MTD WHITE GT-185 User manual

WHJT|^
Owner’s Guide
GT-185
GT-205
Model Number
836
HYDROSTATIC GARDEN
TRACTORS
MTD\(r
IMPORTANT: READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
Warning: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-
covered, brush-covered or grass-covered land unless the engine’s exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting
applicable local or state laws {if any). If a spark arrester is used, it should be maintained in effective working order by the operator.
In the State of California the above is required by law (Section 4442 of the California Public Resources Code). Other states may have
similar laws. Federal laws apply on federal lands. A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest engine authorized
service dealer or contact the service department, P.O. Box 368022 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-9722.
MTD PRODUCTS INC. P.O. BOX 368022 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-9722
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
FORM NO. 770-8793M

IMPORTANT : SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES
A
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 UNIT. WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL— ^ HEED ITS WARNING.
A
A DANGER:
Your lawn mower was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this manual. As with
any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in injury. This lawn
mower is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe the following safety
instructions could result in serious injury or death. __
I. G E NERAL OPERATION
1. Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the manual and
on the machine before starting. Keep this manual in a safe place
for future and regular reference and for ordering replacement
parts.
2. Only allow responsible individuals familiar with the instructions
to operate the machine. Know controls and how to stop the
machine quickly.
3. Do not put hands or feet under cutting deck or near rotating
parts.
4. Clear the area of objects such as rocks, toys, wire, etc., which
could be picked up and thrown by the blade. A small object may
have been overlooked and could be accidentally thrown by the
mower in any direction and cause injury to you or a bystander.
To help avoid a thrown objects injury, keep children, bystanders
and helpers at least 75 feet from the mower while it is in opera¬
tion. Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles during oper¬
ation or while performing an adjustment or repair, to protect
eyes from foreign objects. Stop the blade(s) when crossing
gravel drives, walks or roads.
5. Be sure the area is clear of other people before mowing. Stop
machine if anyone enters the area.
6. Never carry passengers.
7. Disengage blade(s) before shifting into reverse and backing up.
Always look down and behind before and while backing.
8. Be aware of the mower and attachment discharge direction and
do not point it at anyone. Do not operate the mower without
either the entire grass catcher or the chute guard in place.
9. Slow down before turning. Operate the machine smoothly.
Avoid erratic operation and excessive speed.
10. Never leave a running machine unattended. Always turn off
blade(s), place transmission in neutral, set park brake, stop
engine and remove key before dismounting.
11. Turn off blade(s) when not mowing.
12. Stop engine and wait until blade(s) comes to a complete stop
before (a) removing grass catcher or unclogging chute, or (b)
making any repairs, adjusting or removing any grass or debris.
13. Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.
14. Do not operate the machine while under the influence of alcohol
or drugs.
15. Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing roadways.
16. Use extra care when loading or unloading the machine into a
trailer or truck. This unit should not be driven up or down a
ramp onto a trailer or truck under power, because the unit could
tip over, causing serious personal injury. The unit must be
pushed manually on a ramp to load or unload properly.
17. Never make a cutting height adjustment while engine is running
if operator must dismount to do so.
18. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-fitting slacks
and shirts. Do not wear loose fitting clothes or jewelry. They can
be caught in moving parts. Never operate a unit in bare feet,
sandals, or sneakers.
19. Check overhead clearance carefully before driving under power
lines, wires, bridges or low hanging tree branches, before enter¬
ing or leaving buildings, or in any other situation where the
operator may be struck or pulled from the unit, which could
result in serious injury.
20. Disengage all attachment clutches, thoroughly depress the
brake pedal, and shift into neutral before attempting to start
engine.
21. Your mower is designed to cut normal residential grass of a
height no more than 10'. Do not attempt to mow through
unusually tall, dry grass (e.g., pasture) or piles of dry leaves.
Debris may build up on the mower deck or contact the engine
exhaust presenting a potential fire hazard.
II. SLOPE OPERATION
Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and tip-over acci¬
dents which can result in severe injury or death. All slopes require
extra caution. If you cannot back up the slope or if you feel uneasy
on it, do not mow it.
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 operate this unit on that area or serious injury could result.
DO:
Mow up and down slopes, not across.
Remove obstacles such as rocks, limbs, etc.
Watch for holes, ruts or bumps. Uneven terrain could overturn the
machine Tall grass can hide obstacles.
Use slow speed. Choose a low enough gear so that you will not have
to stop or shift while on the slope. Always keep machine in gear
when going down slopes to take advantage of engine braking action.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for wheel weights or
counterweights to improve stability.
Use extra care with grass catchers or other attachments. These can
change the stability of the machine.
Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual. Do not make
sudden changes in speed or direction. Rapid engagement or braking
could cause the front of the machine to lift and rapidly flip over
backwards which could cause serious injury.
Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. If tires lose traction, disen¬
gage the blade(s) and proceed slowly straight down the slope.
DO NOT:
Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then, turn slowly and grad¬
ually downhill, if possible.
Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments.The mower
could suddenly turn over if a wheel is over the edge of a cliff or
ditch, or if an edge caves in.
Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could cause sliding.
Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot on the
ground.
Do not use grass catcher on steep slopes.
III. CHILDREN
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence
of children. Children are often attracted to the machine and the
mowing activity. Never assume that children will remain where you
last saw them.
1. Keep children out of the mowing area and in watchful care of an
adult other than the operator.
2. Be alert and turn machine off if children enter the area.
3. Before and when backing, look behind and down for small
children.
2
(continued on page 5)

