SECTION III
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
3-1 GENERAL SAFETY
Only qualified people familiar with this operator’s manual and tractor operator’s manual should oper- ate this machine. Operator should wear hard hat, safety glasses and safety shoes. The operator should read, understand and practice all safety mes- sages shown on the caution, warning and danger decals affixed to the cutter to avoid serious injury or death. It is recommended that tractor be equipped with Rollover Protective System (ROPS) and a seat belt be used. Before beginning operation, clear work area of any objects that may be picked up and thrown. Check for ditches, stumps, holes or other obstacles that could upset tractor or damage cutter. Always lower cutter to ground and allow blades to come to a complete stop, set parking brake and turn off tractor engine before leaving tractor operator’s seat.
3-2 CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
The cutter should be operated at the highest position that will give desired cutting results. (See “TIPS” on next page) This will help prevent blades from striking the ground, reducing blade wear and undue strain on the machine. Cutting too much material may reduce mulching action and leave visible clippings on the lawn surface. The more frequently the lawn is mowed, the better the mulching effect will be. Adjust as follows:
A.Raise cutter off ground using tractor
WARNING 
THE CUTTER CAN FALL FROM HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FAILURE. TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, SECURELY SUPPORT CUTTER BEFORE WORKING UNDERNEATH
B. Remove pin securing caster wheel to bracket. (Figure
C. Place amount of spacers on caster wheel to give desired cutting height. With no spacers on the bottom, a 3/4” cutting height is given.
D. Reinstall caster wheel into caster arm. Place remaining spacers on caster wheel and install pin to retain.
E. Repeat operation for all caster wheels. Make certain all wheels are adjusted to the same height.
3-3 OPERATION
A. Perform BEFORE EACH USE maintenance list in paragraph
B. Start tractor. Lower cutter until it is supported by caster wheels. Position tractor lower lift arms so cutter lower links are parallel to ground, allowing cut- ter to “float” during operation. Adjust top link as
FIGURE 3-1 Caster Wheel
Spacers
Caster
Wheel 
DANGER 
STAY CLEAR OF ROTATING DRIVELINE. DO NOT OPERATE WITHOUT DRIVELINE SHIELDS IN PLACE AND IN GOOD CONDITION. FAILURE TO HEED THESE WARNINGS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
DANGER 
STAND CLEAR OF ROTATING CUTTER BLADES UNTIL ALL MOTION HAS STOPPED. TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL FALL AND POSSIBLE INJURY FROM CUTTER,IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT TRACTOR BE EQUIPPED WITH ROLLOVER PROTECTIVE SYSTEM AND THAT A SEAT BELT BE USED FOR ALL OPERATIONS.
shown in Figure
C. With tractor at idle speed, engage PTO drive. Advance throttle to 540 PTO rpm.
D. Place tractor in low gear and begin cutting. Tractor forward speed should be controlled by gear selection, not engine speed. For maximum cutting efficiency, forward speed should allow cutter to maintain a constant maximum blade speed.
If tractor engine or cutter stalls, do not slip tractor clutch to allow engine to retain speed as this will exert undue strain on the implement drivetrain. When stalling occurs, disengage PTO drive, move to a cut area, set tractor throttle to idle, then
Always cut up and down the face of slopes, never across.
Check belt tension after first 8 hours
3-4 TRANSPORTING
Turn off PTO drive and fully raise tractor
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