AYP AG185H42STA User Manual

MODEL NO. AG185H42STA

18.5 HP 42 INCH
LAWN TRACTOR

• Assembly

• Operation

• Maintenance

• Service and Adjustments

• Storage

• Troubleshooting

• Repair Parts

For Parts and Service, contact our authorized distributor:

call 1-800-849-1297 For Technical Assistance: call 1-800-829-5886

190617 Rev. 1 7.28.04 RD/MH

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Warranty................................................ 2

Safety Rules .......................................... 3

Product Specifi cations........................... 6

Assembly/Pre-Operation ....................... 8

Operation............................................. 11

Maintenance ....................................... 18

Maintenance Schedule........................ 18

Service and Adjustments..................... 22

Storage................................................ 28

Troubleshooting ................................... 29

Repair Parts......................................... 34

WARRANTY

LIMITED WARRANTY

The Manufacturer warrants to the original consumer purchaser that this product as
manufactured is free from defects in materials and work man ship. For a period of two
(2) years from date of purchase by the original consumer purchaser, we will repair or
replace, at our option, without charge for parts or labor incurred in replacing parts, any
part which we fi nd to be defective due to materials or workmanship. This Warranty is
subject to the following limitations and exclusions.

1. This warranty does not apply to the engine, other than EHP manufactured transaxle/
transmission components, battery (except as noted below) or components parts
thereof. Please refer to the applicable manufacturer's warranty on these items.

2. Transportation charges for the movement of any power equipment unit or attachment
are the responsibility of the pur chaser. Transportation charges for any parts submit­ted for replacement under this warranty must be paid by the purchaser unless such
return is requested by Electrolux Home Products.

3. Battery Warranty: On products equipped with a Battery, we will replace, without
charge to you, any battery which we fi nd to be defective in manufacture, during the
fi rst ninety (90) days of ownership. After ninety (90) days, we will exchange the Bat­tery, charging you 1/12 of the price of a new Battery for each full month from the date
of the original sale. Battery must be maintained in accordance with the instructions
furnished.

4. The Warranty period for any products used for rental or commercial purposes is
limited to 90 days from the date of original purchase.

5. This Warranty applies only to products which have been properly assembled, ad­justed, operated, and main tained in ac cor dance with the instructions furnished. This
Warranty does not apply to any product which has been subjected to alteration, mis­use, abuse, improper assembly or installation, delivery damage, or to normal wear of
the product.

6. Exclusions: Excluded from this Warranty are belts, blades, blade adapters, normal
wear, normal adjustments, stan dard hardware and normal maintenance.

7. In the event you have a claim under this Warranty, you must return the product to an
authorized service dealer.

Should you have any unanswered questions concerning this Warranty, please contact:

Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
Outdoor Products Customer Service Dept.
250 Bobby Jones Expressway
Augusta, GA 30909 USA

In Canada contact:
Electrolux Canada Corp.
7075 Ordan Drive
Mississauga, Ontario
L5T 1K6

giving the model number, serial number and date of purchase of your product and the
name and address of the authorized dealer from whom it was purchased.
THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT APPLY TO INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES AND ANY IMPLIED WAR RAN TIES ARE LIMITED TO THE SAME TIME
PERIODS STATED HEREIN FOR OUR EXPRESSED WARRANTIES. Some areas do
not allow the limitation of consequential damages or limitations of how long an implied
Warranty may last, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. This
Warranty gives you specifi c legal rights, and you may have other rights which vary from
locale to locale.
This is a limited Warranty within the meaning of that term as defi ned in the Magnuson­Moss Act of 1975.

2

SAFETY RULES

IMPORTANT: This cutting machine is ca pa ble of amputating hands and feet and throw-

ing objects. Failure to observe the fol low ing safety instructions could result in serious
injury or death.

WARNING: In order to prevent ac­cidental starting when setting up, trans­ port ing, ad just ing or making repairs,
always dis con nect spark plug wire and
place wire where it can not contact spark
plug.

WARNING: Do not coast down a hill in
neutral, you may lose control of the tractor.

WARNING: Tow only the attachments
that are rec om mend ed by and comply with
spec i fi ca tions of the man u fac tur er of your
tractor. Use common sense when towing.
Operate only at the lowest possible speed
when on a slope. Too heavy of a load,
while on a slope, is dan ger ous. Tires can
lose trac tion with the ground and cause
you to lose control of your tractor.

WARNING: Engine exhaust, some
of its constituents, and certain vehicle
com po nents contain or emit chem i cals
known to the State of Cal i for nia to cause
can cer and birth defects or oth er re pro duc­tive harm.

WARNING: Battery posts, terminals
and related accessories contain lead and
lead compounds, chemicals known to the
State of Cal i for nia to cause can cer and
birth defects or oth er re pro duc tive harm.

Wash hands after handling.

I. GENERAL OPERATION

• Read, understand, and follow all instruc-

tions in the manual and on the machine
before starting.

• Only allow responsible adults, who are

familiar with the in struc tions, to operate
the machine.

• Clear the area of objects such as rocks,

toys, wire, etc., which could be picked
up and thrown by the blade.

• Be sure the area is clear of other people

before mow ing. Stop machine if anyone
enters the area.

• Never carry passengers.

• Do not mow in reverse unless ab so -

lute ly necessary. Always look down and
behind before and while back ing.

• Be aware of the mower discharge direc-

tion and do not point it at anyone. Do
not operate the mower without either
the entire grass catcher or the guard in
place.

• Slow down before turning.

• Never leave a running machine unat­tended. Always turn off blades, set
parking brake, stop engine, and remove
keys before dismounting.

• Turn off blades when not mowing.

• Stop engine before removing grass
catcher or un clog ging chute.

• Mow only in daylight or good artifi cial
light.

• Do not operate the machine while under
the infl uence of alcohol or drugs.

• Watch for traffi c when operating near or
crossing road ways.

• Use extra care when loading or un­ load ing the machine into a trailer or
truck.

• Data indicates that operators, age 60
years and above, are involved in a large
percentage of riding mower-related in­juries. These operators should evaluate
their ability to operate the riding mower
safely enough to protect them selves and
others from serious injury.

• Keep machine free of grass , leaves or
other debris build-up which can touch

hot exhaust / engine parts and burn . Do

not allow the mower deck to plow leaves
or other debris which can cause build­up to occur. Clean any oil or fuel
spillage before operating or storing the
machine . Allow machine to cool before
storage.

II. SLOPE OPERATION

Slopes are a major factor related to loss­of-control and tipover accidents, which can
re sult in severe injury or death. All slopes
require extra caution. If you cannot back
up the slope or if you feel uneasy on it, do
not mow it.

DO:

• Mow up and down slopes, not across.

• Remove obstacles such as rocks, tree
limbs, etc.

• Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Un­even terrain could overturn the machine.

Tall grass can hide ob sta cles.

• Use slow speed. Choose a low gear
so that you will not have to stop or shift
while on the slope.

3

SAFETY RULES

• Follow the manufacturer’s rec om men d­a tions for wheel weights or coun ter ­weights to improve stability.

• Use extra care with grass catchers or
other at tach ments. These can change
the stability of the machine.

slow

• Keep all movement on the slopes

gradual

and
changes in speed or direction.

• Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. If
tires lose traction, disengage the blades
and proceed slowly
slope.

DO NOT:

Do not

•

sary, and then, turn slowly and grad u al ly
downhill, if possible.

Do not

•
or embankments. The mower could
suddenly turn over if a wheel is over
the edge of a cliff or ditch, or if an edge
caves in.

Do not

•
traction could cause sliding.

Do not

•
putting your foot on the ground.

Do not

•
slopes.

. Do not make sudden

straight

turn on slopes unless nec es -

mow near drop-offs, ditches,

mow on wet grass. Reduced

try to stabilize the machine by

use grass catcher on steep

down the

III. CHILDREN

Tragic accidents can occur if the op er a tor
is not alert to the presence of children.
Children are often attracted to the ma-

Never

chine and the mowing activity.
sume that children will remain where you
last saw them.

• Keep children out of the mowing area
and under the watchful care of another
responsible adult.

• Be alert and turn machine off if children
enter the area.

• Before and when backing, look behind

down

and

• Never carry children. They may fall off
and be seriously injured or interfere with
safe machine operation.

• Never allow children to operate the
machine.

• Use extra care when approaching blind
corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects
that may obscure vision.

for small children.

as-

IV. SERVICE

• Use extra care in handling gasoline and
other fuels. They are fl ammable and
vapors are explosive.

- Use only an approved container.

- Never remove gas cap or add fuel
with the engine running. Allow
engine to cool before refueling. Do
not smoke.

- Never refuel the machine indoors.

- Never store the machine or fuel
container inside where there is an
open fl ame, such as a water heater.

• Never run a machine inside a closed
area.

• Keep nuts and bolts, especially blade
attachment bolts, tight and keep equip­ment in good condition.

• Never tamper with safety devices.
Check their proper op er a tion regularly.

• Keep machine free of grass, leaves, or
other debris build-up. Clean oil or fuel
spillage. Allow machine to cool before
storing.

• Stop and inspect the equipment if you
strike an object. Repair, if necessary,
before restarting.

• Never make adjustments or repairs with
the engine run ning.

• Grass catcher components are subject
to wear, dam age, and deterioration,
which could expose moving parts or
allow objects to be thrown. Frequently
check com po nents and replace with
manufacturer's rec om mend ed parts,
when nec es sary.

• Mower blades are sharp and can cut.
Wrap the blade(s) or wear gloves, and
use extra caution when servicing them.

• Check brake operation frequently. Ad­just and service as required.

