Operating Instructions
33
Beginning Recommendations are:
♦
Learn operation of the mower in an open
area away from buildings, fences, and
ob structions. Learn operation on flat
ground BEFORE operating on slopes.
♦
Start maneuvering the mower with SLOW
engine speed and SLOW Forward Speed
Control setting until familiar with all
operat ing characteristics.
♦
Remember it is not necessary to hold the
steering levers forward (a unique Walker
feature); always PULL on the levers for
steering or for reverse motion of the
mower.
♦
Learn to operate the mower with your left
hand on the steering levers and right
hand on Forward Speed Control. The use
of two hands on the steering levers tends
to cause overcontrol.
♦
Learn to operate the steering levers with
smooth action. Jerky movements are
hard on the transmission and lawn. For
sharp turns, do not allow the inside
wheel to stop and twist on the grass. Pull
the steering le ver controlling the inside
wheel into reverse for a smooth “rolling”
turn (one wheel roll ing forward while the
other rolls backward).
♦
Practice maneuvering the mower until
you can make it go exactly where you are
aiming.
♦
Remember, for an emergency stop, or
in case of loss of control, machine
movement can always be stopped
quickly by pulling the Forward Speed
Control into the NEU
TRAL-PARK
position.
3. Reverse direction of the mower by pulling both
levers backward.
NOTE:
Smooth action on the steering levers
will
produce smooth mower operation. Remem-
ber to keep the engine and ground speed slow
until learning the control response.
WARNING
When moving forward, DO NOT suddenly
put the tractor in reverse by rapidly pulling
on the steering levers, especially when go-
ing downhill, as this can lift the tractor tail
wheel off the ground and set up a bucking
motion due to operator overcontrol. If
bucking does occur, immediately stop the
bucking action by pulling the Forward
Speed Control (FSC) lever into the NEU-
TRAL-PARK position.
4. The FSC may be adjusted forward for faster
ground speed and backward for slower ground
speed. When mowing, ground speed should be
adjusted to match the load on the cutter blades,
i.e., as the engine pulls down in heavy cutting,
pull back on the FSC lever to reduce ground
speed. Adjusting ground speed helps maintain
a balance between engine power and blade
speed for high-quality cutting action.
5. Stop ground travel by pulling both steering
le
vers backward to the
NEUTRAL
position
(trac tor not moving) and then moving the FSC
lever to the
NEUTRAL-PARK
position.
NOTE:
If the tractor creeps forward or back-
ward with the FSC lever in the
NEUTRAL-
PARK
position, the transmission control needs
to be adjusted. Refer to
ADJUSTMENTS
for
Transmission Control, Step 3 -
Neutral Func-
tion Adjustment
in the
Maintenance Instructions.
ENGAGING THE BLADE DRIVE
1. Set the engine throttle at about 1/2 speed.
Do
not attempt to engage the blade clutch at
high engine speeds.
This will drastically short-
en drive belt life. Use only moderate engine
speed when engaging the blade clutch.
2. Push the blade clutch lever
SLOWLY
forward to
en
gage the mower blades. For disengage
ment, pull the blade clutch lever backward
SLOWLY.
