•Release the parking brake by depressing the brake pedal.
•Position the speed control lever in desired position. The further forward or rearward that the lever is moved, the faster the tractor will travel. .
IMPORTANT: Do NOT attempt to change the direction of travel when the tractor is in motion. Always bring the tractor to a complete stop before moving the speed control lever from forward to reverse or vice versa. Failure to do so could result in serious damage to your tractor’s transmission.
IMPORTANT:
•The lawn tractor is brought to a stop by depressing the brake pedal.
•Set the parking brake by fully depressing the brake pedal and keeping it depressed while placing the parking brake lever in the ON position. Release the brake pedal to allow the parking brake to engage.
WARNING: Before leaving the operator’s position for any reason, disengage the blades, place the speed control lever in neutral, engage the parking brake, shut engine off and remove the key.
IMPORTANT: When stopping the tractor for any reason while on a grass surface, always
•Place the speed control lever in N (neutral),
•Engage the parking brake,
•Shut engine off and remove the key.
Doing so will minimize the possibility of having your lawn ‘‘browned’’ by hot exhaust from your tractor’s running engine.
Driving On Slopes
Refer to the SLOPE GAUGE on page 7 to help determine slopes where you may operate the tractor safely.
WARNING: Do not mow on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degrees (a rise of approximately
•Mow up and down slopes, NEVER across.
•Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.
•Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden objects. Uneven terrain could overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide obstacles.
•Avoid turns when driving on a slope. If a turn must be made, turn down the slope. Turning up a slope greatly increases the chance of a roll over.
•Avoid stopping when driving up a slope. If it is necessary to stop while driving up a slope, start up smoothly and carefully to reduce the possibility of flipping the tractor over backward.
Using the Deck Lift Lever
To raise the cutting deck, move the deck lift lever to the left, then place it in the notch best suited for your application. Refer to Setting The Cutting Height earlier in this section.
Engaging the Blades
Engaging the PTO (Blade Engage) transfers power to the cutting deck or other (separately available) attachments. To engage the blades, proceed as follows:
•Move the throttle control lever to the FAST (rabbit) position.
•Grasp the PTO (Blade Engage) lever and position it all the way forward into the engaged (ON) position.
•Keep the throttle lever in the FAST (rabbit) position for the most efficient use of the cutting deck or other (separately available) attachments
IMPORTANT: The engine will automatically shut off if the PTO is engaged with the shift lever in position for reverse travel with the ignition key in the NORMAL MOWING position. Refer to Safety Interlock Switches on page 14.
Mowing
WARNING: To help avoid blade contact or a thrown object injury, keep bystanders, helpers, children and pets at least 75 feet from the machine while it is in operation. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.
The following information will be helpful when using the cutting deck with your tractor.
WARNING: Plan your mowing pattern to avoid discharge of materials toward roads, sidewalks, bystanders and the like. Also, avoid discharging material against a wall or obstruction which may cause discharged material to ricochet back toward the operator.
•Never mow at the tractor’s fastest ground speed. Maintaining a slower ground speed will result in an optimal cut.
•For best results it is recommended that the first two laps be cut with the discharge thrown towards the center. After the first two laps, reverse the direction to throw the discharge to the outside for the balance of cutting. This will give a better appearance to the lawn.
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