MTD 182-387B000 User manual

OWNEirS GUIDE
• ASSEMBLY • OPERATION • MAINTENANCE • PARTS •
19"
REAR DISCHARGE
ELECTRIC
ROTARY MOWER
Model Number
182-387B000
0(P
IMPORTANT!
Record the Model No. and Mfg. Code which
appear on your unit in the space below. You
must have these numbers, along with the date
of purchase, in order to receive warranty or ser¬
vice.
Important:
Read Safety Rulps and Instructions Carefully
FORM NO. 770-8093G
(R920220)

i
IMPORTANT
SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES
▲
THIS SYMBOL POINTS OUT IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS WHICH. IF NOT FOLLOWED. COULD ENDANGER THE PERSONAL
SAFETY AND/OR PROPERTY OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS. READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE
ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE YOUR ELECTRIC LAWN MCWER. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN
PERSONAL INJURY. WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL— A HEED ITS WARNING.
A
Your electric lawn mower wi s built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this manu-
DANGER' al. As with any type of powi r equipment, careiessness or error on the part of the operator can result in
serious injury. If you violate my of these rules, you may cause serious injury to yourself or others.
TRAINING
1. Read this owner’s manual carefully in its entirety before a tempting to
assemble or operate this machine. Be completely familiar v ith the con¬
trols and the proper use of this machine before operating it. Keep this
manual in a safe place for future and regular reference and for ordering
replacement parts.
2. Your rotary mower is a precision piece of power equipmen, not a play¬
thing. Therefore, exercise extreme caution at all times.
3. Never allow children to operate a power mower. Only persons well
acquainted with these rules of safe operation should be alitwed to use
your mower.
4. No one should operate this unit while intoxicated or while aking medi¬
cation that impairs the senses or reactions.
5. Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, particular! i small chil¬
dren and pets. Stop motor when they are in the vicinity of mur mower.
Although the area of operation should be completely cleared of foreign
objects, an object may have been overlooked and could bt accidentally
thrown by the mower in any direction and cause serious pe rsonai injury
to the operator or any others allowed in the area.
PREPARATION
1. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to be used.
Remove all stones, sticks, wire, bones and other foreign (bjects which
could be picked up and thrown by the mower in any (irection and
cause serious personal injury to the operator or any othe's allowed in
the area.
2. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields during opera ;ion or while
performing an adjustment or repair, to protect eyes rom foreign
objects that may be thrown from the machine in any direct on.
3. Dress properly. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes. Nt ver operate a
unit in barefeet, sandals or sneakers. Do not wear loose clothing or
jewelry. They can be caught in moving parts. Use of rubb tr gloves and
footwear is recommended when working outdoors.
4. Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height adjustn ent while the
motor is running.
5. Mow only in daylight or in good artificial light.
6. Avoid Dangerous Environment—Never operate the equ pment in the
rain or in damp wet locations. Always be sure of your f toting. A slip
and fall can cause serious personal injury. Keep a firm ho d on the han¬
dle and walk, never run. Do not over-reach—keep footing and balance
at all times.
7. Warning—To reduce the risk of electric shock hazard, usi; only with an
extension cord suitable for outdoor use. Use only UL app oved outdoor
extension cords of adequate gauge (minimum 16 gauge ricommended)
which accept the lawn mower’s plug. Extension cords a e available at
your nearest authorized service center or dealer.
8. Cord sets—Make sure your cord set is in good condition. When using a
cord set, be sure to use one heavy enough to carry th( current your
lawn mower will draw. For lengths less than 50 feet, No. 16 AWG cord
set should be used. An undersized cord will cause a drop in line voltage
resulting in loss of power and overheating. (NOTE: Tabit below shows
the correct size to use depending on cord length and narr epiate ampere
rating. If in doubt, use the next heavier gauge. The sme Her the gauge
number the heavier the cord.)
Required Cord Gauge
Motor
Amp
Rating
Cord Length in Feet
25 50 100 150
Wire Gauge
10-12
16 16 14 12
9. If extension cord is damaged in any manner while plugged in, pull
extension cord from wall receptacle.
10. To prevent disconnection of extension cord from mower during opera¬
tion, be sure to use the cord restraint provided or make a knot as
shown in the illustration below.
Extension Appliance
Cord Cord
11. Fuses—The mower should be operated on a 15 or 20 AMP circuit. If
difficulty in starting is experienced with a standard 15 AMP fuse or cir¬
cuit breaker, contact your nearest authorized service location. Do not
use a higher rated fuse without consulting your power company.
12. For your safety, use the slope gauge included as part of this manual to
measure slopes before operating this unit on a sloped or hilly area. If
the slope is greater than 15° as shown on the slope gauge, do not oper¬
ate this unit on that area or serious injury could result.
2 .
4.
OPERATION
k 1. Avoid accidental starting. Do not pull plugged-in lawn mower with fin-
■ ger on switch. Be sure switch is off when plugging in.
Do not abuse cord—never pull lawn mower by cord or yank it to dis¬
connect from receptacle. Keep cord from heat, oil, and sharp edges.
Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts. Keep clear of the
discharge opening at all times as the rotating blade can cause injury.
Stop the motor when you leave the mower and before crossing gravel
drives, walks or roads.
5. After striking a foreign object, shut off the motor, make absolutely sure
the blade and all moving parts have completely stopped, disconnect the
power cord to prevent accidental starting, then thoroughly inspect the
mower for any damage. Such damage must be repaired before restart¬
ing and operating the mower.
If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the motor and
check immediately for the cause. Vibration is generally a warning of
trouble.
7. Stop the motor, unplug the power cord, and wait for the blade and r
moving parts to stop before cleaning or unclogging, repairing ^
inspecting the mower. The cutting blade continues to rotate for a few
seconds after the motor is shut off.
6 .
2

SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES (Continued)
8. Do not force lawn mower. It will do the job better and safer at the rate 3. Keep blade sharp.
for which it was designed. Use right appliance—Do not use lawn 4. Use identical replacement blades only. Replace damaged cord,
mower for any job except that for which it is intended. 5. To reduce fire hazard, keep the motor free of grass, leaves, or excessive
9. Mow across the face of slopes, never up-and-down. Never cut grass by grease.
pulling mower toward you. Exercise extreme caution when operating 6. Store idle lawn mower indoors when not in use. Allow motor to cool
mower on uneven terrain or changing direction on slopes. Do not mow before storing in any enclosure. Lawn mower should be stored indoors
excessively steep slopes. Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall in dry, high or locked-up place, out of reach of children,
can cause serious personal injury. 7. Maintain lawn mower with care. Keep blade sharp and clean for best
10. Never operate mower without proper guards, plates or other safety pro- and safest performance. Follow Instructions for lubricating and
tective devices in place. changing accessories.
11. The hlade/motor control on this mower is installed to minimize the 8. Check the grass catcher bag frequently for wear or deterioration,
risk of blade contact injury and is required by federal regulations. Do Replace a worn or damaged bag immediately. Be sure replacement bag
not under any circumstances attempt to defeat the function of the meets original equipment specifications
blade/motor control.
12. To avoid electric shock hazard, never push mower over cord. Do not
mow around the lawn in circles. Always travel back and forth across the
lawn, beginning at the point nearest the electric outlet to which the
extension cord is connected. This will keep the cord on the mowed area
of the lawn and out of the way.
13. Do not operate mower after it has been dropped or damaged in any
manner. Return mower to nearest authorized service location.
14. The use of accessory attachments not recommended by the mower
manufacturer may cause hazards.
15. Do not operate this mower with the chute door open, unless the com¬
plete grass catcher is properly mounted on the mower.
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
1. Warning—Disconnect power cord from electrical outlet before per¬
forming any maintenance or service on mower.
DOUBLE INSULATED LAWN MOWER
^DOUBLE INSULATION IS A CONCEPT IN SAFETY IN ELECTRIC LAWN
MOWERS, WHICH ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR THE USUAL THREE WIRE
GROUNDED POWER CORD AND GROUNDED SUPPLY SYSTEM. WHEREV¬
ER THERE IS ELECTRIC CURRENT IN THE MOWER, THERE ARE TWO
COMPLETE SETS OF INSUUTION TO PROTECT THE USER. ALL EXPOSED
METAL PARTS ARE ISOLATED FROM THE INTERNAL METAL MOTOR
COMPONENTS WITH PROTECTING INSULATION.
tMPORTANT— SERVICING OF A LAWN MOWER WITH DOUBLE INSULA¬
TION REQUIRES EXTREME CARE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE SYSTEM AND
SHOULD BE PERFORMED ONLY BY A QUALIFIED SERVICE TECHNICIAN
FOR SERVICE WE SUGGEST YOU RETURN THE LAWN MOWER TO YOUR
NEAREST AUTHORIZED SERVICE DEALER FOR REPAIR. ALWAYS USE
ORIGINAL FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS WHEN SERVICING.
2. Check the blade and motor mounting bolts at frequent intervals for
proper tightness. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the
equipment is in safe working condition.
3