4

SAFETY RULES

• Be sure the area is clear of other people
before mowing. Stop machine if anyone
enters the area.

• Never carry passengers or children
even with the blades off.

• Do not mow in reverse unless ab so ­lute ly necessary. Al ways look down and
behind before and while backing.

• Never carry children. They may fall off
and be seriously injured or interfere with
safe machine operation.

• Keep children out of the mowing area
and under the watchful care of another
responsible adult.

• Be alert and turn machine off if children
enter the area.

• Before and when backing, look behind
and down for small children.

• Mow up and down slopes (15° Max), not
across.

• Remove obstacles such as rocks, tree
limbs, etc.

• Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Uneven
terrain could overturn the machine. Tall
grass can hide obstacles.

• Use slow speed. Choose a low gear
so that you will not have to stop or shift
while on the slope.

• Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. If
tires lose traction, disengage the blades
and proceed slowly straight down the
slope.

• If machine stops while going uphill,
disengage blades, shift into reverse and
back down slowly.

• Do not turn on slopes unless nec es sary,
and then, turn slowly and grad u al ly
downhill, if possible.

5

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Gasoline 2.0 Gallons
Capacity Unleaded
and Type: Regular

Oil Type SAE 30 (Above 32°F)
(API-SG-SL): SAE 5W-30
(Below 32°F)

Oil Capacity: W/Filter 3.5 Pints
W/O Filter 3.0 Pints

Spark Plug: Champion RC12YC
(GAP: .030")

Ground Speed Forward: 5.5
(MPH): Reverse: 2.4

Tire Pressure: Front: 14 PSI
Rear: 10 PSI

Charging 3 Amps Battery
System: 5 Amps Headlights

Battery: Amp/Hr: 28
Min. CCA: 230
Case Size: U1R

Blade Bolt 27–35 Ft. Lbs.
Torque:

CUSTOMER RE SPON SI BIL I TIES

• Read and observe the safety rules.

• Follow a regular schedule in main-

tain ing, caring for and using your tractor.

• Follow the instructions under “Main te -

nance” and “Stor age” sec tions of this
own er’s manual.

WARNING: This tractor is equipped
with an internal combustion engine and
should 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
should be maintained in effective working
order by the op er a tor.
In the state of California the above is
required by law (Section 4442 of the
California Public Resources Code). Other
states may have similar laws. Federal
laws apply on federal lands. A spark ar­rester for the muffl er is available through
your nearest authorized service center/de­partment (See REPAIR PARTS section of
this manual).

CONGRATULATIONS on your pur chase
of a new tractor. It has been designed,
en gi neered and man u fac tured to give
you the best pos si ble de pend abil i ty and
per for mance.
Should you experience any problem you
cannot easily remedy, please con tact
your nearest authorized service center/
department . We have competent, well­trained tech ni cians and the prop er tools to
service or repair this trac tor.
Please read and retain this manual. The
instructions will enable you to as sem ble
and maintain your tractor prop er ly. Always
observe the “SAFE TY RULES”.

6

UNASSEMBLED PARTS

Steering Wheel

(1) Large Flat
Washer

Steering
Wheel
Adapter

Seat

Steering
Sleeve

Steering
Wheel
Insert

(1) Locknut 1/2-20

(1) Hex Bolt 1/4-28 x 1-1/4

Steering
Extension
Shaft

(1) Locknut

1/4-28

(4) Adjusting Bar

(4) Wheels

Keys

(2) Keys

(1) Knob

Gauge Wheel

(4) Retainer Springs
(double loop)

(1) Oil Drain Tube
For Future Use

(1) Washer
17/32 x 1-3/16 x 12 Gauge

(4) Shoulder Bolt

(4) Locknut 3/8-16

(4) Clevis Pins

(4) Washers

3/8 x 3/4 x 14 Ga.

Slope Sheet

7

ASSEMBLY/PRE-OPERATION

Your new tractor has been assembled at the factory with the exception of those parts left
unassembled for shipping purposes. To ensure safe and proper operation of your tractor
all parts and hardware you as sem ble must be tightened securely. Use the correct tools
as nec es sary to in sure proper tightness. Review the video cassette before you begin.

TOOLS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY

A socket wrench set will make assembly
easier. Stan dard wrench sizes you need
are listed below.
(1) 3/4" wrench (1) Pliers
(2) 7/16" wrench (1) Utility knife
(1) Tire pressure gauge
When right or left hand is mentioned in this
man ual, it means, from your point of view,
when you are in the op er at ing po si tion
(seat ed be hind the steer ing wheel).

TO REMOVE TRACTOR FROM
CARTON

UNPACK CARTON

1. Remove all accessible loose parts and
parts boxes from carton.

2. Cut along dotted lines on all four pan­els of carton. Remove end panels and
lay side panels fl at.

3. Check for any additional loose parts or
cartons and remove.

BEFORE REMOVING TRACTOR
FROM SKID

ATTACH STEERING WHEEL

ASSEMBLE EXTENSION SHAFT AND
BOOT

1. Slide extension shaft onto lower steer­ing shaft. Align mount ing holes in ex­tension and lower shafts and install 1/4
hex bolt and lock nut. Tighten securely.

IMPORTANT: Tighten bolt and nut se­curely to 10-12 ft. lbs torque.

2. Place tabs of steering boot over tab
slots in dash and push down to secure.

INSTALL STEERING WHEEL

3. Position front wheels of the tractor so
they are pointing straight forward.

4. Remove steering wheel adapter from
steering wheel and slide adapter onto
steer ing shaft ex ten sion.

5. Position steering wheel so cross bars
are hor i zon tal (left to right) and slide
inside boot and onto adapt er.

6. Assemble large fl at washer, 1/2 hex
nut and tighten se cure ly.

7. Snap steering wheel insert into center
of steer ing wheel.

8. Remove protective materials from trac­ tor hood and grill.

Insert

1/2 Hex Nut

Large Flat Washer

Steering
Wheel

Adapter

1/4 Locknut

Lower
Steering
Shaft

Steering Boot

Tabs

Extension Shaft

1/4 Hex Bolt

Ta b
Slots

IMPORTANT: Check for and remove any
staples in skid that may puncture tires
where tractor is to roll off skid.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR TRACTOR

INSTALL SEAT

Adjust seat before tightening adjustment
knob.

1. Remove adjustment knob and fl at
washer securing seat to cardboard
packing and set aside for assembly of
seat to tractor.

2. Pivot seat upward and remove from
the cardboard packing. Remove the
cardboard packing and discard.

3. Place seat on seat pan so head of
shoulder bolts are positioned over the
large slotted holes in pan.

4. Push down on seat to engage shoulder
bolts in slots and pull seat towards rear
of tractor.

5. Pivot seat and pan forward and as­ sem ble adjustment knob and fl at
washer loosely. Do not tighten.

6. Lower seat into operating position and
sit in seat.

8

7. Slide seat until a comfortable position
is reached which allows you to press
clutch/brake pedal all the way down.

8. Get off seat without moving its ad­ just ed position.

9. Raise seat and tighten adjustment
knob securely.

Seat

Seat Pan

02617

Flat Washer

Adjustment Knob

Shoulder
Bolts

02615

CHECK BATTERY

1. Lift seat pan to raised position.
NOTE: If this battery is put into service
after month and year indicated on label
(label located between terminals) charge
battery for minimum of one hour at 6-10
amps. (See "BATTERY" in Maintenance
section of this manual for charging instruc­tions).

Seat pan

Terminal

Label

Terminal

2. Release parking brake by de press ing
clutch/brake ped al.

3. Place freewheel control in “trans­ mis sion disengaged” position (See “TO
TRANS PORT” in the Op er a tion section
of this manual).

4. Roll tractor forward off skid.

5. Remove banding holding defl ector
shield up against tractor.

TO DRIVE TRAC TOR OFF SKID (See
Op er a tion section for location and
function of con trols)

WARNING: Before start ing, read, un-

der stand and fol low all in struc tions in the
Op er a tion section of this man u al. Be sure
tractor is in a well-ventilated area. Be sure
the area in front of tractor is clear of other
peo ple and objects.

1. Be sure all the above assembly steps
have been completed.

2. Check engine oil level and fi ll fuel tank
with gasoline.

3. Place freewheel control in "trans­ mis sion engaged" position. (See “TO
TRANS PORT” in the Op er a tion section
of this manual).

4. Sit on seat in operating position,
depress clutch/brake pedal and set the
parking brake.

5. Place motion control lever in neutral
(N) position.

6. Press lift lever plunger and raise
attachment lift lever to its highest posi­tion.

7. Start the engine. After engine has
started, move throttle control to idle
position.

8. Release parking brake.

9. Slowly move the mo tion control lever
for ward and slowly drive tractor off
skid.

10.Apply brake to stop trac tor, set park ing
brake and place motion con trol lever in
neutral po si tion.

11.Turn ignition key to "STOP" position.

Continue with the in struc tions that follow.

INSTALL MULCHER PLATE

NOTE: You may now roll or drive your

tractor off the skid. Follow the appropriate
instruction below to remove the tractor
from the skid.

TO ROLL TRACTOR OFF SKID (See
Op er a tion section for location and
function of con trols)

1. Press lift lever plunger and raise
attachment lift lever to its highest po­ si tion.

(If previously removed)

1. Raise and hold defl ector shield in
up right po si tion.

2. Place front of mulcher plate over front
of mower deck open ing and slide into
place, as shown.

3. Hook front latch into hole on front of
mower deck.

4. Hook rear latch into hole on back of
mower deck.

CAUTION: Do not remove defl ector

shield from mow er.

