Simplicity 551M User manual

Operator’s Manual
Single Stage
Snowthrower Models
551M
Mfg. No. 1692320
(Serial Number 10000 and up)
55 IE
Mfg. No. 1692321
(Serial Number 20000 and up)
FORM NO. 770-0355M

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTENT PAGE
Maintaining Safety.2
Training...2
Preparation.2
Operation.2
Maintenance & Storage.3
Safety Decals...3
Assembling Your Unit.4
Tools Required...4
Chute Assembly.4
Fuel & Oil Mixture.4
Knowing Operation Controls.6
Throttle.“•.6
Ignition Switch..°
Choke Control.6
Primer Button.6
Electric Starter.6
Auger Clutch Control.6
Discharge Chute Control.6
Snow Discharge Deflector.6
Operating The Unit.7
Starting Engine.2
Stopping Engine.8
Throwing Snow.8
Adjustments.9
Auger Clutch Cable.9
Carburetor.10
Maintenance.11
Lubrication.H
Replacing Drive Belt.11
Replacing Shave Plate.12
Servicing Spark Plug.12
Storage.13
Drain Carburetor.13
Drain Fuel.13
Clean Unit.13
Lubricate.•••.13
Stop Corrosion.13
Service Parts.13
Store Unit.13
Troubleshooting.14
Warranty.13
Hardware Information.17

MAINTAINING SAFETY
TRAINING
PREPARA¬
TION
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 snow thrower, failure to comply with these
instructions may result in personal injury. When you see this symbol, heed its warning.
A Your snow thrower was built to be operated according to the
^4 WARNING rules for safe operation in this manual. As with any type of
power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the oper¬
ator can result in serious injury. If you violate any of these
rules, you may cause serious injury to yourself or others.
1. Read this owner’s guide carefully in its entirety before attempting to assemble or operate this
machine. Be completely familiar with the controls 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. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate a snow thrower. Children 14 years old and
over should only operate snow thrower under close parental supervision. Only persons well
acquainted with these rules of safe operation should be allowed to use your snow thrower.
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, especially when operating in reverse.
6. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to be used and remove all door mats,
sleds, boards, wires and other foreign objects.
7. Disengage all clutches and shift into neutral before starting engine.
8. Do not operate equipment without wearing adequate winter outer garments. Do not wear jew¬
elry, long scarfs or other loose clothing which could become entangled in moving parts. Wear
footwear which will improve footing on slippery surfaces.
9. Before working with gasoline, extinguish all cigarettes and other sources of ignition. Check the
fuel before starting the engine. Gasoline is an extremely flammable fuel. Do not fill the gaso¬
line tank indoors, while the engine is running, or until engine has been allowed to cool at least
two minutes. Replace gasoline cap securely and wipe off any spilled gasoline before starting
the engine as it may cause a fire or explosion.
10. Use a grounded three wire plug-in for all units with electric drive motors or electric starting motors.
11. Adjust collector housing height to clear gravel or crushed rock surface.
12. Never attempt to make any adjustments while engine is running (except where specifically
recommended by manufacturer).
13. Let engine and machine adjust to outdoor temperature before starting to clear snow.
14. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields during operation or while performing an adjustment or
repair, to protect eyes from foreign objects that may be thrown from the machine in any
direction.
15. Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts. Keep clear of discharge
opening and auger at all times.
16. Exercise extreme caution when operating on or crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads. Stay
alert for hidden hazards or traffic. Do not carry passengers.
17. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, remove wire from spark plug, and thoroughly
inspect the snow thrower for any damage. Repair the damage before restarting and operating
the snow thrower.
18. if the snow thrower should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the engine and check immediately
for the cause. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.
19. Stop engine whenever you leave the operating position, before unclogging the collector/impel¬
ler housing or discharge guide, and making any repairs, adjustments, or inspections. Never
place your hand in the discharge or collector openings. Use a stick or wooden broom handle
to unclog the discharge opening.
20. Take all possible precautions when leaving the unit unattended. Disengage the collector/
impeller, shift into neutral, stop the engine, and remove the key.
2

