How to Change the Speed/Sensitivity Adjustment
The controls are initially set with the Speed/ Sensitivity Adjust- ment in the slower, less sensitive posi- tion. After becoming completely familiar with mower operation the operator may desire to increase
the ground speed approximately
How to Perform the Tracking and Neutral Adjustment
First ensure that the tire pressure is equal on both rear drive tires. Drive the mower on a level parking lot with engine at full throttle. Check that the mower drives in a straight line when both hand controls are held to the full speed position. If not, park the mower and stop the engine. The adjustment is made by removing the "hair pin" from one or the other of the swivel ends at the lower ends of the control rods and screwing the swivel to either make the control rod longer or shorter. Before changing the length of the rods several facts are important to know:
In the faster Speed/Sensitivity setting neither rod should be shortened so much that at full speed it pulls its pump control lever (on the sides of the
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pumps) against the pump's internal stop. The pumps have an internal stop that is not designed to take this type of force and could eventually cause pump leakage or other damage to the pump. Therefore, to reach the maximum capable speed, the rods should be shortened one turn at a time until you can feel in the hand control that the internal stop has been contacted, then lengthen the rod one turn. You will feel the slight resistance (there is no need to start the engine or even replace the hair pin while checking this incrementally, just put the swivel in the hole in the lever and test it by squeezing the handle to full fast position). Remember, this procedure does not apply if the Speed/Sensitivity Adjustment is in the slower setting, otherwise you'll wind the swivels way up the rods and the mower will go fast but will lose most or all of its reverse capabil- ity and the gap between the stationary bar and the control levers becomes excessive when at the neutral position.
If the rod is made shorter it will speed up that side of the mower and if the rod is made longer it will slow down that side of the mower. So, if the mower is tracking to the left, either the left side needs to go faster (by shortening the rod) or the right side needs to go slower (by length- ening the rod). And, if the mower is tracking to the right either the right side needs to go faster (by shortening the rod) or the left side needs to go slower (by lengthening the rod). It is impor- tant that neither rod should be shortened too far as mentioned above.
The only reference point to limit the adjustment from becoming extremely off is the relative position of the pump internal stop and the sta- tionary bar in the faster Speed/Sensitivity set- ting. Therefore, if everything is way off either because you are installing new parts or other reasons you should only use the faster Speed/ Sensitivity setting to get the tracking to be accu- rate and then change to the slower speed range and tweak the tracking only one or two turns on either side.
BE SURE THE “HAIR” PINS IN THE SWIVEL ENDS ARE SECURELY REPLACED EACH