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Operator’s Manual
21” Self-Propelled
Mower
Model No.
247.379790
Factory No.
12A-979L402
IMPORTANT: READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-
Warning:
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
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SECTION 1: 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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SECTION 3: SLOPE GAUGE E E r n i . e R a T Y w t o n L i L m a A E C m g F I n T i o A t d R i S t r l E T G u V S E A c N i I f T O A . f i D ) P t A d L H I e E E R T y e U l I f C P E e B W N 0 O P m A 1 E L L e O r F y E F S t r x V T O A e ° e E v 5 O R R L e s 1 i E t N O E S t e i I N L A e , Y H R f O e T G A P O 2 p / N o D C l M I 1 R - L s A T E 2 . U O a s N y W H l e O h E O e t c p D Y S P o a u l N s E s E A m A i . R n x n R s T o
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SECTION 4: 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. DANGER: Your lawn mower was built to be operated according to the rules for safe
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• Never operate the mower in wet grass. Always be • Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced footing could sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause serious cause slipping. personal injury. Keep a firm hold on the handle and 3. CHILDREN walk, never run. If you feel you are losing your footing, RELEASE THE BLADE CONTROL HANDLE Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the IMMEDIATLEY and the blade will stop rotating within presence of children. Children are often attracted to the
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• Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper protection, frequently check components and replace operation regularly. with manufacturer’s recommended parts, when necessary. • After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, remove the wire from the spark plug, and thoroughly • Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the inspect the mower for any damage. Repair the blade(s) or wear gloves, and use extra caution when damage before starting and operating the mower. servicing them. • Nev
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SECTION 5: UNPACKING INSTRUCTIONS REMOVE UNIT FROM CARTON (See Figure 3.) • Remove staples, break glue on top flaps, or cut tape at carton end and peel along top flap to open carton. • Remove loose parts if included with unit (i.e., operator’s manual, etc.). • Cut along dotted lines and lay carton down flat. • Remove packing material. • Roll or slide unit out of carton. Check carton thoroughly for loose parts. REMOVE MANUAL & LOOSE PARTS PUSH Figure 3 DISCONNECT SPARK PLUG WIRE Before settin
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SECTION 6: SET-UP INSTRUCTIONS ITEMS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY • Pair of Pliers (Not necessary, but helpful) • Motor Oil (Included) • Fresh Gasoline IMPORTANT: This unit is shipped WITHOUT GASOLINE or OIL in the engine. Be certain to service engine with gasoline and oil as instructed in the separate engine manual before operating your mower. NOTE: Reference to right or left hand side of the mower is observed from the operating position. SET UP YOUR LAWN MOWER Follow steps 1 through 9 to set up you
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Step 5. Pinch lower handle against mounting Step 7. Attach control cables to handle with pull bracket with pliers. ties found on the handle. Step 6. Move hairpin clip from outer to inner hole on left and right handle mounting brackets. Step 8. Squeeze the blade control handle against the upper handle and pull out the starter rope slowly. Step 9. Thread the starter rope into the rope guide. SQUEEZE 9 Look Here Starter Rope Rope Guide Upper Handle Blade Control Handle Pinch Here Hairpin Cli
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SECTION 7: CONTROLS Throttle Control Figure 5 BLADE CONTROL HANDLE The blade control handle is located on the upper handle of the mower. See Figure 5. The blade control handle must be depressed in order to start and operate the unit. Release the blade control handle to stop the engine and blade. WARNING: The blade control handle is a safety device. Never attempt to bypass its operations. The blade will be rotating whenever the engine is running. THROTTLE CONTROL The throttle is located on th
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CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVER Note: Your mower is shipped with the cutting height in the lowest position. Adjust the cutting height as follows. The cutting height adjustment lever is located above the left rear wheel. To adjust the cutting height, pull the lever out and away from the mower and then move it forward or backward to select a new cutting height. See Figure 6. Figure 6 NOTE: For rough or uneven lawns, move the height adjustment lever to a higher position. This will help stop scal
