Section3: Assembling Yourlawn Mower - MTD series 540 Operator's Manual

SECTION3: ASSEMBLING YOURLAWN MOWER
IMPORTANT: This unit is shipped without gasoline or oil
in the engine. Be certain to service engine with gasoline
and oil as instructed in the separate engine manual
before operating your mower.
NOTE: Reference to right or left hand side of the mower
is observed from the operating position.
Removing UnitFromCarton
° Remove staples, break glue on top flaps, or cut tape
at carton end and peel along top flap to open carton.
• Remove loose parts if included with unit (i.e.,
operator's manual, etc.)
• Cut along corners, lay carton down flat, and remove
packing material.
• Roll or slide unit out of carton and check carton
thoroughly for loose parts.
Loose Partsin Carton
• Grass Bag
• Side Discharge Chute
• Rear Wheels
• Hardware Pack
Disconnecting S parkPlugWire
Before setting up your lawn mower, disconnect the spark
plug wire from the spark plug and ground against the
engine. See Figure 1.
Spark /
Plug Wire
Figure 1
Setting U p
YourLawn Mower
AssemblingHandle
° Lift up and pull back on the upper handle to raise the
handle into the operating position. Make certain the
lower handle is seated securely into the handle
bracket assemblies. Tighten the wing nuts on each
side of the handle (carriage bolts must be seated
properly into the handle). See Figure 2.
NOTE: Your mower is shipped with the handle in the
higher position. If you wish to lower the height of the
handle, refer to the Adjustment Section at this time.
Figure 2
• Remove the hairpin clips from the outer hole in the
weld pins on the handle mounting brackets. Using a
pair of pliers, squeeze one leg of the lower handle
against the handle mounting bracket. Insert the
hairpin clip into the inner hole on the weld pin.
Repeat on the other side. See Figure 3.
• After moving the hairpin clip, insert the carriage bolt
from hardware pack in the upper hole on the handle
mounting bracket and secure with plastic wing nut
from the hardware pack. Repeat on other side.
Handle Mounting
Bracket
/Cardage Bolt
Wing Nut
\_ Insert Hairpin
_ Clip
• _Weld Pin
Hairpin_
Clip
Figure 3
Fasten the cable to the lower handle with the two
cable ties found on the lower handle. Pull the cable
ties tight and trim off the excess. See Figure 4.
Cable Tie
Handle
Figure 4