MTD 970 Series Operator's Manual
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MTD 970 Series Operator's Manual

MTD 970 Series Operator's Manual

21 self-propelled mover
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Operator's Manual
21" Self-Propelled
Mower
Model Series 970
IMPORTANT: Read safety rules and instructions carefully
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 Cub Cadet dealer or contact the service department, P.O. Box
361131 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019.
MTD Products, LLC., P.O. Box 361131, Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019
770-10075E.fm
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Form No.
(4/2007)

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  • Page 1 A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your Cub Cadet dealer or contact the service department, P.O. Box 361131 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019. MTD Products, LLC., P.O. Box 361131, Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019 770-10075E.fm PRINTED IN U.S.A.

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    . 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: Copy the serial number here: MTD LLC P. O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND,OH 44136 330-220-4683 www.mtdproducts.com...

  • Page 3: Important Safe Operation Practices

    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.

  • Page 4: Slope Operation

    immediately and the blade will stop rotating within 3. Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing could three seconds. cause slipping. 9. Mow in daylight or good artificial light; walk, not run. Children 10. Stop the blade when crossing gravel drives, walkways or roads.
  • Page 5 10. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½ 4. Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the inch below bottom of filler neck to provide space for blade or wear gloves, and use extra caution when fuel expansion.

  • Page 6: Slope Guage

    SECTION 2: SLOPE GAUGE Use this page as a guide to determine slopes where you may not operate safely. Do not operate your lawn mower on such slopes.

  • Page 7: Assembling Your Lawn Mower

    SECTION 3: ASSEMBLING YOUR LAWN MOWER Removing Unit From Carton Setting Up Your Lawn Mower • Remove staples, break glue on top flaps, or cut Assembling Handle tape at carton end and peel along top flap to open • Lift up and pull back on the upper handle to raise carton.
  • Page 8 • Fasten the cable to the lower handle with the two Grass Bag cable ties found on the lower handle. Pull the cable Adapter ties tight and trim off the excess. See Figure 5. Cable Tie Lower Handle Wing Nuts Figure 5 Figure 7 Attaching Starter Rope...

  • Page 9: Know Your Lawn Mower

    SECTION 4: KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER Recoil Starter Read this operator’s manual and safety rules before operating your lawn mower. Compare the illustration in The recoil starter is attached to the right upper handle. Figure 10 with your lawn mower to familiarize yourself Stand behind the unit and pull the recoil starter rope to with the location of various controls and adjustments.

  • Page 10: Operating Your Lawn Mower

    SECTION 5: OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER WARNING: WARNING: Be sure no one other than the Read, understand, and follow all operator is standing near the lawn mower while instructions and warnings on the machine and starting engine or operating mower. in this manual before operating.

  • Page 11: Making Adjustments

    Bagging Grass Clippings to slip and fall. New grass or thick grass may require a narrower cut. You can use the grass catcher bag to collect clippings • For a healthy lawn, always cut off one-third or less while you are operating the mower. of the total length of the grass.

  • Page 12: Engine Adjustments

    • Pull the lever out and away from the mower and NOTE: For some people the drive clutch control may then move it forward or backward to another slot. not be in a comfortable position. You can adjust the For rough or uneven lawns, move the height handle out by tightening the adjustment wheel.

  • Page 13: Maintaining Your Lawn Mower

    SECTION 7: MAINTAINING YOUR LAWN MOWER • Inspect muffler periodically, and replace if WARNING: Always stop the engine and necessary. Damaged mufflers or spark arresters disconnect the spark plug wire before can create a fire hazard. Make sure to avoid muffler performing any maintenance work or and surrounding areas while the mower engine is adjustments on your lawn mower.

  • Page 14: Servicing Your Lawn Mower

    SECTION 8: SERVICING YOUR LAWN MOWER • Place the blade on the adapter. Be certain the WARNING: Always stop the engine and blade is aligned and seated on the blade adapter disconnect the spark plug wire before flanges. performing any maintenance work or •...
  • Page 15 • Remove the hex bolt from the rear of unit holding • Pivot the control arm down away from the pulley the transmission to the mower housing. and belt. See Figure 17. • Lift off the lower pulley assembly and remove the old belt from around the crankshaft.

  • Page 16: Off-Season Storage

    • Reinstall the bolt securing transmission to rear mower housing. Six-Speed • Pivot the baffle back to its original position and Cable Slot secure with three hex screws removed earlier. • Lightly lubricate the inside of the blade adapter and reinstall the spacer, wave washer, blade adapter assembly, and blade in the correct order.

  • Page 17: Troubleshooting

    SECTION 10: TROUBLESHOOTING Problem Cause Remedy Engine fails to start Blade control handle disengaged. Engage blade control handle. Spark plug wire disconnected. Connect wire to spark plug. Fuel tank empty or stale fuel. Fill tank with clean, fresh gasoline. Blocked fuel line. Clean fuel line.

