Operator's Manual 21" Mulching Mower Model 546 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 the State of California the above is required by law (Section 4442 of the California Public Resources Code). Other states may have similar laws. Federal laws apply on federal lands. A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest engine authorized service dealer or contact the service department, P.O. Box 361131 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019. MTD LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019 PRINTED IN U.S.A. Form No.769-00987.fm (11/2003) TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Important Safe Operation Practices Slope Gauge Assembling Your Lawn Mower Know Your Lawn Mower Operating Your Lawn Mower Making Adjustments Page 3 6 7 9 10 11 Content Maintaining Your Lawn Mower Servicing Your Lawn Mower Troubleshooting Illustrated Parts List Warranty Page 12 12 13 14 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. Before you start assembling your new equipment, please locate the model plate on the equipment and copy the information from it in the space provided below. A sample model plate is also given below. You can locate the model plate by standing at the operating position and looking down at the rear of the deck. This information will be necessary to use the manufacturer's web site and/or help from the Customer Support Department or an authorized service dealer. Copy the model number here: TROY-BILT LLC P. O. BOX 3 6 1 1 3 1 CLEVELAND, OH 44136 330-558-7220 1-800-520-5520 Copy the serial number here: www.troybilt.com CUSTOMER SUPPORT Please do NOT return the unit to the retailer from where it was purchased, without first contacting Customer Support. If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation or maintenance of this unit, you can seek help from the experts. Choose from the options below: Visit troybilt.com for many useful suggestions. Click on Customer Support button and you will get the four options reproduced here. Click on the appropriate button and help is immediately available. The answer you are looking for could be just a mouse click away! The answer you are looking for could be just a mouse click away! To reach a Customer Support Representative, please call 1-800-520-5520. Engine Manual The engine manufacturer is responsible for all engine-related issues with regards to performance, power-rating, specifications, warranty and service. Please refer to the engine manufacturer's Owner's/Operator's Manual, packed separately with your unit, for more information. 2 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 components contain or emit chemicals known to State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. WARNING: 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 objects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death. General Operation 1. Read this operator's manual carefully in its entirety before attempting to assemble this machine. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine and in the manual(s) before operation. Be completely familiar with the controls and the proper use of this machine before operating it. Keep this manual in a safe place for future and regular reference and for ordering replacement parts. 2. This machine is a precision piece of power equipment, not a plaything. Therefore, exercise extreme caution at all times. Your unit has been designed to perform one job: to mow grass. Do not use it for any other purpose. 3. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate this machine. Children 14 years old and over should read and understand the operation instructions and safety rules in this manual and should be trained and supervised by a parent. Only responsible individuals who are familiar with these safe operation rules should use this machine. 4. Thoroughly inspect the area where equipment is to be used. Remove all stones, sticks, wire, bones, toys and other foreign objects which could be tripped over or picked up and thrown by the blade. Thrown objects can cause serious personal injury. Plan your mowing pattern to avoid discharge of material toward roads, sidewalks, bystanders and the like. Also, avoid discharging material against a wall or obstruction which may cause discharged material to ricochet back toward the operator. 5. To help avoid blade contact or a thrown object injury, stay in the operator zone behind the handles and keep bystanders, helpers, children and pets at least 75 feet from the machine while it is in operation. Stop machine if anyone enters the area. 6. Always wear safety glasses to protect your eyes during equipment operation and while performing an adjustment or repair. Thrown objects which ricochet can cause serious injury to the eyes. 7. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and closefitting slacks and shirts. Shirts and pants that cover the arms and legs and steel-toed shoes are recommended. Never operate this machine in bare feet, sandals, slippery or light weight (e.g. canvas) shoes. 8. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or under the cutting deck. Contact with the blade can amputate hands and feet. 9. A missing or damaged discharge cover can cause blade contact or thrown object injuries. 10. Many injuries occur as a result of the mower being pulled over the foot during a fall caused by slipping or tripping. Do not hold on to the mower if you are falling; release the handle immediately. 11. Never pull the mower back toward you while you are walking. If you must back the mower away from a wall or obstruction first look down and behind to avoid tripping and then follow these steps: a. Step back from the mower to fully extend your arms. b. Be sure you are well balanced with sure footing. c. Pull the mower back slowly, no more than half way toward you. d. Repeat these steps as needed. 