MAINTE¬
NANCE &
STORAGE
SAFETY
DECALS
21. When cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain collector/impeller and ali moving parts have
stopped. Disconnect spark plug wire and keep away from plug to prevent accidental starting.
22. Do not run engine indoors, except when starting engine and transporting snow thrower in or
out of building. Open doors. Exhaust fumes are dangerous.
23. Do not clear snow across the face of slopes. Exercise extreme caution when changing direc¬
tion on slopes. Do not attempt to clear steep slopes.
24. Never operate snow thrower without guards, plates, or other safety protection devices in place.
25. Never operate snow thrower near glass enclosure, automobiles, window wells, drop off, etc.,
without proper adjustments of snow thrower discharge angle. Keep children and pets away.
26. Do not overload machine capacity by attempting to clear snow at too fast a rate.
27. Never operate the machine at high transport speeds on slippery surfaces. Look behind and
use care when backing.
28. Never direct discharge at bystanders or allow anyone in front of unit.
29. Disengage power to collector/impeller when transporting or not in use.
30. Use only attachments and accessories approved by the manufacturer of snow thrower (such
as wheel weights, counter weights, cabs, etc.).
31. 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 with the snow thrower.
32. Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do not touch.
33. Check shear bolts, engine mounting bolts, etc., at frequent intervals for proper tightness to be
sure equipment is in safe working condition.
34. Never store the machine with fuel in the fuel tank inside a building where ignition
sources are present, such as hot water and space heaters, clothes dryers, and
the like. Allow engine to cool before storing in any enclosure.
35. Always refer to owner's guide instructions for important details if snow thrower is
to be stored for an extended period.
36. Run machine a few minutes after throwing snow to prevent freeze up of collector/impeller.
37. Check clutch controls periodically to verify they engage and disengage properly and readjust
if necessary. Refer to owner’s guide for adjustment instructions.
The safety decals are located near any area of potential danger and are easily visible to the opera¬
tor. These are meant to warn the operator of the danger. It is very important to follow the instruction
on these decals to maintain safety.
A DANGER
DO NOT
USE HANDS
TO UNCLOG
DISCHARGE
CHUTE
*
*
*
. STOP B*GW£/MOTWI SEFORE
REMOVING OEMS
• DO NOT WALK IN FRONT Of
RUNNING MACHME.
• DO NOT DISCHARGE AT BYSTANDERS.
• KEEP PEOPLE AND PETS A SAFE
DISTANCE FROM THE MACHINE.
k .KFOM LEAVING MACHME. SHUT
1 OFF EMQNE/MOTOR ANO
V REMOVEKET. __. _ ‘
*
*
*
This safety decal is located on
the auger housing. It is very im¬
portant that you follow its in¬
structions. Also replace it, if
damaged.
This safety decal is located
on the discharge chute.lt is
very important that you follow
its instructions. Also replace
it, if damaged.
ADANGER
AVOID INJURY FROM
ROTATING AUGER-
KEEP HANDS, FEET,
ANO CLOTHING AWAY!
3

ASSEMBLING YOUR UNIT
TOOLS
REQUIRED
Socket wrench set
A pair of pliers
Screwdrivers (Phillips head)
CHUTE 1.
ASSEMBLY
2 .
3.
Install discharge chute on the rotating ring located on the auger
housing. Secure with three 5/16 inch carriage bolts, flat wash¬
ers and nylok nuts. Install the rear bolt first for easier align¬
ment. You will find the hardware in the parts bag. See figure 1.
Make sure that for all three bolts, the bolt head goes inside the
rotating ring, and the washer and the nut are on the outside.
Tighten bolts securely with the wrench.
Lift up the folding handle and align it with the lower handle until
it clicks into place. Tighten the wing nuts securely.
FUEL & OIL
MIXTURE
Note: Your snow thrower unit uses a two cycle engine that requires
a mixture of gasoline and oil for lubrication of bearings and other
moving parts.
Mix the gasoline and oil in a clean gasoline container.
Always use fresh, unleaded, winter grade gasoline;
never use ‘stale’ gasoline left over from last season or
stored for 30 days or longer.
Use the correct fuel/oil mix to prevent engine dam¬
age. Follow the chart below.
FUEL/OIL MIXTURE CHART (50:11
u.s.
IMPERIAL METRIC
Gasoline
Gallons
2 Cycle Oil
Ounces
Gasoline
Gallons
2 Cycle Oil
Ounces
Gasoline
Liters
2 Cycle Oil
ml.
1 2.5
1 2.8
4
80
2
5
2
5.6 8
160
5
13
5
14.1
20
400
A WARNING
• Handle gaso-j
line carefully.]
Remember j
that it is j
highly flam- ]
mable. I
• Careless use ]
or handling of
^''gasoline
: could
cause
fire
hazard and
result in dam¬
age to your i
person and/or
property. ;
• Always fill i
gasoline con¬
tainer out¬
doors.
4