9

TO CONVERT TO BAGGING OR
DISCHARGING

Simply remove mulcher plate and store in
a safe place. Your mower is now ready for
discharging or installation of optional grass
catcher accessory.
NOTE: It is not necessary to change
blades. The mulching blades are de signed
for discharging and bagging also.

02114

Defl ector
Shield

Mulcher
Plate

Latch
Hooks

ASSEMBLE GAUGE WHEELS TO
MOWER DECK

The gauge wheels are designed to keep
the mower deck in proper position when
operating mower. Be sure they are prop­ er ly adjusted to ensure optimum mower
performance.

1. Slide gauge wheel bar down into
bracket channel, Be sure that gauge
wheel bar aligning holes are on top.
As sem ble gauge wheels as shown
using shoulder bolts, 3/8 washers and
3/8-16 center locknuts and tighten
securely.

2. Adjust gauge wheels before operat­ing mower. See “TO ADJUST GAUGE
WHEELS” in the Operation sec tion of
this manual.

Retainer Spring

Pin

Shoulder
Bolt

Gauge
Wheel

Ad just ing
Bar

3/8 Washer

3/8-16 Center
Locknut

CHECK TIRE PRESSURE

The tires on your tractor were overinfl ated
at the factory for shipping purposes. Cor­rect tire pressure is important for best
cutting performance.

• Reduce tire pressure to PSI shown in
“PRODUCT SPEC I FI CA TIONS” section
of this manual.

CHECK DECK LEVELNESS

For best cutting results, mower housing
should be properly leveled. See “TO LEV­EL MOWER HOUSING” in the Service
and Adjustments section of this manual.

CHECK FOR PROPER POSITION
OF ALL BELTS

See the fi gures that are shown for replac­ing motion and mower blade drive belts
in the Service and Adjustments sec tion
of this manual. Verify that the belts are
routed cor rect ly.

CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM

After you learn how to operate your trac­tor, check to see that the brake is properly
adjusted. See “TO ADJUST BRAKE” in
the Service and Adjustments section of
this manual.

✔

CHECKLIST

Before you operate your new trac tor, we
wish to as sure that you re ceive the best
performance and sat is fac tion from this
quality product.
Please review the following checklist:
✓ All assembly instructions have been

com plet ed.

✓ No remaining loose parts in carton.
✓ Battery is properly prepared and

charged. (Minimum 1 hour at 6 amps).

✓ Seat is adjusted comfortably and tight-

ened securely.

✓ All tires are properly infl ated. (For ship-

ping purposes, the tires were over in ­fl ated at the factory).

✓ Be sure mower deck is properly lev eled

side-to-side/front-to-rear for best cutting
results. (Tires must be properly in fl at ed
for leveling).

✓ Check mower and drive belts. Be sure

they are routed prop er ly around pul leys
and inside all belt keepers.

✓ Check wiring. See that all connections

are still secure and wires are properly
clamped.

✓ Before driving tractor, be sure free wheel

control is in “transmission engaged”
position (see “TO TRANS PORT” in the

Operation section of this man u al).
While learning how to use your tractor, pay
extra attention to the following im por tant
items:

✓ Engine oil is at proper level.
✓ Fuel tank is fi lled with fresh, clean, reg-

u lar unleaded gas o line.
✓ Become familiar with all controls - their

location and func tion. Operate them

be fore you start the engine.
✓ Be sure brake system is in safe op er -

at ing condition.
✓ It is important to purge the trans mis sion

before op er at ing your tractor for the fi rst

time. Follow proper starting and trans-

mis sion purg ing instructions (See “TO

START EN GINE” and “PURGE TRANS-

MIS SION” in the Op er a tion sec tion of

this man u al).

10

OPERATION

These symbols may appear on your tractor or in literature supplied with the product.
Learn and understand their meaning.

REVERSE

ENGINE OFF

OVER TEMP

LIGHT

ATTACHMENT

CLUTCH ENGAGED

FREE WHEEL

(Automatic Models only)

NEUTRAL

LIGHTS ON

FUEL

OIL PRESSURE

ATTACHMENT

CLUTCH DISENGAGED

HIGH

ENGINE ON

LOW

ENGINE START

BATTERY

DANGER, KEEP HANDS

AND FEET AWAY

CHOKE

PARKING BRAKE

REVERSE

DANGER indicates a hazard which, if not avoided,
will result in death or serious injury.

WARNING indicates a hazard which, if not avoided,
could result in death or serious injury.

CAUTION indicates a hazard which, if not avoided,
might result in minor or moderate injury.

FAST

P

FORWARD

KEEP AREA CLEAR

SLOW

PARKING BRAKE

LOCKED

MOWER HEIGHT

15

SLOPE HAZARDS

(SEE SAFETY RULES SECTION)

IGNITION

PARKING BRAKE

UNLOCKED

MOWER LIFT

15

Failure to follow instructions
could result in serious injury or
death. The safety alert symbol
is used to identify safety inform­ation about hazards which can
result in death, serious injury
and/or property damage.

CAUTION when used without the alert symbol,
indicates a situation that could result in damage

to the tractor and/or engine.

HOT SURFACES indicates a hazard which,
if not avoided, could result in death, serious injury
and/or property damage.

FIRE indicates a hazard which, if not avoided,
could result in death, serious injury and/or
property damage.

11

KNOW YOUR TRACTOR

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR
TRACTOR

Compare the illustrations with your tractor to familiarize yourself with the locations of
various controls and ad just ments. Save this manual for future reference.

Ammeter

Throttle/Choke
Control

Clutch/Brake
Pedal

Free Wheel
Control

Attachment
Clutch Lever

Ignition
Switch

Light Switch
Position

Lift Lever
Plunger

Attachment
Lift Lever

Parking Brake Lever

Motion
Control
Lever

Our tractors conform to the safety standards of the

American National Stan dards Institute.

ATTACHMENT CLUTCH LEVER - Used
to engage the mower blades, or other at­tachments mounted to your trac tor.
ATTACHMENT LIFT LEVER - Used to
raise, lower, and adjust the mower deck or
other attachments mounted to your tractor.
CLUTCH/BRAKE PEDAL - Used for
declutching and brak ing the tractor and
starting the engine.
MOTION CONTROL LEVER - Selects the
speed and direction of tractor.
IGNITION SWITCH - Used for starting and
stopping the engine.

LIFT LEVER PLUNGER - Used to re lease
attachment lift lever when chang ing its
position.
LIGHT SWITCH POSITION - Turns the
head lights on and off.
PARKING BRAKE LEVER - Locks clutch/
brake pedal into the brake position.
THROTTLE/CHOKE CONTROL - Used
for starting and controlling engine speed.
FREEWHEEL CONTROL - Disengagages
transmission for pushing or slowly towing
the tractor with the engine off.
AMMETER - Indicates charging (+) or
discharging (-) of battery.

12

The operation of any tractor can result in foreign objects thrown into the
eyes, which can result in severe eye dam age. Always wear safety glass es
or eye shields while operating your tractor or per form ing any ad just ments
or repairs. We rec om mend standard safety glasses or a wide vision safety
mask worn over spectacles.

HOW TO USE YOUR TRAC TOR

TO SET PARKING BRAKE

Your tractor is equipped with an operator
presence sens ing switch. When engine
is running, any attempt by the op er a tor
to leave the seat without fi rst setting the
parking brake will shut off the engine.

1. Depress clutch/brake pedal all the way
down and hold.

2. Pull parking brake lever up and re lease
pres sure from clutch/brake pedal.
Pedal should re main in brake po si tion.
Make sure parking brake will hold trac­tor secure.

Attachment Clutch Lever “Engaged” Position

Throttle/
Choke
Control

Clutch/
Brake
Pedal

“Disengaged”
Position

“Brake”
Position

STOPPING

MOWER BLADES -

• To stop mower blades, move at tach ment
clutch lever to disengaged position.

GROUND DRIVE -

• To stop ground drive, depress clutch/
brake pedal all the way down.

• Move motion control lever to neutral (N)
position.

IMPORTANT: The motion control lever
does not return to neutral (N) position
when the clutch/brake pedal is de pressed.

ENGINE -

• Move throttle control to slow po si tion.

NOTE: Failure to move throttle control to
slow position to allow engine to idle before
stopping may cause engine to “backfi re”.

• Turn ignition key to “STOP” position and
remove key. Always remove key when
leaving tractor to pre vent un au tho rized
use.

• Never use choke to stop engine.

IMPORTANT: Leaving the ignition switch
in any position other than “STOP” will
cause the battery to discharge and go
dead.
NOTE: Under certain conditions when
tractor is standing idle with the engine

Ignition Key

“Disengaged”
Position

Motion Control Lever

Parking Brake
“Engaged”
Position

running, hot engine exhaust gases may
cause “browning” of grass. To eliminate
this possibility, always stop engine when
stopping tractor on grass areas.

CAUTION: Always stop tractor com­ plete ly, as de scribed above, be fore leav ing
the op er a tor’s position.

TO USE THROTTLE CON TROL

Always operate engine at full throttle.

• Operating engine at less than full
throttle reduces the battery charg ing
rate.

• Full throttle of fers the best bagging and
mower per for mance.

TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACK WARD

The direction and speed of movement is
controlled by the motion control lever.

1. Start tractor with motion control le ver in
neutral (N) position.

2. Release parking brake.

3. Slowly move motion control lever to
desired position.

TO ADJUST MOWER CUT TING HEIGHT

The po si tion of the at tach ment lift le ver
de ter mines the cut ting height.

• Grasp lift le ver.

• Press plunger with thumb and move
lever to desired position.

