds after To avoid serious injury or death, do not modify engine in any operating the blade disengagement control. If the blades way. Tampering with the governor setting can lead to a runaway do not stop within the this time frame, your machine engine and cause it to operate at unsafe speeds. Never tamper should be serviced professionally by an authorized MTD with fa
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Safety Symbols This page depicts and describes safety symbols that may appear on this product. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine before attempting to assemble and operate. Symbol Description READ THE OPERATOR’S MANUAL(S) Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the manual(s) before attempting to assemble and operate DANGER— ROTATING BLADES Never carry passengers. Never carry children, even with the blades off. DANGER— ROTATING BLADES Always look down and
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8 s ce ti On 2 — i Mp Onat rt s eaf Otiepra On p rcatiecs Fold along dotted line (represents a 15° slope) Sight and hold this level with a vertical tree... or a corner of a building... or a fence post 15° Use this page as a guide to determine slopes where you may not operate safely. WARNING! Do not operate your lawn mower on such slopes. 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 serio
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A As ss se em mb bl ly & S y & Se et t- -U Up p 3 3 NOTE: If the battery is put into service after the date shown Tractor Set-Up on top/side of battery, charge the battery as instructed in the NOTE: This Operators Manual covers a range of product Maintenance section your Operator’s Manual prior to operating specifications for various models. Characteristics and features the tractor. discussed and/or illustrated in this manual may not be applicable Shipping Brace Removal to all models. MTD
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Attaching The Steering Wheel Attaching The Seat If the steering wheel for your tractor did not come attached, the If the seat for your tractor was not attached at the factory, follow hardware for attaching it has been packed within the steering the applicable instructions below to attach it. wheel, beneath the steering wheel cap. Carefully pry off the NOTE: For shipping reasons, some seats are not attached at steering wheel cap and remove the hardware. the factory. If this is the case, free t
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Setting the Deck Gauge Wheels (if so equipped) Move the tractor on a firm and level surface, preferably pavement, and proceed as follows 1. Select the height position of the cutting deck by placing the deck lift lever in the normally desired mowing height setting (any of the six different cutting height notches on the right fender). 2. Check the gauge wheels for contact or excessive clearance with the surface below. The deck gauge wheels should have between ¼-inch and ½-inch clearance abov
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Controls and Features 4 Speed Control & Ammeter Parking Brake Lever (On some models) Clutch/Brake Pedal Choke Knob Throttle/Choke Lever Ignition Switch (On some models) Module Shift Lever PTO (Blade Engage) Lever Deck Lift Lever Figure 4-1 Lawn Tractor controls and features are illustrated in Fig 4-1 and described on the following pages. WARNING! Read and follow all safety rules and instructions in this manual, including the entire Operation section, before attempting to operate this machine
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Throttle Control Lever On/Lights A The throttle control lever is located on the right side of the Start tractor’s dash panel. This lever controls the speed of the engine Off and, on some models, when pushed all the way forward, the choke control also. When set in a given position, the throttle will maintain a uniform engine speed. See Fig. 4-2. FAST CHOKE FAST B Off On/Lights SLOW SLOW On Figure 4-2 Start IMPORTANT: When operating the tractor with the cutting deck engaged, be certain that t
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To stop the engine, turn the ignition key counterclockwise to the OFF position. See Fig. 4-3B. Ignition Switch Module To start the engine, insert the key into the ignition switch and turn clockwise to the START position. Release the key into the NORMAL MOWING MODE position once the engine has fired. The headlights will be activated in the Normal (and Reverse Caution Modes). To stop the engine, turn the ignition key counterclockwise to the OFF position. See Fig. 4-3C. WARNING! Never leave a
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O Op per era at tio ion n 5 5 Models with Reverse Caution Mode • With the ignition key in the NORMAL MOWING position, the engine will automatically shut off if the PTO (Blade Engage) lever is moved into the engaged (ON) position with the shift lever in Reverse. WARNING! Do not operate the tractor if the interlock system is malfunctioning. This system was designed for your safety and protection. Reverse Caution Mode (Models equipped with ignition switch module) WARNING! Use extreme caution
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4. Once activated (indicator light ON), the tractor can be Starting the Engine driven in reverse with the cutting blades (PTO) engaged. WARNING! Do not operate the tractor if the 5. Always look down and behind before and while backing to interlock system is malfunctioning. This system was make sure no children are around. designed for your safety and protection. 6. After resuming forward motion, return the key to the NORMAL MOWING position. NOTE: Refer to the Gasoline and Oil fill-up instr
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6. Place speed control lever in desired position. Driving The Tractor 7. Place shift lever in either FORWARD or REVERSE, and follow WARNING! Avoid sudden starts, excessive speed normal operating procedures. and sudden stops. Driving On Slopes WARNING! Do not leave the seat of the tractor without first placing the PTO (Blade Engage) lever in Refer to the SLOPE GAUGE in the Important Safe Operation the disengaged (OFF) position, depressing the brake Practices section of the manual to help de
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NOTE: It is not necessary to remove the discharge chute to Mowing operate the mower with the mulch kit installed. WARNING! To help avoid blade contact or a WARNING! Never operate the mower without the thrown object injury, keep bystanders, helpers, discharge chute properly attached. children and pets at least 75 feet from the machine while it is in operation. Stop machine if anyone enters the area. To operate the cutting deck without mulching, simply remove the mulch plug by unthreading t
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Maintenance & Adjustments 6 NOTE: Refer to the Engine Operator/Owner Manual packed with Maintenance your unit for information regarding the quantity and proper WARNING! Before performing any maintenance or viscosity of motor oil. repairs, disengage PTO, move shift lever into neutral Air Cleaner position, set parking brake, stop engine and remove key to prevent unintended starting. Service the pre-cleaner, if so equipped, and cartridge/air cleaner element as instructed in the Engine Operator
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Cleaning Battery Deck Wash System™ Clean the battery by removing it from the tractor and washing If your tractor’s deck is equipped with a water port on its surface with a baking soda and water solution. If necessary, scrape the as part of its Deck Wash System™, follow these instructions to battery terminals with a wire brush to remove deposits. Coat utilize this feature. terminals and exposed wiring with grease or petroleum jelly to Use the Deck Wash System™ to rinse grass clippings from the
