Maintenance & Adjustments

Safe Servicing Practices

This product is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Always follow all safety instructions to avoid serious injury or death.

Service

▲Unless specifically required, DO NOT have engine running when ser- vicing or making adjustments to tractor. Park the machine on level ground. Place steering control levers in the park brake position, disen- gage deck clutch, lower deck, remove ignition switch key and discon- nect negative battery cable before doing any maintenance. Wait for all movement to stop before adjusting, cleaning or repairing. Repairs or maintenance requiring engine power should be performed by trained maintenance personnel only. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, be sure proper ventilation is available when engine must be operated in an enclosed area. Read and observe safety warnings in front of manual.

▲Before working on or under the deck, make certain engine cannot be accidentally started. Shut engine off and remove ignition switch key for maximum safety. Repairs or maintenance requiring engine power should be performed by trained maintenance personnel only.

▲Except when changing or checking belt, always keep belt covers on mower deck for safety as well as cleanliness.

▲Use a stick or similar instrument to clean under the mower making sure that no part of the body, especially arms and hands are under mower.

▲Keep your machine clean and remove any deposits of trash and clip- pings, which can cause engine fires and hydraulic overheating as well as excessive belt wear. Clean up oil or fuel spillage. Allow machine to cool before storing.

▲Clean flammable material from machine. Prevent fires by keep- ing the top of the deck, engine compartment, exhaust area, bat- tery, hydraulic lines, fuel line, fuel tank and operator’s station clean of accumulated trash, grass clippings, and other debris. Always clean up spilled fuel and oil.

▲Always wear adequate eye protection when servicing the hydraulic system and battery, or when grinding mower blades and removing accumulated debris.

▲Use extra caution when handling gasoline and other fuels. They are flammable and vapors are explosive.

▲Never attempt to start engine when there is a strong odor of gasoline fumes present. Locate and correct cause.

▲Never remove fuel cap or refuel tractor while engine is running; never refuel near an open flame or near devices which can create a spark. Refuel outdoors. Never refuel or drain the fuel from the machine indoors.

▲Never run the engine in an enclosed area unless exhaust is vented to the outside. Exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide which is odorless and deadly poison.

▲Never attempt to make any adjustments or repairs to the tractor drive system, mower deck or any attachment while the tractor engine is run- ning or deck clutch is engaged. Repairs or maintenance requiring engine power should be performed by trained maintenance personnel only.

▲Never work under the machine or attachment unless it is safely sup- ported with jack stands. Make certain machine is secure when it is raised and placed on the jack stands. The jack stands should not allow the machine to move when the engine is running and the drive wheels are rotating. Use only certified jack stands. Use only appropriate jack stands, with a minimum weight rating of 2000 pounds to block the unit up. Use in pairs only. Follow the instructions supplied with the vehicle stands.

▲Do not touch hot parts of machine.

▲Keep nuts and bolts tight, especially the blade attachment bolts. Keep equipment in good working condition.

▲Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper operation regu- larly.

▲Stop the engine before removing the grass catcher or unclogging the discharge chute. Never clear the discharge chute with the engine run- ning. Turn off the engine and be sure the blades have stopped before cleaning. Use a stick to clear a plugged discharge area. Never use your hand!

▲Grass collection system components are subject to wear, damage and deterioration, which could expose moving parts or allow objects to be thrown. Frequently check components and replace with manufac- turer’s recommended parts, when necessary.

▲Exercise caution when working under the deck as the mower blades are extremely sharp. Wrap the blade(s) or wear gloves and use extra caution when servicing them.

▲Use only genuine Hustler replacement parts to ensure that original standards are maintained

Introduction

Regular maintenance is the best prevention for costly downtime or expen- sive, premature repair. The following pages contain suggested maintenance information and schedules which the operator should follow on a routine basis. For more detailed information order the correct parts manual for your unit. Refer to the Product Literature section of this manual.

Remain alert for unusual noises, they could be signaling a problem. Visually inspect the machine for any abnormal wear or damage. A good time to detect potential problems is while performing scheduled maintenance ser- vice. Correcting the problem as quickly as possible is the best insurance.

Clear away heavy build-up of grease, oil and dirt, especially in the engine and under the seat platform areas; minute dust particle are abrasive to close- tolerance engine and hydraulic assemblies.

Daily inspect mower for grass clippings and wire and string tangles. The underside of the mower deck will collect a build-up of grass clippings and dirt, especially when grass is wet or has high moisture content. This build-up will harden, restricting blade and air movement and will probably show a poorer quality of cutting. Therefore it should be removed routinely.

To do this it will be necessary to raise and block the deck, using jack stands or blocks, in the full up position and scrape the build-up from under- neath.

Some repairs require the assistance of a trained service mechanic and should not be attempted by unskilled personnel. Consult your Hustler service center when assistance is needed.

Torque values

WARNING: Particular attention must be given to tightening the drive wheel lug nuts and blade spindle bolts. Failure to cor- rectly torque these items may result in the loss of a wheel or blade, which can cause serious damage or personal injury.

Torque values are given below:	Ft-lbs.	Nm
	Ft-lbs.	Nm
Wheel (lug) nuts	65-75	88.14-101.7
Blade spindle bolt top	118	160.01
Blade spindle bolt bottom	118	160.01

Lug nuts only - It is recommended that these be checked after the first 2 hours of operation, initially, every 50 hours and following removal for repair or replacement.

For all other torques refer to the various tractor parts manuals for stan- dard torque chart. See the Product Literature section of this manaul for order- ing information.

For engine torque values, see engine owner’s manual.

Tires

It is important for level mowing that the tires have the same amount of air

pressure. The recommended pressure are:
Drive wheels	8-12 psi (55-83 KPa)
Gauge wheels	8-12 psi (55-83 KPa)

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