-Cut Aloru j Line- — ■
USE THIS SHEET AS A GUIDE TO DETERMINE SLOPES WHERE YOU MAY NOT OPERATE SAFELY.
SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE
Do not mow on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degrees (a rise of approximately 2-1/2 feet every 10 feet). A
riding mower could overturn and cause serious injury. If operating a walk-behind mower on such a slope, it is
extremely difficult to maintain your footing and you could slip, resulting in serious injury.
Operate RIDING mowers up and down slopes, never across the face of slopes.
Operate WALK-BEHIND mowers across the face of slopes, never up and down slopes.

CONTENTS OF HARDWARE PACK _
Remove this sheet from your owner’s manual and lay the hardware on the illustration for identification purposes.
After assembly, keep the Slope Gauge which is on the reverse side of this sheet for future use.
(Hardware pack may contain extra items which are not used on your unit.
Part numbers are shown in parentheses.)
A| ATTACHING THE DECK LINKS
ATTACHING THE DECK
0
muu((«i((K(((((((i((.
Eyebolts
(711-0817)
(Not Shown to
Scale) Quantity — 3
Hex Nuts
' 1/2-13 Thread
r 12-0206) Quantity — 3
NOTE: This
hardware may
be assembled
to the deck.
Flat
Washers
1/2” I.D.^
(736-0192)
o
—Rear
Axle Bolts
2-1/4” Long
(738-0533)
Lock
Washers
3/8" I.D. -
(736-0169)
Hex Nuts
3/8-16 Thread ■
(712-0798)
Cut
Along
T,

