MTD 315-800-000 User manual

.75
UwinnoRiim^
OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT
for all seasons
spring
summer
mm
fall
Important:
Read Safety Rules and
Instructions Carefully
el N
5-80
5-86
5-96
Thank you for purchasing
an American-built product.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
FORM NO. 770-3960

Safe Operation Practices
Assembly Instructions
Operation.
Adjustments.
Lubrication.
INDEX
.3 Maintenance . 1 5
.4 Off-Season Storage.18
.9 Illustrated Parts .20,22,24,26,28
11 Parts Lists.21,23,25,27,29
14 Parts Information.Back Cover
A Instructions given with this symbol are for per¬
sonal safety, he sure to follow them.
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V
LIMITED WARRANTY
For one year from the date of original retail purchase, MTD PRODUCTS INC will either
repair or replace, at its option, free of charge, F.O.B. factory or authorized service firm, any
part or parts found to be defective in material or workmanship. Transportation charges for
the movement of any power equipment unit or attachment are the responsibility of the pur¬
chaser. Transportation charges for any parts submitted for replacement under this warran¬
ty must be paid by the purchaser u iless such return is requested by MTD PRODUCTS INC.
This warranty will not apply to an> part which has become inoperative due to misuse, ex¬
cessive use, accident, neglect, imaroper maintenance, alterations, or unless the unit has
been operated and maintained in accordance with the instructions furnished. This warran¬
ty does not apply to the engine, me tor, battery, battery chargeror component parts thereof.
Please refer to the applicable mar ufacturer’s warranty on these items.
This warranty will not apply where the unit has been used commercially.
Warranty service is available through your local authorized service dealer or distributor. If
you do not know the dealer or distr butor in your area, please write to the Customer Service
Department of MTD.
The return of a complete unit will lot be accepted by the factory unless prior written per¬
mission has been extended by MID.
This warranty gives you specific I jgal rights. You may also have other rights which vary
from state to state.
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2