The cutting height range is ap prox i­ mate ly 1-1/2 to 4". The heights are mea­sured from the ground to the blade tip with
the engine not running. These heights
are approximate and may vary depending
upon soil conditions, height of grass and
types of grass being mowed.

• The average lawn should be cut to ap­proximately 2-1/2 inches during the cool
season and to over 3 inches during hot
months. For healthier and better looking
lawns, mow often and after moderate
growth.

• For best cutting performance, grass over
6 inches in height should be mowed
twice. Make the fi rst cut relatively high;
the second to de sired height.

13

TO ADJUST GAUGE WHEELS

Gauge wheels are properly adjusted
when they are slightly off the ground when
mower is at the desired cutting height in
operating position. Gauge wheels then
keep the deck in proper position to help
prevent scalping in most terrain conditions.
NOTE: Be sure tractor is on a fl at level
surface.

1. Lower mower and adjust mower to de­sired cutting height(See “TO AD JUST
MOWER CUT TING HEIGHT” in this
sec tion of manual).

2. Remove retainer spring and clevis pin
which secure each gauge wheel bar.

3. Lower gauge wheels to ground. Raise
gauge wheels slightly to align holes
in bracket and gauge wheel bar and
insert clevis pin. Gauge wheels should
be slightly off the ground.

4. Replace retainer spring into clevis pin.

5. Be sure all gauge wheels are in the
same setting.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to readjust gauge
wheels if you change the cutting height
of the mower deck.

Retainer
Spring

Clevis
Pin

TO OPERATE MOWER

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. You must
remain fully and centrally positioned in the
seat to prevent the engine from hesitating
or cutting off when operating your equip­ment on rough, rolling terrain or hills.

1. Select desired height of cut.

2. Start mower blades by engaging at­ tach ment clutch control.

TO STOP MOWER BLADES ­disengage at tach ment clutch con trol.

Attachment
Clutch Lever
“Engaged”
Position

“Disengaged”
Position

Attachemnt
Lift Lever
High
Position

Low
Position

Defl ector
Shield

TO OPERATE ON HILLS

WARNING: Do not drive up or down

hills with slopes greater than 15° and do
not drive across any slope. Use the slope
guide at the back of this manual.

• Choose the slowest speed before start­ing up or down hills.

• Avoid stopping or changing speed on
hills.

• If slowing is necessary, move throt tle
control lever to slower position.

• If stopping is absolutely necessary, push
clutch/brake pedal quickly to brake posi­tion and engage parking brake.

• Move motion control lever to neutral (N)
position.

IMPORTANT: The motion control lever
does not return to neutral (N) position
when the clutch/brake pedal is de pressed.

• To restart movement, slowly re lease
parking brake and clutch/brake ped al.

• Slowly move motion control lever to
slowest setting.

• Make all turns slowly.

TO TRANSPORT

When pushing or towing your tractor, be
sure to disengage transmission by placing
freewheel control in free wheel ing po si tion.
Freewheel control is located at the rear
drawbar of tractor.

1. Raise attachment lift to highest posi­tion with at tach ment lift control.

2. Pull freewheel control out and down
into the slot and release so it is held in
the disengaged position.

• Do not push or tow tractor at more than

two (2) MPH.

• To re-engage transmission, reverse

above procedure.

Transmission Engaged

CAUTION: Do not operate the mower

without either the en tire grass catcher,
on mowers so equipped, or the defl ector
shield in place.

14

Transmission Disengaged

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 rec om ­mend ed by and comply with spec i fi ca tions
of the manufacturer of your tractor. Use
common sense when tow ing. 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.

1. Check engine oil with tractor on level
ground.

2. 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 nec es sary,
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 the
oil viscosity chart in the Main te nance
sec tion of this manual).

• To change engine oil, see the Main te -

nance section in this manual.

ADD GASOLINE

• Fill fuel tank to bottom of tank fi ller neck.

Do not overfi ll. Use fresh, clean, reg u lar
un lead ed gasoline with a min i mum of
87 octane. (Use of leaded gasoline will
increase carbon and lead oxide de pos its
and reduce valve life). Do not mix oil
with gasoline. Purchase fuel in quan ti­ties 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 gas o line
near an open fl ame.
IMPORTANT: When operating in tem per a­ tures below 32°F(0°C), use fresh, clean
win ter grade gas o line to help in sure good
cold weather start ing.
CAUTION: Alcohol blended fuels (called
gasohol or us ing ethanol or methanol) can
attract mois ture which leads to separa­tion and for ma tion of acids during storage.
Acid ic gas can damage the fuel system of
an en gine while in storage.

To avoid en gine prob lems, the fuel system
should be emp tied 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 emp ty. Use fresh fuel
next season. See Stor age In struc tions for
additional in for ma tion.
Never use engine or car bu re tor clean er
prod ucts in the fuel tank or per ma nent
dam age may occur.

TO START ENGINE

When starting the engine for the fi rst time
or if the engine has run out of fuel, it will
take extra cranking time to move fuel from
the tank to the engine.

1. Be sure freewheel control is in the
trans mis sion en gaged position.

2. Sit on seat in operating position,
depress clutch/brake pedal and set
parking brake.

3. Place motion control lever in neutral
(N) position.

4. Move attachment clutch to dis en gaged
position.

5. Move throttle control to choke po si tion.

NOTE: Before starting, read the warm
and cold starting procedures below.

6. Insert key into ignition and turn key
clock wise to start position and release
key as soon as engine starts. Do
not run starter continuously for more
than fi fteen sec onds per minute. If the
engine does not start after several
attempts, move throt tle control to fast
position, wait a few minutes and try
again. If engine still does not start,
move the throttle control back to the
choke position and retry.

WARM WEATHER STARTING (50° F and
above)

7. When engine starts, move the throt tle
control to the fast position.

• The attachments and ground drive can

now be used. If the engine does not
accept the load, restart the en gine and
allow it to warm up for one minute using
the choke as de scribed above.

COLD WEATHER STARTING ( 50° F and
below)

7. When engine starts, leave throttle
control in choke position until engine
warms up and begins to run roughly.
Once rough running begins, im me ­di ate ly move the throttle control to the
fast position. Engine warm-up may
take from several seconds to several
minutes (the colder the tem per a ture,
the longer the warm-up).

15

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WARM UP
Before driving the unit in cold weath er,

the trans mis sion should be warmed up as
follows:

1. Be sure the tractor is on level ground.

2. Place the motion control lever in
neutral. Release the parking brake
and let the clutch/brake slowly re turn
to operating po si tion.

3. Allow one minute for trans mis sion to
warm up. This can be done during
the engine warm up period.

• The attachments can also be used dur-

ing the engine warm-up period after the

trans mis sion has been warmed up.
NOTE: If at a high altitude (above 3000
feet) or in cold temperatures (below 32 F)
the carburetor fuel mixture may need to
be adjusted for best engine performance
(see “TO ADJUST CARBURETOR” in the
Service and Adjustments section of this
manual).

PURGE TRANSMISSION

CAUTION: Never engage or dis-

en gage freewheel lever while the engine
is run ning.
To ensure proper operation and per­ for mance, it is rec om mend ed that the
trans mis sion be purged before operating
trac tor for the fi rst time. This procedure will
remove any trapped air inside the trans­ mis sion which may have de vel oped dur ing
shipping of your tractor.
IMPORTANT: Should your transmission
require removal for service or re place ­ment, it should be purged after re in stal l­a tion before operating the tractor.

1. Place tractor safely on level surface
with engine off and parking brake set.

2. Disengage transmission by placing
freewheel control in “transmission dis­engaged” po si tion (See “TO TRANS­ PORT” in this section of manual).

3. Sitting in the tractor seat, start en gine.
After the engine is running, move
throttle control to slow position. With
motion control lever in neutral (N)
po si tion, slowly disengage clutch/brake
pedal.

4. Move motion control lever to full
for ward position and hold for fi ve (5)
seconds. Move lever to full reverse
position and hold for fi ve (5) seconds.
Repeat this procedure three (3) times.

NOTE: During this step there will be no
movement of drive wheels. The air is be­ing removed from hydraulic drive sys tem.

5. Move motion control lever to neutral
(N) position. Shutoff engine and set
parking brake.

6. Engage transmission by placing
free wheel control in “transmission
engaged” position (See “TO TRANS­ PORT” in this sec tion of manual).

7. Sitting in the tractor seat, start en gine.
After the engine is running, move
throttle control to half (1/2) speed.
With motion control lever in neutral (N)
position, slowly dis en gage clutch/brake
pedal.

8. Slowly move motion control lever
forward, after the tractor moves ap­ prox i mate ly fi ve (5) feet, slowly move
motion control lever to reverse po si tion.
After the tractor moves ap prox i mate ly
fi ve (5) feet return the motion control
lever to the neutral (N) position. Repeat
this pro ce dure with the motion control
lever three (3) times.

Your transmission is now purged and
ready for normal operation.

16

MOWING TIPS

• Mower should be properly leveled for
best mowing performance. See “TO
LEVEL MOWER HOUSING” in the
Service and Adjustments sec tion of this
manual.

• The left hand side of mower should be
used for trim ming.

• Drive so that clippings are dis charged
onto the area that has already been
cut. Have the cut area to the right of
the tractor. This will result in a more
even dis tri bu tion of clippings and more
uniform cutting.

• When mowing large areas, start by
turning to the right so that clippings will
discharge away from shrubs, fences,
driveways, etc. After one or two rounds,
mow in the opposite direction making
left hand turns until fi nished.

MULCHING MOWING TIPS

IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep

mower housing free of built-up grass and
trash. Clean after each use.

