Safety • Assembly • Operation • Tips & Techniques • Maintenance • Troubleshooting • Parts Lists • Warranty OPERATOR’S MANUAL 21” Rotary Mower — Model Series 420 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, brushcovered or grass-covered land unless the engine’s exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting applicable local or state laws (if
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 Finding and Recording Model Number BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO ASSEMBLE YOUR NEW EQUIPMENT, please locate the model plate on the equipment and copy the information to the sample model plate provided to the right.
1 Use this page as a guide to determine slopes where you may not operate safely. Do not operate your lawn mower on such slopes. Slope Gauge 3IGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE &O OR A FENCE POST OR A CORNER OF A BUILDING OT LD ALO NG D ESEN TED L I N E REPR LOPE TS A S 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.
2 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.
19. 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. 20. Never operate mower without proper trail shield, discharge cover, grass catcher, blade control handle or other safety protective devices in place and working.
3 IMPORTANT: This unit is shipped without gasoline or oil in the engine. Fill up gasoline and oil as instructed in the accompanying engine manual BEFORE operating your mower. A 1. Remove any packing material which may be between upper and lower handles. Setup and Adjustment a. Pull up and back on upper handle as shown in Figure 3-1. Make certain the lower handle is seated securely into the handle mounting brackets. Do not crimp cable while lifting the handle up. b.
a. Place bag over frame so that its black plastic side is at the bottom. 3 b. Slip plastic channel of grass bag over hooks on the frame. See Figure 3-5. All the plastic channels except center top of bag attach from outside of bag. Setup and Adjustment 5. 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). c. Attach center top of bag from inside of bag. 6.
4 Know Your Lawn Mower Operating Your Lawn Mower WARNING The blade control is a safety device. DO NOT bypass its operations. Use extreme care when handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive. Never fuel the machine indoors or while the engine is hot or running. Extinguish cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition. Keep hands and feet away from the chute area on cutting deck. Refer to warning label on the unit.
4 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. Operating Your Lawn Mower Follow the set of instructions pertaining to your unit. Refer to engine manual for help with the engine.
5 Lubrication • 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. • 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.
Blade Care WARNING: When removing the cutting blade for sharpening or replacement, protect your hands with a pair of heavy gloves or use a heavy rag to hold the blade. Periodically inspect the blade adapter for cracks, especially if you strike a foreign object. Replace when necessary. Follow the steps below for blade service. 1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug. Turn mower on its side making sure that the air filter and the carburetor are up. 2.
6 Engine fails to start Engage blade control. Connect wire to spark plug. Fill tank with clean, fresh gasoline. Prime engine as instructed in “Operating Your Lawn Mower”. Clean, adjust gap, or replace. Clean fuel line. Wait a few minutes to restart, but do not prime. Open fuel valve. See engine manual. Choke engine. See engine manual. 5. 6. 7. 8. Fuel valve (if equipped) closed. 9. Engine not choked (if equipped w/choke). 8. 9. 1. Spark plug wire loose. 2. Blocked fuel line or stale fuel.
Safety Labels Found On Your Lawn Mower 7 Safety Labels TO REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURY, DO NOT O P E R AT E U N L E S S DISCHARGE COVER OR GRASS C AT C H E R I S I N I T S P RO P E R P L AC E . I F DA M AG E D, R E P L AC E I M M E D I AT E LY. MAX 15˚ AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH • KEEP H A N D S A N D F E E T A W AY F R O M R O TAT I N G PA R T S . • REMOVE OBJECTS THAT CAN BE THROWN BY THE BLADE IN ANY DIRECTION. WEAR SAFETY GLASSES. • DO NOT MOW WHEN CHILDREN OR OTHERS ARE AROUND.
Model Series 420 Wheel Types Pin Bar 14 S-Wave K2 Zag
Ref. Part No. Description Ref. Part No. Description 1 747-1161A Blade Control 24 782-5002B Front Baffle 2 749-1092A Upper Handle 25 748-0377C Blade Adapter, #6 x 2.15 w/Star 3 710-1205 Rope Guide 748-04093 Blade Adapter, 25mm x 1.19 4 720-0279 Wing Nut, 1/4-20 742-0641 Standard Blade 5 710-1174 Carriage Bolt, 5/16-18 x 2 742-0741† Mulch Blade 6 720-04072 Hand Star Knob 27 736-0452 Bell Washer 7 749-0928A Lower Handle 28 710-1257 Screw, 3/8-24 x 2.
MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR The limited warranty set forth below is given by MTD LLC with respect to new merchandise purchased and used in the United States, its possessions and territories. “MTD” warrants this product against defects in material and workmanship for a period of two (2) years commencing on the date of original purchase and will, at its option, repair or replace, free of charge, any part found to be defective in materials or workmanship.
