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SAFE MOWING GUIDE

9

1740327SM

Also, the grass bagger will function better

when the engine is operating at maximum

speed. On slopes, decrease the ground

speed and use care making sure the

mower feels safe to operate.
If the weather conditions are bad, do not

mow. If weather conditions become bad,

stop cutting and finish later. It is dangerous

to cut grass in the rain. Always find

protection in an electrical storm. If the

weather conditions are extra dry, protect

your eyes with safety glasses from the dust

and from the objects discharged by the

mower. Also, a dust or a pollen mask can

help.    

Your mower is equipped with a number of

safety devices which are important to the

safety of the operator and bystanders and

must never be changed or removed from

the mower. If a safety device is lost,

damaged or no longer functions, repair or

replace the device before you operate the

mower.
It is best to mow during the day. If you

must mow at night, make sure there is

enough light for safe operation.
Your mower will require regular

maintenance and service. The

maintenance schedule depends on the

hours of use. Also, mowing conditions can

change the schedule. Check the

Instruction Book for more information.

Correct maintenance will help the mower

function safely.
Do not service the

mower (except for the

carburetor adjustment)

while the engine is

running. Before you

service the unit, even

with the engine stopped,

always disconnect the

wire from the spark plug

to prevent the engine

from starting. 
If you hit a large object during operation,

stop the engine. Remove the wire from the

spark plug. Carefully inspect the mower for

damage. Before you start the engine

again, make the necessary repairs. If you

feel new or excessive vibration,

immediately stop the engine and check for

the problem. Vibration can be a warning of

a problem. Keep all nuts, bolts and screws

tight.
The blade is the most dangerous part of

the mower. Frequently check the blade and

the blade mounting fasteners. Keep the

fasteners tight. If the blade hits a solid

object, stop the engine. Remove the wire

from the spark plug. Check for a blade that

is bent, cracked or for other damages.

Before you start the engine, replace a

damaged blade(s). For safety, replace the

blade every two years.

A sharp blade decreases the workload on

the engine and more evenly cuts grass.

Frequently sharpen the blade for a better

looking cut. Use the left side of the mower

housing to trim near an object.
A grass bagger is a good accessory for

your mower. For best performance and

safety, make sure the grass bagger is

approved for use with your mower. Follow

the assembly and operation instructions

included with the grass bagger.
Some grass baggers require a special

blade for best performance. Before you

attach, check, or empty the grass bagger,

always stop the engine. Before each use of

the grass bagger, check for cracks, wear or

deterioration. Before you use the grass

bagger, replace a damaged part with a

replacement part approved by the factory.

For you to have a good green lawn, follow

the mowing procedures below. Do not cut

the grass too short. If you cut the grass too

short you can cause the grass to become

yellow or make the lawn look brown. Use a

lower height of cut in cool months when

the grass is thicker. Raise the height of cut

in hot dry periods. If you cut the grass with

a blade that is not sharp or at a slow

engine speed you can damage the grass.

Move the throttle control to the FAST

position when mowing and using the grass

bagger. Also, use a slower ground speed

when using the grass bagger.
If you change the direction or pattern of cut

slightly every time you mow will make the

grass grow stronger and thicker. Do not

add oil or gasoline to the mower while on

the lawn. Spilled oil or gasoline can kill the

grass. In high or thick grass, do not try to

cut all the grass the first time. Raise the

height of cut on the first cutting and lower

the height for the next cutting. Another way

is to cut only part of the width of the mower

and decrease your ground speed (not the

engine) to move more slowly so that the

mower can discharge the grass as it

moves forward.
Understand the controls and how they

work. Learn the ground speed(s) of your

mower. Check the stopping distance

required at different travel speeds. Check

the turning radius of the mower. The

controls on your riding mower are different

from an automobile. The throttle is

operated by hand and holds the engine

speed constant until it is changed. The

location of the shift lever and the shift

pattern is different from that of an

automobile.  Also, the brake and clutch

systems are different. Remember the

procedures to follow in an emergency.

