OPERATOR’S MANUAL - MTD Products

1 Safety Operation Maintenance Storage TroubleshootingREAD SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATIONIMPORTANT:PRINTED IN MTD Products Ltd., P. O. Box 1386, KITCHENER, ONTARIO N2G 4J1277cc, 357cc and 420cc Horizontal Shaft OHV Snow Engines12/12/ 0976 9 - 0 5118 operator S MANUAL23 Table of ContentsThis MANUAL covers the operation and maintenance of your engine . All information in this publication is based on the latest product information available at the time of part of this publication may be reproduced without written MANUAL should be considered a permanent part of the engine and should remain with it if it is operator s MANUAL is an important part of your new engine . It will help you prepare and maintain the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says. Safe Operation Practices ..4 Operating the engine ..6 Maintaining the engine ..10 Troubleshooting .. 13 Emission Control System Warranty Statement ..14 Pay special attention to safety messages and notes printed in this MANUAL and on the engine itself.

2 A safety message alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or : Indicates a strong possibility of severe personal injury or death if instructions are not followed. Each safety message is preceded by a safety : Gives helpful : Indicates a possibility of equip-ment or property damage if instructions are not : The engine is designed to give safe and dependable service if operated according to instructions. Read and understand the operator s MANUAL before operating the engine . Failure to do so could result in personal injury or equipment operator s MANUAL may cover a range of engine models. Characteristics and features discussed and/or illustrated in this MANUAL may not be applicable to all engine models. MTD LLC reserves the right to change product specifications, designs, and equipment without notice and without incurring or call a Customer Support Representative at Support41 engine Safe Operation PracticesGasoline and its vapors are extremely flammable and explosive.

3 Fire or explosion can cause severe burns or death. If gasoline is spilled on yourself or your clothes, wash your skin and change clothes immediately. When adding fuel, turn engine OFF and let engine cool at least 2 minutes before removing gas cap. Fill fuel tank outdoors or in well ventilated area. Use only an approved gasoline container. Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck or trailer bed with a plastic liner. Always place contain-ers on the ground away from your vehicle before filling. If possible, remove gas-powered equipment from the truck or trailer and refuel it on the ground. If this is not possible, then refuel such equipment on a trailer with a portable container, rather than from a gasoline dispenser nozzle. keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel tank or container opening at all times until fueling is complete. Do not use a nozzle lock-open device. Do not overfill fuel tank. Fill tank to approximately 2 cm below lowest portion of neck to allow for fuel expansion.

4 keep gasoline away from sparks, open flames, pilot lights, heat, and other ignition sources. Never fuel equipment indoors because flammable vapors will accumulate in the area. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and other sources of ignition. Check fuel line, tank, cap, and fittings frequently for cracks or leaks. Replace if necessary. When starting engine , make sure spark plug, muffler, fuel cap and air cleaner are in place. Do not crank engine with spark plug removed. If fuel spills, wait until it evaporates before starting engine . When operating equipment, do not tip engine or equipment at angle which causes gasoline to spill. Do not choke carburetor to stop engine . When transporting equipment, transport with fuel tank EMPTY. When storing gasoline or equipment with fuel in tank, store away from furnaces, stoves, water heaters or other appliances that have pilot light or other ignition source because they can ignite gasoline vapors. Starting engine creates spark-ing.

5 Sparking can ignite nearby flammable gases. Explosion and fire could result. If there is a natural or LP gas leakage in area, do not start engine . Do not use pressurized starting fluids because vapors are give off carbon mon-oxide, an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas. Breathing carbon monoxide can cause nausea, fainting, or death. Start and run engine outdoors. Do not start or run engine in enclosed area, even if doors or windows are sparking can result in fire or electric shock. Unin-tentional start-up can result in entanglement, traumatic amputa-tion, or laceration. Before peforming adjustments or repairs, disconnect spark plug wire and keep it away from spark plug. When testing for spark, use approved spark plug tester. Do not check for spark with spark plug engine produces heat. engine parts, especially muffler, become extremely hot. Severe thermal burns can occur on contact. Combustible debris, such as leaves, grass, brush, etc., can catch fire. Allow muffler, engine cylinder, and fins to cool before touching.