• The spe cial mulch ing blade will recut
the grass clip pings many times and
reduce them in size so that as they fall
onto the lawn they will disperse into
the grass and not be noticed. Also, the
mulched grass will biodegrade quick ly
to provide nutrients for the lawn. Always
mulch with your highest engine (blade)
speed as this will pro vide the best recut­ting action of the blades.

• Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet.
Wet grass tends to form clumps and
in ter feres with the mulch ing action. The
best time to mow your lawn is the early
af ter noon. At this time the grass has
dried, the newly cut area will not be
exposed to direct sunlight.

• For best results, adjust the mower
cutting height so that the mower cuts
off only the top one-third of the grass
blades. For ex tremely heavy grass,
re duce your width of cut on each pass
and mow slow ly.

• If grass is extremely tall, it should be
mowed twice to reduce load and pos­sible fi re hazard from dried clip pings.
Make fi rst cut relatively high; the second
to the desired height.

• Do not mow grass when it is wet.
Wet grass will plug mower and leave
undesirable clumps. Allow grass to dry
before mowing.

• Always operate engine at full throt tle
when mowing to assure better mow ing

performance and proper dis charge of
material. Regulate ground speed by
se lect ing a low enough gear to give the
mower cut ting per for mance as well as
the quality of cut desired.

• When operating attachments, se lect a
ground speed that will suit the terrain
and give best performance of the at­ tach ment being used.

Max 1/3

• Certain types of grass and grass
con di tions may re quire that an area be
mulched a second time to com pletely
hide the clippings. When doing a sec­ ond cut, mow across (per pen dic u lar) to
the fi rst cut path.

• Change your cutting pattern from week
to week. Mow north to south one week
then change to east to west the next
week. This will help prevent matting and
graining of the lawn.

17

MAINTENANCE

g

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

FILL IN DATES
AS YOU COMPLETE
REGULAR SERVICE

Check Brake Operation

Check Tire Pressure

Check Operator Presence and
Interlock Systems

T

Check for Loose Fasteners

R
A

Sharpen/Replace Mower Blades

C

Lubrication Chart

T

Check Battery Level

0

Clean Battery and Terminals

R

Check Transaxle Cooling

Check V-Belts

Check Engine Oil Level

Change Engine Oil (with oil filter)

Change Engine Oil (without oil filter)

E

Clean Air Filter

N
G

Clean Air Screen

I

Inspect Muffler/Spark Arrester

N

Replace Oil Filter (If equipped)

E

Clean Engine Cooling Fins

Replace Spark Plug

Replace Air Filter Paper Cartridge

Replace Fuel Filter

1 - Change more often when operating under a heavy load or
in high ambient temperatures.
2 - Service more often when operating in dirty or dusty conditions.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

The warranty on this tractor does not cover
items that have been subjected to operator
abuse or negligence. To receive full value
from the warranty, operator must main tain
tractor as instructed in this manual.
Some adjustments will need to be made
periodically to properly maintain your trac­tor.
At least once a season, check to see if
you should make any of the adjustments
described in the Service and Adjustments
section of this manual.

• At least once a year you should replace
the spark plug, clean or replace air fi lter,
and check blades and belts for wear.
A new spark plug and clean air fi lter
assure proper air-fuel mixture and help
your engine run better and last longer.

BEFORE EACH USE

1. Check engine oil level.

2. Check brake operation.

3. Check tire pressure.

4. Check operator presence and

interlock systems for proper op er a tion.

5. Check for loose fasteners.

BEFORE EACH USE

BEFORE STORAGE

EVERY 8 HOURS

EVERY 25 HOURS

EVERY 50 HOURS

3

4

1,2

1,2

2

2

3 - Replace blades more often when mowing in sandy soil.
4 - Not required if equipped with maintenance-free battery.
5 - Tighten front axle pivot bolt to 35 ft.-lbs. maximum.
Do not overti

EVERY SEASON

EVERY 100 HOURS

5

1

,

2

2

2

hten.

SERVICE DATES

LUBRICATION CHART

Spindle

➀

Zerk

➀Front Wheel

Bearing

➀

Bearing Zerk

Zerk

➁Engine

➀ General Purpose Grease
➁ REFER TO Maintenance “ENGINE” SECTION

IMPORTANT: Do not oil or grease the
pivot points which have special nylon
bearings. Viscous lu bri cants will attract
dust and dirt that will short en the life of
the self-lu bri cat ing bearings. If you feel
they must be lu bri cat ed, use only a dry,
pow dered graphite type lu bri cant spar­ ing ly.

18

➀ Spindle

Zerk

Front Wheel

01202

0

1

2

1

4

TRACTOR

Always observe safety rules when per­ form ing any main te nance.

BRAKE OPERATION

If tractor requires more than fi ve (5) feet to
stop at highest speed in highest gear on a
level, dry concrete or paved surface, then
brake must be checked and adjusted. (See
“TO ADJUST BRAKE” in the Service and
Adjustments section of this manual).

TIRES

• Maintain proper air pressure in all tires
(See “PROD UCT SPEC I FI CA TIONS”
section of this man ual).

• Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect
control chemi cals which can harm rub­ber.

• Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp
objects and other hazards that may
cause tire damage.

NOTE: To seal tire punctures and pre vent
fl at tires due to slow leaks, tire sealant may
be purchased from your local parts dealer.
Tire sealant also prevents tire dry rot and
corrosion.

OPERATOR PRESENCE SYS TEM

Be sure operator presence and interlock
sys tems are working properly. If your trac­tor does not function as described, repair
the problem immediately.

• The engine should not start unless
the brake pedal is fully de pressed and
attachement clutch control is in the dis­engaged po si tion.

• When the engine is running, any attempt
by the op er a tor to leave the seat without
fi rst setting the parking brake should
shut off the engine.

• When the engine is running and the at­ tach ment clutch is engaged, any attempt
by the operator to leave the seat should
shut off the engine.

• The attachment clutch should nev er op­erate unless the operator is in the seat.

BLADE CARE

For best results mower blades must be
kept sharp. Re place bent or damaged
blades.

BLADE REMOVAL

1. Raise mower to highest position to al­low access to blades.

2. Remove blade bolt, lock washer and
fl at washer securing blade.

3. Install new or resharpened blade
with trailing edge up towards deck as
shown.

IMPORTANT: To ensure proper as sem bly,
center hole in blade must align with star
on mandrel assembly.

4.

Reassemble blade bolt, lock washer and
fl at washer in exact order as shown.

5. Tighten blade bolt securely (27-35 Ft.
Lbs. torque).

IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is heat treated.
If bolt needs replacing, replace only with
approve bolt shown in the Repair Parts.

Trailing Edge
Up

Flat
Washer

Lock
Washer

Blade

Center
Hole

Blade Bolt

Mandrel
Assembly

Star

TO SHARPEN BLADE
NOTE: We do not recommend sharp-

en ing blade - but if you do, be sure the
blade is balanced.
Care should be taken to keep the blade
balanced. An unbalanced blade will cause
excessive vibration and even tual damage
to mower and engine.

• The blade can be sharpened with a fi le

or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt
to sharpen while on the mower.

• To check blade balance, you will need a

5/8" diameter steel bolt, pin, or a cone
balancer. (When using a cone bal anc er,
follow the in struc tions supplied with

bal anc er.)
NOTE: Do not use a nail for balancing
blade. The lobes of the center hole may
appear to be centered, but are not.

• Slide blade on to an unthreaded portion

of the steel bolt or pin and hold the

bolt or pin parallel with the ground. If

blade is balanced, it should remain in a

horizontal po si tion. If either end of the

blade moves downward, sharpen the

heavy end until the blade is balanced.

Blade

5/8” Bolt or Pin

Center Hole

BATTERY

Your tractor has a battery charging sys tem
which is suf fi cient for normal use. How­ ev er, periodic charging of the battery with
an automotive charger will extend its life.

• Keep battery and terminals clean.

• Keep battery bolts tight.

• Keep small vent holes open.

• Recharge at 6-10 amperes for 1 hour.
NOTE: The original equipment battery on
your tractor is maintenance free. Do not
attempt to open or remove caps or cov ers.
Adding or checking level of elec tro lyte is
not necessary.

19

TO CLEAN BATTERY AND TER MI NALS
Corrosion and dirt on the battery and

terminals can cause the battery to “leak”
power.

1. Disconnect BLACK battery cable fi rst
then RED bat tery cable and remove
battery from tractor.

2. Rinse the battery with plain water and
dry.

3. Clean terminals and battery cable ends
with wire brush until bright.

4. Coat terminals with grease or pe tro ­leum jelly.

5. Reinstall battery (See “REPLACING
BATTERY" in the SERVICE AND AD­JUSTMENTS section of this manual).

TRANSAXLE COOLING

The transmission fan and cooling fi ns
should be kept clean to assure proper
cooling.
Do not attempt to clean fan or trans mis ­sion while engine is running or while the
transmission is hot. To prevent pos si ble
damage to seals, do not use high pres­ sure water or steam to clean transaxle.

• Inspect cooling fan to be sure fan blades

are intact and clean.

• Inspect cooling fi ns for dirt, grass clip-

pings and other materials. To prevent
damage to seals, do not use com­ pressed air or high pressure sprayer to
clean cool ing fi ns.

TRANSAXLE PUMP FLUID

The transaxle was sealed at the factory
and fl uid main te nance is not required for
the life of the transaxle. Should the trans­axle ever leak or require servicing, contact
our authorized service center/department.

V-BELTS

Check V-belts for deterioration and wear
after 100 hours of operation and replace
if necessary. The belts are not ad just able.
Re place belts if they begin to slip from
wear.

