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OPERATOR’S MANUAL
Model Series
230 and 520
22" SELF-PROPELLED
ROTARY MOWERS
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 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 be maintained in effective working order by
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SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES 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 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 Sta
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• Do not engage the self-propelled mechanism on • Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can units so equipped while starting engine. cause serious personal injury. If you feel you are losing your balance release the blade control • The blade control handle is a safety device. Never handle immediately and the blade will stop in less attempt to bypass its operation. Doing so makes than 3 seconds. the safety device inoperative and may result in personal injury through contact with the rot
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• To reduce fire hazard, keep mower free of grass, • After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or remove the wire from the spark plug, and fuel spillage. Allow mower to cool at least 5 thoroughly inspect the mower for any damage. minutes before storing. Repair the damage before starting and operating the mower. • Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain the blade and all moving parts have • Never attempt to make a wheel or cut
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SECTION 2: 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 the MTD customer support department. • E
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Slope Gauge ° 5 1 6 FOLD ON DOTTED LINE, REPRESENTING A 15° SLOPE 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 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-behind mower on such a slope, it is extremely difficult t
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SECTION 4: UNPACKING To removing unit from carton 1. Remove staples, break glue on top flaps, or cut Briggs & Stratton Engines tape at carton end and peel along top flap to open carton. 2. Remove loose parts if included with unit (i.e., owner's manual, etc.). Spark Plug Wire 3. Make sure the cables are straight and not With Rubber Boot crimped while removing loose parts or the unit from the carton. Spark 4. Cut along dotted lines and lay carton down flat. Plug Wire 5. Remove packing material
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This owner's guide covers various models of CHUTE DEFLECTOR mowers. Follow only those instructions which The chute deflector on your mower is held in an pertain to your unit. upright position by a retainer for shipping purposes only. IMPORTANT: This unit is shipped without gasoline or oil in the engine. Be certain to service engine with gasoline and oil before operating your mower. NOTE: Reference to right or left hand side of the mower is observed from the operating position. Retainer HOW T
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1. Lift the chute deflector on the mower. Slide the FINAL ASSEMBLY notches in the bottom of the mulching baffle Make certain all nuts and bolts are tightened over the lip of the discharge opening. See securely. Figure 6. 2. Push the hooks on the top of the baffle until they snap over the hinge on the discharge chute. Release the chute deflector. SECTION 5: CONTROLS BLADE CONTROL HANDLE Blade Control Handle WARNING: This control mechanism is a safety device. Never attempt to bypass Throttle its
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SECTION 6: OPERATION WARNING: Keep hands and feet away TO START ENGINE AND ENGAGE BLADE from the chute area on cutting deck. See WARNING: When starting the unit for Figure 1 in the Safety Section. the first time, face the mower against a solid object such as a wall, fence, etc. Start the unit, and if it shows any signs of WARNING: The operation of any lawn motion with the drive clutch control mower can result in foreign objects being disengaged, shut the engine off thrown into the eyes, which
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grass or wet grass may require a narrower cut. TO STOP ENGINE AND BLADE Blade speed should be adjusted to the condition of 1. Move throttle control lever to SLOW position. the lawn. 2. Release the blade control handle to stop the The best mowing pattern is one that allows the engine and blade. clippings to discharge towards the uncut part of the lawn. This permits recutting of the clippings to WARNING: The blade continues to further pulverize them. When cutting high weeds, rotate for a few seco
