Yard-Man 247.37979 manual

Operator ’s Manual IMPOR TANT: READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFUL LY MTD PRODUCTS INC. P .O. B OX 368022 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-9722 PRINTED IN U.S.A. 21” Self-Propelled Mower Model N o. 247.379790 Factory N o. 12A-979L402 Warning: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved f[...]

2 SECTION 1: FINDING YOUR MODEL NUMBER This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new walk behind. It will help you assemble, prepare and maintain your walk behind. Please read and understand what it says. Before you start to prepare your walk behind for its first use, please locate the model plate and copy the information from it in thi[...]

3 SECTION 3: SLOPE GAUGE WARNING D o not mow on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degree s (a rise of approximately 2-1/2 feet eve r y 10 feet). A riding mower c ould overturn a nd cause serious injury. If opera ting a walk-behind mower on such a slope , it i s ex tremely difficult to maintain y our footing and you could slip, resulting in seri[...]

4 SECTION 4: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES WARNING: 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 LAWN MOWER. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY R[...]

5 • Never operate the mower in wet grass. Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause serious personal injury. Keep a firm hold on the handle and walk, never run. If you feel you are losing your footing, RELEASE THE BLADE CONTROL HANDLE IMMEDIATLEY and the blade will stop rotating within three seconds. • Mow only in daylight or go[...]

6 • Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper operation regularly. • 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 starting and operating the mower. • Never attempt to make a wheel or cutting height adjustment while th[...]

7 SECTION 5: UNPACKING INSTRUCTIONS REM OVE UNIT FROM CARTON (See Figure 3.) • Remove staples, break glue on top flaps, or cut tape at carton end and peel along top flap to open carton. • Remove loose parts if included with unit (i.e., operator’s manual, etc.). • Cut along dotted lines and lay carton down flat. • Remove packing material. [...]

8 SECTION 6: SET-UP INSTRUCTIONS ITEMS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMB LY • Pair of Pliers (Not necessary, but helpful) • Motor Oil (Included) • Fresh Gasoline IMPORTANT: This unit is shipped WITHOUT GASOLINE or OIL in the engine. Be certain to service engine with gasoline and oil as instructed in the separate engine manual before operating your mower. N[...]

9 Step 5. Pinch lower handle against mounting bracket with pliers. Step 6. Move hairpin clip from outer to inner hole on left and right handle mounting brackets. Step 7. Attach control cables to handle with pull ties found on the handle. Step 8. Squeeze the blade control handle against the upper handle and pull out the starter rope slowly. Step 9. [...]

10 SECTION 7: CONTROLS Figure 5 BLADE CONTROL HANDLE The blade control handle is located on the upper handle of the mower. See Figure 5. The blade control handle must be depressed in order to start and operate the unit. Release the blade control handle to stop the engine and blade. WARNING: The blade control handle is a safety device. Never attempt[...]

11 CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVER Note: Your mower is shipped with the cutting height in the lowest position. Adjust the cutting height as follows. The cutting height adjustment lever is located above the left rear wheel. To adjust the cutting height, pull the lever out and away from the mower and then move it forward or backward to select a new c[...]

12 NEUTRAL ADJUSTMENT TEST To perform the NEUTRAL ADJUSTMENT TEST answer the following questions. • With the drive clutch control released, push mower forward and pull it backward. Does it move freely? • Squeeze the drive clutch control and pull the mower backward. Do the rear wheels lock (not turn)? • Is the drive clutch control cable free o[...]

13 BA GGING GRASS CLIPPINGS This mower can bag grass clippings. Follow steps 1 through 3 to ready the mower for bagging. Step 1. Remove wing nuts holding mulching baffle or side discharge chute in place. Then remove plug or discharge chute. Step 2. Replace with bagging adapter. Attach using wing nuts. Be sure that inner lip of attachment goes under[...]

14 EMPTYING YOUR GRASS BAG Holding the grass bag by both the rear handle and the lower handle, lift it straight up. The chute door will move the rope out of the way of the bag. Remove the bag from the bagging adaptor on the mower. While holding the lower handle lift up the rear section of the grass bag as shown in Figure 7. The bag will open and th[...]

15 SECTION 9: ADJUSTMENTS WARNING: Do not at any time make any adjustment to lawn mower without first stopping engine and disconnecting spark plug wire. HANDLE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT Figure 8 Your mower is shipped with the handle in the higher height position. To lower the height proceed as follows: • Remove the starter rope from the rope guide. • R[...]

16 Note: For some people the drive clutch handle may not be in a comfortable position. You can adjust the handle out by tightening the adjustment wheel. SHIFT LEVER CABLE ADJUSTMENT Periodic adjustment of the six speed shift cable may be required due to normal wear on the cable. Adjustment is needed if all six speeds do not work. The adjustable cab[...]