ENGINE

LUBRICATION

Only use high quality detergent oil rated
with API service classifi cation SG-SL.
Select the oil’s SAE viscosity grade
according to your expected operating
tem per a ture.

SAE VISCOSITY GRADES

5W-30

-20 0 30 40

F
C

-30

TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE

-20 0

32

-10

SAE 30

60

10

20 30 40

100

80

NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils (5W30,
10W30 etc.) improve starting in cold
weather, they will result in increased oil
consumption when used above 32°F. Check
your en gine oil level more frequently to avoid
pos si ble engine damage from running low
on oil.
Change the oil after every 50 hours of op­ er a tion or at least once a year if the trac tor
is not used for 50 hours in one year.
Check the crankcase oil level before start­ ing the engine and after each eight (8)
hours of operation. Tighten oil fi ll cap/
dipstick securely each time you check the
oil level.

TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL
Determine temperature range expected

before oil change. All oil must meet API
service classifi cation SG-SL.

• Be sure tractor is on level surface.

• Oil will drain more freely when warm.

• Catch oil in a suitable container.

1. Remove oil fi ll cap/dipstick. Be careful
not to allow dirt to enter the engine
when changing oil.

2. Remove yellow cap from end of drain
valve and install the drain tube onto the
fi tting.

Oil Drain Valve

Closed and
Locked
Position

Yellow
Cap

Drain
Tube

3. Un lock drain valve by pushing inward
slightly and turning counterclockwise.

4. To open, pull out on the drain valve.

5. After oil has drained completely, close
and lock the drain valve by pushing
inward and turning clock wise until the
pin is in the locked position as shown.

6. Remove the drain tube and replace the
cap onto the end of the drain valve.

7. Refi ll engine with oil through oil fi ll dip­stick tube. Pour slowly. Do not overfi ll.
For approximate capacity see “PROD­UCT SPEC I FI CA TIONS” section of this
man u al.

8. Use gauge on oil fi ll cap/dipstick for
checking level. For accurate reading,
tighten dipstick cap securely onto the
tube before removing dipstick. Keep oil
at “FULL” line on dipstick. Tighten cap
onto the tube securely when fi nished.

20

CLEAN AIR SCREEN

Air screen must be kept free of dirt and
chaff to prevent engine dam age from
overheating. Clean with a wire brush or
compressed air to re move dirt and stub­ born dried gum fi bers.

AIR FILTER

Your en gine will not run prop er ly and may
be dam aged by us ing a dirty air fi l ter.
Remove cartridge every 25 hours and tap
gently to clean. Replace paper cartridge
once a year or after every 100 hours of
operation, more often if used in very dusty,
dirty con di tions.

1. Remove knobs and cover.

2. Remove cartridge nut and clean or
replace cartridge.

3. Reassemble and tighten securely.

NOTE: Do not attempt to oil the paper
cartridge. See engine manual.

MUFFLER

Inspect and replace corroded muffl er and
spark arrester (if equipped) as it could
create a fi re hazard and/or dam age.

SPARK PLUG(S)

Replace spark plug(s) at the beginning
of each mowing season or after every
100 hours of operation, whichever occurs
fi rst. Spark plug type and gap setting are
shown in “PROD UCT SPEC I FI CA TIONS”
section of this manual.

IN-LINE FUEL FILTER

The fuel fi lter should be replaced once
each season. If fuel fi lter becomes
clogged, ob struct ing fuel fl ow to car bu ­re tor, re place ment is re quired.

1. With engine cool, remove fi lter and
plug fuel line sec tions.

2. Place new fuel fi lter in position in fuel
line with arrow pointing towards carbu­retor.

3. Be sure there are no fuel line leaks
and clamps are properly positioned.

4. Immediately wipe up any spilled gaso­line.

Clamp

Fuel Filter

Clamp

CLEANING

• Clean engine, battery, seat, fi nish, etc.
of all foreign matter.

• Keep fi nished surfaces and wheels free
of all gasoline, oil, etc.

• Protect painted surfaces with au to ­mo tive type wax.

We do not recommend using a garden
hose or pressure washer to clean your
tractor unless the engine and transmis­sion are covered to keep water out. Water
in engine or transmission will shorten the
useful life of your tractor. Use compressed
air or a leaf blower to remove grass,
leaves and trash from tractor and mower.

21

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS

WARNING: TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY, BEFORE PERFORMING ANY

SERVICE OR AD JUST MENTS:

1. Depress clutch/brake pedal fully and set parking brake.

2. Place motion control lever in neutral (N) position.

3. Place attachment clutch in “DISENGAGED” position.

4. Turn ignition key to “STOP” and remove key.

5. Make sure the blades and all moving parts have completely stopped.

6. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with plug.

TRACTOR

TO REMOVE MOWER

Mower will be easier to remove from the
right side of tractor.

1. Place attachment clutch in “DIS EN­GAGED” position.

2. Move attachment lift lever forward to
low er mower to its lowest po si tion.

3. Roll belt off engine pulley.

4. Remove small retainer spring, and
remove clutch spring off pulley bolt.

5. Remove large retainer spring, slide
col lar off and push housing guide out
of brack et.

6. Disconnect anti-sway bar from chas sis
bracket by re mov ing re tain er spring.

7. Disconnect suspension arms from rear
deck brackets by removing retainer
springs.

8. Disconnect front links from deck by
re mov ing retainer springs.

9. Raise lift lever to raise suspension
arms. Slide mower out from under trac­tor.

IMPORTANT: If an attachment other than
the mower deck is to be mounted on the
trac tor, remove the front links and hook
the clutch spring Into square hole in frame.

TO INSTALL MOWER

1. Raise attachment lift lever to its high est
position.

2. Slide mower under tractor with defl ec­tor shield to right side of tractor.

3. Lower lift lever to its lowest po si tion.

4. Connect front links to mower deck and
secure with retainer springs.

5. Connect suspension arms to rear
deck brackets and secure with retainer
springs.

6. Connect anti-sway bar to chassis
bracket and secure with retainer
spring.

7. Push clutch cable housing guide into
bracket, slide collar onto guide and
secure with large retainer spring.

8. Place fl at washer and clutch spring on
idler pulley bolt and secure with small
retainer spring.

9. Install belt onto engine pulley.

Retainer
Spring

Anti-Sway
Bar

Collar

Housing
Guide

Small Retainer Spring

Clutch Spring

Small Retainer

Clutch
Spring

Spring

Large Re tain er
Spring

Bracket

Flat Washer

Suspension
Arms

22

Square Hole

Engine
Pulley

Front Link

Retainer Springs
(Both Sides)

Defl ector
Shield

TO LEVEL MOWER HOUSING

Adjust the mower while tractor is parked
on level ground or driveway. Make sure
tires are properly infl ated (See “PROD­ UCT SPECIFICATIONS” section of this
man u al). If tires are over or underinfl ated,
you will not properly adjust your mower.

SIDE-TO-SIDE ADJUSTMENT

• Raise mower to its highest position.

• At the midpoint of both sides of mower,
measure height from bot tom edge of
mower to ground. Distance “A” on both
sides of mower should be the same or
within 1/4" of each other.

• If adjustment is necessary, make adjust­ment on one side of mower only.

• To raise one side of mower, tighten lift
link ad just ment nut on that side.

• To lower one side of mower, loosen lift
link ad just ment nut on that side.

NOTE: Each full turn of adjustment nut
will change mower height about 1/8".

• Recheck measurements after ad just ing.

Bottom edge of
Bottom edge
of mower to
ground

mower to ground

• To raise front of mower, loos en nut “F”
from trunnion on both front links. Tighten
nut “E” on both front links an equal
number of turns.The two front links must
remain equal in length.

• When distance “D” is 1/8" to 1/2" lower
at front than rear, tighten nut “F” against
trun nion on both front links.

• Recheck side-to-side ad just ment.

Mandrel

“D”

Both Front Links Should be Equal in Length

Nut “F”

Trunnion

“D”

Nut “E”

A

Lift Link
Adjustment Nut

Ground Line

Suspension Arm

A

FRONT-TO-BACK ADJUSTMENT
IMPORTANT: Deck must be level side-to
side. If the following front-to-back ad just ­ment is necessary, be sure to adjust both
front links equally so mower will stay level
side-to-side.
To obtain the best cutting results, the
mower housing should be adjusted so
that the front is approximately 1/8" to 1/2"
lower than the rear when the mower is in
its highest position.
Check adjustment on right side of trac­ tor. Measure dis tance “D” directly in front
and behind the mandrel at bottom edge of
mower housing as shown.

• Before making any necessary ad just ­ments, check that both front links are
equal in length.

• If links are not equal in length, adjust
one link to same length as other link.

• To lower front of mower loosen nut “E”
on both front links an equal number of
turns.

• When distance “D” is 1/8" to 1/2"
lower at front than rear, tighten nuts “F”
against trunnion on both front links.

Front Links

TO REPLACE MOWER BLADE DRIVE
BELT

The mower blade drive belt may be re­placed without tools. Park the tractor on
level surface. Engage parking brake.

BELT REMOVAL -

1. Remove mower from tractor (See “TO
REMOVE MOW ER” in this sec tion of
manual).

2. Work belt off both mandrel pulleys and
idler pulleys.

3. Pull belt away from mower.

BELT INSTALLATION -

1. Work belt around both mandrel pulleys
and idler pulleys

2. Make sure belt is in all pulley grooves
and inside all belt guides.

3. Install mower (See “To Install Mower”
in this section of this manual).

Idler Pulleys

Mandrel
Pulley

Mandrel
Pulley

23

TO CHECK AND ADJUST BRAKE

Your tractor is equipped with an ad just able
brake system which is mounted on the
right side of the transaxle.
If tractor requires more than fi ve (5) feet to
stop at highest speed in high est gear on a
level, dry concrete or paved surface, then
brake must be checked and ad just ed.

