Safe Operation Practices • Set-Up • Operation • Maintenance • Service • Troubleshooting • Warranty Operator’s Manual Self Propelled Mower — Model CC 550 SP WARNING READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS MACHINE. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY. CUB CADET LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019 Printed In USA Form No.
1 To The Owner Thank You Thank you for purchasing a Lawn Mower manufactured by Cub Cadet. It was carefully engineered to provide excellent performance when properly operated and maintained. Please read this entire manual prior to operating the equipment. It instructs you how to safely and easily set up, operate and maintain your machine. Please be sure that you, and any other persons who will operate the machine, carefully follow the recommended safety practices at all times.
Important Safe Operation Practices 2 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.
12. A missing or damaged discharge cover can cause blade contact or thrown object injuries. 13. 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. 14. a. Step back from 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.
Service 3. Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at frequent intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect blade for damage (e.g., bent, cracked, worn) Replace blade with the original equipment manufacture’s (O.E.M.) blade only, listed in this manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the original equipment specifications may lead to improper performance and compromise safety!” 4. Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the blade or wear gloves, and use extra caution when servicing them.
Notice Regarding Emissions Engines which are certified to comply with California and federal EPA emission regulations for SORE (Small Off Road Equipment) are certified to operate on regular unleaded gasoline, and may include the following emission control systems: Engine Modification (EM), Oxidizing Catalyst (OC), Secondary Air Injection (SAI) and Three Way Catalyst (TWC) if so equipped.
Safety Symbols This page depicts and describes safety symbols that may appear on this product. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine before attempting to assemble and operate. Symbol Description READ THE OPERATOR’S MANUAL(S) Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the manual(s) before attempting to assemble and operate DANGER — ROTATING BLADES To reduce the risk of injury, keep hands and feet away.
Section 2 — Important Safe Operation Practices d line (repr esent s a 15 ° slop e) WARNING: Do not operate your lawn mower on such slopes. 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. Operate riding mowers up and down slopes, never across the face of slopes. Operate walk-behind mowers across the face of slopes, never up and down slopes.
3 Assembly & Set-Up Contents of Carton • One Lawn Mower • • One Lawn Mower Operator’s Manual • One Grass Catcher • One Bottle of Oil One Side Discharge Chute Assembly NOTE: This unit is shipped without gasoline or oil in the engine. Fill up gasoline and oil as instructed in the Engine Operation section of this manual BEFORE operating your mower. Handle 1. Remove any packing material which may be between upper and lower handles. a. Pull up and back on upper handle as shown in Fig. 3-1.
4. a. Hold blade control against upper handle. b. Pull starter rope out of the engine. Release blade control handle. c. Slip starter rope into rope guide. d. Tighten wing nut. Insert post on cable ties into holes provided on the lower handle. Pull cable tie tight and trim excess. A Grass Catcher 1. Follow steps below to assemble the grass catcher (if needed). Make certain bag is turned right side out before assembling (warning label will be on the outside). a.
Side Discharge Chute Adjustments To convert to side discharge, make sure grass catcher is off of the unit, the rear mulch plug is removed, and rear discharge door is closed. Cutting Height 1. On the side of the mower, lift the mulching plug. 2. Slide chute hooks under hinge pin on mulching plug assembly. Lower mulching plug. See Fig. 3-7. Do not remove side mulching plug at any time, even when you are not mulching. 1. The cutting height adjustment lever is located above the rear left wheel.
4 Controls and Features Drive Control Blade Control Recoil Starter Cutting Height Adjustment Lever Side Discharge Chute Mulch Plug Figure 4-1 Blade Control Recoil Starter The blade control is attached to the upper handle of the mower. Depress and squeeze it against the upper handle to operate the unit. Release it to stop engine and blade. The recoil starter is attached to the right upper handle. Stand behind the unit and pull the recoil starter rope to start the unit.
5 Operation Starting Engine WARNING: Be sure no one other than the operator is standing near the lawn mower while starting engine or operating mower. Never run engine indoors or in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas. Keep hands, feet, hair and loose clothing away from any moving parts on engine and lawn mower. 1. Standing behind the mower, squeeze and hold the blade control against upper handle. 2.
6 Maintenance & Adjustments Maintenance 4. General Recommendations The transmission is pre-lubricated and sealed at the factory and does not require lubrication. 5. Follow the Engine Maintenance section for lubrication schedule and instruction for engine lubrication. • Always observe safety rules when performing any maintenance. • The warranty on this lawn mower does not cover items that have been subjected to operator abuse or negligence.
Replacing Rear Flap Adjustments 1. To remove rear flap, lift rear door, and remove screw on either side to remove from hole. See Fig. 6-2. Drive Cable 2. Remove screw and flap from opposite hole and replace with new flap in the opposite order and manner of removal. Your unit is equipped with an adjustable drive cable to adjust the tension on the drive cable.
7 Service Blade Care 5. Periodically inspect the blade adapter for cracks, especially if you strike a foreign object. Replace when necessary. Follow the steps below for blade service. Lubricate the engine crankshaft and the inner surface of the blade adapter with light oil. Slide the blade adapter onto the engine crankshaft. Place the blade on the adapter such that the side of the blade marked “Bottom” (or with part number) faces the ground when the mower is in the operating position.
c. Working from the rear of the mower, carefully remove belt from transmission pulley. See Fig. 7-3. d. Once belt is off transmission pulley, push down on deck baffle to access engine pulley and slide belt off this pulley and out from under the deck. See Fig. 7-3. C D Off-Season Storage The following steps should be taken to prepare your lawn mower for storage. • Clean and lubricate mower thoroughly as described in the lubrication instructions.
