Assembling Your Lawn Mower - MTD Series Z080 Operator's Manual

SECTION 3: ASSEMBLING Y OUR LAWNMOWER
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.
Using a pair of pliers, squeeze each leg of the lower
handle against the handle mounting brackets.
Insert each hairpin clip into the inner hole on the
weld pins. See Figure 2.
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.)
Carefully cut along comers, lay carton down flat,
and remove packing material
Roll or slide unit out of carton and check carton
thoroughly for loose parts.
Disconnecting Spark PlugWire
Before setting up your lawn mower, disconnect the
spark plug wire from the spark plug and ground to a
stud on the engine. See Figure 1.
Stud
O
Plug Wire Spark Plug
Figure 1
SettingUpYourLawn Mower
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. To secure the upper and lower
handle, tighten the wing nuts between handles
(carriage bolts must be seated properly into the
handle).
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.
Remove the hairpin clips from the outer hole in the
weld pins on the handle mounting brackets. See
Figure 2.
Handle
Mounting
Brackets
Figure 2
Loosen the wing nut which secures the rope guide
to the right side of upper handle. See Figure 3.
Starter
Rope "_
Nut
Rope /
Guide
Lower
Handle
Figure 3
With the spark plug wire disconnected and
grounded, hold the blade control handle against the
upper handle, and pull the starter rope out of the
engine. Release the blade control handle. Slip the
starter rope into the rope guide. Tighten the wing
nut.
RemovingChute Retainer
The chute deflector on your mower is held in an upright
position by a retainer for shipping purposes only.
Remove the retainer following the steps below.
Lift the chute deflector up and towards the engine.
Holding the deflector in this position, remove the
retainer. See Figure 4.
Lower the chute deflector carefully to its operating
position keeping your fingers out of the way.
WARNING: The chute retainer must be
removed and discarded before operating
the mower.