13
OPERATION

TO OPERATE MOWER (See Fig. 10)

Your tractor is equipped with an operator presence sensing
switch. Any attempt by the operator to leave the seat with
the engine running and the attachment clutch engaged
will shut off the engine. You must remain fully and centrally
positioned in the seat to prevent the engine from hesitating
or cutting off when operating your equipment on rough,
rolling terrain or hills.
Select desired height of cut.
Lower mower with attachment lift control.
Start mower blades by engaging attachment clutch
control.
FIG. 9
TO ADJUST GAUGE WHEELS (See Fig. 9)
Gauge wheels are properly adjusted when they are slightly
off the ground when mower is at the desired cutting height
in operating position. Gauge wheels then keep the deck
in proper position to help prevent scalping in most terrain
conditions.
NOTE:Adjust gauge wheels with tractor on a fl at level
surface.
Adjust mower to desired cutting height (See “TO AD-
JUST MOWER CUT TING HEIGHT” in the Operation
sec tion of this manual).
Remove retainer spring and clevis pin which secure
each gauge wheel bar.
Lower gauge wheels to ground. Raise gauge wheels
slightly to align holes in bracket and gauge wheel bar
and insert clevis pin. Gauge wheels should be slightly
off the ground.
Replace retainer spring into clevis pin.
Be sure all gauge wheels are in the same setting.
IMPORTANT: BE SURE TO READJUST GAUGE WHEELS IF YOU
CHANGE THE CUTTING HEIGHT OF THE MOWER DECK.
The cutting height range is approximately 1-1/2" to 4". The
heights are measured from the ground to the blade tip with
the engine not running. These heights are ap proxi mate and
may vary depending upon soil conditions, height of grass
and types of grass being mowed.
The average lawn should be cut to approximately 2-1/2
inches during the cool season and to over 3 inches
during hot months. For healthier and better looking
lawns, mow often and after moderate growth.
For best cutting performance, grass over 6 inches
in height should be mowed twice. Make the fi rst cut
relatively high; the second to desired height.
01977
CLEVIS
PIN
RETAINER
SPRING
TO STOP MOWER BLADES - disengage attachment
clutch con trol.
CAUTION: Do not operate the mower
without either the en tire grass catcher,
on mowers so equipped, or the de ec tor
shield in place.

TO OPERATE ON HILLS

WARNING: Do not drive up or down
hills with slopes greater than 15° and
do not drive across any slope.
Choose the slowest speed before starting up or down
hills.
Avoid stopping or changing speed on hills.
If stopping is absolutely necessary, push brake pedal
quickly to brake position and engage parking brake.
To restart movement, slowly release parking brake and
brake pedal.
Slowly depress appropriate drive pedal to slowest set-
ting.
Make all turns slowly.

TO TRANSPORT (See Figs. 7 and 11)

When pushing or towing your tractor, be sure to disengage
transmission by placing freewheel control in free wheel ing
po si tion. Free wheel control is located at the rear drawbar
of tractor.
Raise attachment lift to highest position with at tach ment
lift control.
Pull freewheel control out and into the slot and release
so it is held in the disengaged position.
Do not push or tow tractor at more than two (2)
MPH.
To reengage transmission, reverse above procedure.
02142
AT TACH MENT
CLUTCH SWITCH
PUSH IN TO
"DISENGAGED"
ATTACHMENT LIFT LEVER HIGH PO SI TION
PULL OUT TO
"ENGAGE"
LOW
POSITION
FIG. 10
DEFLECTOR SHIELD