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I. GENERAL OPERATION 

•     Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the 

machine and in the manual before starting.

•      Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or under 

the machine. Keep clear of the discharge opening at 
all times.

•         Only allow responsible adults, who are familiar with the 

in struc tions, to operate the machine.

•         Clear the area of objects such as  rocks, toys, wire, etc.,  

which could be picked up and thrown by the blades.

•      Be sure the area is clear of bystanders before operat-

ing.  Stop machine if anyone enters the area.

•      Never carry passengers.
•     Do not mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary.  

Always look down and behind before and while back-
 ing.

•      Never direct discharged material toward anyone. Avoid 

discharging material against a wall or obstruction. Ma-
terial may ricochet back toward the operator. Stop the 
blades when crossing gravel surfaces.

SAFETY RULES

Safe Operation Practices for Ride-On Mowers

IMPORTANT: 

 THIS CUTTING MACHINE IS CAPABLE OF AMPUTATING HANDS AND FEET AND THROW ING OBJECTS.  FAILURE 

TO OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

WARNING:  In order to prevent ac-
 ci den tal starting when setting up, 
trans port ing, ad just ing or making re-
pairs, al ways dis con nect spark plug 
wire and place wire where it can not 
contact spark plug. 

WARNING:  Do not coast down a hill 
in neutral, you may lose control of the 
tractor.

WARNING:  Tow only the attachments 
that are rec om mend ed by and com-
ply with spec i fi  ca tions of the man u -
fac tur er of your tractor. Use common 
sense when towing. Operate only at 
the low est possible speed when on a 
slope.  Too heavy of a load, while on 
a slope, is dan ger ous.  Tires can lose 
trac tion with the ground and cause you 
to lose control of your tractor.

WARNING

Engine exhaust, some of its con stit u ents, and cer-
 tain vehicle com po nents contain or emit chem i cals 
known to the State of Cal i for nia to cause can cer and 
birth de fects or oth er re pro duc tive harm.

WARNING

Battery posts, terminals and related ac ces so ries 
contain lead and lead compounds, chem i cals known 
to the State of Cal i for nia to cause can cer and birth 
defects or oth er re pro duc tive harm. Wash hands 
after handling.

•         Do not operate machine without the entire grass catcher, 

discharge guard, or other safety devices in place and 
working.

•      Slow down before turning.
•     Never leave a running machine unattended.  Always 

turn off blades, set parking brake, stop engine, and 
remove keys before dismounting.

•      Disengage blades when not mowing. Shut off engine 

and wait for all parts to come to a complete stop before 
cleaning the machine, removing the grass catcher, or 
unclogging the discharge guard.

•     Operate machine only in daylight or good artifi cial 

light.

•      Do not operate the machine while under the infl uence 

of alcohol or drugs.

•      Watch for traffi c when operating near or crossing road-

 ways.

•      Use extra care when loading or unloading the machine 

into a trailer or truck.

•     Always wear eye protection when operating ma-

chine.

•         Data indicates that operators, age 60 years and above, 

are involved in a large percentage of riding mower-re-
lated injuries.  These operators should evaluate their 
ability to operate the riding mower safely enough to 
protect them selves and others from serious injury.

•      Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for wheel 

weights or counterweights.

•     Keep machine free of grass , leaves or other debris 

build-up which can touch hot exhaust / engine parts 
and burn. Do not allow the mower deck to plow leaves
or other debris which can cause build-up to occur. 
Clean any oil or fuel spillage before operating or 
storing the machine. Allow machine to cool before
storage.

II. SLOPE OPERATION

Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and 
tip-over accidents, which can result in severe injury or 
death.  Operation on all slopes requires extra caution.  If 
you cannot back up the slope or if you feel uneasy on it, 
do not mow it.
•      Mow up and down slopes, not across.
•     Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden 

objects.  Uneven terrain could overturn the machine.  
Tall grass can hide obstacles.

•      Choose a low ground speed so that you will not have 

to stop or shift while on the slope.