1. Fill an approved clean one-gallon container with one quart
fresh unleaded gasoline. See figure 2.
2. Pour recommended amount of 2.5 oz. high quality two cycle oil
into the gasoline container.
Note: Do not use multiviscosity oils such as 10W-30 or 10W-40.
3. Put the cap back on the gasoline container, tighten it, and shake the
container vigorously so that the oil and gasoline mix.
4. Unscrew the cap and fill the container with three quarts of gas¬
oline. Shake the container again. See figure 2.
5. Remove the fuel tank cap and carefully pour mixed gasoline
into the fuel tank, filling to 1/2 inch below the filler neck to allow
room for expansion. Shake the gasoline container each time
before filling the fuel tank.
Caution: Never put plain, unmixed gasoline into the fuel tank.
Note: You can use gasoline containing up to 10% ethanol or grain
alcohol (gasohol), but make sure that you follow the engine manu¬
facturer’s special instructions for engine care when the engine is not
used for an extended period. See Storage Instructions in the engine
manual for that information.
WARNING
• Always fill up :
the fuel tank Z.
outdoors or
; in a well-ventM
latedarea. j
• Use a funheT?|
or spout to 'lj
prevent spill- 3
• If there
,J^ttemptingyto|
;startther%V |
• Never f Ilf up
•2 the gas tank :
while the §§l|f ‘
^engine is run
fining or is hot.1
• s Do not smoke,
ir; while mixing ™
-. the gasoline |f
•and oiforJIF.
M ing up the fuel ]
:* ,-3
&SK8e35H5!
5

KNOWING OPERATION CONTROLS
THROTTLE
IGNITION
SWITCH
CHOKE
CONTROL
PRIMER
BUTTON
ELECTRIC
STARTER
AUGER
CLUTCH
CONTROL
DISCHARGE
CHUTE
CONTROL
SNOW
DISCHARGE
DEFLECTOR
Note: It is very important to know and understand the controls and
safety devices of your snow thrower before you attempt to operate
it. Make sure that the operator of the snow thrower has read
this manual and understood the Safety Operation Rules on
pages 2 & 3 before running the unit for the first time. Refer
to the manual again for clarification whenever any question arises.
The snow thrower does not have a remote throttle for controlling the
operating speed of the engine. The engine governor maintains the
operating speed according to the snow removal condition.
This switch is used to start and stop the engine. Insert key in the
switch and turn switch to ON position to start the engine; turn switch
to OFF position to stop the engine.
This control is used to enrich the fuel mixture to start a cold engine.
A warm engine will normally not require choking to start. You can
locate the operating position for the choke control on the decal. You
may have to partially close the choke to allow the cold engine to run
smoothly until it warms up.
This button helps in starting a cold engine. Depress the primer but¬
ton to supply extra fuel mixture to start the cold engine. Do not
prime a warm engine since it will flood the engine.
On electric start models, plug the cord for the electric starter switch
into the receptacle on the unit. Next, plug the other end into a 120V,
AC household receptacle. Next depress the starter button to start
the motor and crank the engine.
Note: You can start these electric start engines manually with the
starter rope. See instructions on how to use electric starter.
This control starts and stops the auger. Pull the control back against
the handle to start the auger; release the control to stop the auger.
When the auger touches the ground the snow thrower moves for¬
ward. Do not manually turn the auger in a clockwise direction
because that will loosen the belt and unthread the pulley.
WARNING
• The operation !
of any snow
thrower can j
result In for¬
eign objects.
% being g
thrown
into the
eyes resulting j
in severe eye
damage. Pro- |
tect your eyes 1
With safety
glasses or eye
shields when- j
ever you oper- j
ate this unit, i
• This machine !
can be danger-'
ousifused i
carelessly. So :
be careful in
handling it. 1
• Never ignore ,J
safety devices
or bypass
these.
• Never operate
the snow
thrower with-
out all guards,
covers, and
shields in
place.
This control is used to rotate the discharge chute to the desired
direction. Turn crank clock¬
wise to rotate the chute to
the right, turn it counter¬
clockwise to rotate the
chute to the left.
This deflector is used to
control the distance that
the snow will be thrown.
Move deflector up to throw
snow further; move deflec¬
tor down to throw snow
closer.
Auger
Clutch
Control
FIGURE 3
Ignition
Switch
Primer
Button 1
Choke
Control
Snow
Discharge
Deflector
Spark
Plug
Discharge
Chute Control
Electric
Starter
6

