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Operator’s Manual
22” Rotary Mowers
Model 503
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 the operator.
In
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Page Content Page Important Safe Operation Practices 3 Making Adjustments 10 Slope Gauge 6 Maintaining Your Lawn Mower 11 Assembling Your Lawn Mower 7 Trouble Shooting 13 Know Your Lawn Mower 9 Illustrated Parts List 14 Operating Your Lawn Mower 9 Warranty 16 FINDING MODEL NUMBER 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. Bef
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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 this machine. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in personal injury. When you see this symbol - heed its warning. WARNING: Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle componen
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18. If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop watchful care of a responsible adult other than the the engine and check immediately for the cause. operator. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble. 2. Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the area. 19. Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes to a 3. Before and while moving backwards, look behind and complete stop before removing the grass catcher or down for small children. unclogging the chute. The cuttin
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Thoroughly inspect the mower for any damage. Repair General Service: the damage before starting and operating the mower. 1. Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated 8. Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height area. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an adjustment while the engine is running. odorless and deadly gas. 9. Grass catcher components, discharge cover, and trail 2. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain shield are subject to wear and dama
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FOLD ON DOTTED LINE, REPRESENTING A 15° SLOPE 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 walk-behind mower on such a slope, it is extremely difficult to maintain your footing and you could slip, resulting in serious injury. Operate RIDING mowers u
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SECTION 3: ASSEMBLING YOUR LAWN MOWER IMPORTANT: This unit is shipped without gasoline or oil To secure the upper and lower handle, tighten the in the engine. Be certain to service engine with gasoline wing nuts near the top of lower handle (carriage and oil as instructed in the separate engine manual bolts must be seated properly into the before operating your mower. handle).Tighten the wing nuts at the end of the lower handle to secure the handle to handle NOTE: Reference to right or
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Lower the chute deflector carefully to its operating Installing Front Wheels position keeping your fingers out of the way. Place the front of the mo wer deck on raised blocks. Remove lock nut from pivot arm assembly, slide wheel onto pivot arm assembly and secure with lock nut. See Figure 6. Assemble the other side in the same manner. Raise Chute If your mower is equipped with hub caps, place hub Deflector caps in position against the inner hub of wheel. Remove Press firmly around
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IMPORTANT: This unit is shipped without gasoline or oil and oil as instructed in the separate engine manual in the engine. Be certain to service engine with gasoline before operating your mower. SECTION 4: KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER Read this operator’s manual and safety rules before Blade Control operating your lawn mower. Compare the illustration in Handle Figure 10 with your lawn mower to familiarize yourself with the location of various controls and adjustments. Save this manual for future
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Your lawn mower may be equipped with a constant in the fall as long as there is growth. This mower is speed throttle, which is set at full throttle for best designed to be operated at full throttle to give you the performance. best cut and do the most effective job of mowing or Stand behind the mower and squeeze the blade mulching. control handle against the upper handle. WARNING: If you strike a foreign object, Grasp recoil starter handle and pull rope out slowly stop the engine. Remo
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SECTION 7: MAINTAINING YOUR LAWN MOWER Customer Responsibilities MAINTENANCE SERVICE SCHEDULE DATES Lubricate Wheels Lubricate Blade Control Clean Deck Blade Care Check Oil Change Oil Replace Air Filter Clean Engine Check Spark Plug Check Spark Arrester (if any) Blade Control Handle: Lubricate the pivot points on General Recommendations the blade control handle at least once a season with Always observe safety rule s when performing any light oil. The blade control must operate freely in
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Removing the Blade Maintenance Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug. NOTE: When tipping the unit or emptying the fuel tank Turn mower on its side making sure that the air filter keep the air cleaner side of engine up. Never tip the and the carburetor are up. mower more than 90 degrees and do not leave the Remove the bolt and the blade bell support which mower tipped for any length of time. Oil can drain into hold the blade and the blade adapter to the engine the upper part of the
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SECTION 8: TROUBLESHOOTING Problem Cause Remedy Engine fails to start 1. Blade control handle disengaged. 1. Engage blade control handle. 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. Blocked fuel line. 4. Clean fuel line. 5. Faulty spark plug. 5. Clean, adjust gap, or replace. 6. Engine flooded 6. Wait a few minutes to restart, but do not prime. Engine runs erratic 1. Spark plug wire loose. 1. Conn
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SECTION 9: PARTS LIST FOR MODEL 503 1 2 3 8 5 7 4 9 49 8 6 10 6 13 12 46 15 18 19 31 14 16 48 39 40 20 48 44 43 47 41 31 38 17 42 32 21 33 34 36 48 47 22 28 23 35 27 24 17 29 26 25 †If Equipped 11† 14
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Model 503 Ref. Ref. Part No. Part Description Part No. Part Description No. No. 1. 747-1161A Blade Control Handle 25. 710-1044 Hex Cap Screw 3/8-24 x 1.5 2. 749-1092A Upper Handle 26. 736-0524A Blade Bell Support 3. 746-0946 Blade Control Cable - 48.25” 27. 738-1172 Shoulder Screw 3/8 - 16 x.302 4. 710-1205 Eye Bolt 28. 736-0741 Bell Washer.760 ID x 1.25 OD 5. 720-0279 Wing Nut 29. 734-04086 Front Wheel Assembly 7 x 1.8 6. 720-0284 Wing Nut 31. 720-0426 Height Adjuster Knob 7. 736-0451 Shoulder
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MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR: The limited warranty set forth below is given by MTD LLC with d. MTD does not extend any warranty for products sold or respect to new merchandise purchased and used in the exported outside of the United States, its possessions United States, its possessions and territories. and territories, except those sold through MTD’s authorized channels of export distribution. “MTD” warrants this product against defects in material and e. Replacement parts that are n
