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6

S

ECTION

 2 — I

MPORTANT

 S

AFE

 O

PERATION

 P

RACTICES

Periodically check to make sure the blades come to 

3. 

complete stop within approximately (5) five seconds after 
operating the blade disengagement control. If the blades 
do not stop within the this time frame, your machine 
should be serviced professionally by an authorized Service 
Dealer.

Check brake operation frequently as it is subjected to wear 

4. 

during normal operation. Adjust and service as required.

Check the blade(s) and engine mounting bolts at frequent 

5. 

intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect blade(s) 
for damage (e.g., excessive wear, bent, cracked).   Replace 
the blade(s) with the original equipment manufacturer’s 
(O.E.M.) blade(s) only, listed in this manual. “Use of parts 
which do not meet the original equipment specifications 
may lead to improper performance and compromise 
safety!” 

Mower blades are sharp. Wrap the blade or wear gloves, 

6. 

and use extra caution when servicing them.

Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the 

7. 

equipment is in safe working condition. 

Never tamper with the safety interlock system or other 

8. 

safety devices. Check their proper operation regularly.

After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect 

9. 

the spark plug wire(s) and ground against the engine. 
Thoroughly inspect the machine for any damage. Repair 
the damage before starting and operating.

Never attempt to make adjustments or repairs to the 

10. 

machine while the engine is running.

Grass catcher components and the discharge cover are 

11. 

subject to wear and damage which could expose moving 
parts or allow objects to be thrown. For safety protection, 
frequently check components and replace immediately 
with original equipment manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only, 
listed in this manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the 
original equipment specifications may lead to improper 
performance and compromise safety!”

Do not change the engine governor settings or over-speed 

12. 

the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe 
operating speed of the engine. 

Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as 

13. 

necessary. 

Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas, oil, 

14. 

etc. to protect the environment.

According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission 

15. 

(CPSC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 
this product has an 

Average Useful Life

 of seven (7) years, 

or 270 hours of operation. At the end of the 

Average Useful 

Life

 have the machine inspected annually by an authorized 

service dealer to ensure that all mechanical and safety 
systems are working properly and not worn excessively. 
Failure to do so can result in accidents, injuries or death.

Do not modify engine

To avoid serious injury or death, do not modify engine in any 
way. Tampering with the governor setting can lead to a runaway 
engine and cause it to operate at unsafe speeds. Never tamper 
with factory setting of engine governor.

Notice Regarding Emissions

Engines which are certified to comply with California and federal 
EPA emission regulations for SORE (Small Off Road Equipment) 
are certified to operate on regular unleaded gasoline, and 
may include the following emission control systems: Engine 
Modification (EM), Oxidizing Catalyst (OC), Secondary Air 
Injection (SAI) and Three Way Catalyst (TWC) if so equipped.

Spark Arrestor

8"3/*/(

This machine is equipped with an 

internal combustion engine and should not be used 
on or near any unimproved forest-covered, 
brushcovered or grass-covered land unless the 
engine’s exhaust system is equipped with a spark 
arrester meeting applicable local or state laws (if 
any).

If a spark arrester is used, it should be maintained in effective 
working order by the operator. 

A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest 
engine authorized service dealer.

8"3/*/(

 

Your Responsibility—Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who read, understand and 

follow the warnings and instructions in this manual and on the machine. 

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!

Summary of Contents for ZT42

Page 1: ...PVCMFTIPPUJOH t 8BSSBOUZ 8 3 3 0 08 4 5 36 4 4536 5 0 4 5 4 6 03 55 15 50 01 3 5 5 4 63 50 0 1 8 5 5 4 4536 5 0 4 3 46 5 1 340 63 3 5 4FSJFT 5SBDUPS PEFM 5 5 LES DISTRIBUTIONS RVI LIMITÉE 2955 JEAN BAPTISTE DESCHAMPS LACHINE QUEBEC H8T 1C5 MTD LLC P O BOX 361131 CLEVELAND OHIO 44136 0019 769 04725A 01 14 10 ...