8 Troubleshooting Problem Engine Fails to start Cause Remedy 1. Blade control disengaged. 1. Engage blade control. 2. Spark plug boot disconnected. 2. Connect wire to spark boot. 3. Fuel tank empty or stale fuel. 3. Fill tank with clean, fresh gasoline. 4. Engine not primed (if equipped with primer). 4. Prime engine as instructed in the Operation section. 5. Faulty spark plug. 5. Clean, adjust gap, or replace. 6. Blocked fuel line. 6. Clean fuel line. 7. Engine flooded. 7.
Problem Uneven cut Mower will not self propel Cause Remedy 1. Wheels not positioned correctly. 1. Place all four wheels in same height position (if equipped with individual height adjusters). 2. Dull blade. 2. Sharpen or replace blade. 1. Belt not installed properly. 1. Check belt for proper pulley installation and movement. 2. Debris clogging drive operation. 2. Stop engine, disconnect spark plug boot, and clean out debris. 3. Damaged or worn belt. 3. Inspect and replace belt.
9 Engine Operation Fuel Cap Air Cleaner Starter Grip Oil Fill Cap Oil Drain Spark Plug Figure 9-1 Pre-Operation Check 10w Oil Recommendations 20w NOTE: This engine is shipped without gasoline or oil in the engine. Running the engine with insufficient oil can cause serious engine damage and void the engine warranty. • 1 Before starting engine, fill with oil. Do not over-fill. Oil capacity is about 20 oz.
Check Oil Level Check Fuel Level NOTE: Be sure to check the engine on a level surface with the engine stopped. 1. Clean around fuel fill before removing cap to fuel. 2. Fill tank to approximately 1-inch below lowest portion of neck to allow for fuel expansion. Be careful not to overfill. 1. Remove the oil filler cap and wipe the dipstick clean. See Fig. 9-2. NOTE: Before refueling, allow engine to cool 2 minutes.
10 Engine Maintenance WARNING: Shut off the engine before performing any maintenance. To prevent accidental start-up, disconnect the spark plug boot. IMPORTANT: If engine must be tipped to transport equipment or to inspect or remove grass, keep spark plug side of engine up. Transporting or tipping engine spark plug down may cause smoking, hard starting, spark plug fouling, or oil saturation of air cleaner.
Oil Service Air Cleaner Service • Check oil level regularly. • Be sure correct oil level is maintained. Check every five hours or daily before starting engine. See oil checking procedure in the Operation section. Paper filters cannot be cleaned and must be replaced once a year or every 100 operating hours; more often if used in extremely dusty conditions. WARNING: Never use gasoline or low flash point solvents for cleaning the air cleaner element. A fire or explosion could result.
Spark Plug Service 3. WARNING: DO NOT check for spark with spark plug removed. DO NOT crank engine with spark plug removed. Measure the plug gap with a feeler gauge. Correct as necessary by bending side electrode. See Fig. 10-4. The gap should be set to 0.030 in. To ensure proper engine operation, the spark plug must be properly gapped and free of deposits. 1. Remove the spark plug boot and use a spark plug wrench to remove the plug. See Fig. 10-3. Electrode Spark Plug 0.030 in. Figure 10-4 4.
Fuel Filter Service Storage The fuel filter cannot be cleaned and must be replaced once a year or every 100 operating hours; more often if run with old gasoline. Engines stored between 30 and 90 days need to be treated with a gasoline stabilizer and engines stored over 90 days need to be drained of fuel to prevent deterioration and gum from forming in fuel system or on essential carburetor parts.
The SureStart Guarantee™ Provisions of Your Limited Warranty In addition to the other terms and conditions of the Limited Warranty applicable to your new mower, Cub Cadet LLC (“Cub Cadet”) hereby warrants that your mower’s engine will start on the first or second attempt by an able-bodied adult (subject to the limitations described below) for the duration of the manufacturer’s limited warranty applicable to your product.
9 Replacement Parts Component Part Number and Description 951-10292 Spark Plug 951-10298 Air Cleaner Kit 951-10300 Fuel Cap Assembly 951-10358 Fuel Filter 634-04346 934-04348 Wheel (Front) Wheel (Rear) 731-04177 Side Discharge Chute 964-04066 Grass Bag 942-0739 Mulching Blade 954-04158 V-Belt Phone (877) 282-8684 for your nearest Cub Cadet Dealer to order replacement parts or a complete Parts Manual (have your full model number and serial number ready).
FEDERAL and/or CALIFORNIA EMISSION CONTROL WARRANTY STATEMENT YOUR WARRANTY RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS MTD Consumer Group Inc, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and, for those products certified for sale in the state of California, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) are pleased to explain the emission (evaporative and/or exhaust) control system (ECS) warranty on your outdoor 2006 and later small off-road spark-ignited engine and equipment (outdoor equipment engine) In California, n
WARRANTED PARTS: The repair or replacement of any warranted part otherwise eligible for warranty coverage may be excluded from such warranty coverage if MTD Consumer Group Inc demonstrates that the outdoor equipment engine has been abused, neglected, or improperly maintained, and that such abuse, neglect, or improper maintenance was the direct cause of the need for repair or replacement of the part.
CUB CADET LLC MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR walk-behind mowerS IMPORTANT: To obtain warranty coverage owner must present an original proof of purchase and applicable maintenance records to the servicing dealer. Please see the operator’s manual for information on required maintenance and service intervals.
