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Operator’s Manual
LT31CS
2-Cycle Petrol
Trimmer/Brushcutter
IMPORTANT: Read safety rules and instructions carefully before operating equipment.
MTD SOUTHWEST 550 N. 54TH STREET, CHANDLER, ARIZONA 85226-2434
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
PART NO. 769-00304 (8/02)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Page Important Safe Operation Practices............................................................... 3 Know Your Trimmer ........................................................................................ 6 Assembling Your Trimmer............................................................................... 7 Operating Your Trimmer................................................................................ 11 Maintaining Your Trimmer.........................
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SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES This Symbol Points Out Important Safety Information 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 Cultivator. Failure To Comply With These Instructions May Result In Personal Injury. When You See This Symbol–Heed Its Warning. SAFETY ALERT SYMBOL: Indicates danger, warning, or caution. Attention is required in order to
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•Wear heavy, long pants, boots and gloves. Do not • Always use the shoulder harness when using the wear loose clothing, jewelry, short pants, sandals or brush blade accessory. go barefoot. Secure hair above shoulder level. • Keep the handle between the operator and cutting • The cutting guard must always be in place while operating head or cutting blade at all times. the unit as a trimmer. Do not operate unit without both • NEVER cut with the cutting blade located over 76 trimming lines extended
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SAFETY AND INTERNATIONAL SYMBOLS This operator's manual describes safety and international symbols and pictographs that may appear on this product. Read the operator's manual for complete safety, assembly, operating and maintenance and repair information. SYMBOL MEANING SYMBOL MEANING • WEAR HEAD PROTECTION • SAFETY ALERT SYMBOL WARNING: Falling objects can Indicates danger, warning, or cause severe head injury. Wear head caution. May be used in conjunction protection when operating this unit.
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SECTION 2: KNOW YOUR TRIMMER KNOW YOUR UNIT As a brushcutter: APPLICATIONS • Cutting weeds and light brush of up to 12.7mm (1/2-in.) in diameter As a trimmer: • Cutting grass and light weeds • Edging • Decorative trimming around trees, fences, etc. Fuel Cap Starter Rope Grip Choke Lever Shaft Grip Primer Support Bulb Fitting Throttle Control Throttle Lock-Out J-Handle Muffler Spark Plug Air Filter/Muffler Cover Blade Shield / Guard Mount On/Off Stop Control Shaft Housing Throttle Control Cutti
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SECTION 3: ASSEMBLING YOUR TRIMMER On some units, the J-handle may be pre-installed, requiring Adjusting only screw loosening and J-handle adjustment tailored to the 6. Loosen the screws so that the J-handle can be operator. Go to step 6 to adjust the J-handle if it is pre-installed. easily moved in the clamp assembly. Do not remove the screws or nuts. INSTALLING AND ADJUSTING THE J-HANDLE 7. Slide the J-handle in or out until the arrow/white line on Installing the decal touches the clamp assemb
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INSTALLING THE HARNESS REMOVING AND INSTALLING CUTTING HEAD GUARD WARNING: Always use the shoulder harness NOTE: Remove the cutting head guard when using the when using the cutting blade to avoid serious unit as a brushcutter. personal injury. 1. Push the strap through the centre of the buckle. WARNING: The cutting head guard should NOT be installed when operating the unit with 2. Pull the strap over the cross bar and down through a blade. Remove the cutting head guard the slot in the buckle, Fi
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Remove the Cutting Head Cutting Head WARNING: The gear housing gets hot with use and can result in injury to the operator. When the unit is turned off it remains hot for a short time. Do not touch the gear housing until it has cooled. 1. Align the shaft bushing hole with the locking rod slot and insert the locking rod into the shaft bushing Locking hole, Figure 8. Rod Slot Shaft Bushing Hole Output Locking Rod Shaft FIGURE 10 4. Place the cutting blade on the output shaft bushing, Locking Rod S
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6. Align the shaft bushing hole with the locking rod 2. Hold the locking rod in place by grasping it next to slot and insert the locking rod into the bushing hole, the boom of the unit, Figure 14. Figure 8. 3. While holding the locking rod, loosen the nut on 7. Put the blade retainer and nut on the output shaft. the blade by turning it clockwise with a 5/8 inch Make sure that the blade is installed correctly. closed-end or socket wrench, Figure 14. 8. Tighten nut counterclockwise against the b