Page 2: ...pecifications designs and equipment without notice and without incurring obligation This product has met the rigid safety standards of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute and an independent testing laboratory If you have any problems or questions concerning the machine phone your local authorized service dealer Throughout this manual all references to right and left side of the machine are obser...

Page 3: ...these instructions may result in personal injury When you see this symbol 54 8 3 3 This machine was built to be operated according to the safe operation practices in this manual As with any type of power equipment carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in serious injury This machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects Failure to observe the following ...

Page 4: ...neasy on it do not mow it For your safety use the slope gauge included as part of this manual to measure slopes before operating this machine on a sloped or hilly area If the slope is greater than 15 degrees as shown on the slope gauge do not operate this machine on that area or serious injury could result Do Mow up and down slopes not across Exercise extreme 1 caution when changing direction on s...

Page 5: ... JT FYUSFNFMZ GMBNNBCMF BOE UIF WBQPST BSF FYQMPTJWF Serious personal injury can occur when gasoline is spilled on yourself or your clothes which can ignite Wash your skin and change clothes immediately Use only an approved gasoline container a Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck b or trailer bed with a plastic liner Always place containers on the ground away from your vehicle bef...

Page 6: ...ety Do not change the engine governor settings or over speed 12 the engine The governor controls the maximum safe operating speed of the engine Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels as 13 necessary Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas oil 14 etc to protect the environment According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission 15 CPSC and the U S Environmental Protection A...

Page 7: ...he cutting deck Contact with the blade s can amputate hands and feet WARNING THROWN OBJECTS This machine may pick up and throw and objects which can cause serious personal injury WARNING THROWN OBJECTS This machine may pick up and throw and objects which can cause serious personal injury BYSTANDERS Keep bystanders helpers children and pets at least 75 feet from the machine while it is in operation...

Page 8: ...n t s a 1 5 s l o p e 15 Use this page as a guide to determine slopes where you may not operate safely 8 3 Do not operate your lawn mower on such slopes Do not mow on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degrees a rise of approximately 2 1 2 feet every 10 feet A riding mower could overturn and cause serious injury Operate riding mowers up and down slopes never across the face of slopes ...

Page 9: ...side each rear wheel Disengage the bypass rods See Figure 3 1 Remove the deck wash system nozzle adapter and oil drain tube from the manual bag and store for future use Install Operator s Seat To install the seat proceed as follows NOTE The seat is shipped with the seat switch and seat pan attached Cut any straps securing the seat assembly and the drive 1 control levers to the tractor Remove any p...

Page 10: ...vers POUSPM FWFS MBOHF PDL VU 4MPUUFE PMF 8BTIFS FY 4DSFX JGU POUSPM FWFS 6QXBSE 1JWPU SBDLFU JHVSF Connecting the Battery Cables 03 130104 5 0 8 3 Battery posts terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm Wash hands after handling 65 0 When attaching battery cables always connect the POSITIVE Re...

Page 11: ...for a shipping brace with tag that may be holding the chute deflector upward for shipment If a brace is present it must be removed before operating the tractor Holding the chute deflector fully upward remove the shipping brace by grasping it and rotating it clockwise Lower the chute deflector See Figure 3 6 4IJQQJOH Brace JHVSF SECTION 2 ASSEMBLY SET UP ...

Page 12: ...nd in the neutral position to start the tractor engine Each lever controls the respective RH or LH transmission Consequently these levers control all of the movements of the tractor Driving and steering utilizing these control levers is quite different from conventional tractors and will take some practice to master Refer to Operation for instructions on using the control levers Deck Height Index ...

Page 13: ...ts for instructions on adjusting the seat position Fuel Tank Cap The fuel tank cap is located near the middle of the LH console Turn the fill cap approximately 1 4 turn and pull upward to remove The fuel cap is tethered to the tractor to prevent its loss Do not attempt to remove the cap from the tractor Push the cap downward on the fuel tank fill neck and turn approximately 1 4 turn clockwise to t...

