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.
2. Make sure dirt and foreign matter are kept out of
fuel tank. Use a clean funnel and fuel can.
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 LOCK-OPEN DEVICE.
WARNING
10
3. Do not mix oil with gasoline.
4. Do not use white, high test or premium gaso-
line. Do not use de-icers, carburetor cleaners
or othersuch additives.
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 V-belts
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 SHUT-OFF VALVE left or right
tank.
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.