  • Page 18: Illustrated Parts List

    SECTION 11: PARTS LIST FOR MODEL SERIES 970 IMPORTANT: proper working machine, use Factory Approved Parts. V-BELTS are specially designed to engage and disengage safely. A substitute (non OEM) V-Belt can be dangerous by not disengaging completely.
  • Page 19 Model Series 970 Ref. Part No. Description Ref. Part No. Description 647-0004 Control Handle 756-0625 Roller Cable 731-0904A Upper Control Handle 738-0924A Shoulder Screw .375 ID x 1/4-14 16864 6 Spd. Rack Cable Bracket 714-0104 Cotter Pin 731-0620A Control Lever...
  • Page 20 Model Series 970...
  • Page 21 Model Series 970 Ref. Ref. Part No. Part Description Part No. Part Description 720-0223 Grip 638-0012 Rear Axle Assembly 741-0522 Flange Bearing .506 ID x .715 Lg 732-0803A Spring Lever 738-0529 Shoulder Nut .825 x .165 Lg. 732-0832 Torsion Spring 710-0751 Cap Screw 1/4-20 x .620...
  • Page 22 NOTES...
  • Page 23 Engine Manual for Kawasaki Engine SAFETY AWARENESS WARNING: Whenever you see the symbols shown on the left, heed their instructions! Always follow safe operating and maintenance practices. FORWARD We wish to thank you for purchasing this Kawasaki engine. Please read this Owner's manual carefully before starting your new engine so that you will be thoroughly familiar with the proper operation of your engine's control, its features, capabilities and limitations.

  • Page 24: Emission Control Information

    READ THIS FIRST WARNING: Never allow children to operate the engine or equipment. Keep people and pets out of area where you are using the engine or equipment. Never wear loose, torn, or bulky clothing. It may catch on moving parts or controls, leading to the risk of accident.
  • Page 25 gasses are led to a breather chamber through the necessary to ensure compliance with the applicable crankcase and from there to the air cleaner. standards. Engine Emissions Compliance Period As the owner of the engine, you have the responsibility to make sure that the recommended maintenance is California carried out according to the instructions in this Owner's Model Year - 2006 and later Vertical Crankshaft...

  • Page 26: General Information

    General Information Location of Safety Related Labels Figure 3 A. Fuel Tank Cap B. Fuel Tank (capacity 2.0L [0.528US gal.]) Figure 1 C. Fuel Tube a. Warning D. Carburetor b. Engine Maintenance E. Priming Pump F. Air Cleaner G. Recoil starter H.

  • Page 27: Fuel And Oil Recommendations

    Fuel And Oil Recommendations -20°C -10°C 0°C 10°C 20°C 30°C 40°C SAE 40 Fuel Use only clean, fresh, unleaded regular grade SAE 30 gasoline. SAE 10W-30/10W-40 Octane Rating The octane rating of a gasoline is a measure of its SAE 5W-20 resistance to "knocking".Use a minimum of 87 octane of the antiknock index is recommended.

  • Page 28: Starting

    CAUTION: The engine is shipped without • DO NOT let the recoil starter grip snap back engine oil. itself. This may cause damage to the recoil starter assembly. • Hold the brake control lever (A) on the equipment against the handle (B) on the equipment. •...

  • Page 29: Adjustment

    Adjustment B. Handle Engine Speed Adjustment NOTE: Do not tamper with the governor setting or the carburetor setting to increase the engine speed. Each carburetor is adjusted at the factory with either a cap or stop plate installed on the mixture screw. Any adjustments must performed...

  • Page 30: Air Cleaner Service

    Refilling Fresh Oil • Put the mower back to its operating position (on all four wheels). • Remove dipstick and refill with new oil (See FUEL AND OIL RECOMMENDATIONS chapter). Dipstick NOTE: If you followed the second method of draining oil, the dipstick is already removed from the engine.
  • Page 31 A. Fasteners A. Slit in the air cleaner body B. Recoil Starter B. Projection on the air cleaner case C. Air Cleaner Case C. Fasteners D. Air Cleaner body CAUTION: After servicing the air cleaner, be sure all the removed parts are reinstalled properly in E.

  • Page 32: Storage

    Storage Engine to be stored over 30 days should be completely drained of fuel (gasoline) to prevent gum deposits forming on essential carburetor parts and fuel system. WARNING: Gasoline is extremely flammable and can be explosive under certain conditions. Drain gasoline before storing the equipment for extended periods.

  • Page 33: Troubleshooting Guide

    Troubleshooting Guide Symptom Probable Cause Remedy Engine won't start Insufficient Faulty piston, cylinder, piston ring, 1. Tighten properly output is low compression and head gasket Faulty valves 2. Tighten properly Loose spark plug 3. Tighten properly Loose cylinder head bolts 4.
  • Page 34 Kawasaki Limited Warranty: California And Federal Emission Control Systems: Small Off-Road Engines The California Air Resources Board, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (hereinafter "Kawasaki") are pleased to explain the Emission Control Systems Warranty on your Kawasaki small off-road engine. In California and other states, new small off- road engines must be designed, built and equipped to meet stringent anti-smog standards.

  • Page 36: Warranty

    MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR: The limited warranty set forth below is given by Cub Cadet possesions and territories, except those sold through LLC with respect to new merchandise purchased and used in Cub Cadet’s authorized channels of export the United States, its possessions and territories. distribution.

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