18
S
ection
3 — c
ontrolS
& o
peration
4.
If dismounting the tractor, move the drive
control handles fully outward in the neutral
position, engage the parking brake, move
the throttle control lever (if equipped) to the
FAST
position, turn the ignition switch
to STOP and remove the ignition key from
the switch.
Warning!
Do not leave the seat of the
tractor without disengaging the PTO,
moving drive control levers fully
outward in the neutral position
engaging the parking brake. If
leaving the tractor unattended, turn
the ignition key OFF and remove.
Driving On Slopes
Refer to the slope gauge in the Safe Operation
Section to help determine slopes where you may
operate safely.
Warning!
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.
1.
Always drive across slopes, never up and
down. Control the speed and direction of
the tractor using primarily the control lever
on the downhill side of the tractor, with the
uphill control lever remaining essentially in
a fixed position.
2.
Avoid turning downhill if possible. Start at
the bottom of a slope and work upward.
Always slow down before turning.
3.
Use extra care and go slowly when turning
downhill.
Operating The PTO
Operate the PTO as follows:
1.
Move the throttle to approximately the mid-
throttle position.
2.
Pull the PTO upward to the “ENGAGED”
position.
3.
Advance the throttle to the operating speed
(full engine speed).
The operator must remain in the tractor seat at all
times. If the operator should leave the seat without
turning off the power take-off switch, the tractor’s
engine will shut off.
Using the Mower Deck
Warning!
Make certain the area to
be mowed is free of debris, sticks,
stones, wire or other objects that
can be thrown by the rotating
blades.
NOTE:
Do not engage the mower deck when
lowered in grass. Premature wear and possible
failure of the ‘V” belt and PTO clutch will result.
Fully raise the deck or move to a non grassy area
before engaging the mower deck.
1.
Use the deck lift pedal (a) to raise the deck
to its highest position, place the clevis pin
(b) attached to the tractor into the desired
index hole on the deck height index, then
slowly release the deck lift pedal (a). See
Figure 3-11.
(a)
(b)
Figure 3-11
2.
Mow across slopes, not up and down. If
mowing a slope, start at bottom and work
upward to ensure turns are made uphill.
3.
On the first pass pick a point on the
opposite side of the area to be mowed.
4.
Engage the PTO knob and move the throttle
control to the operating speed (full throttle).
position.
5.
Remove the clevis pin, raise the deck to the
highest (transport) position and place the
clevis pin in the desired position and secure
with the clevis pin. Lower the mower deck
to the desired height setting.
6.
Slowly push the drive control levers forward
to move the tractor forward, and keep
the tractor headed directly toward the
alignment point.
NOTE:
The speed of the tractor will affect
the quality of the mower cut. Mowing at full
speed will adversely affect the cut quality.
Control the ground speed with the drive
control levers.
7.
When approaching the other end of the
strip, slow down or stop before turning. A
U-turn is recommended unless a pivot or
zero turn is required.
8.
Align the mower with an edge of the
mowed strip and overlap approximately 3”.
9.
Direct the tractor on each subsequent strip
to align with a previously cut strip.
10.
To prevent rutting or grooving of the turf, if
possible, change the direction that the strips
are mowed by approximately 45° for the next
and each subsequent mowing.
Warning!
Be careful when crossing
gravel paths or driveways.
Disengage the PTO knob and raise
the deck to the highest/transport
position before crossing.
NOTE:
When stopping the tractor for any
reason while on a grass surface, always:
•
Make sure the drive control levers
are in neutral.
•
Engage the parking brake.
•
Shut engine off and remove the key.
•
Doing so will minimize the
possibility of having your lawn
‘‘browned’’ by hot exhaust from your
tractor’s running engine.
Mower Cutting Blades
The blades normally factory installed on a mower
afford the best grass cutting performance on
the majority of grasses and mowing conditions;
however, there will be occasions whereby the grass
type, stage of grass growth, soil conditions, and
weather conditions will require different cutting
blade types. Since the mower decks are designed
so that over-lap of the cutting blades generally
exceed 1.5”, there is no need for orientation of one
cutting blade to an adjacent blade (i.e., the blades
do not need to be “timed” nor synchronized).
Hi-lift
— These are generally the best cutting
blades for most grasses and mowing conditions.
The Hi-Lift blades are the factory installed blades
on these tractors. These blades will provide extra
“lift” for the thinner leaf grasses, will handle lush
grasses, and will provide maximum grass and
debris discharge. These blades are generally
required for material collection systems. More
horsepower is required for these blades when
compared to others, and they generally produce
the highest noise levels.
Medium-lift
— These blades require less
horsepower than the hi-lift, and they generally
work well in wider leaf grasses and some mulch
applications.
Low-lift
— These blades require less horsepower
than hi-lift and medium-lift blades, and they generally
work best with wide leaf grasses, sparse grass growth,
and sandy soil conditions. They produce the lowest
noise levels. Low-lift blades are configured without
offset, and with a maximum amount of sharpened
cutting edge.
Mulch
— These blades are generally designed for
use in cutting decks equipped with mulch baffles.
The shape of the blade generally produces higher
turbulence in order that the grass can be repeatedly
cut and re-cut into smaller pieces. These blades
generally require more horsepower than other
blades. Mulch blades work best when the grasses are
cut at the highest levels, minimal lengths of grasses
are removed, and grass conditions are generally dry.
NOTE:
Refer to the Attachment & Accessories
section for a list of part numbers.