4. Never carry children, even with the blades off. They may fall off
and be seriously injured or interfere with the safe machine oper¬
ation.
5. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate the machine.
Children 14 years and over should only operate machine under
close parental supervision and proper instruction.
6. Use extra care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees
or other objects that may obscure your vision of a child or other
hazard.
7. Remove key when machine is unattended to prevent
unauthorized operation.
IV. SERVICE
1. Use extreme care in handling gasoline and other fuels. They are
extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive.
a. Use only an approved container.
b. Never remove fuel cap or add fuel with the engine running.
Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling.
c. Replace fuel cap securely and wipe off any spilled fuel before
starting the engine as it may cause a fire or explosion.
d. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of
ignition.
e. Never refuel the machine indoors because fuel vapors will
accumulate in the area.
f. Never store the fuel container or machine inside where there
is an open flame or spark, such as a gas hot water heater,
space heater or furnace.
2. Never run a machine inside a closed area.
3. To reduce fire hazard, keep the machine free of grass, leaves or
other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel spillage. Allow
machine to cool at least 5 minutes before storing.
4. Before cleaning, repairing or inspecting, make certain the blade
and all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the spark plug
wire, and keep the wire away from the spark plug to prevent
accidental starting.
5. Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at frequent intervals
for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect blade for damage
(e.g., excessive wear, bent, cracked). Replace with blade which
meets original equipment specifications.
¥
1 A DANGER
KEEP HANDS 3nd FEET AWAY.
DO NOT OPERATE MOWER UNLESS
THIS GUARD OR ENTIRE GRASS-
CATCHER IS IN ITS PROPER PLACE.
1 ASSEMBLE CHUTE DEFLECTOR TO THIS UNIT BEFORE OPERATING. \
6. Keep all nuts, bolts and screws tight to be sure the equipment is
in safe working condition.
7. Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper operation
regularly. Use all guards as instructed in this manual.
8. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, remove the wire
from the spark plug and thoroughly inspect the mower for any
damage. Repair the damage before restarting and operating the
mower.
9. Grass catcher components are subject to wear, damage and
deterioration, which could expose moving parts or allow objects
to be thrown. For your safety protection, frequently check com¬
ponents and replace with manufacturer’s recommended parts
when necessary.
10. Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the blade(s) or wear
gloves and use extra caution when servicing blade(s).
11. Check brake operation frequently. Adjust and service as
required.
12. Muffler, engine and belt guards become hot during operation
and can cause a burn. Allow to cool down before touching.
13. Do not change the engine governor settings or overspeed the
engine. Excessive engine speeds are dangerous.
14. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations. Improper dis¬
posal of fluids and materials can harm the environment and the
ecology.
a. Prior to disposal, determine the proper method to dispose of
waste from your local Environmental Protection Agency.
Recycling centers are established to properly dispose of
materials in an environmentally safe fashion.
b. Use proper containers when draining fluids. Do not use food
or beverage containers that may mislead someone into
drinking from them. Properly dispose of the containers
immediately following the draining of fluids.
c. DO NOT pour oil or other fluids into the ground, down a drain
or into a stream, pond, lake or other body of water. Observe
Environmental Protection Agency regulations when dispos¬
ing of oil, fuel, coolant, brake fluid, filters, batteries, tires and
other harmful waste.
A WARNING — YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who read,
understand and follow the warnings and instructions in this
manual and on the machine.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURY,
DO NOT OPERATE MOWER UNLESS
DISCHARGE CHUTE COVER OR GRASS
CATCHER IS IN ITS PROPER PLACE.
A DANGER
ASSEMBLE CHUTE DEFLECTOR
TO THIS UNIT
BEFORE OPERATING MACHINE
A DANGER
t AVQ >0 SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH
' nn £ r«t ,flHDS AND FEET AWAY FROM
t PARTS
* OBJECTS THAT CAN BE THROWN BY THt
, nn°J„ W MIY OWECriON WEAR SAFETY GLASSES
A»r W . or M(HV w hen children dr others
,»tm D HfVER CARRY CHILDREN
J C AUTION ON SLOPES DO HOT MOVT
, fS WATER THAN 15 MOW UP AND DOWN
0T ACROSS avoid sudden turns, use low gear
g MANUAL. *fff> SAFETY DEVICES)
5

UNPACKING
TO REMOVE UNIT FROM CRATE
1. Remove all screws from the top of the crate using
a 1/4" hex head socket or a flat blade screwdriver.
2. To remove ends, grasp top board on the end, and
pull towards you in a downward motion.
3. Set panel aside to avoid tire punctures.
4. Repeat procedure for each side of the crate.
5. Remove and discard plastic bag which covers
unit.
6. Loose parts (may include the owner’s guide,
steering wheel, battery fluid, chute deflector, etc.)
are on the seat and wrapped in plastic. Carefully
cut and remove the plastic wrap. Remove loose
parts from the seat.
7. Remove the deck from beneath the tractor. Make
certain brake and hydrostatic transmission are
released. See the controls section of this manual
for location of the parking brake release and the
hydrostatic relief lever. Push unit off of the skid.
8. R emove page four from this manual and lay out
the contents of the hardware pack according to
the illustration for identification.
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
BATTERY INFORMATION
A
A. Battery acid must be handled with great care as
contact with it can burn and blister the skin. It is
also advisable to wear protective clothing (goggles,
rubber gloves and apron) when working with it.*
B. Should battery acid accidentally splatter into the
eyes or onto the face, rinse the affected area
immediately with clean cold water. If there is any
further discomfort, seek prompt medical attention.
C. If acid spills on clothing, first dilute it with clean
water, then neutralize with a solution of ammonia/
water or baking soda/water.
D. Since battery acid is corrosive, do not pour it into
any sink or drain. Before discarding empty
electrolyte containers, rinse them with a
neutralizing solution.
E. NEVER connect or disconnect charger clips to bat¬
tery while charger is turned on as it can cause
sparks.
F. Keep all lighted materials (cigarettes, matches,
lighters) away from the battery as the hydrogen gas
generated during charging can be combustible.
G. As a further precaution, only charge the battery in
a we 11-ventilated area.
* Always shield eyes, protect skin and clothing
when working near batteries.
Battery contains sulfuric acid. Refer to warning
above. Antidote: EXTERNAL—Flush with water.
INTERNAL—Drink large quantities of water or milk.
Follow with milk of magnesia, beaten eggs or vege¬
table oil. Call physician immediately. EYES: Flush
with cool water for at least 15 minutes, then get
prompt medical attention.
Since batteries produce explosive gases, keep
all lighted materials (cigarettes, lighters,
matches, etc.) away. Be sure to charge battery
only in well-ventilated areas. Make certain venting
path of battery (drain tube) is always open.
KEEP BATTERIES
OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN!
IMPORTANT: After assembly, service engine
with gasoline, and check oil level as instructed
in the separate engine manual packed with
your unit.
NOTE: Reference to right or left hand side of the
unit is observed from the driver’s seat, facing
forward.
TOOLS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY
(1) 1/4" socket wrench or flat blade screwdriver
(1) 1/2" wrench or socket wrench
(1) 9/16" wrench or socket wrench
(2) 7/16" wrenches or socket wrenches
(1) Pair of pliers
6