AC WARNING \
To reduce the potential for any injury, comply with the following safety instructions. Failure to comply
with the instructions may result in personal injury.
SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES FOR SNOW THROWERS
TRAINING
1. Read this Owner’s manual carefully. Be thoroughly
familiar with the controls and proper use of the
equipment. Know how to stop the unit and dis¬
engage the controls quickly.
2. Never allow children to operate equipment. Never
allow adults to operate equipment without proper
instructions.
3. No one should operate this unit while intoxicated or
while taking medication that impairs the senses or
reactions.
4. Keep the area of operation clear of all persons,
especially small children and pets.
5. Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling, espe¬
cially when operating in reverse.
PREPARATION
1. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is
to be used and remove all door mats, sleds, boards,
wires and other foreign objects.
2. Disengage all clutches and shift into neutral before
starting engine.
3. Do not operate equipment without wearing ade¬
quate winter outer garments. Wear footwear which
will improve footing on slippery surfaces.
4. Handle fuel with care. It is highly flammable.
(A) Use approved fuel container.
(B) Never add fuel to a running engine or hot
engine.
(C) Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme care. Never
fill fuel tank indoors.
(D) Replace gasoline cap securely and wipe up
spilled fuel.
5. Use a grounded three wire plug-in for all units with
electric drive motors or electric starting motors.
6. Adjust collector housing height to clear gravel or
crushed rock surface.
7. Never attempt to make any adjustments while
engine is running (except where specifically recom¬
mended by manufacturer).
8. Let engine and machine adjust to outdoor tem¬
perature before starting to clear snow.
OPERATION
1. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts. Keep
clear of discharge opening at all times.
2. Exercise extreme caution when operating on or
crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads. Stay alert for
hidden hazards or traffic. Do not carry passengers.
3. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine,
remove wire from spark plug, and thoroughly in¬
spect the snow thrower for any damage. Repair the
damage before restarting and operating the snow
thrower.
4. If the snow thrower should start to vibrate abnormal¬
ly, stop the engine and check immediately for the
cause. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.
5. Stop engine whenever you leave the operating posi¬
tion, before unclogging the collector/impeller hous¬
ing or discharge guide, and making any repairs, ad¬
justments, or inspections.
6. Take all possible precautions when leaving the vehi¬
cle unattended. Disengage the power take-off, lower
the attachment, shift into neutral, set the parking
brake, stop the engine, and remove the key.
7. When cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make cer¬
tain collector/impeller and all moving parts have
stopped. Disconnect spark plug wire and keep away
from plug to prevent accidental starting.
8. Do not run engine indoors, except when starting
engine and transporting snow thrower in or out of
building. Open doors. Exhaust fumes are dan¬
gerous.
9. Do not clear snow across the face of slopes. Exer¬
cise extreme caution when changing direction on
slopes. Do not attempt to clear steep slopes.
10. Never operate snow thrower without guards, plates,
or other safety protection devices in place.
11. Never operate snow thrower near glass enclosure,
automobiles, window wells, drop off, etc., without
proper adjustments of s iow thrower discharge
angle. Keep children and p its away.
12. Do not overload machine c, ' acity by attempting to
clear snow at too fast a rate
13. Never operate machine at h , transport speeds on
slippery surfaces. Use care an backing.
14. Never direct discharge a ystanders or allow
anyone in fron. ^nit.
15. Disengage power to collector/impeller when
transporting or not in use.
16. Use only attachments and accessories approved by
the manufacturer of snow thrower (such as wheel
weights, counter weights, cabs, etc.).
17. Never operate the snow thrower without good
visibility or light. Always be sure of your footing and
keep a firm hold on the handles. Walk, never run.
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
1. Check shear bolts, engine mounting bolts, etc., at
frequent intervals for proper tightness to be sure
equipment is in safe working condition.
2. Never store machine with fuel in the fuel tank inside
a building where open flame or spark are present.
Allow engine to cool before storing in any
enclosure.
3. Always refer to owner’s guide instructions for im¬
portant details if snow thrower is to be stored for an
extended period.
4. Run machine a few minutes after throwing snow to
prevent freeze up of collector/impeller.
3

I
This owner’s manual covers various
models of snow throwers. The uni
illustrated may be different thar
your unit.
NOTE
This unit is shipped WITHOUT GAS
OLINE or OIL. After assembly, see
separate engine manual for propei
fuel and engine oil recommenda
tions.
^ A
FIGURE 2.
ASSEMBLY
Reference to right hand or left hand
side of machine is observed from
the operating position.
Tools Required for Assembly:
9/16" Wrench
1/2" Wrench
7/16" Wrench
or One Adjustable Wrench
Loose Parts in Carton:
(1) Handle Assembly
(1) Chute Assembly
(1) Parts taped together which include:
(1) Drive Clutch Rod Assembly
(1) Auger Rod
-*-(1) Shift Rod
(1) Chute Crank Assembly
Contents of Hardware Pack:
A (2) Hex Bolts 3/8-16 x 2" Long
B (3) Belleville Washers 3/8" I.D.
C (2) Hex Nuts 5/16-18 Thread
D (1) Belleville Washer 5/16" I.D.
E (3) Chute Flange Keepers
F (6) Hex Lock Nuts V4-20 Thread
G (1) Flat Washer 3/8" I.D. x 5/8" O.D.
H (1) Large Flat Washer
I (1) Hex Bushing
J (1) Cotter Pin
K (1) Hairpin Cotter
L (1) Compression Spring
——M (1) Elastic Lock Nut 3/8-24 Thread
N (2) Ignition Keys
O (2) Hex Bolts 5/16-18 x 1%" Long*
P (2) Hex Lock Nuts 5/16-18 Thread*
Q (1) Shift Lever
*The augers are secured to the spiral shaft with
two hex bolts and hex lock nuts (see ref. nos. 40
and 50 on page 24). If you hit a foreign object or
ice jam, the snow thrower is designed so that the
hex bolts will shear. Two replacement hex bolts
and nuts are provided in the hardware pack for
your convenience. Store in a safe place until
needed.
1. Remove snow thrower and all parts from the
carton. Make certain that all loose parts and
literature have been removed before the car¬
ton is discarded.
2. Extend throttle control assembly which is at¬
tached to engine at rear of the snow thrower
and place on floor. Be careful not to bend or
kink control wire.
-*-3. To assemble the handle, loosen one self¬
tapping screw and belleville washer on each
side of the unit. See figure 3. A 9/16" wrench
or adjustable wrench is required.
4