TO CHECK BRAKE

1. Park tractor on a level, dry concrete or
paved surface, depress clutch/brake
pedal all the way down and engage
parking brake.

2. Disengage transmission by placing
freewheel control in “transmission dis­engaged” position. Pull freewheel con­trol out and into the slot and release so
it is held in the disengaged position.

The rear wheels must lock and skid when
you try to manually push the tractor for­ward. If the rear wheels rotate, the brake
needs to be adjusted or the pads need to
be replaced.

TO ADJUST BRAKE

1. Depress clutch/brake pedal all the way
down and engage parking brake.

2. Measure distance between brake oper­ating arm and nut “A” on brake rod.

3. If distance is other than 1-9/16", loosen
jam nut and turn nut “A” until distance
becomes 1-9/16". Retighten jam nut
against nut “A”.

4. Engage transmission by placing
free wheel control in “trans mis sion
en gaged” position.

5. Road test tractor for proper stopping
distance as stated above. Readjust
if nec es sary. If stopping distance is
still greater than fi ve (5) feet in high est
gear, further main te nance is nec es sary.
Replace brake pads or contact our
authorized service center/department.

With Parking Brake “Engaged”

1-9/16”

Nut “A”

TO REPLACE MOTION DRIVE BELT

Park the tractor on level surface. En gage
parking brake. For as sis tance, there is a
belt installation guide decal on bottom side
of left footrest.

BELT REMOVAL -

1. Remove mower (See “TO RE MOVE
MOWER” in this section of manual).

NOTE: Observe entire motion drive belt
and position of all belt guides and keepers.

2. Remove belt from stationary idler and
clutching idler.

3. Remove belt downward from around
en gine pulley.

4. Pull belt slack toward rear of trac tor.
Carefully remove belt upwards from
transmission input pulley and over
cooling fan blades.

5. Remove belt from center span keeper
and pull belt away from tractor.

BELT INSTALLATION -

1. Carefully work new belt down around
transmission cooling fan and onto the
input pulley.

2. Slide belt into the center span keeper.

3. Pull belt toward front of tractor and roll
around the top groove of engine pulley.

4. Install belt through stationary idler and
clutch ing idler.

5. Make sure belt is in all pulley grooves
and in side all belt guides and keep ers.

6. Install mower (See “TO IN STALL
MOWER” in this sec tion of manual).

Engine Pulley

Clutching Idler

Stationary Idler

Center Span
Keeper

Transmission
Input Pulley

Jam Nut

Operating
Arm

Do Not touch this nut. If further brake
ad just ment is necessary contact an authorized
service center/department.

TRANSAXLE MOTION CON TROL LE­VER NEUTRAL AD JUST MENT

The motion control lever has been pre set
at the factory and adjustment should not
be necessary.

1. Loosen adjustment bolt in front of the
right rear wheel, and lightly tight en.

2. Start engine and move motion con­ trol lever until tractor does not move
forward or backward.

24

3. Hold motion control lever in that posi­tion and turn engine off.

4. While holding motion control lever in
place, loosen the adjustment bolt.

5. Move motion control lever to the neu­tral (N) (lock gate) position.

6. Tighten adjustment bolt securely.

NOTE: If additional clearance is needed
to get to ad just ment bolt, move mower
deck height to the lowest position.
After above adjustment is made, if the
tractor still creeps forward or backward
while motion control lever is in neutral
position, follow these steps:

1. Loosen the adjustment bolt.

2. Move the motion control lever 1/4 to
1/2 inch in the direction it is trying to
creep.

3. Tighten adjustment bolt securely.

4. Start engine and test.

5. If tractor still creeps, repeat above
steps until satisfi ed.

Motion Control
Lever

Neutral
Lock Gate

Adjustment
Bolt

TRANSMISSION REMOVAL/
RE PLACE MENT

Should your transmission require re mov al
for service or re place ment, it should be
purged after reinstallation and before op­erating the tractor. See “PURGE TRANS­ MIS SION” in the Op er a tion section of this
manual.

TO AD JUST STEER ING WHEEL ALIGN­ MENT

If steering wheel crossbars are not
hor i zon tal (left to right) when wheels are
positioned straight forward, remove steer­ ing wheel and reassemble with crossbars
horizontal. Tighten securely.

FRONT WHEEL TOE-IN/CAM BER

The front wheel toe-in and camber are not
adjustable on your tractor. If dam age has
occurred to affect the front wheel toe-in
or camber, contact our authorized service
center/department.

TO REMOVE WHEEL FOR REPAIRS

1. Block up axle securely.

2. Remove axle cover, retaining ring and
washers to allow wheel removal (rear
wheels have a square key - Do not
lose).

3. Repair tire and reassemble.

NOTE: On rear wheels only: align
grooves in rear wheel hub and axle. Insert
square key.

4. Replace washers and snap retaining
ring securely in axle groove.

5. Replace axle cover.

NOTE: To seal tire punctures and pre vent
fl at tires due to slow leaks, purchase and
use tire sealant from an authorized service
center/department. Tire sealant also pre­ vents tire dry rot and corrosion.

Washers

Retaining
Ring

Axle
Cover

Square Key
(Rear Wheel Only)

TO START ENGINE WITH A WEAK BAT­ TERY

WARNING: Lead-acid batteries

gen er ate ex plo sive gases. Keep sparks,
fl ame and smoking ma te ri als away from
bat ter ies. Always wear eye pro tec tion
when around batteries.
If your battery is too weak to start the
engine, it should be recharged. (See "BAT­TERY" in the MAINTENANCE section of
this man u al).
If “jumper ca bles” are used for emer gen cy
starting, follow this pro ce dure:
IMPORTANT: Your tractor is equipped
with a 12 volt system. The other vehicle
must also be a 12 volt system. Do not use
your tractor battery to start other vehicles.

TO ATTACH JUMPER CABLES -

1. Connect one end of the RED cable
to the POSITIVE (+) terminal of each
battery(A-B), taking care not to short
against tractor chassis.

2. Connect one end of the BLACK ca ble
to the NEGA TIVE (-) terminal (C) of
fully charged battery.

3. Connect the other end of the BLACK
cable (D) to good chassis ground,
away from fuel tank and bat tery.

TO REMOVE CABLES, REVERSE
ORDER -

1. BLACK cable fi rst from chassis and
then from the fully charged battery.

2. RED cable last from both batteries.

Weak or Dead
Battery

25

Fully Charged
Battery

REPLACING BATTERY

WARNING: Do not short bat tery

ter mi nals by al low ing a wrench or any
other object to contact both terminals at
the same time. Before con nect ing battery,
remove metal bracelets, wrist watch bands,
rings, etc.
Positive terminal must be connected
fi rst to prevent spark ing from ac ci den tal
grounding.

1. Lift seat pan to raised position.

2. Disconnect BLACK battery cable fi rst
then RED battery cable and carefully
remove battery from trac tor.

3. Install new battery with terminals in
same position as old battery.

4. First connect RED battery cable to
positive (+) terminal with hex bolt and
keps nut as shown. Tighten securely.
Slide terminal cover over terminal

5. Connect BLACK grounding cable to
negative (-) ter mi nal with remaining
hex bolt and keps nut. Tighten se cure ly.

Seat Pan

TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT BULB

1. Raise hood.

2. Pull bulb holder out of the hole in the
backside of the grill.

3. Replace bulb in holder and push bulb
holder securely back into the hole in
the backside of the grill.

4. Close hood.

INTERLOCKS AND RELAYS

Loose or damaged wiring may cause
your tractor to run poorly, stop running, or
prevent it from starting.

• Check wiring. See electrical wiring

diagram in the Repair Parts section.

TO REPLACE FUSE

Replace with 20 amp automotive-type
plug-in fuse. The fuse holder is located
behind the dash.

TO REMOVE HOOD AND GRILL AS­ SEM BLY

1. Raise hood.

2. Unsnap headlight wire connector.

3. Stand in front of tractor. Grasp hood at
sides, tilt toward engine and lift off of
tractor.

4. When replacing hood, be sure to
reconnect the headlight wire con nec tor.

Hood

Terminal
Cover

Positive
(Red)
Cable

Keps
Nut

Headlight Wire
Connector

Hex
Bolt

Negative
(Black)
Cable

26

ENGINE

TO AD JUST THROTTLE CON TROL
CABLE

The throttle control has been preset at
the factory and ad just ment should not be
necessary Check adjustment as described
below before loosening cable. If adjust­ment is nec es sary, see engine manual.

TO ADJUST CARBURETOR

Your carburetor has been preset at the
factory and adjustment should not be nec­essary. However, minor adjustment may
be required to compensate for differences
in fuel, temperature, altitude or load . If the
engine does need adjustment, see engine
manual.

27

STORAGE

Immediately prepare your tractor for stor­ age at the end of the season or if the trac­tor will not be used for 30 days or more.

WARNING: Never store the trac tor
with gas o line in the tank inside a building
where fumes may reach an open fl ame
or spark. Allow the engine to cool before
storing in any en clo sure.

TRACTOR

Remove mower from tractor for winter
storage. When mower is to be stored for a
period of time, clean it thor oughly, remove
all dirt, grease, leaves, etc. Store in a
clean, dry area.

1. Clean entire tractor (See “CLEAN ING”

in the Maintenance section of this
manual).

2. Inspect and replace belts, if nec es sary

(See belt re place ment in struc tions in
the Service and Ad just ments section of
this manual).