ACTIVATING AND CHARGING THE BATTERY
Do not activate battery (fill with battery acid) until
battery is actually placed in service. Be certain to
read previous warnings before activating the
battery.
1. Lift the hood of the tractor. Remove the wing nuts
from the hold-down rods which secure the battery
cover to the battery. Refer to figure 14 on page 11.
Remove the battery cover. Disconnect the positive
cable from the positive terminal. Save the
hardware.
2. Remove the battery from the tractor, paying
attention to how the battery is placed in the unit,
and how the drain tube (attached to the battery) is
routed.
3. Activate the battery as instructed in the “Quick
Start” brochure included with the battery fluid.
Read instructions carefully.
NOTE: You can continue assembling the lawn tractor
while battery is standing for 30 minutes (after filling
with acid), and later while you are charging the battery.
IMPORTANT: To obtain the maximum life from your
battery, it MUST BE CHARGED prior to initial use.
CHARGE THE BATTERY after the 30 minute standing
period. Use a 12-volt automotive type battery charger
to charge the battery at 6 AMPS for one hour before
installation.
NOTE: If you charge the battery at a lower AMP rate,
use a hydrometer to make sure the battery is
completely charged. The hydrometer should read
1.260 minimum. DO NOT CHARGE AT MORE THAN
6 AMPS.
Steering
Wheel
Cap-
Cupped
Washer
Steering
Bellow
FIGURE 1.
Steering
Shaft
STEERING WHEEL INSTALLATION (Hardware A)
1. The hardware for attaching the steering wheel has
been packed inside the steering wheel. Carefully
pry off the steering wheel cap and remove the
hardware.
2. Remove the steering bellow from the lift lever on
the right hand side of tractor. Place steering
bellow over the steering shaft extending through
-the dash. See figure 1.
NOTE: If the openings on each end of the steering
bellow are two different sizes, the smaller end goes
down against the dash of the tractor.
3. With the wheels of the tractor pointing straight for¬
ward, place the steering wheel over the steering
shaft, positioning steering wheel as desired.
4. Place the washer with the cupped side down over
the steering shaft. Secure with hex lock bolt. See
figure 1.
5. Place the steering wheel cap over the center of
the steering wheel and seat it with your hand.
7

Screws
^ SEAT ASSEMBLY
Turn seat around if it is facing backwards, or remove
from box. Remove the four screws from the bottom of
the seat. Place the seat in position against the seat
pivot bracket, lining up the slotted holes in the pivot
bracket with the holes in the seat. Select desired posi¬
tion for the seat, and secure with the four screws. See
figure 2.
ATTACHING THE DECK LINKS (Hardware A)
The three adjustable deck links have been shipped
unassembled. Attach as follows.
1. Start 1/2" hex nuts on eyebolts provided. Insert
the hex nuts and eyebolts into the adjustable lift
-links as shown in figure 3.
2. Thread eyebolts into the lift links and hex nuts.
The left rear link should be adjusted so the eyebolt
is to the lower mark as shown. The two front links
should be adjusted to the higher mark.
FIGURE 3.
ATTACHING THE CUTTING DECK (Hardware C)
1. Move the tractor lift handle all the way back to
the full raised position. Turn the tractor steering
wheel all the way to the left.
2. The two deck stabilizers and the diagonal brace
which are attached to the front of the deck are
folded back over the deck for shipping purposes.
— Unfold them at this time. See figure 4.
FIGURE 4.
8

