MTD 080 Thru 099 - Manual (Page 9)

9
Figure 8
Recoil Starter
The recoil starter is attached to the right lower handle.
Stand behind the unit and pull the recoil starter to start
the unit. See Figure 8.
Cutting Height Adjustment Lever
These levers are located on each wheel and they are
used to adjust the cutting height. All four levers have to
be at the same relative position to ensure an uniform
cut.
Engine Controls
See the separate engine manual for the location and
function of the controls on the engine.
Stopping Engine
• Release blade control handle to stop the engine
and the blade.
• Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and
ground against the engine.
SECTION 5: OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER
WARNING: Keep hands and feet away from
chute area on the cutting deck. The
operation of any lawn mower can result in
foreign objects being thrown into the eyes,
which can result in severe eye damage.
Always wear safety glasses or eye shields. 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 it is determine
which height is best for your lawn. See the Adjustment
Section for details.
Blade Control
Handle
Recoil
Starter
Discharge
Chute
Cutting Height
Adjustment
Mulching
Baffle
Lever
Mulching
Plug
Discharge
Chute
Towards Better Mower Performance
13. Pour fresh, clean gasoline into the mower’s gas
tank until the tank is full. Do not use gasoline
that is more than 30 days old.
14. Always use a fuel stabilizer. It will double the life
of the gasoline used.
15. Make sure to connect the mower’s spark plug
wire before trying to start the engine.
16. Add engine oil to the oil fill on the mower engine.
Check the dipstick and add more if necessary.
Remember that the oil level has to touch the fill
line.
17. Locate the primer decal near the primer bulb on
the engine, and read its instruction. Using your
thumb, press the primer bulb slowly as many
times as the decal advises.
18. Hold control handle down and pull rope firmly to
start the engine.
19. Set cutting height adjustment lever to middle
setting and mow a single pass on your lawn;
then adjust to desired height for a closer cut.
20. To mulch insert the mulch plug/cover on the
mower.
21. In heavy growing season, it may be necessary
to mow lawn twice weekly. Clumps of grass
clippings left behind on the lawn usually means
that the grass is too high to mulch.
22. Before storing the lawn mower for the winter,
use stabilizer-treated fuel and run the tank dry.
23. Thirty days before start of the new season,
check the air filter, spark plug and blade on the
lawn mower, and replace if needed.