4. Slide the slotted end of the handles under the
beileville washers on the self-tapping screws
which were loosened in step 3.
5. Secure the upper hole in the handles with
beileville washers (B) (cupped side against the
— handles) and hex bolts (A). See figure 4. Do not
tighten at this time.
FIGURE 4.
6. Thread one hex nut (C) onto the eyebolt on the
chute crank assembly until there is approx¬
imately VA" of threads showing between the
— nut and the head of the eyebolt. See figure 5.
7. Place the eyebolt into the hole in the left han¬
dle and handle panel. See figure 5. Secure
with beileville washer (D) (cupped side against
the handle panel) and hex nut (C). Tighten
securely.
8. Tighten securely all bolts and nuts on the han¬
dle panel and all four bolts which secure the
handles to the frame.
9. G r ease the chute opening.
10. P l ace chute assembly over chute opening,
with the chute facing the front of the unit.
Place chute flange keepers (E) beneath lip of
chute assembly. Secure with hex lock nuts (F)
-as shown in figure 6. Tighten with a 7/16"
wrench, then back off Va turn to allow easier
movement.
5

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11. Place hex bushing (I) into bracket beside the
chute assembly. Position the hex bushing so
the hole in the bushing is close to the chute
-assembly. See figure 7.
12. Place flat washer (G) on the end of the chute
crank. Insert the chute crank into the hole in
the hex bushing so that the spiral on the chute
crank engages the teeth on the chute assem¬
bly. Place large flat washer (H) on the end of
the chute crank. Insert cotter pin (J) into hole
in the end of chute crank. Secure by bending
the ends of cotter pin in opposite directions.
FIGURE 7.
FIGURE 8.
13. A ssemble the throttle control to the handle
panel as follows.
A. Hold the throttle control assembly
beneath the handle panel. Turn the control
sideways and insert the lever up through
the wide portion of the slot on the handle
panel. See figure 8A.
B. After the end of the lever is through the
slot, turn and then tip the control forward
-as shown in figure 8B to slide it through
the slot.
NOTE
The lever must be all the way to the
back of the control housing as
show n in figure 8B.
C. P u s h the control back into the slot in the
handle panel and press in place. Be certain
the control is locked securely into the slot.
14.-Place shift lever (Q) through slot in handle
panel, making sure flared edge of shift lever
faces the detents on handle panel. Place the
hole in the end of the shift lever over the han-
-die panel weld bolt. See figure 9.
FIGURE 9.
6

FIGURE 10.
FIGURE 11.
16. Move the shifting rod up or down until the
-drive clutch bracket shows in the locating
slot. See figures 10 and 11.
17. Place the shift lever in neutral (N) position.
Screw the shift rod in or out until it fits into
the hole in the shift lever (drive clutch must
still be showing in the locating slot). When
shift rod is adjusted to the correct length, in¬
sert the end into the hole in the shift lever.
Secure with hairpin cotter (K) as shown in
-figure 12.
FIGURE 12.
7