FIGURE 5.
Spacers
FIGURE 6.
NOTE: If the hardware for attaching the deck is
assembled to your deck, remove the hairpin clips and
flat washers from each deck bracket. Remove the
spacers from the rod which is through the deck
stabilizer by removing the hairpin clips and sliding out
the rod. Replace the rod and hairpin clips. See figure
4, inset.
3. Slide the deck under the tractor from the right side
as you lift the stabilizers and diagonal brace over
the right front wheel.
4. Move tractor lift handle forward to the lowest
position.
5. Attach the four tractor hanger brackets to the deck
as follows. The left front tractor hanger bracket
**-goes through the center of the V-belt. See figure 5.
Attach the rear hanger brackets first, then the
front, using four fiat washers and hairpin clips.
6. Disassemble the front cross bar from the tractor
by removing two hairpin clips. Use the cross bar to
attach the deck stabilizers, the diagonal brace and
two spacers to the tractor frame.
46" Deck: Use the rear set of holes.
50" Deck: Use the forward set of holes.
Secure with the two hairpin clips just removed.
^-See figure 6.
7. Place the deck belt around the engine pulley and
idler pulley.
8. Check all belt guards for clearance. The belt
guards must be between 1/16" and 1/8" away from
the belt when the PTO lever or switch is in the
engaged or on position (be certain to disengage
the PTO lever after checking).
(Under Deck)
ATTACHING THE CHUTE DEFLECTOR
A WARNING: Do not operate the tractor
unless the chute deflector has been
properly installed.
Remove the bolts, nuts and cupped washers which are
attached to the deck next to the chute opening. Place
the chute deflector in position as shown in figure 7A or
7B. Secure with hardware just removed.
FIGURE 7A.—50" Deck
9

ATTACHING THE DECK WHEELS (Hardware D)
(46" Deck Only)
If the deck wheels are not already attached, attach the
wheels to the deck as follows. All wheels must be
placed in the same relative position.
Front Wheels: Front axle bolts are the longer bolts.
Front deck wheels have a rounded surface.
Rear Wheels: Rear axle bolts are the shorter bolts.
Rear deck wheels are flatter.
Place flat washer 1/2" I.D. on axle bolt, then the deck
wheel and cupped washer (crowned side of washer
goes against the wheel). See figure 7. Secure to deck
with lock washer and hex nut. Tighten securely.
Assemble remaining wheels in same manner.
ATTACHING THE DECK ROLLER
(50" Deck Only)
Remove the hairpin clips and clevis pins from each
end of the deck roller. Insert the deck roller brackets
up through the brackets provided on the rear of the
deck. Attach with clevis pins and hairpin clips just
removed, using the same hole location on each side of
the deck. See figure 8.
TIRE PRESSURE
The tires on your unit may be over-inflated for shipping
purposes. Reduce the tire pressure before operating
the unit. Check the side wall of the tires for proper
inflation pressure.
WARNING: Maximum tire pressure under
any circumstances is 30 p.s.i. Equal tire
pressure should be maintained on all
tires.
LEVELING THE DECK
After attaching the deck to the tractor, check to be cer¬
tain it is adjusted properly.
1. Check tire pressure in all four tires. See sidewall
of tire for recommended inflation pressure.
2. Make certain all deck wheels or both ends of the
deck roller are mounted in same relative hole
locations.
3. Place the tractor on a level surface.
4. 46" Deck: Lower the deck until it reaches the
ground. All four deck wheels should reach the
ground at the same time.
5. Both Decks: Place the deck approximately 1"
above the ground. Check to be certain the dis¬
tance from the bottom edge of the deck to the
ground is the same on both sides of the deck.
If adjustment is necessary, adjust the deck links on the
left side of the deck as follows.
1. Make certain the PTO is disengaged. Remove the
hairpin clip and washer from the weld bolt. Thread
eyebolt up or down the link as necessary, and
reassemble.
10