Operation

Zero Turn Driving Practice

Smooth Travel

The lever controls of the Zero Turn rider are responsive, and learning to gain a smooth and efficient control of the rider’s forward, reverse, and turning movements will take some practice.

Spending some time going through the maneuvers shown and becoming familiar with how the unit accelerates, travels, and steers — before you begin mowing —is absolutely essential to getting the most out of the Zero Turn rider.

Locate a smooth, flat area of your lawn — one with plenty of room to maneuver. (Clear the area of objects, people and animals before you begin.) Operate the unit at mid-throttle during this practice session (ALWAYS operate at full throttle when mowing), and turn slowly to prevent tire slippage and damage to your lawn.

The lever controls of the Zero Turn rider are responsive.

The BEST method of handling the ground speed control levers is in three steps — as shown in Figure 10.

FIRST place your hands onto the levers as shown.

SECOND, to go forward gradually push the levers forward with your palms.

We suggest you begin with the Smooth Travel procedure to

THIRD, to speed up

 

 

move the levers farther

 

 

the right, and then advance through the forward, reverse,

 

 

forward. To slow down

 

 

and turning maneuvers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

smoothly, slowly move

 

 

 

 

for

 

 

 

Reproduction

 

You must release the parking brake prior to moving the

the leve s toward neutral.

 

 

control levers inward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 10. Move Control

 

Not

 

 

Levers Gradually

Forward Travel Practice

 

 

Reverse Travel Practice

 

Gradually move both ground speed control levers — evenly

LOOK DOWN & BEHIND, then gradually move both ground

FORWARD from neutral. Slow down and repeat.

 

speed control levers evenly BACK from neutral. Slow down

NOTE: Straight forward travel takes practice. If

 

and repeat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

necessary, top speed can be balance-adjusted — see

NOTE: Practice backing up for several minutes before

the Speed Balancing Adjustment in the Adjustments

attempting to do so near objects. The rider turns

section near the back of this manual.

 

sharply in reverse as well as forward, and backing up

 

 

 

straight takes practice.

 

 

Forward

 

 

Reverse

 

 

Travel

 

 

Travel

 

 

Figure 11. Forward Travel

Figure 12. Reverse Travel

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