WARNING! The mowing deck is capable of throwing objects. Failure to operate the riding mower without the discharge cover in the proper operating position could result in serious personal injury and/or property damage.

Attaching The Steering Wheel

If the steering wheel for your tractor did not come attached, the hardware for attaching it has been packed within the steering wheel, beneath the steering wheel cap. Carefully pry off the steering wheel cap and remove the hardware.

1.With the wheels of the tractor pointing straight forward, place the steering wheel over the steering shaft.

2.Place the washer (with the cupped side down) over the steering wheel and secure with the hex bolt. See Fig. 3-3.

Attaching The Seat

If the seat for your tractor was not attached at the factory, follow the applicable instructions below to attach it.

NOTE: For shipping reasons, some seats are not attached at the factory. If this is the case, free the seat from its shipping position and remove the hex screw (or knob screw if applicable) from the bottom of seat before proceeding with the following instructions.

1.Position the seat facing forward over the seat pivot bracket, with the two forward seat mount tabs fitting into the provided grooves in the seat pivot bracket.

2.Slide the seat rearward and align the center mounting hole in the seat with the slot in the seat pan. Insert the hex screw (or knob screw if applicable) previously removed. Do not tighten at this point.

3.Adjust the seat to the optimal operator preferred location, this may mean actually sitting in the seat to decide what feels best to the operator. Keep in mind the operator needs to be able to fully operate all pedals comfortably while sitting back in the seat.

4.Tighten the hex screw (or knob screw if applicable) at this time.

5.To adjust the position of the seat, loosen the hex screw (or knob screw if applicable) on the bottom of the seat. Slide the seat forward or backward as desired. Retighten the hex screw (or knob screw if applicable). See Fig. 3-5.

Knob ScrewAdjust

Figure 3-3

3. Place the steering wheel cap over the center of the steering wheel and push downward until it “clicks” into place.

Attaching The Dash Collar

If the tractor’s dash collar did not come attached from the factory, the screws for attaching it can be found in either side of the dash console. Remove the two screws from the console and secure the dash collar as illustrated in Fig 3-4.

 

Hex Screw

 

Adjust

 

Figure 3-5

 

Mulch Plug (if equipped)

 

On tractor models so equipped, a mulch plug can be found

 

within the cutting deck’s discharge opening.

 

NOTE: Refer to Mulching in the “Operation” section of this

 

manual for more detailed information.

 

If you’d prefer to operate the cutting deck without mulching,

 

simply remove the mulch plug. On 38” Decks, unthread the

 

plastic wing nut which fastens it to the cutting deck, as show

Figure 3-4

in Fig. 3-6. This will allow the clippings to discharge out of the

discharge opening during operation.

 

10Section 3— Assembly & Set-Up