Page 14: ...d Pull the throttle choke control handle rearward to decrease the engine speed Choke Control If Equipped The choke knob controls the position of the engine choke Pull the knob out to choke the engine push the knob in to open the choke Throttle Choke Control If Equipped The throttle control is located on the LH console to the left of the operator s seat When set in a given position a uniform engine...

Page 15: ... to cool before refueling Tighten the fuel cap securely Before Operating Your Tractor Before you operate the tractor study this manual carefully t to familiarize yourself with the operation of all the instruments and controls It has been prepared to help you operate and maintain your tractor efficiently This engine is certified to operate only on clean fresh t unleaded regular gasoline For best re...

Page 16: ...id throttle 8 before putting the engine under load Observe the hour meter indicator panel If the battery 9 indicator light comes on immediately stop the engine Have the tractor inspected by your authorized dealer Throttle Choke Control Lever Set Up Operator must be sitting in the tractor seat 10 Engage the parking brake Refer to Figure 5 1 11 Make certain the PTO switch is in the disengaged down 1...

Page 17: ...aneuverable getting used to operating the control levers takes some practice We strongly recommend that you locate a reasonably large level and open practice area where there are no obstructions pedestrians or animals You should practice operating the tractor for a minimum of 30 minutes Carefully move or have moved the tractor to the practice area When performing the practice session the PTO shoul...

Page 18: ...l we recommend performing gradual U turns where possible Sharper turns increase the possibility of turf defacement and could affect control of the tractor ALWAYS slow the tractor before making sharp turns To turn the tractor while driving forward move the control levers as necessary so that one lever is rearward of the other The tractor will turn in the direction of the rearward control lever To t...

Page 19: ...control levers as necessary so that one lever is forward of the other The tractor will turn in the direction of the forward control lever To turn to the left while traveling in reverse move the left 1 drive control lever forward of the right lever See Figure 5 7 To turn to the right while traveling in reverse move the 2 right drive control lever forward of the left lever See Figure 5 8 The greater...

Page 20: ... off and remove key Driving On Slopes Refer to the slope gauge in the Safe Operation Section to help determine slopes where you may not operate safely 8 3 Do not operate on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degrees a rise of approximately 2 1 2 feet every 10 feet The tractor could overturn and cause serious injury Always drive across slopes never up and down Control 1 the speed and direction o...

Page 21: ...ile on a grass surface always Place the shift lever in neutral t Engage the parking brake t Shut engine off and remove the key t Doing so will minimize the possibility of having your lawn t browned by hot exhaust from your tractor s running engine Checking the Safety Interlock Circuits Periodically check the safety interlock circuits to ensure they are working properly If a safety circuit is not w...

Page 22: ... and remove the key to prevent unintended starting Engine Refer to the Owner s Manual for all engine maintenance intervals procedures specifications and instructions Changing the Engine Oil 8 3 If the engine has been recently run the engine muffler and surrounding metal surfaces will be hot and can cause burns to the skin Exercise caution to avoid burns To complete an oil change proceed as follows...

Page 23: ...ection container unscrew the square head hose plug from the end of the hose See Figure 6 1 Drain the engine oil into the collection container NOTE Two adjustable wrenches may be necessary to remove the square head hose plug If so place one wrench on the square head hose and one on the end of the hose to loosen After draining the oil wipe any residual oil from the oil 3 drain hose Thread the square...

Page 24: ...front pivot axle with grease after every 10 hours of service Periodically lubricate all other pivot points with a quality t lubricating oil Using the Deck Wash System 8 3 When using the deck wash system never engage the deck from any position other than the operator s seat of the tractor Do not use an assistant or engage deck in the presence of any bystanders Attachthenozzleadaptertoastandardgarde...

