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MTD 12A-997A795 Operator's Manual

21" self-propelled mower
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Operator's Manual
21" Self-Propelled
Mower
Model 997
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 LLC.,P.O. Box361131,Cleveland,Ohio 44136-0019
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Form No.769-00952
(11/2003)

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Summary of Contents for MTD 12A-997A795

  • Page 1 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 LLC.,P.O. Box361131,Cleveland,Ohio 44136-0019 PRINTED IN U.S.A. Form No.769-00952 (11/2003)

  • Page 2: Customer Support

    TABLEOFCONTENTS Content Page Content Page Important Safe Operation Practices Maintaining Your Lawn Mower Slope Gauge Servicing Your Lawn Mower Assembling Your Lawn Mower Off-Season Storage Know Your Lawn Mower Troubleshooting Illustrated Parts List Operating Your Lawn Mower Making Adjustments Warranty FINDINGMODELNUMBER This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new lawn mower.

  • Page 3: Section 1: Important Safeoperation P Ractices

    SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFEOPERATION P RACTICES 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 andtheblade willstoprotating within Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing could threeseconds. cause slipping. 9. Mowindaylight o rgoodartificial light; w alk,notrun. Children 10.Stoptheblade whencrossing gravel d rives, walkways o rroads. Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to 11.Iftheequipment should start t ovibrate abnormally, the presence of children.

  • Page 5: Your Responsibility

    10.Never o verfill f ueltank.Filltanktonomorethan½ Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the inchbelowbottom offillernecktoprovide space for blade or wear gloves, and use extra caution when fuelexpansion. servicing them. 11.Replace gasoline c apandtighten securely. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the 12.If gasoline isspilled, w ipeitofftheengine and equipment is in safe working condition.
  • Page 6 SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE i,,II A POWER POLE A CORNER OF A BUILDING OR A FENCE POST 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.

  • Page 7: Section 3: Assembling Your Lawnmower

    SECTION 3: ASSEMBLING YOUR LAWNMOWER Removing UnitFromCarton Setting UpYourLawn Mower • Remove staples, break glue on top flaps, or cut AssemblingHandle 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: Attaching Thegrassbag

    Fasten the cable to the lower handle with the two cable ties found on the lower handle. Pull the cable Grass Bag Adapter ties tight and trim off the excess. See Figure 5. Cable Tie Lower Handle Nuts Figure 5 Figure 7 Attaching S tarterRope •...

  • Page 9: Section 4: Know Your Lawnmower

    SECTION 4: KNOW YOUR LAWNMOWER RecoilStarter 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: Gas& Oilfill-Up

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

  • Page 11: Section 6: Making Adjustments

    Mulching Bagging GrassClippings You can use the grass catcher bag to collect clippings IMPORTANT: Be sure that the lawn is clear of stones, while you are operating the mower. sticks, wire, or other objects which could damage lawn • Attach grass catcher following instructions on page mower or engine.

  • Page 12: Engine Adjustments

    The front wheel cutting height is determined by NOTE: For some operators, the drive clutch control selecting one of six positions on each caster assembly. may not be in a comfortable position. You can adjust To adjust front cutting height, proceed as follows: the handle out by tightening the adjustment wheel.

  • Page 13: Section 7: Maintaining Your Lawnmower

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

  • Page 14: Drive Belt Replacement

    SECTION 8: SERVICING THEMOWER • 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 and belt. the transmission to the mower housing. See Figure 19. • Lift off the lower pulley assembly and remove the old belt from around the crankshaft.

  • Page 16: Section 9: Off-Season S Torage

    • Make sure the belt is routed inside the pulley halves and the belt guard pin. Six-Speed Cable Slot • Reinstall the bolt securing transmission to rear mower housing. • Pivot the baffle back to its original position and secure with three hex screws removed earlier. •...

  • Page 17: Section 10: 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 SECTION 11: PARTS LISTFORMODEL 997 < 10% _ 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 disengaging completely.
  • Page 19 Model997 Ref. Part No. Ref. Part No. Description Description 647-0004 Control Handle 736-0270 Bell Washer.265 ID x.75 OD 731-0904A 710-0751 Upper Control Housing Hex Cap Screw 1/4-20 x.620 16864 737-3000 6 Spd. Rack Cable Bracket Grease Fitting 731-0620 Control Lever 736-0931 Flat Washer.203 ID x.403 OD 713-0397...
  • Page 20 Model997...
  • Page 21 Model997 Ref, Ref. Part No. Part Description Part No. Part Description 720-0223 712-0896 Hex Jam Nut 1/4-28 Grip 732-0803A 782-7598 Spring Lever Belt Keeper 738-0529 741-0124 Shoulder Nut.825 x.165 Lg. Bearing 710-0751 732-0849A Cap Screw 1/4-20 x.620 Extension Spring 736-0270 Belt Washer.285 ID x.75 OD 750-1050 Flange Spacer...

  • Page 22: Safety Awareness

    Engine Manual forKawasaki 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 23: 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 24 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. As the owner of the engine, you have the responsibility EngineEmissionsCompliancePeriod to make sure that the recommended maintenance is California carried out according to the instructions in this Owner's...

  • Page 25: General Information

    General I nformation Locationof Safety RelatedLabels Figure 3 A. Fuel Tank Cap Figure 1 B. Fuel Tank (capacity 2.0L [0.528US gal.]) C. Fuel Tube a. Warning Engine Maintenance D. Carburetor E. Priming Pump AWARNING F. Air Cleaner G. Recoil starter _]loFOR SAFEOPERATION READOWNER'S MANUAL.

  • Page 26: Fuel And Oil Recommendations

    FuelAndOilRecommendations -20°C -10°C 0°C 10°C 20°C 30°C 40°C Fuel Use only clean, fresh, unleaded regular grade gasoline. /10w SA_10W- OctaneRating The octane rating of a gasoline is a measure of its resistance to "knocking".Use a minimum of 87 octane of the antiknock index is recommended.
  • Page 27 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 28: Maintenance

    B. Handle Adjustment EngineSpeed 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 mixture screw. adjustments must performed authorized...
  • Page 29 • Put the mower back to its operating position (on all RefillingFresh0il 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 30 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 31 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 32: Troubleshooting Guide

    Troubleshooting Guide Probable Cause Remedy Symptom Insufficient 1.Tighten properly Engine won't start Faulty piston, cylinder, piston ring, output is low compression and head gasket Faulty valves 2. Tighten properly Loose spark plug 3. Tighten properly Loose cylinder head bolts 4. Tighten properly No fuel to No fuel infueltank 1.
  • Page 33 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 34 NOTES...
  • Page 35 NOTES...
  • Page 36 MANUFACTURER'S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR: The limited warranty set forth below is given by MTD LLC with MTD does not extend any warranty for products sold or respect to new merchandise purchased and used in the exported outside of the United States, its possessions United States, its possessions and territories.

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