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NEUTRAL ADJUSTMENT TEST To perform the NEUTRAL ADJUSTMENT TEST answer the following questions. • With the drive clutch control released, push mower forward and pull it backward. Does it move freely? • Squeeze the drive clutch control and pull the mower backward. Do the rear wheels lock (not turn)? • Is the drive clutch control cable free of kinks or sharp bends? If you answered “yes” to all three questions, your mower passed the test and you can start your mower. If you answered “no” to any of
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BAGGING GRASS CLIPPINGS This mower can bag grass clippings. Follow steps 1 through 3 to ready the mower for bagging. Step 1. Step 2. Replace with bagging adapter. Attach or side discharge chute in place. Then using wing nuts. Be sure that inner lip of remove plug or discharge chute. attachment goes under the edge of the deck. Step 3. Lift chute door and slide bag onto adapter. Chute Door designed to move the starter rope out of the way of the bag 13 Side-discharge chute Mulching baffle Bagg
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EMPTYING YOUR GRASS BAG Holding the grass bag by both the rear handle and the lower handle, lift it straight up. The chute door will move the rope out of the way of the bag. Remove the bag from the bagging adaptor on the mower. While holding the lower handle lift up the rear section of the grass bag as shown in Figure 7. The bag will open and the grass clippings will fall out. When replacing your grass bag be sure the top of the bag rests on the wire support between the handles. Grass Clippi
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SECTION 9: ADJUSTMENTS WARNING: Do not at any time make any adjustment to lawn mower without first stopping engine and disconnecting spark plug wire. HANDLE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT Notch Lower Handle Figure 8 Your mower is shipped with the handle in the higher height position. To lower the height proceed as follows: • Remove the starter rope from the rope guide. • Remove the upper handle by removing the hand knobs and carriage bolts. Lay the upper handle out of the way, being careful not to bend or
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Note: For some people the drive clutch handle may not be in a comfortable position. You can adjust the handle out by tightening the adjustment wheel. SHIFT LEVER CABLE ADJUSTMENT Periodic adjustment of the six speed shift cable may be required due to normal wear on the cable. Adjustment is needed if all six speeds do not work. The adjustable cable bracket is located on the left side of the mower, beside the engine. Follow steps 1 through 7 to adjust the shift lever. Bottom View Adjustable Cable
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SECTION 10: MAINTENANCE WARNING: Be sure to disconnect and ground the spark plug wire before performing any repairs or maintenance. NOTE: When tipping the unit, empty the fuel tank and keep the engine spark plug side up. Never tip the mower more than 90 degrees and do not leave the mower tipped for any length of time. Oil can drain into the upper part of the engine causing a starting problem. ENGINE Refer to the separate engine manual for all engine maintenance instructions. • Maintain engine o
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WARNING: Periodically inspect the blade adapter for cracks, especially if you strike a foreign object. Replace when necessary. When sharpening the blade, follow the original angle of grind as a guide. It is extremely important that each cutting edge receives an equal amount of grinding to prevent an unbalanced blade. An unbalanced blade will cause excessive vibration when rotating at high speeds. It may cause damage to the mower, and could break causing personal injury. The blade can be tested b
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DRIVE BELT REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT Step 1. Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it Step 9. Remove the hex bolt holding the transmission against the engine. to the mower housing. Step 2. Drain the fuel tank or place a piece of plastic beneath the cap to prevent gasoline leakage. Step 3. Place shift lever in the first position. Step 4. Tip the mower on its side. Block securely. Step 5. Remove the center bolt which secures the blade to the crankshaft. Remove the blade, and the blade
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Step 13. Squeeze the belt together and push it Step 16. Place the new belt over the transmission forward. Press the control arm inward towards the pulley. Start the belt in the pulley groove and deck and remove the six speed cable from the rotate the pulley until the belt is seated in the slot. transmission pulley. Step 17. Six-Speed belt keeper bracket. Belt Cable Slot Step 18. Using pliers, rotate the belt keeper bracket so that it snaps into slot on the idler bracket. Control Step 19. Ti