Page 25: ...tion If stored outside cover the tractor including the tires to protect it from the elements The procedures outlined below should be performed whenever the tractor is placed in storage Change the engine oil and filter following the instructions 1 provided in the engine manual packed with this manual 8 3 Never store the tractor with fuel in the tank indoors or in poorly ventilated enclosures where ...

Page 26: ...t the drive control lever height proceed as follows Removetheflangelocknut flatwasher andhexscrewsecuring 1 the lever to the pivot bracket While supporting the control lever to keep it from falling 2 remove the hex insert flange lock nut and shoulder screw from the bottom of the control lever and pivot bracket Refer to Fig 6 5 Repositionthecontrollevertoalignwiththeothersetofholesin 3 the pivot br...

Page 27: ...ed SPOU UP BDL FWFMJOH Thefrontofthedeckshouldbeapproximately 1 1 4 lowerthanthe rear of the deck Adjust if necessary as follows Withthedeckraisedoffoftheground rotatetheouterbladesso 2 that they are parallel to the frame of the tractor Ifthesidetosidelevelingwasdonecorrectly measuringjustthe 3 right blade should be acceptable to attain the correct back to front pitch of the deck Measure the dista...

Page 28: ...nd below If necessary adjust as follows Visually check the distance between the front gauge 1 wheels and the ground If the gauge wheels are near or touching the ground they should be raised If more than 1 2 above the ground they should be lowered Remove the lock nut securing one of the front gauge wheel 2 shoulder screws to the deck Remove the gauge wheel and shoulder screw Refer to Figure 6 8 Ins...

Page 29: ... before connecting the negative lead This will prevent sparking or possible injury from an electrical short caused by contacting the tractor body with tools being used to connect the cables Charging the Battery Test and if necessary recharge the battery after the tractor has been stored for a period of time A voltmeter or load tester should read 12 6 volts DC or t higher across the battery termina...

Page 30: ... handle raise the deck to the position 1 that provides the most horizontal run of the belt between the deck idler pulleys and the PTO pulley on the bottom of the engine Sitting behind the tractor facing forward reach beneath 2 the tractor to grasp the belt at the front of the PTO pulley 8 3 Use caution to avoid pinching your fingers when rolling the belt off the PTO pulley Pull the left side of th...

Page 31: ...er Pulley to Tension the Belt Using the deck lift handle raise the deck to the position 1 that provides the most horizontal run of the belt between the deck idler pulleys and the PTO pulley on the bottom of the engine Install the belt in the PTO pulley on the bottom of the 2 engine Route the backside of the belt around the fixed idler pulley 3 of the deck Refer to Figure 7 4 Working from the middl...

Page 32: ...servicing the mower deck be careful not to cut yourself on the sharpened blades The cutting blades must be kept sharp at all times Sharpen the cutting edges of the blades evenly so that the blades remain balanced and the same angle of sharpness is maintained If the cutting edge of a blade has already been sharpened many times or if any metal separation is present it is recommended that new blades ...

Page 33: ...lt and tensions the drive belt Reinstall the deck drive belt 9 5SBOTNJTTJPO SJWF 1VMMFZ 4RVBSF PMF EMFS SBDLFU EMFS SBDLFU 4QSJOH OHJOF 1VMMFZ 150 1VMMFZ SJWF FMU EMFS 1VMMFZ JHVSF Tractor Creeping Creeping is the slight forward or backward movement of the tractor when the engine is running at high idle and the drive control levers are opened out in the neutral position If after operating the trac...

Page 34: ...he tractor 4 is tracking If the tractor tracks to the right adjust the control a lever stop bolt on the left side If the tractor tracks to the left adjust the control b lever stop bolt on the right side Locate the applicable stop bolt on the left or right console 5 See Figure 7 12 Loosen the jam nut on the stop bolt then turn the stop 6 bolt counterclockwise to make it longer Recheck the tracking ...