Remember, turning off the engine ignition

switch will stop the blade and the drive

mechanism. If the traction of the wheels is

lost or does not feel safe, disengage all

systems and stop the engine. Dismount

from the mower. Push the unit to a safe

place before you begin mowing again.
Your unit has an electrical system that

includes an operator presence switch in

the seat. The operator presence switch

detects if the operator is sitting on the seat.

The engine will stop if the operator leaves

the seat when the blade engagement

control is engaged. This operator presence

switch is a safety device only. It must not

regularly be used to stop the engine or the

blade. There are other control systems on

the mower for this purpose. Always keep

the operator presence switch and other

safety devices and controls in place and

operating for your protection.
Remember, your mower is a tool that can

be dangerous if it is not correctly used.

Follow the instructions in this Instruction

Book. Safe and careful use of the mower

will give you many safe hours of problem

free use.

Summary of Contents for 309006x78B

Page 1: ...UAL Manual Part No 17401801 Revision 02 Rev Date 02 2008 TP 100 4346 02 RD L CAUTION Read and follow all instructions Model No 309006x78B Product Type Mfg No Description 7800337 30 Sentinel CE Mid Engine Riding Mower ...

Page 2: ...THE UNIT 20 HOW TO INSTALL THE SIDE DISCHARGE ATTACHMENT 21 BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE 22 HOW TO START THE ENGINE 22 HOW TO OPERATE WITH THE MOWER HOUSING 23 HOW TO OPERATE THE UNIT ON HILLS 23 OPERATING TIPS 24 MOWING AND BAGGING TIPS 24 MAINTENANCE CHART 25 MAINTENANCE 25 HOW TO CHECK THE MUFFLER 25 HOW TO REMOVE AND INSTALL THE BLADE 26 HOW TO SHARPEN THE BLADE 26 HOW TO CHECK THE BLADE ROTATIO...

Page 3: ...fied This warranty covers product related defective material and or workmanship only To avoid misunderstanding which might occur be tween the customer and the Dealer listed below are some of the causes of product failure that the warranty does not cover Normal Wear Small Engine Powered Equipment like all mechanical devices needs periodic parts and service to perform well Warranty does not cover re...

Page 4: ...approved replacement parts 8 Complete all maintenance on the unit Environmental Awareness D Do not fill the engine s fuel tank completely full D Drain fuel for off season storage D Use only unleaded gasoline D Service the air cleaner regularly D Change oil regularly Use 10W 30 oil in summer D Tune up the engine regularly D Keep equipment in efficient operating condition D Dispose of used engine oi...

Page 5: ...ement on the slopes slow and gradual Do not make sudden changes in speed or direction 7 Avoid starting or stopping on a slope If tires lose traction turn off the blades and proceed slowly straight down the slope 8 Choose a low ground speed so you will not have to stop or shift while on a slope 9 Always keep the machine in gear when going down slopes Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill DO NO...

Page 6: ...the machine with fuel in the tank or fuel container inside where there is an open flame such as a water heater 2 Never start or run the engine inside a closed area 3 Keep all nuts and bolts especially the blade attachment nuts tight Frequently check the blade s for wear or damage such as cracks and nicks A blade that is bent or damaged must be immediately replaced with an original equipment blade ...

Page 7: ...son Never let another person ride with you on the unit or on any accessories A passenger will make the unit harder to control block the visibility or distract the operator and is dangerous to the operator the passenger and the equipment Without a passenger seat the passenger can fall from the mower or contact dangerous parts A mower is not a toy for showing off or for giving rides Never cut a wet ...

Page 8: ...the mower is not correctly assembled not operated correctly or not regularly serviced the mower can be dangerous The most important rule to follow is always use good judgement and common sense Mow safely and carefully Your mower will easily cut thick grass Fingers feet and other parts can also be cut by the blade Injuries occur when the operator does not think and reaches into the chute opening Al...