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SECTION 4: OPERATING YOUR TRIMMER RECOMMENDED OIL TYPE Old and/or improperly mixed fuel are usually the main reasons for the unit not running properly. Be sure to use Use a high quality oil formulated for use in 2-cycle, fresh, clean fuel and follow the instructions carefully for air-cooled engines. the proper fuel/oil mixture. RECOMMENDED FUEL TYPE NOTE: Alcohol-blended fuel absorbs moisture (water). Always use clean, fresh, unleaded petrol (gasoline) that As little as 1% moisture in the fuel
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STARTING INSTRUCTIONS Stop/Off (O) On/Off Stop Control Start/On (I) WARNING: Operate this unit only in a well ventilated outdoor area. Carbon monoxide Throttle Lock-Out exhaust fumes can be lethal in a confined area. WARNING: Avoid accidental starting. Be in the starting position when pulling the starter rope, Figure 18. The operator and unit must be in a Throttle Control stable position while starting to avoid serious personal injury. FIGURE 16 1. Mix petrol (gasoline) with oil. Fill fuel tank
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HOLDING THE TRIMMER For best results, tap the Bump Head™ on bare ground or hard soil. If line release is attempted in tall grass, the WARNING: Always wear eye, hearing, foot engine may stall. Always keep the trimming line fully and body protection to reduce the risk of injury extended. Line release becomes more difficult as the when operating this unit. cutting line becomes shorter. NOTE: Do not rest the Bump Head™ on the ground Before operating the unit, stand in the operating position, while t
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USING THE CUTTING BLADE WARNING: The blade continues to spin after the engine is turned off. The coasting blade WARNING: Always wear eye, hearing, foot, can seriously cut you if accidentally touched. body protection and the strap to reduce the risk of injury when operating this unit. • Swing the unit in the same direction as the blade spins, which increases the cutting action. •Move forward to the next area to be cut after the WARNING: Do not use the cutting blade for return swing and plant feet
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SECTION 5: MAINTAINING YOUR TRIMMER NOTE: Some maintenance procedures may require NOTE: Emission control device and system repair, special tools or skills. If you are unsure about maintenance or replacement may be performed these procedures take your unit to an by any non-road engine repair establishment, authorized service dealer. individual or authorized service dealer. In order to assure peak performance of your engine, MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE inspection of the engine exhaust port may be necess
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NOTE: SplitLine™ can only be used with the inner reel 9. Insert the end of the line into the open hole in the inner reel and pull the line tight to make the loop as containing the slotted holes. Single line can be small as possible, Figure 30. used on either type of inner reel. Use Figure 27 10. Before winding, split the line back about 6 inches. to identify the inner reel you have. 11. Wind the line in tight even layers in the direction NOTE: Always use the correct line length when installing i
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Clean and re-oil the air filter every 10 hours of operation. INSTALLING A PREWOUND REEL It is an important item to maintain. Failure to maintain 1. Hold the outer spool with one hand and unscrew the the air filter will VOID the warranty. bump knob clockwise, Figure 15. Inspect the bolt inside the bump knob to make sure it moves freely. 1. Remove air filter/muffler cover. See Removing the Replace the bump knob if damaged. Air filter/Muffler Cover. 2. Remove the old inner reel from the outer spool
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Checking the fuel mixture, cleaning the air filter, and CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENT adjusting the idle speed should solve most engine The idle speed of the engine is adjustable through the problems. air filter/muffler cover, Figure 38. If not and: NOTE: Careless adjustments can seriously damage • The engine will not idle your unit. An authorized service dealer should • The engine hesitates or stalls on acceleration make carburetor adjustments. • There is a loss of engine power Check Fuel Mixture Have
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SPARK ARRESTOR MAINTENANCE Spark Arrestor 1. Remove air filter/muffler cover. Refer to Removing Flatblade the Air Filter/Muffler Cover. Screwdriver 2. Locate muffler front and the two (2) bolts securing it to the engine, Figure 40. Remove the two (2) bolts using a flatblade screwdriver or 5/16-inch socket or nut driver. Pull muffler off of the engine. 3. Turn muffler over to the back side and locate the exhaust gasket. Remove the muffler exhaust gasket from the muffler, Figure 40. Exhaust Spark
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SECTION 6: OFF SEASON STORAGE CLEANING THE UNIT LONG TERM STORAGE If the unit will be stored for an extended time, WARNING: To avoid serious personal 1. Drain all fuel from the fuel tank into a container. Do injury, always turn the unit off and allow it not use fuel that has been stored for more than 60 to cool before you clean or perform any days. Dispose of the old fuel in accordance to local maintenance on it. regulations. • Use a small brush to clean off the outside of the unit 2. Start th
