33
Regular Maintenance
Rear Suspension Adjustment
The shock assembly can be adjusted in two ways to
allow the operator to customize the ride according to
operator’s weight and/or operating conditions. You
have the option of adjusting the spring pre-load and/
or the upper mounting position.
Items to consider before adjusting the suspension.
• Less spring pre-load should be used with light
weight operators, which will provide a softer, more
cushioned ride.
• More spring pre-load or upper mounting position
#2 should be used with heavy weight operators,
or when a rear-mount grass bagger system is
installed, which will provide a stiffer, more rigid
ride.
To adjust the spring pre-load:
1. Park machine on a flat, level surface. Disengage
the PTO, stop the engine and engage the parking
brake.
2. Raise the rear of the machine and secure with
jackstands. Chock the front wheels to prevent the
machine from rolling.
3. Remove the rear drive tires.
4. See Figure 32. Using the supplied spanner
wrench (p/n 5022853), insert the tip of the wrench
into the notch in the pre-load adjuster. While
holding the wrench in place with one hand, turn
COUNTER-CLOCKWISE to increase the pre-
load, turn CLOCKWISE to decrease the pre-
load. Make sure both shocks are set to the same
amount of pre-load.
5. Reinstall the rear drive tires. Torque the lug
bolts to 85-95 ft/lbs. (115-129 Nm). Remove the
jackstands from under the machine.
NOTE: Spanner wrench is located under the seat on
the right-hand side of the machine.
NOTE: It is recommended that the rear suspension
be adjusted stiffer due to the added weight of the
collection system.
To adjust the upper mounting position:
1. Park machine on a flat, level surface. Disengage
the PTO, stop the engine and engage the parking
brake.
2. Raise the rear of the machine and secure with
jackstands. The jackstands must under the
bumper. Chock the front wheels to prevent the
machine from rolling.
3. Position the jack under the cross member that ties
the suspension arms together and slowly raise
the rear suspension to relieve the pressure on the
upper shock mounting bolts.
WARNING
Use two hands when adjusting the shock
springs. This will prevent the wrench from
slipping while pressure is being applied.
NOTE: This will require small adjustments to the
jack’s position. The shock should move freely on the
mounting bolt when the pressure is relieved.
4. Remove the upper shock mounting hardware and
pivot the shock to the position #2 (see Figure 32).
Adjust the jack to align the shock mounts to the
shocks.
5. Reinstall the upper shock mounting hardware and
tighten securely.
6. Remove the jack from under the suspension cross
member.
7. Remove the jackstands from under the machine.
Figure 32. Rear Suspension Adjustments
POSITION #1
(FACTORY SET)
POSITION #2
Not
for
Reproduction