OPERATING THE UNIT
STARTING
ENGINE
Note: The snow thrower engine is designed to operate at cold tempera¬
tures and will be difficult to start in warm weather. Avoid operating your
snowthrowerin warmer conditions since engine may vapor lock and stop
running after a short time.
A Never run the engine indoors or in enclosed, poorly
ventilated areas. Engine exhaust contains CARBON
MONOXIDE, an ODORLESS, DEADLY gas.
Pull Start Models: See figure 4.
1. Insert key in ignition switch and turn key to ON position.
2. Move choke control lever to the ON position on cold engines. If the
engine is warm from operation, this step may not be necessary.
3. Push the primer button two or three times holding finger over
vent hole. Allow a few seconds between each push for air to
enter bulb through vent hole. You may have to prime more for
the initial start at temperature below 15°F/-10°C.
4. Grasp the starter rope handle and slowly pull out the rope until
you feel a resistance. Allow the rope to rewind slowly, then pull
it out rapidly to start the engine. Let the rope return slowly to
the starter. If the engine does not start after three pulls, push
primer button one more time and pull the starter rope.
5. Once the engine starts and gradually warms up, move the
choke lever to the OFF position. Be prepared to move the
choke lever to the ON position if the engine sputters during
warm up.
6. Allow the engine to warm up before snow throwing. The engine
will operate at full throttle when it warms up.
Electric Start Model: See figure 5.
Note: The electric starter is designed to operate on 120 volts AC
household power supply using the power cord supplied with your
snow thrower. When using the power cord, match the wide blade of
the plug to the wide slot of the receptacle.
7. Follow steps 1 -3 from “pull start model” section.
8. Plug power cord into receptacle on the starter switch first, then
plug the other end of the cord into a standard120 volts AC
household outlet. Do not use any extension cord to lengthen
the power cord supplied with the unit.
WARNING
• Wear safety
glasses while
operating the
unit
•Never direct
discharge at
bystanders or
allow anyone ;
in front of the
unit. 5 - ; "
• Never direct
discharge.,
towards win¬
dows. r
• Never operate
the unit with¬
out all guards,
covers, and
shields in
place.
• Stop the
engine when-
^ ever leaving
the operating ;
position. ; -I
• Stop the
engine,
remove the
key, and dis- 1
connect the
sparkplug
before unclog¬
ging auger
housing or . j
discharge , : . j
'chute and/or 1
before mak¬
ing repairs or
adjustments.
• To reduce the 1
i; risk of fire, ; ;
keep the unit ;
clean and \
free from
spilled gas, oil
and other
debris.
7

