SECTION II
OPERATION
GENERAL SAFETY
Only qualified people familiar with this operator’s manual should operate this machine. Operator should wear hard hat, safety glasses, and safety shoes. Avoid loose fitting clothing or jewelry. The operator should read, understand and practice all safety messages shown on the caution, warning and danger decals affixed to the machine to avoid seri- ous injury or death. Before beginning operation, clear work area of any objects that may be picked up and thrown by mower. Check for ditches, stumps, holes or other obstacles that could upset power unit or damage mower. Always push steering levers apart, set parking brake, disengage PTO, turn off engine, and allow blades to come to a complete stop before leaving operator’s seat. Do not operate without all shields in place and in good condition.
PRE-OPERATION CHECKLIST
1.Make sure fuel tanks are full. Use regular unleaded gasoline. See engine manual for more details.
WARNING 
AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH:
GASOLINE IS EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE AND EXPLOSIVE UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
●REFUEL IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA WITH ENGINE STOPPED.
●DO NOT SMOKE OR ALLOW FLAMES OR SPARKS IN THE REFUELING AREA OR WHERE GASOLINE IS BEING STORED.
●DO NOT OVERFILL FUEL TANK. AFTER REFUELING, MAKE CERTAIN THE TANK CAP IS CLOSED PROPERLY AND SECURELY.
●BE CAREFUL NOT TO SPILL FUEL WHEN REFUELING. FUEL VAPOR OR SPILLED FUEL MAY IGNITE. IF ANY FUEL IS SPILLED, MAKE SURE THE AREA IS DRY BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE.
●KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
AVOID FUEL FIRES BY STATIC ELECTRICITY SPARKS:
●USE ONLY AN APPROVED GASOLINE CONTAINER
●NEVER FILL GASOLINE CONTAINERS INSIDE A VEHICLE OR ON A TRUCK OR TRAILER BED WITH A PLASTIC LINER. ALWAYS PLACE FUEL CONTAIN- ERS ON THE GROUND AWAY FROM YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE FILLING.
●REMOVE MOWER FROM TRUCK BED OR TRAILER AND REFUEL IT ON THE GROUND. ONLY USE AN APPROVED GASOLINE CONTAINER AND NOT THE GASOLINE DISPENSER TO REFUEL WHEN MOWER REMAINS ON TRAILER OR TRUCK BED.
●DURING REFUELING, KEEP NOZZLE IN CONTACT WITH FUEL TANK OR FUEL CONTAINER OPENING AT ALL TIMES. AVOID OVER FILLING, DO NOT USE NOZZLE
2.Make sure dirt and foreign matter are kept out of fuel tank. Use a clean funnel and fuel can.
3.Do not mix oil with gasoline.
4.Do not use white, high test or premium gaso- line. Do not use
5.Check the crankcase oil level. Make sure the engine is off. The mower should be parked on a level area. Do not overfill. (See your engine manual for more detailed instructions.)
6.Check the hydrostatic transaxles oil level. (See “Maintenance” section of this manual.)
7.Check battery fluid level.
8.Inspect
9.Check tire pressure: Front& Drive Tires 9 - 12 psi
10.Make sure underside of mower deck is free of grass.
11.Make sure mower blades are sharp and secured tightly.
12.Clean the air intake screen on the engine if necessary.
13.Perform any other maintenance as it becomes necessary. (See “Maintenance” section)
14.Check parking brake operation by disengaging hydrostatic transaxles (freewheeling position), and placing the brake lever in the “on” position. Attempt to rock tractor by hand. Both drive wheels should be locked. When the brake handle is in the “off” position, both drive wheels should turn freely. If there is a problem in either position, refer to adjustment procedure in the maintenance section.
WARNING 
ENGINE EXHAUST GASES CONTAIN
POISONOUS CARBON MONOXIDE.
●NEVER RUN ENGINE IN A CLOSED BUILDING OR CONFINED AREA.
●AVOID INHALING EXHAUST GASES.
OPERATION
1.OPEN FUEL
2.MOVE CONTROL LEVERS TO neutral “OUT” position by pushing each one straight sideways.
3.SET PARKING BRAKE. Pull upward to set, lock- ing out in notch.
4.DISENGAGE MOWER BLADE CLUTCH by moving clutch switch to “OFF” (down) position.
5.SET ENGINE CHOKE CONTROL for cold starts to full up position.
6.SET ENGINE THROTTLE TO 1/2 throttle.
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