Troy-Bilt 860 series, Operator'S Manual

Operation

5

13

Figure 5-1

Starting Engine

WARNING: 

Be sure no one other than the operator 

is standing near the lawn mower while starting 

engine or operating mower. Never run engine 

indoors or in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. 

Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an 

odorless and deadly gas. Keep hands, feet, hair and 

loose clothing away from any moving parts on 

engine and lawn mower.

Standing behind the mower, squeeze the blade control 

1. 

against upper handle. See Fig. 5-1.

Grasp recoil starter handle and pull rope out with a rapid, 

2. 

continuous, full arm stroke. See Fig. 5-1. Keeping a firm grip 

on the starter handle, let the rope rewind slowly. If engine 

does not start after 10 seconds of repeated pulls, wait a few 

minutes and repeat.

Stopping Engine

Release blade control to stop the engine and blade.

1. 

WARNING: 

Wait for the blade to stop completely 

before performing any work on the mower or to 

remove the grass catcher.

Using Your Lawn Mower

Be sure lawn is clear of stones, sticks, wire, or other objects 

which could damage lawn mower or engine. Such objects could 

be accidently thrown by the mower in any direction and cause 

serious personal injury to the operator and others.

WARNING: 

The operation of any lawn mower can 

result in foreign objects being thrown into the eyes, 

which can damage your eyes severely. Always wear 

safety glasses while operating the mower, or while 

performing any adjustments or repairs on it.

Once the engine is running, squeeze the drive control 

1. 

against the upper handle to propel mower.
To change speed, move speed control to the desired 

2. 

speed.

NOTE:  

When selecting a drive speed, use the first speed 

until you are comfortable and familiar with the operation 

of the mower.

WARNING: 

If you strike a foreign object, stop the 

engine. Remove wire from the spark plug, 

thoroughly inspect mower for any damage, and 

repair damage before restarting and operating. 

Extensive vibration of mower during operation is an 

indication of damage. The unit, especially the blade 

adapter, should be promptly inspected and 

repaired.

Using as Mulcher

For mulching grass, remove the grass catcher, insert rear mulch 

plug, and remove side discharge chute from the mower. For 

effective mulching, do not cut wet grass. If the grass has been 

allowed to grow in excess of four inches, mulching is not 

recommended. Use the grass catcher to bag clippings instead.

Using Grass Catcher

You can use the grass catcher to collect clippings while you are 

operating the mower.

Attach grass catcher following instructions in the 

1. 

“Assembly & Set-Up” section. Grass clippings will 

automatically collect in bag as you run mower. Operate 

mower till grass bag is full.
Stop engine completely by releasing the blade control. 

2. 

Make sure that the unit has come to a complete stop.
Lift discharge door and pull grass bag up and away from 

3. 

the mower to remove the bag. Dispose of the grass 

clippings and reinstall the bag when complete.