TRACTOR
Alwaysobservesafety ruleswhen per- formingany maintenance.
BRAKE OPERATION
If tractor requires more than six (6) feet stopping distance at high speed in highest
gear, then brake must be adjusted. (See "TO ADJUST BRAKE" in the Service and
Adjustments sectionof this manual).
TIRES
•Maintain proper air pressure in all tires (See "PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS" on page 5 of this manual).
•Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect control chemicals which can harm rub- ber.
•Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp
"objects and other hazards that may cause tire damage.
NOTE: To seal tire punctures and prevent flat tires due to slow leaks, tire sealant
may be purchased from your local parts
dealer. Tire sealant also prevents tire dry rot and corrosion.
BLADE CARE
For best results mower blades must be
kept sharp. Replace bent or damaged blades.
BLADE REMOVAL
•Raise mower to highest position to allow access to blades.
•Remove hex bolt, lock washer and flat washer securing blade.
•Install new or resharpened blade with trailing edge up towards deck as shown.
•Reassemble hex bolt, lock washer and fiat washer in exact order as shown.
•"13ghtenbolt securely
IMPORTANT: Blade
Assembly
FlatWasBladher___TrailingMandrel Edge Up
•oc.
Hex Bolt(Grade 8)_.._
*A Grade 8 heat treated bolt can be
ide!;l_, by,_x lines on the bolt head.
TO SHARPEN BLADE
NOTE: We do not recommend sharpening blade, butif you do, be sure the blade is balanced.
Care should be taken to keep the blade balanced. An unbalanced blade will cause
excessive vibration and eventual damage to mower and engine.
•The blade can be sharpened with a file or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt to sharpen while it is on the mower.
•To check blade balance, you will need a 5/8" diameter steel bolt, pin, or a cone balancer. (When using a cone balancer, follow the instructions supplied with bal- ancer).
NOTE: Do not use a nail for balancing blade. The lobes of the center hole may appear to be centered, but are not.
•Slide blade onto an unthreaded portion of the steel bolt or pin and hold the bolt or pin parallel with the ground. If blade is balanced, it should remain in a hori- zontal position. If either end of the blade moves downward, sharpen the heavy end until the blade is balanced.
CenterHole
Blade
5/8" Bolt or Pin
BATTERY
Yourtractorhas a batterychargingsystem whichis sufficientfor normaluse.
However,periodicchargingof the battery withan automotivechargerwill extendits life.
•Keep battery and terminalsclean.
•Keep battery boltstight.
•Keep small vent holesopen.
•Recharge at
TO CLEAN BATTERYAND TERMINALS
Corrosionand dirton the batteryand ter- minalscan cause the batteryto "leak" power.
•Open battery boxdoor.
•DisconnectBLACKbatterycablefirst then RED batterycable and remove batteryfrom tractor.
•Rinsethe batterywith plainwater and dry.
•Clean terminalsand batterycable ends with wire brush untilbright.
19