5. Do not operate the mower while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 6. Do not engage the self-propelled mechanism on units so equipped while starting engine. 7. The blade control handle is a safety device. Never attempt to bypass its operation. Doing so makes the safety device inoperative and may result in personal injury through contact with the rotating blade. The blade control handle must operate easily in both directions and automatically return to the disengaged position when released. 8. Never operate the mower in wet grass. Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause serious personal injury. If you feel you are losing your footing, release the blade control handle 3 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. immediately and the blade will stop rotating within three seconds. Mow in daylight or good artificial light; walk, not run. Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walkways or roads. If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the engine and check immediately for the cause. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble. Shut the engine off and wait until the blade comes to a complete stop before removing the grass catcher or unclogging the chute. The cutting blade continues to rotate for a few seconds after the engine is shut off. Never place any part of the body in the blade area until you are sure the blade has stopped rotating. Never operate mower without proper trail shield, discharge cover, grass catcher, blade control handle or other safety protective devices in place and working. Never operate mower with damaged safety devices. Failure to do so can result in personal injury. Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do not touch. Only use parts and accessories made by the original equipment manufacturer (O.E.M). Failure to do so can result in personal injury. If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use care and good judgment. Contact your dealer for assistance. Call 1-800-520-5520 for the name of your nearest dealer. 3. Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing could cause slipping. Children Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence of children. Children are often attracted to the mower and the mowing activity. They do not understand the dangers. Never assume that children will remain where you last saw them. 1. Keep children out of the mowing area and under the watchful care of a responsible adult other than the operator. 2. Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the area. 3. Before and while moving backwards, look behind and down for small children. 4. Use extreme care when approaching blind corners, doorways, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure your vision of a child who may run into the mower. 5. Keep children away from hot or running engines. They can suffer burns from a hot muffler. 6. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate a power mower. Children 14 years old and over should read and understand the operation instructions and safety rules in this manual and should be trained and supervised by a parent. Service Safe Handling of Gasoline: 1. To avoid personal injury or property damage use extreme care in handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive. Serious personal injury can occur when gasoline is spilled on yourself or your clothes which can ignite. 2. Wash your skin and change clothes immediately. 3. Use only an approved gasoline container. 4. Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck or trailer bed with a plastic liner. Always place containers on the ground away from your vehicle before filling. 5. If possible, remove gas-powered equipment from the truck or trailer and refuel it on the ground. If this is not possible, then refuel such equipment on a trailer with a portable container, rather than from a gasoline dispenser nozzle. 6. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel tank or container opening at all times until fueling is complete. Do not use a nozzle lock-open device. 7. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition. 8. Never fuel machine indoors because flammable vapors will accumulate in the area. 9. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine is hot or running. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling. 4 Slope Operation Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall accidents which can result in severe injury. Operation on slopes requires extra caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it. Before operating this unit on a slope or hilly area, use the slope gauge on page 6 to measure slopes. If the slope is greater than 15 degrees, do not mow it. Do: 1. Mow across the face of slopes; never up and down. Exercise caution when changing direction. 2. Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects, or bumps which can cause you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide obstacles. 3. Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause serious personal injury. If you feel you are losing your balance, release the blade control handle immediately, and the blade will stop rotating within 3 seconds. Do Not: 1. Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments, you could lose your footing or balance. 2. Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees as shown on the slope gauge. 10. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½ inch below bottom of filler neck to provide space for fuel expansion. 11. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely. 12. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equipment. Move unit to another area. Wait 5 minutes before starting the engine. 13. Never store the machine or fuel container inside where there is an open flame, spark or pilot light as on a water heater, space heater, furnace, clothes dryer or other gas appliances. 14. To reduce fire hazard, keep mower free of grass, leaves, or other debris build-up. C ...