Page 9: ...y the grass bagger always stop the engine Before each use of the grass bagger check for cracks wear or deterioration Before you use the grass bagger replace a damaged part with a replacement part approved by the factory For you to have a good green lawn follow the mowing procedures below Do not cut the grass too short If you cut the grass too short you can cause the grass to become yellow or make ...

Page 10: ...essively F Do not make adjustments or repairs without stopping the engine Disconnect the spark plug wire F On or near roads watch out for traffic Direct discharge away from roads F When mowing avoid areas where traction is unsure Look back before changing direction of travel Look down and behind before and while backing F In heavy grass raise the cutting height Cut slower Stop the engine to remove...

Page 11: ...eep Bystanders Away Read User Instructions Before Operating This Machine 8 WARNING Do Not Use This Machine On Slopes Greater Than 15 Degrees 9 DANGER Keep People Especially Children Away From Unit 10 DANGER No Step 11 DANGER Keep Feet And Hands Away From Rotating Blade 12 DANGER Keep Hands Away From Rotating Blade 13 DANGER Disconnect Spark Plug Wire Before Servicing Unit 14 WARNING Hot Surface 15...

Page 12: ...he operator on the seat WARNING Before doing any assembly or mainte nance to the mower remove the wire from the spark plug PARTS BAG CONTENTS The fasteners and other loose parts are shown below The fasteners are shown full size The quantity is shown in brackets 2x82 2 Carriage Bolt 14x79 2 Wing Nut 17x47 2 Washer 1001054 2 Knob 2 Ignition Key 690604 1 Cover Terminal LOOSE PARTS CONTENTS Seat Steer...

Page 13: ...he wing bolts A Figure 1 Seat Seat Adjusting Hole Seat Support A B Seat Support Rod HOW TO ASSEMBLE THE STEERING WHEEL Attach the steering wheel as follows 1 Make sure the front wheels point forward 2 Slide the tube into the console Figure 2 Make sure the end of the tube fits over the steering bushing NOTE Before attachment of the steering wheel make sure that the front wheels point forward and ar...

Page 14: ...y retainer from the battery tray push in on the lower end of the battery retainer 2 Remove the battery from the right side of the unit 3 Remove the protective cap from the battery terminal 4 Use a 12 volt battery charger to charge the battery Charge at a rate of 6 amperes for one hour If you do not have a battery charger have an authorized service center charge the battery 5 Install the battery an...

Page 15: ...eral minutes IMPORTANT This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and must not be used on or near any unimproved forest covered brush covered 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 must be maintained in effective working order by the operator In the State o...

Page 16: ... stop the forward or reverse motion of the unit IGNITION KEYSWITCH Use the ignition key switch to start and stop the engine When you start the engine and release the ignition key the ignition key switch will automatically default to the recommended RUN MOW position for normal mowing SHIFT LEVER Use the shift lever to change the speed of the unit LIFT LEVER Use the lift lever to change the height o...

Page 17: ...urn the ignition switch to the START position The engine should not start If the engine starts the switch is defective and must be replaced 3 Check the Operator Presence System switch DO NOT sit in the seat Depress the clutch brake pedal Move the blade rotation control to the DISENGAGE position Turn the ignition switch to the START position The engine should not start If the engine starts the swit...

Page 18: ... blade rotation control to engage the blade Figure 7 1 Before you start the engine make sure the blade rotation con trol is in the DISENGAGE position 2 To rotate the blade move the blade rotation control forward to lock the blade in the ENGAGE position Note If the engine stops when you engage the blade s the transmission is in reverse 3 To stop the blade move the blade rotation control to the DIS ...