6 keep children away from hot or running engines. They can suffer burns from a hot : Gasoline and its vapors are extremely flammable and explosive. Fire or explosion can cause severe burns or death. If gasoline is spilled on yourself or your clothes, wash your skin and change clothes and its vapors are extremely flam-mable and explosive. Fire or explosion can cause severe burns or death. If gasoline is spilled on yourself or your clothes, wash your skin and change clothes immediately. Starting engine creates sparking. Sparking can ignite nearby flamma-ble gases. Explosion and fire could sparking can result in fire or electric shock. Unin-tentional start-up can result in entanglement, traumatic amputation, or Remove accumulated combustibles from muffler and cylinder engine parts can contact or entangle hands, feet, hair, clothing, or accessories. Traumatic amputation or severe laceration can result. Operate equipment with guards in place. keep hands and feet away from rotating parts.

7 Tie up long hair and remove jewelry. Do not wear loose-fitting clothing, dangling drawstrings or items that could become retraction of starter cord (kickback) will pull hand and arm toward engine faster than you can let go. Broken bones, fractures, bruises or sprains could result. When starting engine , pull cord slowly until resis-tance is felt, then pull rapidly. Remove all external equipment/ engine loads before starting engine . Direct coupled equipment components such as, but not limited to blades, impellers, pulleys, sprockets, etc., must be securely Label LocationThis label warns you of potential hazards that can cause serious injury. Read it carefully. See Figure 1-1 for explanation of the label comes off or becomes hard to read, contact the dealer for Safe Operation PracticesWARNINGR unning engine produces heat. engine parts, especially muf-fler, become extremely hot. Severe thermal burns can occur on contact. Combustible debris, such as leaves, grass, brush, etc.

8 , can catch engine parts can contact or entangle hands, feet, hair, cloth-ing, or accessories. Traumatic amputation or severe laceration can retraction of starter cord (kickback) will pull hand and arm toward engine faster than you can let go. Broken bones, fractures, bruises or sprains could FumesHot SurfaceSafety AlertUnleaded FuelManualRead Owner sGasoline IsFlammablePBInternational Symbols and MeaningsFigure 1-16 PrimerDepressing primer forces fuel directly into engine s carburetor to aid in cold-weather starting. Ignition Key The ignition key is a safety device. Insert key and snap in place; do not turn ignition key. Pull the key out halfway to stop the engine . Remove key when the unit is not in use. ThrottleThe throttle control regulates the speed of the engine and will shut off the engine when moved into the STOP the choke closes the choke plate on the carburetor and aids in start-ing the engine . For information on choke usage, see Starting The engine . Starter HandleThis motor is fitted with a recoil action pull start and a mitten grip handle for easy access while wearing gloves or ComponentsOil DrainRemoving the oil drain plug will drain the oil from the engine .

9 Refer to the Maintenance section in this MANUAL for instructions on changing the Filler Cap/DipstickRemove oil cap to check oil level. Refer to Pre-Operation Check section for checking oil and Maintaining your engine section for adding oil Fill CapRemove gas cap to add fuel. Unit runs on automotive unleaded Start (if equipped)Electric Switch BoxRequires the use of a three-prong outdoor extension cord and a 120V power source/wall Start ButtonPressing the electric starter button engages the engine s electric starter when plugged into a 120V power this section before starting the engine . It is important to familiarize yourself with the controls on the engine . Refer to Starting the engine section for detailed operating instructions. 2 Operating the EngineIMPORTANT: your snowthrower may or may not have been shipped with oil in the engine . You must, however, check the oil level prior to operating the snow thrower. Running the engine with insufficient oil can cause serious engine damage and void the engine are subject to change without notification or obligation.

10 Images my not reflect your exact model and are for reference purposes 2-1: Front and rear views of the engine .* OptionalPRIMERS park PlugStarter HandleOil DrainMufflerOil Filler Cap/DipstickElectric startbutton*Electric SwitchBox*Fuel Fill CapPrimerIgnition KeyThrottleChoke7 Checking the Fuel LevelIMPORTANT: Before refueling, allow engine to cool two around fuel fill before removing cap to A fuel level indicator is located in the fuel tank. Fill 2. tank until fuel reaches the fuel level indictor, Figure 2-4. Be careful not to CheckIMPORTANT: your snowthrower may or may not have been shipped with oil in the engine . You must, however, check the oil level prior to operating the snow thrower. Running the engine with insufficient oil can cause serious engine damage and void the engine RecommendationsBefore starting engine , fill with oil, refer to viscosity chart in Figure 2-2. engine oil capacity is 1100 ml. Do not over-fill. Use a 4-stroke, or an equivalent high detergent, premium quality motor oil certified to meet or exceed automobile manufacturer s requirements for service classification SG, SF.