Page 35: ... Mulch Plug Kit 19A 115 100 Rear Bumper 19A 116 100 Rear Spreader 190 117 100 Sun Shade The following attachments and accessories are compatible with your RZT tractor See your authorized dealer or the retailer from which you purchased your tractor for information regarding price and availability Attachments Accessories 8 ...

Page 36: ...Push throttle choke control lever to choke 6 position Fill tank with clean fresh less than 30 days 7 old gas Clean fuel line and replace fuel filter 8 Clean adjust gap or replace plug s 9 Crank engine with throttle in FAST position 10 Engine runs erratic Tractor running with CHOKE activated 1 Spark plug wire s loose 2 Blocked fuel line or stale fuel 3 Vent in gas cap plugged 4 Water or dirt in fue...

Page 37: ...eaner Excessive vibration Cutting blade loose or unbalanced 1 Damaged or bent cutting blade 2 Tighten blade and spindle 1 Replace blade 2 Uneven cut Deck not leveled properly 1 Dull blade 2 Uneven tire pressure 3 Perform side to side deck adjustment 1 Sharpen or replace blade 2 Check tire pressure in all four tires 3 Mower will not mulch grass If Equipped w Mulching Kit Engine speed too low 1 Wet ...

Page 38: ... 22 Fuel Filter Kohler BS 691035 Fuel Filter Briggs OCC 12 050 01 S Oil Filter Kohler BS 492932S Oil Filter Briggs 954 04137A V Belt 42 Deck 954 04044A V Belt 50 Deck 954 04043A Drive Belt Transmissions 942 04053C Blade 2 in 1 50 Deck 942 0616A Blade 3 in 1 42 Deck 918 0624 Deck Spindle 42 Deck 918 04125A Deck Spindle 50 Deck NOTE Order from your authorized dealer Replacement Parts 10 38 ...

Page 39: ...39 Throttle Choke Control 54 Deck 925 1745 Ignition Key 931 1032B Discharge Chute Assembly 42 Deck 631 04070 Discharge Chute Assembly 50 Deck 634 04294 Wheel Assembly 42 Deck 634 04171 Wheel Assembly 50 Deck 634 04237A Caster Wheel Assembly 42 Deck 634 04323A Caster Wheel Assembly 50 Deck NOTE Order from your authorized dealer 39 SECTION 10 REPLACEMENT PARTS ...

Page 40: ...tments clutch adjustments deck adjustments and normal deterioration of the exterior finish due to use or exposure d Service completed by someone other than an authorized service dealer e MTD does not extend any warranty for products sold or exported outside of Canada including possessions and territories f Replacement parts that are not genuine MTD parts g Transportation charges and service calls ...

Page 41: ...RESPEC TIFS Les courroies ampoules pièces d embrayage roues de frottement sacs à herbe pneus sièges lames et roues de plateau de coupe des tracteurs à siège sont couverts par une garantie limitée de 60 jours Les batteries sont garanties exemptes de vice de fabrication et seront remplacées gratuitement pendant les 90 premiers jours Elles seront remplacées à 50 de leur coût entre le 91e et le 120e j...

Page 42: ... Inc s application for certification The warranty period begins on the date the lawn mower is delivered to an ultimate purchaser or first placed into service The warranty period is two years Subject to certain conditions and exclusions as stated below the warranty on emission related parts is as follows 1 Any warranted part that is not scheduled for replacement as required maintenance in the writt...

Page 43: ...stem s OLD START ENRICHMENT SYSTEM SOFT CHOKE s ARBURETOR AND INTERNAL PARTS s UEL PUMP s UEL TANK 2 Air Induction System s IR CLEANER s NTAKE MANIFOLD 3 Ignition System s 3PARK PLUG S s AGNETO IGNITION SYSTEM 4 Exhaust System s ATALYTIC CONVERTER s 3 2EED VALVE 5 Miscellaneous Items Used in Above System s 6ACUUM TEMPERATURE POSITION TIME SENSITIVE VALVES AND SWITCHES s ONNECTORS AND ASSEMBLIES 6 ...

Page 44: ... Notes ...

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