Section 5: Operating Your Lawn Mower; Gas & Oil Fill-Up; Starting Engine - MTD 549 Operator's Manual

21” hi-wheel mower
Hide thumbs Also See for 549:
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Available languages

Available languages

Read this operator's manual and safety rules before
operating your lawn mower. Compare the illustration in
Figure 10 with your lawn mower to familiarize yourself
with the location of various controls and adjustments.
Save this manual for future reference.
WARNING:
The operation of any lawn
mower can result in foreign objects being
thrown into the eyes, which can damage your
eyes severely. Always wear safety glasses
while operating the mower, or while performing
any adjustments or repairs on it.
Blade Control Handle
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 blade
control handle to stop engine and blade.
WARNING:
This blade control mechanism is
a safety device. Never attempt to bypass its
operations.

SECTION 5: OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER

WARNING:
Read, understand, and follow all
instructions and warnings on the machine and
in this manual before operating.
NOTE: You must service the engine with oil and
gasoline before starting the mower for the first time.
Check oil and gasoline levels and fill up as necessary
for subsequent starts.
Gas & Oil Fill-Up
Check oil level and add oil if necessary. Follow
relevant instructions in the engine manual for this.
Service the engine with gasoline as instructed in
the engine manual.
WARNING:
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.
Before Starting Mower
Attach spark plug wire to spark plug. Make certain
the metal cap on the end of the spark plug wire
(inside the rubber boot) is fastened securely over
the metal tip on the spark plug.
Cutting Height Adjustment Levers
These levers are located on each wheel and are used
to adjust the cutting height. These levers have to be at
the same relative position to ensure uniform cut.
Recoil Starter
The recoil starter is attached to the right upper handle.
Stand behind the unit and pull the recoil starter rope to
start the unit.
Grass Catcher
The grass catcher, located at the rear of the mower, is
used to bag the grass clippings for disposal at another
site. Once the bag is full, it has to be removed from the
mower and emptied before any further mowing.
Mulching Plug
Instead of collecting grass clippings in a grass catcher,
this mower has the option of recirculating the clippings
back to the lawn. This is called mulching. Remove the
grass catcher and the side-discharge chute from the
mower, and operate with the mulching plug only for this
purpose.

Starting Engine

Push primer three times. Wait about two seconds
between each push. In cold weather around 55
or below, prime five times. Do not prime to restart a
warm engine after a short shutdown.
Standing behind the mower, depress the blade
control handle and hold it against the upper handle.
Grasp starter handle and pull rope out slowly until
engine reaches the start of compression cycle
(rope will pull slightly harder at this point). Let the
rope rewind slowly.
Pull rope with a rapid, continuous, full arm stroke.
Keeping a firm grip on the starter handle, let the
rope rewind slowly.
WARNING:
operator is standing near the lawn mower while
starting engine or operating mower.
WARNING:
enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an
odorless and deadly gas.
WARNING:
loose clothing away from any moving parts on
engine and lawn mower.
10
Be sure no one other than the
Never run engine indoors or in
Keep hands, feet, hair and
o
F

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading

Table of Contents