Page 19: ...he SLOW position see Figure 9 Throttle Control Lever Figure 9 3 To go forward move the shift lever to a forward speed setting 4 To go backward move the shift lever to reverse Always disen gage blades and look down and behind before and while back ing Shift Lever Figure 10 5 Slowly release the clutch brake pedal Do not keep your foot on the pedal 6 Move the throttle control to the FAST position FUN...

Page 20: ...ift lever forward to lower the mower housing and back to raise the mower housing Figure 12 2 When you ride on a sidewalk or road move the lift lever to the highest position and move the blade rotation control to the DISENGAGE position Lift Lever Figure 12 HOW TO STOP THE UNIT 1 Completely push the clutch brake pedal forward to stop the unit Keep your foot on the pedal 2 Move the blade rotation con...

Page 21: ... grass out the side install the side discharge attachment as follows 1 Remove the fasteners that secure the mulcher cover see Figure 13 2 Lift the mulcher cover Mount the side discharge attachment onto the same bolts that secured the mulcher cover 3 Secure the side discharge attachment with the fasteners 4 To mulch remove the side discharge attachment and mount the mulcher cover to the mower housi...

Page 22: ...ee the engine manufacturer s instructions 1 The engine has a loss of power or does not run smooth 2 A change from summer to winter operation 3 A 40 degree change in the operation temperature The carbure tor was adjusted at 80 degrees at the factory 4 The engine is operated above 4 000 feet HOW TO START THE ENGINE WARNING The electrical system has two primary components an operator presence system ...

Page 23: ...ease the clutch brake pedal 8 Move the throttle control to the FAST position If you need to go faster or slower stop the unit and move the shift lever to another speed setting 9 Make sure the level of cut is still correct After you mow a short distance look at the area that was cut If the mower housing does not cut level see the instructions on How To Level The Mower Housing in the Maintenance sec...

Page 24: ... blade is bent or damaged immediately replace the blade Also make sure the nut for the blade is tight 4 Keep the blade s sharpened Worn blades will cause the ends of the grass to turn brown 5 Do not cut or bag grass that is wet Wet grass will not discharge correctly Let the grass dry before cutting 6 Use the left side of the mower housing to trim near an object 7 Discharge the cut grass onto the m...

Page 25: ...arnings in the Owner s Manual Add fuel stabilizer Refer to the Engine Owner s Manual Prepare battery for storage a Remove from unit b Fully charge c Move to cool dry place GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS 1 The owner s responsibility is to maintain this product This will extend the life of the product and is also necessary to maintain warranty coverage 2 Check the spark plug drive brake lubricate the unit ...

Page 26: ...t cut correctly and can cause an accident 8 Fasten the blade with the original washers and nut Make sure the outside rim of the Belleville washer is against the blade Figure 16 WARNING Always keep the nut tight that holds the blade A loose nut or blade can cause an accident 9 Tighten the nut that holds the blade to a torque of 35 foot pounds 47 5 N m 10 Install the mower housing See How To Install...

Page 27: ...tation control to the DISENGAGE posi tion Stop the engine Disconnect the wire from the spark plug 7 Check the operation of the blade brake Rotate the pulley with your hand Make sure the brake pad is pressed tightly against the pulley Figure 19 WARNING If the brake pad does not press tightly against the pulley take the unit to an authorized service center 8 Move the blade rotation control to the EN...

Page 28: ...ut HOW TO CHECK AND ADJUST THE CLUTCH If the motion drive belt is loose the clutch will slip when 1 going up a hill 2 pulling a heavy load or 3 the unit will not move forward Adjust the clutch as follows WARNING Before you make an inspection adjust ment or repair to the unit disconnect the wire to the spark plug Remove the wire from the spark plug to prevent the engine from starting by accident 1 ...

Page 29: ... 2 Disconnect the red cable from the positive terminal 3 To disconnect the battery retainer from the battery tray push in on the lower end of the battery retainer 4 Remove the battery from the right side of the unit HOW TO CLEAN THE BATTERY 1 Remove the battery 2 Wash the battery with a solution of one gallon of water and four tablespoons of baking soda sodium bicarbonate Make sure the solution do...

