STARTING THE ENGINE
Donotoperatethe tractorif theinterlocksystemismalfunctioning.
Thissystemwasdesignedforyour safetyand protection.
NOTE: Refertothe GasolineandOil fill-upinstructionsearlierinthis
section.
1. Insertthetractor keyintothe ignitionswitch.
2. PlacethePTO (BladeEngage)leverinthe disengaged(OFF)
position.
3. Engagethetractor'sparkingbrake.
4. Activatethechokecontrolby movingthethrottle/chokeleverall
thewayup intothe chokeposition.
5. Turntheignitionkey clockwisetotheSTARTposition.Afterthe
enginestarts,releasethekey.It will returntothe ON (or Normal
Mowing)position.
DO NOTholdthe keyinthe STARTpositionforlongerthan ten
secondsata time.Doingso maycause damagetoyourengine's
electricstarter.
6. Aftertheengine starts,deactivatethechokecontroland placethe
throttlecontrolinthe FASTposition.
NOTE: Do NOTleavethechokecontrol on whileoperatingthe tractor.
Doingsowill resultin a "rich" fuel mixtureand causethe engineto run
poorly.
STOPPING THE ENGINE
Ifyou strikea foreignobject,stopthe engine,disconnectthespark
plugwire(s)andgroundagainstthe engine.Thoroughlyinspectthe
machineforanydamage.Repairthedamagebeforerestartingand
operating
1. Ifthe bladesareengaged,placethe PTO(Blade Engage)leverin
thedisengaged(OFF)position.
2. Turntheignitionkey counterclockwisetothe STOPposition.
3. Removethekeyfrom theignitionswitchto preventunintended
starting.
DRIVING THE TRACTOR
Avoidsuddenstarts,excessivespeedandsuddenstops.
Donotleave the seatof the tractorwithoutfirst placingthe PTO
(BladeEngage)leverinthe disengaged(OFF)position,depressing
Ithe brakepedaland engagingtheparking brake.Ifleavingthe tractor
unattended,alsoturntheignitionkey offand removethekey.
Alwayslookdownandbehindbeforeand whilebackingupto avoida
back-overaccident.
1. Movethethrottleleverinto the FAST(rabbit)position.
NOTE:Alwaysoperatethetractor withthethrottle/chokecontrollever
inthe FAST(rabbit) positionforthe mostefficientuse of the cutting
deckor other(separatelyavailable)attachments.
2. Releasetheparkingbrakeby depressingthebrakepedal
3. Positionthespeedcontrolleverin desiredposition.Thefurther
forwardorrearwardthat thelever ismoved,thefasterthe tractor
willtravel.
DoNOTattempttochange thedirectionoftravel whenthetractor
is inmotion.Alwaysbringthe tractorto a completestopbefore
movingthespeedcontrollever fromforwardto reverseorvice versa.
Failuretodoso couldresult inseriousdamagetoyour tractor's
transmission.
iMPORTANT:First-timeoperatorsshoulduseslowerspeeds.
Becomecompletelyfamiliarwiththetractor's operationandcontrols
beforeoperatingthetractorinat higherspeed.
4. Thelawntractor isbroughttoa stopby depressingthebrake
pedal.
5. Setthe parkingbrakeby fullydepressingthebrakepedaland
keepingitdepressedwhileplacingthe parkingbrakeleverinthe
ONposition.Releasethe brakepedalto allowthe parkingbrake
toengage.
Beforeleavingtheoperator'spositionforanyreason,disengagethe
blades,placethespeed controlleverin neutral,engagetheparking
brake,shutengineoff andremovethe key.
•Mowupanddown slopes,NEVERacross.
•Exerciseextremecautionwhenchangingdirectionon slopes.
•Watchforholes,ruts, bumps,rocks,or other hiddenobjects.
Uneventerraincouldoverturnthemachine.Tallgrasscanhide
obstacles.
•Avoidturnswhendrivingon a slope.If a turnmust be made,turn
downtheslope.Turningup a slopegreatlyincreasesthe chance
ofa rollover.
iMPORTANT:Whenstoppingthe tractorforany reasonwhile on a
grasssurface,always:
1. Placethespeedcontrolleverin N (neutral),
2. Engagetheparkingbrake,
3. Shutengineoff and removethekey.
Doingsowill minimizethepossibilityof havingyourlawn "browned"by
hotexhaustfromyour tractor'srunningengine.
DRIVING ON SLOPES
Refertothe SLOPEGAUGEintheImportantSafeOperationPractices
sectionofthe manualtohelp determineslopeswhereyou mayoperate
thetractorsafely.
Donotmowon inclineswith a slopein excessof 15degrees(a rise
ofapproximately2-1/2feetevery10feet). Thetractorcouldoverturn
andcauseseriousinjury.
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