STOPPING
ENGINE
THROWING
SNOW
A Make sure that there is no moisture on the cord ends or
receptacles when plugging in the cord.
9. P ush the starter button to crank the engine. Do not crank the
engine for more than 15 seconds without allowing the electric
starter to cool for around 10 minutes. Attempt further cranking
only after the starter has cooled down.
A Do not push the primer button while the engine is
being cranked.
Electric start engines can be severely damaged if you
do not follow proper starting instructions.
10. R elease starter button once
the engine starts and gradually
move the choke lever to the
OFF position.
11. D isconnect the power cord
from (i) household receptacle
and then from (ii) starter switch
on the snow thrower. Store the
cord in a dry place.
m. Always disconnect power
cord from the household receptacle first, then unplug
from starter switch.
Starter - y
Button'^gs c
1. Turn ignition key to the OFF position.
2. Remove the key from the switch if you are leaving the operating
position and/or before making repairs or adjustments.
3. Allow the unit to run for a few minutes before storing.
Note: The snow thrower will be pulled forward by the auger as the
handle is raised. The unit will also move forward when the auger
comes in contact with the accumulated snow.
1. Before entering the area where snow needs to be cleared,
adjust the position of the discharge chute so that snow will be
thrown in the desired direction.
Note: Snow should not be thrown towards buildings, automobiles, or
people. Always try to throw snow down wind.
2. Adjust the deflector on top of the discharge chute up or down to
control the distance that the snow
will be thrown. See figure 6.
A Disengage auger drive before
adjusting discharge deflector.
3. R eview the area to be cleared of
snow and establish a pattern for
the most efficient snow removal.
4. I n spect the area for possible
obstructions like gravel and rocks.
Remove, if any.
5. B egin snow removal by clearing a
path down the center of a walk or
driveway along your pattern for snow removal. Gradually widen the
path throwing snow to both sides. Allow the snow thrower to move
the snow at its own pace.
6. W hen clearing wet and heavy snow, you may have to push down the
handle and slow down. But allow engine to work at full throttle.
^^W ARNING
• Do not use
snow thrower
on surfaces
above ground
level, such as
the roof of a
building.
• Stay away
from the front
of your snow
thrower unit
when the
auger is turn¬
ing.
• Avoid picking
up gravel
with the
auger since
this could
damage the
unit and/or
cause seri¬
ous injury to
the operator.
• Always be
alert to the
hidden haz¬
ards that
might be
struck by the
auger.
• Should you
hit a foreign
object with
the auger
stop the
engine imme¬
diately,
remove key,
disconnect
spark plug and
inspect the
machine for
any damage.
• Repair dam¬
age before
operating the
unit again.
8

ADJUSTMENTS
AUGER
CLUTCH
CABLE
A
To avoid serious bodily injury on the job when performing adjustments,
maintenance or lubrication, stop the engine, remove key from the switch
and disconnect the spark plug. Follow safety instructions mentioned here
and safety labels on the unit.
REMOVING ENGINE COVER/COWLING:
In many of the adjustment and sen/ice tasks, you will have to first remove the en¬
gine cover/cowling, perform the task, and reinstall the cover.
A. Remove key from the ignition switch.
B. Remove the three screws holding the discharge chute to the rotating ring.
Remove the chute. See figure 7.
C. Remove the two hex bolts from the top of the engine cover.
D. Remove two screws and flat washers each from inside the auger housing,
rear of the cover, and both sides of
the cover.
E. Remove the fuel tank cap and lift the
cover and cowling carefully up and
away from the engine exhaust pipes.
Reinstall the cap on the fuel tank. Do
not lose the hardware.
F. During reassembly of cover and cowl¬
ing, remove fuel tank cap first. Next,
make sure that the metal grommet for
engine starter rope is in position
between cowlings. The tabs at lower
front of cover must be positioned to
the inside of belt cover on the left and
inside the lower cowling on the right.
G. Leave retaining screws loose until all
are in place, then tighten them
securely. Reinstall fuel tank cap. FIGURE 7
Note: The length of the auger clutch cable is adjustable. However, you will not have to do
this frequently since the operating tension on the drive belt is maintained by the clutch
engaging spring on the end of the cable.
• If the auger turns slowly under heavy load or you hear the drive belt squeal
when entering heavy snow, reduce the length of the cable. This will increase
the pressure applied by the idler pulley on the drive belt.
If auger continues to turn after the clutch control is released, the cable is too
tight. Increase the length of the cable so that the cable is slightly slack when
clutch control is released.
Q 3
1. Access the clutch cable adjusting nuts by removing the engine cover and cowling.
2. Measure the spring while the clutch control on the handle is in the disengaged posi¬
tion. Record this measurement.
3. Pull the clutch control against the handle and again measure the spring. Record this
measurement.
4. Compare the two measurements - the figure obtained with the spring extended
should be 7/16th inch greater than with the spring unextended. If it is not, you will
need to alter the length of the cable.
9