2
WARNING
Handle fuel with care! Use an approved fuel
container. DO NOT smoke near open fuel container
and keep fuel container away from open flame. DO
NOT fill fuel tank indoors or when engine is
running. Allow engine to cool for at least ten
minutes before refilling. Wipe off any spilled fuel
before starting engine. DO NOT run engine indoors.
Before attempting any adjustments, maintenance,
service, or repairs, stop engine and blade, always
remove key from ignition switch, remove spark plug
wire(s) and secure wire(s) away from spark plug(s).
STEP 12: MOWER DECK ADJUSTMENT (LEVELNESS)
SIDE to SIDE and FRONT to REAR
Before making deck leveling adjustments, inflate rear tires
to 12 PSI and front tires to 25 PSI. When adjusted
correctly, the deck will be level side to side within 1/8”, have
a low cut setting of approximately 1” and the blades pitched
approximately 3/16” higher at the rear.
A. Place machine on a smooth level surface.
B. Check blade tips by rotating blades until tips are
pointing to the sides of the deck. Check the
measurement of outside blade tips to the ground on
both blades. The measurement of each of the outside
blade tips should be within 1/8” of each other. If
measurement of the blade tips is not within 1/8”,
adjustment should be made to the correct
measurement.
C. Move deck lift lever and set the mower deck to the
highest cutting position.
D. Relieve tension on deck lift assist spring by loosening
nut on eyebolt.
E. Place 1” blocks under the front and rear edge of the
mower deck.
F. Move deck lift lever and set the mower deck to a
lower cutting position until deck rests on the 1” blocks.
G. Loosen the nuts and bolts that secure both front
deck support chains. Adjust chains until tight and
retighten bolts and nuts. Torque to 70 ft. lbs.
H. Loosen the nuts that secure both rear deck support
eyebolts. Adjust to remove slack from both rear chains.
Tighten nuts securely.
I. Move deck lift lever and set the mower deck to the
highest cutting position and recheck side to side blade
tip dimensions. The difference between the two should
be 1/8” or less.
NOTE: The deck timing rod is preset at the factory and
requires no adjustments.
J. The leveling blocks used in Step E should result in a
proper deck pitch. If a pitch adjustment is required, use
the two rear deck support eyebolts. Adjust up or down
as required.
K. Reinstall deck lift assist spring. Place deck in highest
cutting position. Tighten nut on eyebolt until 1 1/4” of
threads protrude past end of nut.
STEP 13: HYDRAULIC OIL RESERVOIRS
Check the level of the fluid in both of the fluid reservoirs. The
reservoirs are located underneath the operator’s seat. Wipe
away all dirt and debris from around reservoir cap before
removing. Oil must remain absolutely clean! Check with
machine on a level surface with engine “OFF”. Fill reservoir
as needed to bring level up. The reservoir is properly filled
when the fluid level is 1½” below the top of the filler neck. DO
NOT OVER FILL. Use clean, fresh premium automotive oil
having a viscosity equivalent to SAE 20W50 API SL. The
fluid should be chemically stable, incorporating rust and
oxidation inhibitors. Make sure funnels, pouring spouts and
oil can are completely clean. Reinstall reservoir cap.
IMPORTANT: Re-check fluid level after operating machine for
several minutes and adjust level as needed. If one or both of
the wheel drive systems is not pulling properly, the hydraulic
system may need to be purged of entrapped air. Refer to
STEP “HYDRAULIC SYSTEM, PURGING”.
STEP 14: TRACKING ADJUSTMENT – TWIN STICK
CONTROLS
Start machine. If the machine does not track straight when
the Motion Control Levers are in the maximum forward
speed position, perform the following adjustment. Rear tire
pressure must be set to 12 PSI before making this
adjustment.
A. Loosen bolts that secure adjustment plates and slide
plates all the way forward. Retighten bolts.
B. Start machine and drive in smooth flat open area at
maximum forward speed.
C. If machine tracks to the right, loosen bolts that secure the
left adjustment plate. Move plate rearward to slow the left
wheel. Retighten bolts.
D. If machine tracks to the left, loosen bolts that secure the
right adjustment plate. Move plate rearward to slow the
right wheel down. Retighten bolts. See Figure 2.
E. Drive machine again. Repeat adjustment as necessary
until machine tracks straight.
FIGURE 2
ADJUSTMENT
PLATE
LEFT SIDE MOTION
CONTROL LEVER
LOOSEN BOLTS.
SLIDE PLATE TO
MAKE MACHINE
TRACK STRAIGHT
