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Safety • Assembly • Operation • Adjustments • Maintenance • Troubleshooting • Parts Lists • Warranty
OPERATOR’S MANUAL
21” Self-Propelled Mulching Mower — Model Series V550
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 applicabl
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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 Troubleshooting ................................................ 12 Setup and Adjustment ...........
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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). Operate WALK-BEHIND mowers across the face of slopes, never up and down slopes. 3
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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 Safe
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19. Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes to a 6. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources complete stop before removing the grass catcher or unclog- of ignition. ging the chute. 7. 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 8. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while engine is hot or 2 the blade area u
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1. Remove any packing material which may be between upper and lower handles. a. Pull up and back on upper handle as shown in A Figure 3-1. Make certain the lower handle is seated 3 securely into the handle mounting brackets. b. Tighten star knobs securing upper handle to lower handle. Make sure that each carriage bolt is Setup and seated properly in the handle. 2. Locate hairpin clip in one hole on the weld pin on each Adjustment side of lower handle. See Figure 3-2. a. Remove hairpin c
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6. Follow steps below to assemble the grass catcher: a. Place bag over frame so that its black plastic side is at the bottom. b. Slip plastic channel of grass bag over hooks on 3 the frame. See Figure 3-6. All the plastic channels except center top of bag attach from outside of bag. Setup and B c. Attach center top of bag from inside of bag. 7. Follow steps below to attach grass catcher: Adjustment A a. Lift rear discharge door. b. Place grass catcher on the pivot rod. Let go C of dischar
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Know Your Lawn Mower Drive Control Blade Control 4 Operating Your Lawn Recoil Starter Mower WARNING Cutting Height The blade control Adjustment Levers mechanism is a safety device. Never Figure 4-1 attempt to bypass its Now that you have set up your lawn mower for opera- Cutting Height Adjustment Levers operations. tion, get aquainted with its controls and features. These One adjustment lever is located on each wheel and is are described below and illustrated on this page. This used t
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Starting Engine WARNING: Be sure no one other than the operator is standing near the lawn mower while starting engine or operat- 4 ing mower. Never run engine indoors or 3 in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas. Keep hands, feet, hair and loose clothing away Operating from any moving parts on engine and lawn mower. Your Lawn Follow the set of instructions pertaining to your unit. Refer to engine manual for help with the
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Lubrication 1. Lubricate pivot points on the blade control at least once a season with light oil. The blade control must operate freely in both directions. See Figure 5-1. 5 2. Lubricate the wheels at least once a season with light oil (or motor oil). If wheels are removed for any reason, lubricate surface of the pivot arm and inner surface of the wheel with light oil. See Figure 5-1. Maintaining 3. Lubricate the torsion spring and pivot point on the rear discharge door periodically with
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Blade Care WARNING: When removing cutting blade for sharpening or replacement, protect your hands with a pair of heavy 5 gloves or use a heavy rag to hold blade. 1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug. Turn mower on its side making sure that the air filter and Maintaining the carburetor are up. 2. Remove bolt, bell washer, blade, and blade adapter Your Lawn from the engine crankshaft. See Figure 5-3. Mower NOTE: When removing these items, the pulleys and washers may also break fr
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Problem Remedy Cause 1. Engage blade control. 1. Blade control disengaged. Engine fails to start 2. Spark plug wire disconnected. 2. Connect wire to spark plug. 6 3. Fuel tank empty or stale fuel. 3. Fill tank with clean, fresh gasoline. 4. Prime engine as instructed in “Operat- 4. Engine not primed (if equipped with ing Your Lawn Mower”. primer). 5. Clean, adjust gap, or replace. 5. Faulty spark plug. Trouble 6. Blocked fuel line. 6. Clean fuel line. 7. Engine flooded. 7. Wait a few minutes t
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4. Coat mower’s cutting blade with chassis grease to Off-Season Storage prevent rusting. The following steps should be taken to prepare your lawn mower for storage. 5. Store mower in a dry, clean area. Do not store next 1. Clean and lubricate mower thoroughly as described in to corrosive materials, such as fertilizer. the lubrication instructions. When storing any type of power equipment in a poorly 2. We do not recommend the use of a pressure washer ventilated or metal storage shed, car
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30 Model Series V550 1 2 54 6 7 3 56 5 68 60 4 67 66 8 65 77 64 61 9 59 74 58 10 22 76 57 11 72 62 71 75 46 12 63 55 45 69 13 53 70 14 52 73 15 42 48 16 17 46 47 44 50 49 43 31 51 46 19 32 42 46 33 29 18 20 34 28 35 20 36 37 27 Wheel Tread 44 38 21 39 23 40 41 25 Zag Tread 24 26 14
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Ref. Part No. Description Ref. Part No. Description No. No. 1 731-2626 Bail Cover 717-1761 Spur Gear 14T LH 2 747-1161A Blade Control 39 710-04531 Screw 1/4-20 x .39 8 3 746-0957 Control Cable 37.25-inch 40 734-2042 Front Wheel 8 x 2.125 Zag 4 726-0240 Cable Tie 41 731-0981A Hubcap Parts List 5 664-04065 Grass Bag Assembly 42 710-0216 Screw 3/8-16 x .75 6 747-04080 Grass Bag Frame 43 720-0426 Knob 7 746-04206A Variable Speed Cable 44 736-0447 Wave Washer 1.5 x 1 x .029 8 731-05642 Trailshield 45
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MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR The limited warranty set forth below is given by MTD LLC with respect e. MTD does not extend any warranty for products sold or exported to new merchandise purchased and used in the United States, its outside of the United States, its possessions and territories, except possessions and territories. those sold through MTD’s authorized channels of export distribution. “MTD” warrants this product against defects in material and workman- f. Replacement parts tha
