Operating Your Lawn Mower; Gas & Oil Fill-Up; Before Starting Mower; Starting Engine - MTD 12A-986Q795 Operator's Manual

SECTION 5: OPERATING Y OUR LAWNMOWER
_ ARNING"
Read, understand, and follow all _,
instructions and warnings on the machine and
in this manual before operating.
NOTE: For shipping purposes your mower is set with
the wheels in a low cutting height position. For best
results, raise the cutting position until # is determined
which height is best for your lawn. See the Adjustment
Section for details.
Gas& OilFill-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.
BeforeStartingMower
• 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.
• Check for proper drive clutch operation using the
neutral adjustment test described below.
Neutral AdjustmentTest
To perform the neutral adjustment test, answer the
following questions.
• With the drive clutch control released, push mower
forward and pull it backward. Does it move freely?
• Squeeze the drive clutch control and pull the
mower backward. Do the rear wheels lock?
• Is the drive clutch control cable free of kinks or
sharp bends?
• If you answered "yes" to all three questions, your
mower passed the test and you can start your
mower.
• If you answered "no" to any of the three questions,
you will have to adjust the drive clutch control as
instructed in the ADJUSTMENT SECTION.
StartingEngine
Make sure the fuel valve lever found on the left side of
the engine is in the ON position. See Figure 11 .
Move the choke lever all the way backward into the
choke position. Once the engine is warm, the lever
will automatically revert to the RUN position. Refer
to the engine manual for further details.
WARNING:
Be sure no one other than the
operator is standing near the lawn mower while
starting engine or operating mower.
WARNING: Never run engine indoors or in
enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an
odorless and deadly gas.
WARNING:
Keep hands, feet, hair and
loose clothing away from any moving parts on
engine and lawn mower.
WARNING:
When starting the unit for the
first time, face the mower against a wall or a
fence. Start the unit and if it shows any signs of
motion while the drive clutch control is still
disengaged, shut engine off immediately.
Your lawn mower is equipped with a constant
speed throttle, which is set at full throttle for best
performance.
Recoil
Starter
Fuel Valve
Choke LeverJ
Figure 11
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 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.
NOTE: See your engine manual packed with your unit
for more detailed instructions.
Stopping Engine
• Release the blade control handle to stop engine
and blade. Wait till the blade stops completely.
• Disconnect spark plug wire and move away from
spark plug to prevent accidental starting.
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