14
Deck Lift Lever
Found on your tractor’s right fender, the deck lift lever is
used to change the height of the cutting deck. To use,
move the lever to the left, then place in the notch best
suited for your application.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, fully depress the clutch-brake
pedal. Move the speed control lever all the way down
and into the parking brake position. Release the clutch-
brake pedal to allow the parking brake to engage.
To release the parking brake, depress the clutch-brake
pedal and move the speed control lever out of the
notches to the desired position. Release the speed
control lever and the clutch-brake pedal.
NOTE
: The parking brake must be set if the operator
leaves the seat with the engine running or the engine
will automatically shut off.
Clutch-Brake Pedal
The clutch-brake pedal is located on the left side of
the lawn tractor, along the running board. Depress the
clutch-brake pedal part way down when slowing the
tractor by changing speeds (Refer to Speed Control
Lever). Depress the pedal all the way down to engage
the disc brake and bring the tractor to a complete stop.
NOTE
: The pedal must be depressed to start the
engine. Refer to Safety Interlock Switches on page 14.
PTO (Blade Engage) Lever
Found on the tractor’s right fender, the PTO (blade
engage) lever is used to engage power to the cutting
deck or other (separately available) attachments. To
operate, move the lever all the way forward. Moving the
lever all the way rearward into the PTO OFF position
disengages power to the cutting deck/ attachment.
4
Operating
Your Lawn
Tractor
NOTE
: The PTO (blade engage) lever must be
in the disengaged (PTO OFF) position when
starting the engine.
Shift Lever
The shift lever is located on the left side of the
fender and has three positions, FORWARD,
NEUTRAL and REVERSE. The brake pedal
must be depressed and the tractor must not
be in motion when the moving shift lever. See
Figure 4-4.
IMPORTANT
: Never force the shift lever. Doing
so may result in serious damage to the tractor’s
transmission.
Speed Control Lever
The speed control lever, located on the left
side of the tractor’s dash console, allows you to
regulate the ground speed of the lawn tractor.
To use, depress the clutch-brake pedal and
move the lever out of the parking brake notch
and forward to increase the tractor’s ground
speed. When a desired speed has been
reached, release the lever into an appropriate
notch to maintain that speed.
To slow the tractor’s ground speed, depress the
clutch-brake pedal and move the speed control
lever rearward and release it into a notch.
NOTE
: Lawn tractors vary by model and are
available with either a 6 or 7 speed control lever.
Safety Interlock Switches
This tractor is equipped with a safety interlock
system for the protection of the operator. If the
interlock system should ever malfunction, do
not operate the tractor. Contact an authorized
MTD service dealer.
• The safety interlock system prevents the engine
from cranking or starting unless the parking brake
is engaged, and the PTO (Blade Engage) lever (or
button) is in the disengaged (OFF) position.
• The engine will automatically shut off if the operator
leaves the seat before engaging the parking brake.
• The engine will automatically shut off if the operator
leaves the tractor’s seat with the PTO (Blade Engage)
lever in the engaged (ON) position, regardless of
whether the parking brake is engaged.
• The engine will automatically shut off if the operator
engages the PTO with the parking brake ON.
Models without Reverse Caution Mode
• The engine will automatically shut off if the PTO (Blade
Engage) lever is moved into the engaged (ON) position
with the shift lever in Reverse.
Models with Reverse Caution Mode
• With the ignition key in the
NORMAL MOWING
posi-
tion, the engine will automatically shut off if the PTO
(Blade Engage) lever is moved into the engaged (ON)
position with the shift lever in Reverse.
NOTE:
The PTO (Blade
Engage) lever must be
in the disengaged (PTO
OFF) position when
starting the engine.
0!2+
"2!+%
0
F
FORWARD
NEUTRAL
REVERSE
N
R
Figure 4-4
NOTE:
The parking
brake must be set if the
operator leaves the seat
with the engine run-
ning or the engine will
automatically shut off.
IMPORTANT
Never force the shift
lever. Doing so may
result in serious
damage to the tractor’s
transmission.
Do not operate
the tractor if the
interlock system is
malfunctioning. This
system was designed
for your safety and
protection.
WARNING
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CI00151
