Steering Levers

Figure. 3	Foot Pedal Lift

from the rear to the front will increase the engine speed from slow to fast.

3.Left and Right Steering Levers: (See Figure 3.) These hinged levers open out to the side in any position to permit the operator to be seated or to leave the mower’s seat. The operator, when seated, can pull the levers up to the operating position, a comfortable forearm’s length away. These levers control all of the movements of the mower. Pushing both levers forward causes the mower to move forward. Pulling both levers back causes the mower to move backward. Pushing one lever ahead of the other lever causes the traction wheel on the side where the lever is ahead to rotate faster than the other traction wheel, making the mower turn toward the side where the lever is behind. When one lever is pushed forward and the other lever pulled back the same amount, one traction wheel will turn in reverse and the mower will turn within its own length.

In order to start the engine, both steering levers must be in the neutral position; the parking brake must be engaged; and the blade clutch switch must be “off”. However, once the engine starts, the parking brake must be released before the operator places the steering levers into the operating position or the engine will automatically shut off.

Note: The Steering Lever will return toward neutral when released, but they should be placed in neutral by the driver. If the Drive Handles are not placed in neutral, the tractor may creep.

4.Electric Blade Clutch Switch: (See Figure 1.) Located on the right side of the mower beside the ignition switch. This is an “on/off” push pull switch that controls the electric blade clutch which sup- plies power to the cutting blades through the PTO. The switch must be turned off to start the engine and should be turned off for safety any time another person approaches the mower or the mowing deck is raised to the transport posi-

tion. Power to the electric clutch will also be cut off if the operator leaves the operator’s seat.

5.Parking Brake: (See Figure 2.) Located on the left side of the traction unit. The handle is an overcenter lever which applies the drum-type brake on each drive wheel when the handle is pulled to the rear. The brake must be engaged in order to start the engine.

6.Foot Pedal Lift Assist: (See Figure 3.) Located on the right front corner of the mowing deck. A two pedal mechanism is provided whereby one pedal (first) is used to raise, to momentarily hold the implement at a desired height (if needed), and to latch it in the transport or maximum height setting. A second pedal is used to unlatch the mechanism from the transport or maximum height setting, to lower, or to momentarily hold the implement at a desired height. The pedals can also be used in conjunction with each other when the upper portion of a foot activates the first pedal to raise the implement, and the lower por- tion of the foot (heel) activates the second pedal to release the latch. This provides a hands-free operation with the exception of when an imple- ment height change is required. For changing implement height, at least one hand is required to reposition the pins to provide 1/4” height-of-cut increments.

The mechanism includes: An adjustable location foot pedal that is used to raise the implement and/or latch it in the transport position, that is directly connected to the implement lift linkage; adjustable force counter-balance springs to reduce the effective weight of the implement and thereby reducing the forces needed on the first and second pedals for activation - tighten both springs equally to reduce the force at the foot pedal; a second pedal pivotally attached to the first pedal that releases the mechanism from the latched configuration; a height adjustment link and index provide predetermined height for the implement - it is settable in 1/4” increments; a lock position for the height adjustment link setta- ble by the pin in the highest (also transport posi- tion) or lowest (also for mower deck removal and installation).

The following features are incorporated into the foot pedal implement lift design: Foot actuated implement lift with one pedal (1st) for lift and latch, with a second pedal for release and lower; allows for some operators with physical limita- tions to use the implement lift mechanisms and the machine; reduces potential for operator fatigue; accommodates a variety of operator sizes, shapes, and strengths; does not require the use of hands (with the exception of resetting the implement height) during normal machine