•      Do not mow on wet grass. Tires may lose traction.
      Always keep the machine in gear when going down 

slopes. Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill.

•      Avoid starting, stopping, or turning on a slope.  If the 

tires lose traction,  disengage the blades and proceed 
slowly straight down the slope.

•     Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual.  

Do not make sudden changes in speed or direction, 
which could cause the machine to roll over.

•     Use extra care while operating machine with grass 

catchers or other at 

tach ments; they can affect the 

stability of the machine. Do no use on steep slopes.

•      Do not  try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot 

on the ground.

•      Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches, or embankments.  

The machine could suddenly roll over if a wheel is over 
the edge or if the edge caves in.

Summary of Contents for BB185H42YT

Page 1: ...YE PROTECTION DURING OPERATION Visit our website www poulan pro com WARNING Read this Manual and follow allWarnings and Safety Instructions Failure to do so can result in serious injury IMPORTANT MANUAL Do Not Throw Away 196072 11 29 04 RD Printed in U S A 02139 ...

Page 2: ...parking brake stop engine and remove keys before dismounting Disengage blades when not mowing Shut off engine and wait for all parts to come to a complete stop before cleaning the machine removing the grass catcher or unclogging the discharge guard Operate machine only in daylight or good artificial light Do not operate the machine while under the influence of alcohol or drugs Watch for traffic wh...

Page 3: ...h towed equipment except at the hitch point Follow the manufacturer s recommendation for weight limits for towed equipment and towing on slopes Never allow children or others in or on towed equip ment On slopes the weight of the towed equipment may cause loss of traction and loss of control Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop V SERVICE SAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE To avoid personal injury ...

Page 4: ...instructions will enable you to assemble and maintain your tractor properly Always observe the SAFETY RULES CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES Read and observe the safety rules Follow a regular schedule in maintaining caring for and using your tractor Follow the instructions under Maintenace and Stor age sections of this owner s manual WARNING This tractor is equipped with an internal com bustion engine an...

Page 5: ...eering Wheel Steering Wheel Insert 1 Large Flat Washer Steering Wheel Adapter Seat 2 Keys Slope Sheet Key 1 Oil Drain Tube 1 Knob 1 Washer 17 32 x 1 3 16 x 12 Gauge Steering Sleeve 1 Hex Bolt 1 4 28 x 1 1 4 1 Hex nut 1 2 20 ...

Page 6: ...rd Place seat on seat pan so head of shoulder bolt is positioned over large slotted hole in pan Push down on seat to engage shoulder bolt in slot and pull seat towards rear of tractor Pivot seat and pan forward and assemble adjustment knob and flat washer loosely Do not tighten Lower seat into operating position and sit on seat Slide seat until a comfortable position is reached which allows you to...

Page 7: ...deflectorshieldupagainst tractor TO DRIVE TRACTOR OFF SKID See Op eration section for location and function of controls WARNING Beforestarting read understandandfollow all instructions in the Operation section of this manual Be sure tractor is in a well ventilated area Be sure the area in front of tractor is clear of other people and objects Be sure all the above assembly steps have been com plete...

Page 8: ... Seat is adjusted comfortably and tightened securely All tires are properly inflated For shipping purposes the tires were overinflated at the factory Be sure mower deck is properly leveled side to side front to rear for best cutting results Tires must be properly inflated for leveling Check mower and drive belts Be sure they are routed properly around pulleys and inside all belt keepers Check wiri...

Page 9: ...s injury or death The safety alert symbol is used to identify safety inform ation about hazards which can result in death serious injury and or property damage DANGER indicates a hazard which if not avoided will result in death or serious injury WARNING indicates a hazard which if not avoided could result in death or serious injury CAUTION indicates a hazard which if not avoided might result in mi...

Page 10: ...engine FREEWHEEL CONTROL Disengages transmission for pushing or slowly towing the tractor with the engine off IGNITION SWITCH Used for starting and stopping the engine LIFT LEVER PLUNGER ATTACHMENT LIFT LEVER PARKING BRAKE IGNITION SWITCH THROTTLE CHOKE CONTROL ROS ON POSITION MOTION CONTROL LEVER CLUTCH BRAKE PEDAL FIG 4 FREE WHEEL CONTROL ATTACHMENT CLUTCH LEVER LIGHT SWITCH Turns the headlights...

