Summary of the content on the page No. 1
Safety • Assembly • Operation • Tips & Techniques • Maintenance • Troubleshooting • Parts Lists • Warranty
OPERATOR’S MANUAL
21” Rotary Mower — Model 588
IMPORTANT
READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION
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 law
Summary of the content on the page No. 2
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 ....................................................... 3 Maintaining Your Lawn Mower ......................... 10 Safe Operation Practices ................................... 4 Trouble Shooting .............................................. 12 Setup and Adjustment .............
Summary of the content on the page No. 3
����������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������� ��������������� ��� Use this page as a guide to determine slopes where you may not operate safely. Do not operate your lawn mower on such slopes. 1 Slope Gauge 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 walk- behi
Summary of the content on the page No. 4
WARNING: Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle compo- nents contain or emit chemicals known to State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. 2 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
Summary of the content on the page No. 5
19. Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes to a 7. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources complete stop before removing the grass catcher or unclog- of ignition. ging the chute. 8. Never fuel machine indoor because flammable vapors will The cutting blade continues to rotate for a few seconds after accumulate in the area. the engine is shut off. Never place any part of the body in 9. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while engine is hot or 2 the blade area u
Summary of the content on the page No. 6
1. Remove any packing material which may be between upper and lower handles. a. Pull up and back on upper handle as shown in Step 1. Make certain the lower handle is seated 3 securely into the handle mounting brackets. � b. Tighten hand knobs securing upper handle to lower handle. Make sure that each carriage bolt is seated properly in the handle. Setup and 2. Locate hairpin clip in one hole on the weld pin on each side of lower handle. Adjustment a. Remove hairpin clip from this hole.
Summary of the content on the page No. 7
6. An adjusting plate and thumb lever at each wheel position provides cutting height adjustment. � a. Depress lever towards wheel. � b. Move it to any of the nine positions for desired 3 cutting height. See Step 6. � c. Release lever towards mower deck. Setup and Adjustment CUTTING HEIGHT Step 6 Step 6 All wheels must be placed in the same relative position. GRASS CATCHER Step 7 � Step 5 Make certain bag is turned right side out 7. Follow steps below to assemble the grass catcher: before
Summary of the content on the page No. 8
Know Your Lawn Mower ������������� 4 Operating Your Lawn ������������ Mower ������ ������� ������������ �������� ������������ ������������� ��������������� WARNING ����������������� ���������������� The blade control mechanism is a safety device. Never attempt to bypass its operations. ������������� Use extreme care when handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are Figure 1 Now that you have set up your lawn mower for op- explosive. Never fuel Recoil Starter
Summary of the content on the page No. 9
WARNING: The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects being thrown into the eyes, which can � damage your eyes severely. Always wear safety glasses while operating 4 the mower, or while performing any adjustments or repairs on it. Operating Starting Engine Your Lawn � WARNING: Be sure no one other than Mower the operator is standing near the lawn 3 mower while starting engine or operat- ing mower. Never run engine indoors or in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. � Eng
Summary of the content on the page No. 10
Deck Care Clean underside of the mower deck after each use to prevent build-up of grass clippings or other debris. Follow steps below for this job. 1. Disconnect spark plug wire. Drain gasoline from lawn 5 mower, or place a piece of plastic under the gas cap. 2. Tip mower so that it rests on the housing. Keep the side with the air cleaner facing up. Hold mower firmly. Maintaining WARNING: Never tip the mower Your Lawn more than 90 degrees in any directions and do not leave the Mower mow
Summary of the content on the page No. 11
Blade Care WARNING: When removing the cutting blade for sharpening or 5 replacement, protect your hands with a pair of heavy gloves or use a heavy rag to hold the blade. Maintaining Your Lawn Periodically inspect the blade adapter for cracks, especially if you strike a foreign object. Replace when Mower necessary. Follow the steps below for blade service. 1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug. Turn mower on its side making sure that the air filter and the carburetor are up. Fig
Summary of the content on the page No. 12
Problem Cause Remedy 1. Blade control disengaged. 1. Engage blade control. Engine fails to start 6 2. Spark plug wire disconnected. 2. Connect wire to spark plug. 3. Fuel tank empty or stale fuel. 3. Fill tank with clean, fresh gasoline. 4. Engine not primed. 4. Prime engine as instructed in Trouble “Operating Your Lawn Mower”. 5. Clean, adjust gap, or replace. 5. Faulty spark plug. Shooting 6. Clean fuel line. 6. Blocked fuel line. 7. Wait a few minutes to restart, but 7. Engine flooded. do
Summary of the content on the page No. 13
7 Safety Labels � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � WARNING � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � DO NOT remove safety � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �
Summary of the content on the page No. 14
3 1 33 2 8 5 6 11 9 7 35 34 37 4 15 36 14 13 16 32 18 44 46 12 32 20 41 39 42 10 38 43 45 17 47 21 29 40 19 45 28 30 30 27 25 45 22 45 24 26 23 31 14
Summary of the content on the page No. 15
8 Parts List 1 747-1161A Blade Control Handle 26 736-0524B Blade Bell Support 2 749-1092A Upper Handle 27 787-01290 Front Adjustment Plate 3 747-04080 Grass Catcher Frame 28 720-0426 Adjustment Lever Knob 4 749-0928A Lower Handle 29 732-0866 Spring Lever 5 720-0279 Wing Nut 30 738-0507B Shoulder Screw 6 710-1205 Rope Guide 31 734-04086 Front Wheel, 7” x 1.8” 7 710-1174 Carriage Bolt ,5/16-18 x 2 32 710-04371 Screw, 1/4-15 x 1.250 To order replacement 8 664-04027 Grass Bag Assembly 33 746-0554 C
Summary of the content on the page No. 16
MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR The limited warranty set forth below is given by MTD LLC with respect to e. MTD does not extend any warranty for products sold or new merchandise purchased and used in the United States, its posses- exported outside of the United States, its possessions and sions and territories. territories, except those sold through MTD’s authorized channels of export distribution. “MTD” warrants this product against defects in material and workmanship f. Replacement