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18. S ecure with bellevilie washer (B) (cupped side
goes against shift lever), compression spring
-(L) and elastic lock nut (M). See figure 13.
Tighten lock nut until compression spring
holds the shift lever into detent slot on handle
panel.
19. T h e lockout rods are labeled “L” and “R” for
the left and right hand sides of the unit.
Approximate initial settings for the lockout
rods are as follows: The left hand lockout rod
for the drive clutch should have approximately
IV 2 inches of thread showing below the nut.
The right hand lockout rod for the auger
clutch should have approximately V4 inch of
-thread showing below the nut. See figure 14.
FINAL ADJUSTMENT MUST BE MADE AS
DESCRIBED IN STEPS 21 AND 22. If the left
hand lockout rod is not adjusted correctly, the
shift lever cannot be shifted past neutral. If
the right hand lockout rod is not adjusted cor¬
rectly, the augers will not stop rotating.
20. H o ok the right hand lockout rod (labeled “R”)
into the hole provided in the right hand clutch
grip (auger clutch). Hook the left hand lockout
rod (labeled “L”) to the left hand clutch grip
-(drive clutch). See figure 15. The hook is to the
outside of the unit.
FIGURE 15.
8

Left Hand
Lockout Rod
Hook in
Spring
Hole in
Drive Bracket
FIGURE 16.
FIGURE 17.
21. Swing the left hand lockout rod down and
simply hold it beside the drive bracket. Do not
pull on spring. Do not move bracket. The hook
on the end of the spring must line up with the
center of the hole in the drive bracket. See
-figure 16.
If it does not, adjust the nut on the lockout rod
until the hook on the spring aligns with the
hole in the bracket as shown in figure 16.
Hook spring into drive bracket. See figure 17.
22. Adjust the right hand lockout rod in the same
manner as the left hand lockout rod. Refer to
Step 21. When adjustment is correct, hook the
-spring into the auger bracket. See figure 17.
PNEUMATIC TIRE PRESSURE
The tires are over inflated for ship¬
ping purposes. Check pressure and
reduce to 15 to 20 p.s.i.
NOTE
If the tire pressure is not equal
in both tires, the unit may pull to
one side or the other.
OPERATION
CONTROLS
FIGURE 18.
Shift Lever (See figures 18 and 19)
The shift lever is located on the left hand side of
handle panel. The shift lever may be moved into
one of eight positions. Run engine with throttle in
the fast position. Use the shift lever to determine
ground speed.
a. Center position (N)—“NEUTRAL.”
b. Forward position—One of five (5) forward
speeds. Position number one (1) is the slowest.
Position number five (5) is the fastest.
Rear position—Two reverse (R) speeds. “R”
nearest the neutral (N) position is the slower of
the two.

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FIGURE 19. FIGURE 20.
Throttle Control (See figures 18 and 20)
The throttle control is located on the righ hand
side of the handle panel. It regulates the speed of
the engine.
Drive Clutch (See figure 18)
The drive clutch is located on the left handle.
Squeeze the clutch grip to engage drive. Release
to stop.
Auger Clutch (See figure 18)
The auger clutch is located on the right handle.
Squeeze the clutch grip to engage the cugers.
Release to stop the snow throwing action.
Chute Crank (See figure 18)
The chute crank is located on left hand side of the
snow thrower.
To change the direction in which snow is th rown,
turn chute crank as follows:
1. Crank clockwise to discharge to the left.
2. Crank counterclockwise to discharge o the
right.
Safety Ignition Switch (See figure 21)
The ignition key must be inserted in the s witch
before the unit will start. Remove the ignition key
when snow thrower is not in use.
FIGURE 21.
STARTING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Remove dipstick. Fill crankcase with oil. Oil
level must be to full mark on dipstick. Refer to
separate engine manual packed with your
snow thrower.
2. Fill fuel tank with fresh, clean regular
gasoline.
AC WARNING J
Never fill fuel tank indoors, with en¬
gine running or while engine is hot.
3. Attach spark plug wire to spark plug.
4. Insert ignition key (do not turn).
5. Place shift lever in “NEUTRAL” (N) position.
6. Place throttle control in “START” (fast) posi¬
tion.
AC WARNING J
Never run engine indoors or in en¬
closed poorly vented area. Engine
exhaust gases contain carbon mon¬
oxide: an odorless and deadly gas.
7. Start engine, following appropriate instruc¬
tions:
A. Cold engine start (engine has not been run
recently).
1. Turn choke knob to “full" position. See
figure 21.
2. Push primer two (2) or three (3) times.
See figure 21.
10