Recoil Starter

Rotate choke knob to FULL choke position (cold engine start). If engine is warm, place choke in OFF position instead of FULL.

Push primer button two or three times. If engine is warm, push primer button once only.

NOTE: Always cover vent hole in primer button when pushing. Additional priming may be necessary for first start if temperature is below 15°F.

Grasp starter handle and pull rope out slowly, until it pulls slightly harder. Let rope rewind slowly.

Pull starter handle rapidly. Do not allow handle to snap back. Allow it to rewind slowly while keeping a firm hold on the starter handle.

As engine warms up and begins to operate evenly, rotate choke knob slowly to OFF position. If engine falters, return to FULL choke, then slowly move to OFF position.

To Stop Engine

Run engine for a few minutes before stopping to help dry off any moisture on the engine.

To help prevent possible freeze-up of starter, proceed as follows.

Electric Starter:

Connect power cord to switch box on engine, then to 120 volt AC receptacle. With the engine running, push starter button and spin the starter for several seconds. The unusual sound made by spinning the starter will not harm engine or starter. Disconnect the power cord from receptacle first, and then from switch box.

Recoil Starter

With engine running, pull starter rope with a rapid, continuous full arm stroke three or four times. Pulling the starter rope will produce a loud clattering sound, which is not harmful to the engine or starter.

To stop engine, move throttle control to “stop” or “off” position.

Remove ignition key. Do not turn key.

Disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug to prevent accidental starting while equipment is unattended.

NOTE: Do not lose ignition key. Keep it in a safe place. Engine will not start without the ignition key.

Wipe all snow and moisture from the carburetor cover in the area of the control levers. Also, move control levers back and forth several times.

To Engage Drive

With the engine running near top speed, move the shift lever into one of the six FORWARD positions or two REVERSE positions. Select a speed

appropriate for the snow conditions that exist. Use the slower speeds until you are familiar with the operation of the snow thrower.

Squeeze the auger control grip and the augers will turn. Release it and the augers will stop.

Squeeze traction control grip and the snow thrower will move. Release it and drive motion will stop.

NEVER move shift lever without releasing drive clutch.

To Engage Augers

To engage the augers and start throwing snow, squeeze the auger control grip against the left handle. Release to stop the augers.

Auger Control Test

IMPORTANT: Perform the following test before operating your snow thrower for the first time and at the start of each winter season.

Check the adjustment of the auger control as follows:

When the auger control is released and in the disengaged “up” position, the cable should have very little slack. It should NOT be tight.

In a well-ventilated area, start the snow thrower engine as instructed earlier in this section under the heading Starting Engine. Make sure the throttle is set in the FAST position.

While standing in the operator’s position (behind the snow thrower), engage the auger.

Allow the auger to remain engaged for approximately ten (10) seconds before releasing the auger control. Repeat this several times.

With the engine running in the FAST position and the auger control lever in the disengaged “up” position, walk to the front of the machine.

Confirm that the auger has completely stopped rotating and shows NO signs of motion.

IMPORTANT: If the auger shows ANY signs of rotating, immediately return to the operator’s position and shut off the engine. Wait for ALL moving parts to stop before re-adjusting the auger control.

To readjust the control cable, loosen the hex jam nut on the auger control cable “Z” fitting.

Rotate the coupling end of the cable counterclockwise to provide more slack.

Retighten the hex jam nut. See Figure 6.

Repeat Auger Control Test to verify proper adjustment has been achieved.

8

Page 8
Image 8
MTD 663, 643 manual To Stop Engine, To Engage Drive, To Engage Augers, Recoil Starter, Auger Control Test