Page 11: ...n half and fullspeed fast position beforestoppingmaycauseengine to backfire Turn ignition key to OFF position and remove key Always remove key when leaving tractor to prevent unauthorized use Never use choke to stop engine IMPORTANT LEAVING THE IGNITION SWITCH IN ANY POSITION OTHER THAN OFF WILL CAUSE THE BATTERY TO BE DISCHARGED DEAD 02805 PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED POSITION MOTION CONTROL LEVER THROT...

Page 12: ...achment clutch en gaged while mowing is strongly discouraged Turning the ROS ON to allow reverse operation with the attachment clutch engaged should only be done when the operator decides it is necessary to reposition the machine with the attachment engaged Do not mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary USING THE REVERSE OPERATION SYSTEM Move motion control lever to neutral N position Withengin...

Page 13: ...ted at the rear drawbar of tractor Raiseattachmentlifttohighestpositionwithattachment lift control Pull freewheel control out and down into the slot and release so it is held in the disengaged position Do not push or tow tractor at more than two 2 MPH To reengage transmission reverse above procedure NOTE To protect hood from damage when transporting your tractor on a truck or a trailer be sure hoo...

Page 14: ...ition Allow one minute for transmission to warm up This can be done during the engine warm up period Theattachmentscanalsobeusedduringtheenginewarm up period after the transmission has been warmed up NOTE If at a high altitude above 3000 feet or in cold temperatures below 32 F the carburetor fuel mixture may need to be adjusted for best engine performance See TO ADJUST CARBURETOR in the Service an...

Page 15: ...n high ambient temperatures 2 Service more often when operating in dirty or dusty conditions E N G I N E Replace Oil Filter If equipped Check Transaxle Cooling Check V Belts Replace Fuel Filter 3 2 2 2 2 3 Replace blades more often when mowing in sandy soil 4 Not required if equipped with maintenance free battery 5 Tighten front axle pivot bolt to 35 ft lbs maximum Do not overtighten 1 1 2 2 4 5 C...

Page 16: ...CIFICATIONS section of this manual Keep tires free of gasoline oil or insect control chemi cals which can harm rubber Avoid stumps stones deep ruts sharp objects and other hazards that may cause tire damage NOTE To seal tire punctures and prevent flat tires due to slow leaks tire sealant may be purchased from your local parts dealer Tire sealant also prevents tire dry rot and corrosion OPERATOR PR...

Page 17: ...ENTS section of this manual TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL See Figs 12 and 13 Determine temperature range expected before oil change All oil must meet API service classification SG SL Be sure tractor is on level surface Oil will drain more freely when warm Catch oil in a suitable container Remove oil fill cap dipstick Be careful not to allow dirt to enter the engine when changing oil Remove yellow cap from ...

Page 18: ...our tractor Use compressed air or a leaf blower to remove grass leaves and trash from tractor and mower CLEAN AIR SCREEN Air screen must be kept free of dirt and chaff to prevent engine damage from overheating Clean with a wire brush or compressed air to remove dirt and stubborn dried gum fibers AIR FILTER Your engine will not run properly using a dirty air filter Service air cleaner more often un...

Page 19: ...i swaybar from chassis bracket by re moving retainer spring Disconnect suspension arms from rear deck brackets by removing retainer springs Disconnect front links from deck by removing retainer springs Raise lift lever to raise suspension arms Slide mower out from under tractor IMPORTANT IFANATTACHMENTOTHERTHANTHEMOWER DECK IS TO BE MOUNTED ON THE TRACTOR REMOVE THE FRONTLINKSANDHOOKTHECLUTCHSPRIN...