Page 30: ...el line the fuel tank must be empty If the fuel filter is dirty the engine will run rough and have less performance Remove the old filter Figure 25 Replace the old filter with a new filter Use an original equipment part See an authorized service dealer in your area Fuel Line Clips Fuel Filter Figure 25 CHECK THE TIRES Check the air pressure in the tires Tires with too much air pressure will cause ...

Page 31: ...igure 27 Make sure both sides of the mower housing are set ting on a flat surface 7 Make sure that the adjuster plate is loose and can easily move up or down see Figure 27 8 Tighten the front and rear adjuster knobs Make sure the ad juster knobs are tight If necessary use a wrench to tighten the adjuster knobs Tighten to a torque of 10 foot pounds 13 5 N m 9 Raise the lift lever from the LEVEL ADJ...

Page 32: ...mower drive belt is against the stack pulley Also make sure the mower drive belt is not twisted 3 Attach the front hanger to the frame support with the hanger rod Fasten with the fasteners as shown See illustration F 4 Make sure the mower drive belt is between the stack pulley and the two belt guides See illustration G 5 Attach the suspension links to the lifter assembly Fasten with the washers an...

Page 33: ... side of the belt is against the pulley 2 Install the end of the motion drive belt around the drive pulley 3 Make sure the motion drive belt is inside of the belt guides next to the drive pulley Tighten the belt guides 4 Put the belt around the idler pulley Assemble the idler pulley Fasten the idler pulley with the hex nut Make sure the V side of the belt is against the idler pulley Also make sure...

Page 34: ... 4 Install the new mower drive belt Pull the brake pad away from the jackshaft pulley Put the mower drive belt around the jackshaft pulley 5 Pull the belt retainer away from the idler pulley Put the mow er drive belt around the idler pulley 6 Make sure the V side of the mower drive belt is against the jackshaft pulley and the idler pulley 7 Install the mower housing See the instructions on How To ...

Page 35: ...ake sure the washer hold the hub caps in place Rear Wheel 1 Install the washers and spacer onto the axle as shown in Figure 34 2 Mount the square key in the key slot See Figure 34 3 Make sure the valve stem is to the outside of the tractor Align the slot in the rear wheel with the square key Slide the rear wheel on the axle 4 Fasten the rear wheel with washer and e ring 5 If your model has hub cap...

Page 36: ... 4 Again clean the top of the mower housing 5 After you cut the grass clean the bottom of the mower housing STORAGE over 30 days At the end of each year prepare the unit for storage as follows THE ENGINE For storage information see the the engine manufacturer s instructions THE BATTERY 1 Remove the battery 2 Clean the battery terminals of any deposits 3 Charge the battery See the instructions on H...

Page 37: ...PROBLEM Excessive vibration 1 Replace the blade 2 Check for loose engine bolts 3 Decrease the air pressure in the tires 4 Adjust the carburetor 5 Check for a damaged belt or damaged pulley Replace the damaged parts PROBLEM The grass does not discharge correctly 1 Stop the engine Clean the mower housing 2 Raise the height of cut 3 Replace or sharpen the blade s 4 Move the shift lever to a slower sp...

Page 38: ...38 1740327SM ...

Page 39: ...ion Control 27 Clutch 28 Drive Brake 28 Filter Fuel 30 Fuse 36 Install Wheels 35 Lubrication 30 Mower Housing Clean 36 Install 32 Level 31 Remove 32 Muffler 25 Storage 36 Maintenance Chart 25 Motion Drive Belt Adjust 28 Replace 33 Mower Drive Belt Adjust 27 Replace 34 Mower Housing Clean 36 Cutting Height 20 Install 32 Level Adjustment 31 Operation 23 Remove 32 Muffler 25 Spark Arrester 25 Mulcher...

Page 40: ...40 1740327SM ...

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