MTD 31AE993I401 manual Assembling Your Snow Thrower

SECTION 2: ASSEMBLING YOUR SNOW THROWER

Unpacking

•Remove staples from the top, sides, and ends of the shipping crate. Set panels aside to avoid tire damage or personal injury.

•Remove and discard plastic bag that covers unit.

•Roll the unit out of the crate.

•Check the crate for loose parts before discarding.

Loose Parts

•The augers are secured to the auger shaft with two shear bolts and hex lock nuts. If you hit a foreign object or ice jam, the snow thrower is designed so that the bolts may shear. Two replacement shear bolts and nuts are provided for your convenience. See Figure 1. Store these safely until needed.

Shear Bolts	Hex Lock
	Nuts

Figure 1

IMPORTANT: NEVER replace the auger shear bolts with standard hex bolts. Any damage to the auger gearbox or other components from using standard bolts will not be covered by your snow thrower’s warranty.

Items Required For Assembly

1.Pair of pliers

2.Engine oil

3.Fresh gasoline

Before Assembly

•Disconnect spark plug wire and ground it against the engine to prevent unintended starting.

NOTE: All references in this manual to the left or right side of the snow thrower is from the operating position only. Exceptions, if any, will be specified.

Assembling Handle

•Remove the lower plastic wing nut, cupped washer and carriage bolt from each side of the lower handle. See Figure 2.

•Raise the upper handle assembly until it locks over the lower handle.

•Look at the lower rear of the snow thrower frame to be sure all the cables are aligned with the cable roller guides. Make sure the spring (found at the end of each cable) is attached to its actuator bracket

Upper Handle

Steering Cable

Tighten these

Wing Nuts

Lower Handle

Cable Tie

Upper Shift Rod

Shift Rod

Connector

Cupped

Washer

Carriage

Wing Bolt

Nut

Upper

Shift Rod

NOTE: Support Tubes are omitted from the illustration for clarity.

Figure 2

•Secure the upper handle and lower handle with the two plastic wing nuts, cupped washers and carriage bolts previously removed. Attach these hardware on the lower hole in the handles. See Figure 2.

•Tighten the two wing nuts already in place on the upper holes and secure the handles firmly. Slide the shift rod connector down over the end of the lower shift rod. Tap the connector until it locks over the lower shift rod. See Figure 2.

NOTE: If the connector is not properly assembled, the shift rod will pivot and you will not be able to change speeds or direction of movement.

Attaching Chute Crank

•Remove the hairpin clip from the upper chute crank and slide the upper chute crank through the upper chute crank bracket and into the lower chute crank. A pair of pliers may help in this job.

•Align the two holes on both chute cranks and insert the hairpin clip removed earlier, through these holes. See Figure 3.

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