Page 20: ...ent nut on that side To lower one side of mower loosen lift link adjustment nut on that side NOTE Threefullturnsofadjustmentnutwillchangemower height about 1 8 Recheck measurements after adjusting FRONT TO BACK ADJUSTMENT See Figs 18 and 19 IMPORTANT DECK MUST BE LEVEL SIDE TO SIDE IF THE FOLLOWINGFRONT TO BACKADJUSTMENTISNECESSARY BE SURE TO ADJUST BOTH FRONT LINKS EQUALLY SO MOWER WILL STAY LEVE...

Page 21: ...ake Measure distance between brake operating arm and nut A on brake rod If distance is other than 1 9 16 loosen jam nut and turn nut A until distance becomes 1 9 16 Retighten jam nut against nut A Engage transmission by placing freewheel control in transmission engaged position Road test tractor for proper stopping distance as stated above Readjust if necessary If stopping distance is still greate...

Page 22: ...rom chassis and then from the fully charged battery RED cable last from both batteries TO ADJUST STEERING WHEEL ALIGN MENT If steering wheel crossbars are not horizontal left to right whenwheelsarepositionedstraightforward removesteer ing wheel and reassemble per instructions in the Assembly section of this manual FRONT WHEEL TOE IN CAMBER The front wheel toe in and camber are not adjustable on yo...

Page 23: ...e connected first to prevent sparking from acci dental grounding Lift seat pan to raised position DisconnectBLACKbatterycablefirstthenREDbattery cable and carefully remove battery from tractor Install new battery with terminals in same position as old battery First connect RED battery cable to positive terminal with hex bolt and keps nut as shown Tighten securely Slide terminal cover over terminal...

Page 24: ...FUEL SYSTEM PARTS SUCH AS CARBURETOR FUEL FILTER FUEL HOSE OR TANK DURING STORAGE ALSO EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT ALCOHOL BLENDED FUELS CALLED GASOHOL OR USING ETHANOLORMETHANOL CANATTRACTMOISTUREWHICH LEADSTOSEPARATIONANDFORMATIONOFACIDSDURING STORAGE ACIDIC GAS CAN DAMAGE THE FUEL SYSTEM OF AN ENGINE WHILE IN STORAGE Empty the fuel tank by starting the engine and let it run until the fuel lines a...

Page 25: ...ignition switch 7 Check replace ignition switch 8 Faulty solenoid or starter 8 Check replace solenoid or starter 9 Faulty operator presence switch es 9 Contact an authorized service center department Engine clicks but will not 1 Weak or dead battery 1 Recharge or replace battery start 2 Corroded battery terminals 2 Clean battery terminals 3 Loose or damaged wiring 3 Check all wiring 4 Faulty solen...

Page 26: ... pressure 5 Check tires for proper air pressure 6 Worn bent or loose blade 6 Replace sharpen blade Tighten blade bolt 7 Buildup of grass leaves and trash under mower 7 Clean underside of mower housing 8 Mower drive belt worn 8 Replace mower drive belt 9 Blades improperly installed 9 Reinstall blades sharp edge down 10 Improper blades used 10 Replace with blades listed in this manual 11 Clogged mow...

Page 27: ...used for rental or commercial purposes is limited to 90 days from the date of original purchase 5 This Warranty applies only to products which have been properly assembled adjusted operated and maintained in accor dance with the instructions furnished This Warranty does not apply to any product which has been subjected to alteration misuse abuse improper assembly or installation delivery damage or...

Page 28: ...28 SERVICE NOTES ...

Page 29: ...the face Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees Make turns gradually to prevent tipping or loss of control Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes 1 Fold this page along dotted line indicated above 2 Hold page before you so that its left edge is vertically parallel to a tree trunk or other upright structure 3 Sight across the fold in the direction of hill slope you want to me...

Page 30: ...on of part For Techical Assistance call 1 800 829 5886 For a Parts Manual go to our website www poulan pro com support asp NOTE Electrolux Home Products provides parts and service through its authorized distributors and dealers therefore all requests for parts and service should be directed to your local dealer s The philosophy of Electrolux Home Products is to continually improve all of its produ...

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