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Operation

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Figure 5-1

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4

Starting Engine

WARNING: 

Be sure no one other than the operator 

is standing near the lawn mower while starting 
engine or operating mower. Never run engine 
indoors or in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. 
Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an 
odorless and deadly gas. Keep hands, feet, hair and 
loose clothing away from any moving parts on 
engine and lawn mower.

Pull out the choke knob located on the left side of the 
upper handle. See Fig. 5-1.

NOTE: 

Use of the choke may not be necessary if the engine 

is warm or the air temperature is high.

2. 

Standing behind the mower, squeeze and hold the blade 
control against upper handle.

3. 

Pull the recoil starter lightly until resistance is felt, then pull 
rapidly to overcome compression, prevent kickback, and 
start the engine. Repeat if necessary. See Fig. 5-1.

NOTE: 

Do not allow the recoil starter to snap back against 

the rope guide.

4. 

When engine warms up, push in the choke knob.

Stopping Engine

Release blade control to stop the engine and blade.

WARNING: 

Wait for the blade to stop completely 

before performing any work on the mower or to 
remove the grass catcher.

Using Your Lawn Mower

Be sure lawn is clear of stones, sticks, wire, or other objects 
which could damage lawn mower or engine. Such objects could 
be accidently thrown by the mower in any direction and cause 
serious personal injury to the operator and others.

WARNING: 

The operation of any lawn mower can 

result in foreign objects being thrown into the eyes, 
which can damage your eyes severely. Always wear 
safety glasses while operating the mower, or while 
performing any adjustments or repairs on it.

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Using as Mulcher

For mulching grass, remove the grass catcher and side discharge 
chute from the mower. For effective mulching, do not cut wet 
grass. If the grass has been allowed to grow in excess of four 
inches, mulching is not recommended. Use the grass catcher to 
bag clippings instead.

Using Grass Catcher

You can use the grass catcher to collect clippings while you are 
operating the mower.

Attach grass catcher following instructions in the 
“Assembly & Set-Up” section. Grass clippings will 
automatically collect in bag as you run mower. Operate 
mower till grass bag is full.
Stop engine completely by releasing the blade control. 
Make sure that the unit has come to a complete stop.
Lift discharge door and pull grass bag up and away from 
the mower to remove the bag. Dispose of the grass 
clippings and reinstall the bag when complete.

WARNING: 

If you strike a foreign object, stop the 

engine. Remove wire from the spark plug, 
thoroughly inspect mower for any damage, and 
repair damage before restarting and operating. 
Extensive vibration of mower during operation is an 
indication of damage. The unit should be promptly 
inspected and repaired.

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Summary of Contents for 54K

Page 1: ...Maintenance Service Troubleshooting Warranty WARNING READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS MACHINE FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIO...

Page 2: ...models MTD LLC reserves the right to change product specifications designs and equipment without notice and without incurring obligation This product has met the rigid safety standards of the Outdoor...

Page 3: ...ts at least 75 feet from mower while it is in operation Stop machine if anyone enters area Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles during operation and while performing an adjustment or repair to...

Page 4: ...e parts and accessories made for this machine by the manufacturer Failure to do so can result in personal injury 12 13 14 a b c d 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 When starting engine pull cord slo...

Page 5: ...11 12 13 14 1 2 Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at frequent intervals for proper tightness Also visually inspect blade for damage e g bent cracked worn Replace blade with the original equipm...

Page 6: ...the muffler is available through your nearest engine authorized service dealer or contact the service department P O Box 361131 Cleveland Ohio 44136 0019 Average Useful Life According to the Consumer...

Page 7: ...a guide to determine slopes where you may not operate safely WARNING Do not operate your lawn mower on such slopes Do not mow on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degrees a rise of approximately 2...

Page 8: ...ely into the handle mounting brackets Do not crimp cable while lifting the handle up Tighten star knobs to secure upper handle to lower handle Make sure that each carriage bolt is seated properly in t...

Page 9: ...ottom Slip plastic channel of grass bag over hooks on the frame See Fig 3 5 All the plastic channels except center top of bag attach from outside of bag Attach center top of bag from inside of bag 1 2...

Page 10: ...time out of the box Service the engine with gasoline as instructed in the separate engine owner s manual WARNING Use extreme care when handling gasoline Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors...

Page 11: ...o bag the grass clippings for disposal at another site Once the bag is full it has to be removed from the mower and emptied before any further mowing Side Discharge Chute Your mower is shipped as a mu...

Page 12: ...ently thrown by the mower in any direction and cause serious personal injury to the operator and others WARNING The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects being thrown into the eyes...

Page 13: ...1 Lubricate the torsion spring and pivot points on the rear discharge door and side mulch plug periodically with light oil to prevent rust See Fig 6 1 Follow the accompanying engine manual for lubric...

Page 14: ...s instructed in engine manual Service air cleaner every 25 hours under normal conditions Clean every few hours under extremely dusty conditions Poor engine performance and flooding usually indicates t...

Page 15: ...rect engine storage instructions Store mower in a dry clean area Do not store next to corrosive materials such as fertilizer When storing any type of power equipment in a poorly ventilated or metal st...

Page 16: ...ll tank with clean fresh gasoline Clear vent Drain fuel tank Refill with fresh fuel Refer to engine manual Push CHOKE knob in 1 2 3 4 5 6 Engine overheats Engine oil level low Air flow restricted 1 2...

Page 17: ...Notes 9 17...

Page 18: ...18 Model 54K 6 5 54 51 3 55 28 24 37 50 24 39 40 41 24 43 45 44 26 27 28 36 25 35 34 24 23 14 13 11 18 17 16 15 29 32 31 24 33 46 9 49 2 1 12 22 21 20 19 38 47 42 4 7 10 8 52 48 30 53...

Page 19: ...ht Adjustment Plate 26 687 02337 Pivot Arm Assy RH 687 02338 Pivot Arm Assy LH 27 734 2005A Front Wheel Ref No Part Number Description 28 738 04266 Shoulder Scr 5D x 385 29 732 0404 Front Spring Lever...

Page 20: ...arranty Refer to applicable manufactur er s warranty for terms and conditions b Log splitter pumps valves and cylinders have a separate one year warranty c Routine maintenance items such as lubricants...

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