17 SECTION 10: MAINTENANCE WARNING: Be sure to disconnect and ground the spark plug wire before performing any repairs or maintenance. NOTE: When tipping the unit, empty the fuel tank and keep the engine spark plug side up. Never tip the mower more than 90 degrees and do not leave the mower tipped for any length of time. Oil can drain into the uppe[...]

18 WARNING: Periodically inspect the blade adapter for cracks, especially if you strike a foreign object. Replace when necessary. When sharpening the blade, follow the original angle of grind as a guide. It is extremely important that each cutting edge receives an equal amount of grinding to prevent an unbalanced blade. An unbalanced blade will cau[...]

19 DRIVE BE LT REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT Step 1. Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it against the engine. Step 2. Drain the fuel tank or place a piece of plastic beneath the cap to prevent gasoline leakage. Step 3. Place shift lever in the first position. Step 4. Tip the mower on its side. Block securely. Step 5. Remove the center bolt which [...]

20 Step 13. Squeeze the belt together and push it forward. Press the control arm inward towards the deck and remove the six speed cable from the slot. Step 16. Place the new belt over the transmission pulley. Start the belt in the pulley groove and rotate the pulley until the belt is seated in the transmission pulley. Step 17. Place the belt betwee[...]

21 SECTION 11: LUBRICATION WARNING: Always stop engine and disconnect spark plug wire before cleaning, lubricating or doing any kind of service work on the lawn mower. Figure 11 Step 21. Pinch both sides of the belt together so that the belt is not in the pulley groove, and the lower pulley can be pushed towards the engine. Step 22. Pivot the contr[...]

22 Blade Control: Lubricate the pivot points on the blade control handle and the brake cable at least once a season with light oil. See Figure 11. The blade control must operate freely in both directions. Wheels: Lubricate the wheels at least once a season with light oil (or engine oil). Also, if the wheels are removed for any reason, lubricate the[...]

23 SECTION 13: TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE Refer to separate engine manual packed with your mower for more engine related information. NOTE: For repairs beyond the minor adjustments listed above, contact your nearest authorized service dealer or call 1-800-800-7310 for the Customer Support Center. Trouble Possible Cause(s) Corrective Action Engine fails[...]

24 Model 979[...]

25 Model 97 9 Ref. No. Part No. Description Ref. No. Part No. Description 1 710-0134 Sc r. Carr. 1/4-20 x .62 40 731-1901 Trail Shield 2 710-0654A Sc r. T T :3/8-18:1.00 41 732-0842 Trail Shield Wire 3 710-0703 Sc r. 1/4-20 x .750 42 611-0064-0665 Fr. Axle Ass’ y . 4 712-0397 Wing Nut 1/4-20 43 710-1241 Hx Scr. Wash Hd. Hi.-Lo. 5 723-0233 Nut, Pu[...]

26 Model 979 16 21 18 20 23 22 17 19 24 A 26 25 A 28 27 29 1 1 8 13 14 15 30 2 2 4 36 3 5 1 5 3 34 33 31 32 35 37 6[...]

27 Model 979 Labels Ref. No. Part No. Code Description Ref. No. Part No. Code Description 1 710- 1174 Bolt Cu r . Car r. 5/16-18 x 2.0 22 731-0905A Lower Control Housing 2 714-0104 Cotter Pin .072 x 1.12 Lg. 23 731-0906 Cable Mounting Cap 3 720-0241 Knob Ass’y Wingnut 5/16-18 24 731-0620 Control Lever 4 726-0240 Strap 4.3 Lg. 25 746-0939 6 Spd. C[...]

28 Model 979 Ref. No. Part No. Code Description 1 746-0939 6 Spd. Cable 2 656-0613 Pulley Ass’y Multi- Spd. 3 710-0167 Scr. 1/4-20 x .50 Car r . 4 710-0896 Scr. AB 1/4-14 x .625 Hxinwsh 5 711-1114 Pivot Shaft 6 712-0287 Nut 1/4-20 7 732-0807 T orsion Spring LH 8 736-0270 Bell Wash. .265 X .75 X .062 9 736-0329 Lock Wash. 1/4 Reg Duty 10 736-0526 [...]

29 Model 979 Ref. No. Part No. Cod e Description 1 712-3025 Hx. Jam Nut 5/16-24 2 736-0425 Bell Wash. .325 x .930 x .045 3 756-0656 Pulley 4 736-3084 Fl. Wash. .510 x 1.120 x .060 5 712-0896 Hx. Jam Nut 1/4-28 6 782-7598 Belt Keeper 7 741-0600 Bearing 8 750-1050 Flange Spacer 9 682-0027A N Idler Bracket Assembly 10 710-0299 Hx. Cap Scr. 1/4- 28 x 1[...]

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MANU FACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR: For TWO YEARS from the date of retail purchase within the United States of America, its possessions and territories, MTD Products will, at its option, repair or replace, for the original purchaser, free of charge, any part or parts found to be defective in material or workmanship. This warranty covers units w[...]