Operator’s Manual 21” Rear & Side Discharge Mulching Lawn Mower Model 435 IMPORTANT: Read safety rules and instructions carefully before operating equipment. Warning: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forestcovered, 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).
TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Page Important Safe Operation Practices ................................................................................... 3 Slope Gauge...................................................................................................................... 6 Assembling Your Lawn Mower .......................................................................................... 7 Know Your Lawn Mower .....................................................................................
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.
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 immediately and the blade will stop rotating within three seconds. 9. Mow in daylight or good artificial light. Walk, never run. Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walkways or roads. 10. If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the engine and check immediately for the cause.
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. 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.
SECTION 2: SLOPE GAUGE ,R EPR ESE NTIN G A 15 °S LOP E OR A FENCE POST A CORNER OF A BUILDING A POWER POLE SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE USE THIS PAGE AS A GUIDE TO DETERMINE SLOPES WHERE YOU MAY NOT OPERATE SAFELY. FOL D O N DOT T ED L INE 15° 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). A riding mower could overturn and cause serious injury.
SECTION 3: ASSEMBLING YOUR LAWN MOWER Removing Unit From Carton • • • • • Remove staples, break glue on top flaps or cut tape at carton end and peel top flap to open carton. Remove loose parts if included with unit. Cut corners and lay carton down flat. Remove packing material. Roll or slide unit out of carton. Check carton thoroughly for loose parts. • • Raise the lower handle, as shown in Figure 2 , until it snaps into place. Raise the upper handle as shown in Figure 2 .
• Assembling Soft Grass Bag Insert post of cable ties that are on lower handle into the holes provided on the lower handle. The holes may be on the inside or outside. Pull cable ties tight and cut off the extra. See Figure 5 below. • Join the rear frame and front frame assembly as shown in Figure 7 A. Place the bag over the frame (black plastic side is the bottom of bag). Slip the openings in the side of the plastic channels on the bag over the hooks on the grass catcher frame.
• • Lift the rear discharge door. Place the hooks of the grass catcher into the slots in the handle bracket assemblies on both sides. See Figure 9 . Release the rear discharge door. Mulching Plug Hinge Pin Side Chute Deflector Rear Discharge Door Figure 10 • Figure 9 Removing Grass Catcher • • • • • Lift the rear discharge door on the mower. Lift the grass catcher up, out of the slots in the handle bracket assemblies. Reinstall the plastic rear mulching baffle. Release the rear discharge door.
Blade Control Handle Throttle Control The blade control handle is located on the upper handle of the mower. The blade control handle must be depressed in order to operate the unit. Release the blade control handle to stop the engine and the blade. The engine is equipped with a constant speed throttle for maximum engine and cutting performance. Recoil Starter The recoil starter is attached to the handle. Stand behind the unit and pull the recoil starter to start engine.
Operating Your Lawn Mower Bagging Grass Clippings • You can use the grass catcher bag to collect clippings while you are operating the mower. • • • • Once the engine has started, squeeze the blade control handle against the upper handle to run the lawn mower. Do not operate the mower without the mulching cover, the grass catcher bag, or the discharge chute properly installed. Be sure that the lawn is clear of stones, sticks, wire, or other objects which could damage lawn mower or engine.
SECTION 6: MAINTAINING YOUR LAWN MOWER IMPORTANT: Make sure to avoid muffler and WARNING: Always stop engine and surrounding areas while the mower engine is hot because temperature of these areas of the engine may exceed 150o F. disconnect spark plug wire before performing any maintenance or adjustments on the mower. WARNING: Never tip mower more than 90 Lubrication (See Figure 12 ) degrees in any direction and do not leave it tipped for long.
SECTION 7: SERVICING YOUR MOWER Blade Care NOTE: An unbalanced blade will cause excessive vibration when rotating at high speeds, may cause damage to the mower and could break causing personal injury. Periodically inspect the blade adapter and pulley for cracks, especially if you strike a foreign object. Replace when necessary. • WARNING: When removing the cutting blade for sharpening or replacement, protect hands by using heavy gloves or a thick rag to grasp the cutting blade.
Replacing Rear Flap • • To remove rear flap, cut off the flat end of the wire rod which secures it to the deck. See Figure 15 . Attach the new flap and new rod to deck, bending the ends of the new rod over to secure to deck. Handle Bracket Rear Discharge Door d Ro re i W Rear Flap Handle Bracket Figure 15 SECTION 8: MAKING ADJUSTMENTS Adjusting Handle Height Adjusting Cutting Height Your mower is shipped with the handle in the higher height position. To lower height, proceed as follows.
SECTION 9: OFF-SEASON STORAGE • Prepare your lawn mower for storage at the end of the season or if the unit will not be used for 30 days or more. Store the mower in a clean, dry area. • Gasoline • • Do not store gasoline from one season to another. Gasoline, stored more than one month, may affect engine performance. Replace your gasoline can if it starts to rust. Rust and/or dirt in the gasoline will cause problems.
SECTION 11: PARTS LIST FOR MODEL 435 1 6 11 3 2 4 8 9 5 4 13 46 10 14 53 66 44 59 16 17 40 27 12 15 54 20 21 58 46 32 34 35 39 45 41 43 33 37 7 52 31 50 18 57 46 47 42 30 25 38 19 28 31 29 32 36 27 49 48 33 26 22 46 24 23 58 55 32 57 55 33 56 Hardware for wheel 734-2005A 16
Model 435 Ref. No. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. Ref. No. Part No. Description 747-1161A 710-1205 720-0279 710-1174 720-0284 749-1092A Control Handle Rope Guide Handle Knob 1/4-20 Thd. Curved Hd. Bolt 5/16-18 x 2" Hand Knob Upper Handle 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 710-1248 Weld Pin 37.
Shroud Chart Part No. 751B281439 751B281440 751B281443 Color Dark Red Black Bright Red Part No. 731-1395A 731-1396A 731-1397A Color Red Black Gray Hardware: 710-1256 Hardware: 710-1256 Part No. 731-1585B Part No. 731-1586B 731-1612A Hardware: Part No. 7511681311 7511681911 7511682011 Color Black 710-1274 Color Black Red Gray Color Black Red Hardware: 7510042823 Part No. 751B281451 Color Gray Hardware: (Screw) 710-1256 B&S Modular Black Shroud (Not Illustrated) Part No.
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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 LLC warrants this product against defects 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.