12
TO OPERATE ON HILLS
WARNING: Do not drive up or down
hills with slopes great er than 15° and
do not drive across any slope.
• Choose the slowest speed before starting up or down
hills.
• Avoid stopping or changing speed on hills.
• If slowing is necessary, move throttle control lever to
slower position.
• If stopping is absolutely necessary, push clutch/brake
pedal quickly to brake position and engage parking
brake.
• Move gearshift lever to 1st gear. Be sure you have
allowed room for tractor to roll slightly as you restart
movement.
• To restart movement, slowly release parking brake and
clutch/brake pedal.
• Make all turns slowly.
TO TRANSPORT
• Raise attachment lift to highest position with at tach ment
lift control.
• When pushing or towing your tractor, be sure gearshift
lever is in neutral (N) position.
• Do not push or tow tractor at more than fi ve (5) MPH.
TO OPERATE MOWER (See Fig. 7)
Your tractor is equipped with an operator presence sensing
switch. Any attempt by the operator to leave the seat with
the engine running and the attachment clutch engaged will
shut off the engine.
• Select desired height of cut.
• Start mower blades by engaging attachment clutch
control.
• TO STOP MOWER BLADES - disengage attachment
clutch con trol.
CAUTION: Do not operate the mower
without either the en tire grass catcher,
on mowers so equipped, or the de fl ec tor
shield in place.
AT TACH MENT
CLUTCH LEVER
"DISENGAGED"
PO SI TION
FIG. 7
DEFLECTOR
SHIELD
LOW
POSITION
AT TACH MENT
LIFT LEVER
HIGH
POSITION
"ENGAGED" POSITION
OPERATION
NOTE
: To protect hood from damage when transporting
your tractor on a truck or a trailer, be sure hood is closed
and secured to tractor. Use an appropriate means of tying
hood to tractor (rope, cord, etc.).
TOWING CARTS AND OTHER AT
TACH -
MENTS
Tow only the attachments that are recommended by and
comply with specifi cations of the manufacturer of your trac-
tor. Use common sense when towing. Too heavy of a load,
while on a slope, is dangerous. Tires can lose traction with
the ground and cause you to lose control of your tractor.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL
• The engine in your tractor has been shipped, from the
factory, already fi lled with sum mer weight oil.
• Check engine oil with tractor on level ground.
• Remove oil fi ll cap/dipstick and wipe clean, reinsert the
dipstick and screw cap tight, wait for a few seconds,
remove and read oil level. If necessary, add oil until
“FULL” mark on dipstick is reached. Do not overfi ll.
• For cold weather operation you should change oil for
easier starting (See “OIL VISCOSITY CHART” in the
Maintenance sec tion of this manual).
• To change engine oil, see the Maintenance section in
this manual.
ADD GASOLINE
• Fill fuel tank to bottom of fi ller neck. Do not overfi ll.
Use fresh, clean, regular un lead ed gasoline with a
minimum of 87 octane. (Use of leaded gasoline will
increase carbon and lead oxide deposits and reduce
valve life). Do not mix oil with gasoline. Purchase fuel
in quan ti ties that can be used within 30 days to assure
fuel freshness.
CAUTION: Wipe off any spilled oil or
fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline
near an open fl ame.
IMPORTANT:
WHEN OPERATING IN TEMPERATURES
BELOW32°F(0°C), USE FRESH, CLEAN WINTER GRADE
GAS O LINE TO HELP INSURE GOOD COLD WEATHER
START ING.
CAUTION: Alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol
or using ethanol or methanol) can attract mois ture
which leads to sep a ra tion and for ma tion of acids
during storage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel sys-
tem of an engine while in storage. To avoid engine
problems, the fuel system should be emptied before
stor age of 30 days or longer. Drain the gas tank,
start the engine and let it run until the fuel lines and
carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel next season.
See Storage In struc tions for additional information.
Never use engine or car bu re tor cleaner products in
the fuel tank or per ma nent damage may occur.