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1. Engage the drive clutch control handle (squeeze handle against the upper handle). Measure the spring on the drive clutch cable. It should measure approximately 2-1/4 inches long as shown in Figure 11B, inset. 2. If adjustment is necessary, loosen the screw which secures the cable bracket to the upper handle. Notch Lower 3. Slide the cable bracket up or down as Handle necessary. 4. Check the spring length as instructed in step one. A Figure 10 4. Turn the lower handle around so the notche
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2. Push the throttle control lever on the handle all THROTTLE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT the way forward as far as it will go, then back it If the throttle control requires adjustment or if it has off one "click". Make certain the throttle control been replaced and need adjustment, proceed as lever remains in this position. follows: 3. Push the control lever on the engine as far toward the rear of the engine as it will go. Secure the cable in this position with the cable clamp and screw. CARBURETOR ADJU
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Transmission Replacing Blade The transmission is pre-lubricated and sealed at the NOTE: If the adapter is keyed, make sure that the factory. It does not require checking. If key in the adapter is aligned with the key slot on the disassembled for any reason, fill with 2 ounces of crankshaft. Alvania grease, part number 737-0168. 1. Place the two pulleys, the flat washer, the spring washer and the spacer on the engine WARNING: Be sure to disconnect and crankshaft. See Figure 14. ground the spark
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BLADE MOUNTING TORQUE Belt Replacement Center Bolt: 450 in. lbs. min., 600 in. lbs. max.; Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it Blade Adapter Bolts (if applicable): 200 in. lbs. min., against the engine. 350 in. lbs. max. 1. Drain the fuel tank or place a piece of plastic To ensure safe operation of your unit, all nuts and beneath the cap to prevent gasoline leakage. bolts must be checked periodically for correct 2. Remove the transmission belt cover by tightness. removing the three bolts
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7. Remove the belt from between the idler pulley and the belt guard on the idler pulley bracket. 8. Remove the belt from the transmission pulley. 9. Push the idler pulley up and out of the way. See Belt Figure 18. Guard 10. Slide the belt in from the rear of the deck, and place it around the transmission pulley. Idler Pulley Idler Belt Pulley Pulley Figure 19 13. Reassemble the transmission belt cover. Make sure to maintain the correct order while reassembling the blade, the blade adapter,
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SECTION 10: TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE Trouble Possible Cause(s) Corrective Actions Engine fails to Blade control handle disengaged. Engage blade control handle. start Spark plug wire disconnected. Connect wire to spark plug. Dirty aircleaner. Refer to the engine manual packed with your unit. Primer button not depressed. Refer to the engine manual packed with your unit. Throttle control lever not in correct Move throttle lever to FAST or START position. starting position (if so equipped). Fuel tank
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Model Series 230 30 33 31 30 32 18
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Model Series 230 REF. REF. NO. PART NO. DESCRIPTION NO. PART NO. DESCRIPTION 1 747-0824 Control Handle Ass’y. (Std.) 50 15262B Pivot Bar 2 720-0225 Foam Grip (2 Req’d.) 51 15261A Height Adj. Plate 720-0226 Foam Grip (1 Req’d.) (Optional) 52 ** Wheel Ass’y. Comp. 3 746-0876 Throttle Lever 53 14578 Height Adj. Ass’y. Comp.-R.H. 4 710-0605 Oval C-Sunk Scr. 14579 Height Adj. Ass’y. Comp.-L.H. 5 712-0324 Hex L-Nut 1/4-20 Thd. 54 738-0102 Shld. Bolt .498" Dia. x 1.45" 6 736-0501 Spr. Wash. .66" I.D. 5
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REF. REF. NO. PART NO. DESCRIPTION NO. PART NO. DESCRIPTION 111 710-0841 Fl-”C”-Sunk Hd. Tap Scr. #10 x .75" Lg. 136 10622B Spring-Nylon 112 736-0356 Bell Wash. .39 I.D. x 1.38 O.D. 138 17053A Chain Cover 122 711-0805 Shld. Pin 3/8-24 x 1.43" Lg. 147 738-0719A Rear Shaft Ass’y. 21.94" Lg. 128 712-0711 Hex Jam Nut 3/8-24 Thd. 148 741-0324 Hex Flange Bearing 130 736-0270 Bell Washer .265 ID x .75 149 736-0160 Fl-Wash. .531" I.D. x .93" 131 710-0751 Cap Screw HH 1/4-20 x .620 153 717-0417B Transmis
