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Operator’s Manual
21” Rear & Side
Discharge Mulching
Mower
Model Series
540
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). If a spark arrester is used, it should b
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Page Important Safe Operation Practices................................................................... 3 Slope Gauge...................................................................................................... 6 Assembling Your Lawn Mower........................................................................... 7 Know Your Lawn Mower .................................................................................... 9 Operating Your Lawm Mower ...........
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SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES 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. WARNING: The Engine Exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the State of
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Mow only in daylight or good artificial light. Never assume that children will remain where you Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walks last saw them. or roads. Keep children out of the mowing area and under the If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, watchful care of a responsible adult other than the stop the engine and check immediately for the operator. cause. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble. Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the
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Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the adjustment while the engine is running. blade(s) or wear gloves, and use extra caution Grass catcher components are subject to wear, when servicing them. damage and deterioration, which could expose Do not change the engine governor setting or moving parts or allow objects to be thrown. For overspeed the engine. Excessive engine speeds safety protection, frequently check components and are da
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SECTION 2: SLOPE GAUGE Use this page as a guide to determine slopes where you may not operate the lawn mower safely. 6 USE THIS PAGE AS A GUIDE TO DETERMINE SLOPES WHERE YOU MAY NOT OPERATE SAFELY. SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE A POWER POLE A CORNER OF A BUILDING OR A FENCE POST 15° 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 wal
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SECTION 3: ASSEMBLING YOUR LAWN MOWER NOTE: Reference to right or left hand side of the mower To Remove Unit From Carton is observed from the operating position. Remove staples, break glue on top flaps, or cut tape at carton end and peel along top flap to open carton. Setting Up Your Lawn Mower Remove loose parts included with your unit (i.e., operator’s manual, etc.). NOTE: This owner’s guide covers various models of Cut along corners and lay carton down flat. Remove mowers. Follow on
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The rope guide is attached to the right side of upper located on the right side of the cutting deck. Do not handle. Loosen the wing nut which secures the remove the mulching plug from the mower even when rope guide. See Figure 4. you are not mulching the grass. With spark plug wire disconnected and grounded, To remove the mulching baffle, lift the rear hold the blade control handle against the upper discharge door on the mower. Remove the handle, and pull the starter rope out of the en
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Converting To Side Discharge Mulching Plug 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 Hinge Pin baffle. See Figure 6. On the side of the mower, lift the mulching plug. See Figure 8. Slide the two hooks of the side discharge chute Deflector under the hinge pin on the mulching plug assembly as shown in Figure 8. Lower the side mulching plug. Do not remove the side mu
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site. Once the bag is full, it has to be removed from the 2. The throttle control is located on the engine. It is mower and emptied before any further mowing. used to regulate the engine speed. 3. Your engine is equipped with a constant speed Mulching Plug throttle, which is set at full throttle for best Both the mulching baffle and the mulching plug are performance. used only for mulching purposes. Instead of collecting the grass clippings in a grass catcher, some mower WARNING: T
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Blade speed should be adjusted to the condition of Using the Mulcher the lawn. For effective mulching, do not cut wet grass For a healthy lawn, never cut more than one- because it tends to stick to the underside of the third of the total length of the grass at any one deck, preventing proper mulching of grass cutting. Lawn should be cut in the fall as long as clippings. New or thick grass may require a there is growth. narrower cut. The ground speed should be This mower is design
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Reassemble the upper handle. Handle Height Place the hairpin clips in the inner holes in the weld Your mower is shipped with the handle in the higher pins and attach the starter rope as instructed in the height position.To lower the handle height for your assembly instructions. convenience, proceed as follows. Cutting Height An adjusting plate and thumb lever at each wheel position provides cutting height adjustment. Each adjusting plate has nine height positions. Height of cut Lowe
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Periodically inspect the blade adapter for cracks, Lubrication especially if you strike a foreign object. Replace (Refer to Lubrication Chart in Figure 14.) when necessary. Remove the bolt and blade support or bell washer WARNING: Always stop engine and which hold the blade and adapter to the engine disconnect spark plug wire before crankshaft. See Figure 15. Remove the blade and cleaning, lubricating or doing any kind of adapter from the crankshaft. work on lawn mower. Blade Adapter
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Align the blade bell support over the blade with the Blade Mounting Torque tabs in the holes of the blade and insert the hex Center Bolt: 450 in. lbs. min., 600 in. lbs. max. bolt. Tighten the hex bolt to the torque listed in the IMPORTANT:To ensure safe operation, all nuts and “Blade Mounting Torque” section below. bolts must be checked periodically for correct tightness. SECTION 8: OFF-SEASON STORAGE The following steps should be taken to prepare lawn Store mower in a dry, clean area.
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SECTION 10: SHROUD CHART Shroud Color Shroud Color Shroud Color 731-1402A Yellow 751B281439 Dark Red 731-1395A Red 731-1694 Black 751B281440 Black 731-1396A Black 731-1695 Silver 751B281443 Bright Red 731-1397A Grey 731-1934A Charcoal Hardware: 710-1256 Hardware: 710-1256 Hardware: 710-1256 Shroud Color Shroud Color Shroud Color 731-1585B Black 731-1586B Black 7510143208 Black Hardware: 710-1274 731-1612A Red Hardware: 7510042823 Hardware: 7510042823 Shroud Color Shroud Color Shroud Color 75116
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SECTION 11: PARTS LIST FOR MODELS 540 THROUGH 549 19 15 1 21 5 12 11 9 10 25 26 3 7 95 16 8 97 5 4 96 86 2 18 6 6 98 14 52 99 4 17 24 57 57 13 20 23 20 68 61 52 30 92 31 56 39 58 40 82 87 89 88 80 39 55 50 87 81 62 59 90 71 94 51 84 76 83 86 47 44 73 42 43 85 41 44 63 32 49 70 53 36 66 54 64 71 34 67 60 33 93 72 16
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Models 540 through 549 Ref. No. Part No. Description Ref. No. Part No. Description 1 747-0824 Control Handle Assembly 43 732-0404 Spring Lever: Front Wheel 44 738-0507B Shoulder Bolt .5” Dia. x .357” 647-0004 Deluxe Control Handle Assembly 47 720-0190 Spring Lever Knob 2 710-1205 Rope Guide 3 720-0279 Handle Knob 49 14578 Height Adj. Assembly Comp - RH 14579 Height Adj. Assembly Comp - LH 4 710-1174 Curved Hd. Bolt 5/16-18 x 2” 50 17488A Pivot Bar - RH 5 712-0324 Hex L-Nut 1/4-20 Thd. 6 720-0314
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Models 540 through 549 Table continued from previous page Ref. No. Part No. Description 89 736-0331 Bell Washer .39 x 1.13 x .062 90 712-0798 Hex Nut 3/8-16 92 732-0809 Torsion Spring 93 738-0102 Front Axle Bolt 94 782-7006 Hinged Mounting Bracket 95 710-0896 Hex Screw 1/4-14 x .625 96 782-9050 Mounting Bracket 97 751B224511 Flywheel Guard (B&S) † 98 710-1268 Hex Screw 99 751B224437 Muffler Guard † † If equipped Your Notes Date Comments 18
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Your Notes Date Comments 19
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MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR: c. Routine maintenance items such as lubricants, filters, The limited warranty set forth below is given by MTD blade sharpening and tune-ups, or adjustments such PRODUCTS INC (“MTD”) with respect to new merchandise as brake adjustments, clutch adjustments or deck purchased and used in the United States, its possessions adjustments; and normal deterioration of the exterior and territories. finish due to use or exposure. d.MTD does not extend any warranty for p