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
TO REMOVE MOWER FROM CARTON
Remove the carton inserts. Lift the mower from the carton,
or cut the corners of the carton and roll the mower out.
Make certain all parts and literature have been removed
from the carton before the carton is discarded.
HOW TO SET-UP YOUR MOWER
1. Pull up and back on the lower handle. Pivot the upper
handle up to raise the handle into the operating posi¬
tion. See figure 1.
2. The upper handle may be adjusted to three different
height positions. To select desired position, align one of
the three marks on the top of the lower handle insula¬
tors with the mark on the upper handle insulators.
Tighten the hand knobs.
3. Remove the hairpin clips from the outer hole in the weld
pins on the handle mounting brackets. Place the hairpin
clips in the inner hole.
NOTE: The outer hole in the weld pin is for storage. The
hairpin clip must be placed in the inner hole for operation.
ASSEMBLING THE GRASS CATCHER
NOTE: Make certain the grass bag is turned right side out
before assembling (warning label will be on the outside).
1. Join the rear frame and front frame assembly as shown
-in figure 2A. Push frames together as far as they will
go.
2. Place bag over frame (black plastic side is the bottom
of bag) so the handle is outside the bag. Slip openings
in the side of the plastic channel on bag over the hooks
on the grass catcher frame.
NOTE: It may be necessary to pull the edge of the fabric
away from the plastic channel in order to see the opening.
3. Secure bag to frame by working the plastic channels on
bag over frame as shown in figure 2B. All of the plastic
channels except center top of bag attach from the out¬
side of bag. Center top of bag attaches from the inside
of bag.
AHACHING GRASS CATCHER TO MOWER
Lift the rear discharge door on the mower. Place the hooks
on the grass catcher into the slots in the handle bracket
- ♦ -assemblies. See figure 3. Release the rear discharge door.
To remove the grass catcher, lift the rear discharge door on
the mower. Lift the grass catcher up, out of the slots in the
handle bracket assemblies. Release the rear discharge
door.
A WARNING: Never operate the mower unless
the hooks on the grass catcher are seated in
the slots on the handle bracket assemblies,
and the rear discharge door rests firmly
against the top of the grass catcher
4

OPERATION
Keep hands and feet away from the chute area on mowing
deck. See figure 4.
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. We recommend
wide vision safety mask for over specta¬
cles or standard safety glasses.
FORESIGHT IS BET'EB
THAN NO SIGHT
NOTE: The wheels on your unit are set in a low cutting
height position for shipping purposes. For best results, raise
the cutting position until it is determined which height is best
for your lawn. See cutting height adjustment
MOTOR/BLADE CONTROL
A WARNING: This control mechanism is a safe¬
ty device. Never attempt to bypass its opera¬
tions.
The motor/blade control is located on the upper handle of
the mower. See figure 5. The motor/blade control handle
engages and disengages the motor and blade.
AC power plug (one blade of the plug is wider than the other),
which will fit into the plug on the extension cord only one way.
See figure 5, inset. If unable to make a full connection, try
reversing the plug on the extension cord. Should the plugs
still fail to fit, contact your service dealer for assistance. Do
not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized plug.
Connection to the Electric Power Source
Plug the extension cord into any convenient 110-120 volt 60
cycle A.C. outlet or receptacle for your source of power.
This outlet may be located either out-of-doors or indoors. If
an inside receptacle is used, the extension cord can be
taken out either through the doorway or a window. To avoid
blowing fuses, pick an outlet that is not overloaded. Your
mower will operate satisfactorily on a circuit that is fused for
15 amperes. Do not use oversize fuses without consulting
your power company.
FIGURE 5.
CORD CONNECTION
WARNING: Use only UL approved outdoor
extension cord (minimum 16 gauge recom¬
mended).
Cord Restraint
Attach extension cord (not provided with unit) to the cord
restraint as follows. Form a small loop in the extension cord.
Allow enough excess cord to make the connection to the
motor/blade control (approximately 20 inches). Slip the loop
through the slot on the bottom of the cord restraint, and up
over the tab, to prevent disconnection from the motor/blade
control during operation. Keep the cord restraint as close to
the motor/blade control as possible. See figure 5.
Connection to the Motor/Blade Control
To attach extension cord to the mower, swing open the
spring-loaded plug retainer located beneath the motor/blade
control. Connect the plug on the extension cord fully onto the
plug on the mower. The mower is equipped with a polarized
TO START MOTOR AND ENGAGE BLADE
standing behind the unit, lift the motor/blade control handle
with the left forefinger, then pull handle up and hold it
against the upper handle with right hand. See figure 6.
FIGURE 6.
5