3. Lubricate as shown in the Main te -

nance section of this man ual.

4. Be sure that all nuts, bolts and screws

are securely fastened. In spect moving
parts for damage, break age and wear.
Replace if nec es sary.

5. Touch up all rusted or chipped paint

surfaces; sand lightly before paint ing.

BATTERY

• Fully charge the battery for storage.

• After a period of time in storage, battery

may require recharging.

• To help prevent corrosion and power

leakage during long periods of stor age,
battery cables should be dis con nect ed
and battery cleaned thor ough ly (see
“TO CLEAN BATTERY AND TER­ MI NALS” in the Maintenance section of
this man u al).

• After cleaning, leave cables dis con -

nect ed and place cables where they
cannot come in contact with battery
terminals.

• If battery is removed from tractor for

storage, do not store battery directly on
concrete or damp surfaces.

ENGINE

FUEL SYSTEM
IMPORTANT: It is important to prevent

gum deposits from forming in essential
fuel system parts such as carburetor, fuel
hose, or tank during storage.

Also, alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol
or using ethanol or methanol) can attract
moisture which leads to separation and
formation of acids during storage. Acidic
gas can damage the fuel system of an
engine while in storage.

• Empty the fuel tank by starting the en­gine and letting it run until the fuel lines
and carburetor are empty.

• Never use engine or carburetor clean er
products in the fuel tank or permanent
damage may occur.

• Use fresh fuel next season.

NOTE: Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable
alternative in min i miz ing the formation of
fuel gum deposits during stor age. Add
stabilizer to gasoline in fuel tank or stor­ age container. Always follow the mix ratio
found on stabilizer container. Run engine
at least 10 minutes after adding stabilizer
to allow the sta bi liz er to reach the car­buretor. Do not empty the gas tank and
carburetor if using fuel stabilizer.

ENGINE OIL

Drain oil (with engine warm) and replace
with clean engine oil. (See “ENGINE” in
the Maintenance section of this man ual).

CYLINDER(S)

1. Remove spark plug(s).

2. Pour one ounce of oil through spark

plug hole(s) into cylinder(s).

3. Turn ignition key to start po si tion for a

few seconds to distribute oil.

4. Replace with new spark plug(s).

OTHER

• Do not store gasoline from one sea son
to another.

• Replace your gasoline can if your can
starts to rust. Rust and/or dirt in your
gasoline will cause problems.

• If possible, store your tractor in doors
and cover it to give protection from dust
and dirt.

• Cover your tractor with a suitable pro­tective cover that does not retain mois­ture. Do not use plastic. Plas tic cannot
breathe which allows con den sa tion to
form and will cause your tractor to rust.

IMPORTANT: Never cover tractor while
en gine and exhaust areas are still warm.

28

TROUBLESHOOTING CHART:

PROBLEM CAUSE CORRECTION

Will not start 1. Out of fuel. 1. Fill fuel tank.

2. Engine not “CHOKED” 2. See “TO START ENGINE” in
properly. Operation section.

3. Engine fl ooded. 3. Wait several minutes before
attempting to start.

4. Bad spark plug. 4. Replace spark plug.

5. Dirty air fi lter. 5. Clean/replace air fi lter.

6. Dirty fuel fi lter. 6. Replace fuel fi lter.

7. Water in fuel. 7.
tor, refi ll tank with fresh gaso­ line and replace fuel fi lter.

8. Loose or damaged wiring. 8. Check all wiring.

9. Carburetor out of adjustment. 9. See “To Adjust Carburetor” in
Service and Adjustments
section.

10. Engine valves out of 10. Contact our authorized
adjustment. service center/department.

Hard to start 1. Dirty air fi lter. 1. Clean/replace air fi lter.

2. Bad spark plug. 2. Replace spark plug.

3. Weak or dead battery. 3. Recharge or replace battery.

4. Dirty fuel fi lter. 4. Replace fuel fi lter.

5. Stale or dirty fuel. 5. Empty fuel tank and refi ll tank
with fresh, clean gasoline.

6. Loose or damaged wiring. 6. Check all wiring.

7. Carburetor out of adjustment. 7. See “To Adjust Car bu re tor” in
Service and Ad just ments
sec tion.

8. Engine valves out of 8. Contact our authorized
adjustment. service center/department.

Empty fuel tank and carbure-

Engine will not 1. Brake pedal not depressed. 1. Depress brake pedal.
turn over 2.

3. Weak or dead battery. 3. Recharge or replace battery.

4. Blown fuse. 4. Replace fuse.

5. Corroded battery terminals. 5. Clean battery terminals.

6. Loose or damaged wiring. 6. Check all wiring.

7. Faulty ignition switch. 7.

8. Faulty solenoid or starter. 8. Check/replace solenoid or
starter.

9. Faulty operator presence 9. Contact our authorized
switch(es). service center/department.

Engine clicks but 1. Weak or dead battery. 1. Re charge or replace battery.
will not start 2. Corroded battery terminals. 2. Clean battery terminals.

3. Loose or damaged wiring. 3. Check all wiring.

4. Faulty solenoid or starter. 4. Check/replace solenoid or
starter.

Loss of power 1. Cutting too much grass/too 1. Raise cutting height/reduce
fast. speed.

2. Throttle in “CHOKE” position. 2. Adjust throttle control.

3. Build-up of grass, leaves and 3. Clean underside of mower
trash under mower. housing.

4. Dirty air fi lter. 4. Clean/replace air fi lter.

At tach ment clutch is engaged.

2.

Disengage attachment clutch.

Check/replace ignition switch.

29

TROUBLESHOOTING CHART:

PROBLEM CAUSE CORRECTION

Loss of power 5. Low oil level/dirty oil. 5. Check oil level/change oil.
(continued) 6. Faulty spark plug. 6. Clean and regap or change

spark plug.

7. Dirty fuel fi lter. 7. Replace fuel fi lter.

8. Stale or dirty fuel. 8.
with fresh, clean gas o line.

9. Water in fuel. 9.
buretor, refi ll tank with fresh
gasoline and replace fuel fi lter.

10. Spark plug wire loose. 10. Connect and tighten spark
plug wire.

11. Dirty engine air screen/fi ns. 11. Clean engine air screen/fi ns

12. Dirty/clogged muffl er. 12.Clean/replace muffl er.

13. Loose or damaged wiring. 13. Check all wiring.

14. Carburetor out of adjustment. 14. See “To Adjust Carburetor” in
Service and Adjustments
section.

15. Engine valves out of 15. Contact our authorized
adjustment. service center/department.

Empty fuel tank and refi ll tank

Empty fuel tank and car-

Excessive 1. Worn, bent or loose blade. 1. Replace blade. Tighten
vibration blade bolt.

2. Bent blade mandrel. 2. Contact our authorized
service center/department.

3. Loose/damaged part(s). 3. Tighten loose part(s).
Replace damaged parts.

Engine continues 1. Faulty operator-safety 1. Check wiring, switches and
to run when oper- presence control system. connections. If not cor rect ed,
ator leaves seat contact our authorized
with attachment service center/department.
clutch engaged

Poor cut - uneven 1. Worn, bent or loose blade. 1. Replace blade. Tighten

blade bolt.

2. Mower deck not level. 2. Level mower deck.

3. Buildup of grass, leaves, and 3. Clean underside of mower
trash under mower. housing.

4. Bent blade mandrel. 4. Contact our authorized
service center/department.

5. Clogged mower deck vent 5. Clean around man drels to

and trash around mandrels.

Mower blades will 1. Obstruction in clutch 1. Remove obstruction.
not rotate mechanism.

2. Worn/damaged mower drive 2. Replace mower drive belt.

belt.

3. Frozen idler pulley. 3. Replace idler pulley.

4. Frozen blade mandrel. 4. Contact our authorized
service center/department.

from build-up of grass, leaves,

open vent holes.

30

TROUBLESHOOTING CHART:

PROBLEM CAUSE CORRECTION

Poor grass 1. Engine speed too slow. 1.
discharge position.

2. Travel speed too fast. 2. Shift to slower speed.

3. Wet grass. 3. Allow grass to dry before
mowing.

4. Mower deck not level. 4. Level mower deck.

5. Low/uneven tire air pressure. 5. Check tires for proper air
pressure.

6. Worn, bent or loose blade. 6. Replace/sharpen blade.
Tighten blade bolt.

7. Buildup of grass, leaves and 7. Clean underside of mower
trash under mower. housing.

8. Mower drive belt worn. 8. Replace mower drive belt.

9. Blades improperly installed. 9. Reinstall blades sharp edge
down.

10. Improper blades used. 10. Replace with blades listed
in this manual.

11. Clogged mower deck vent 11. Clean around man drels to
holes from buildup of grass, open vent holes.
leaves, and trash around
mandrels.

Headlight(s) not 1. Switch is “OFF”. 1. Turn switch “ON”.
working 2.
(if so equipped) 3. Faulty light switch. 3. Check/replace light switch.

4. Loose or damaged wiring. 4.

5. Blown fuse. 5. Replace fuse.

Bulb(s) or lamp(s) burned out.

Place throttle control in

2. Replace bulb(s) or lamp(s).

Check wiring and connections.

“FAST”

Battery will not 1. Bad battery cell(s). 1. Replace battery.
charge 2. Poor cable connections. 2. Check/clean all connections.

3. Faulty regulator 3. Replace regulator.
(if so equipped).

4. Faulty alternator. 4. Replace alternator.

Loss of drive 1. Freewheel control in 1. Place freewheel control in
“disengaged” position. “engaged” position.

2. Motion drive belt worn, 2. Re place motion drive belt.
damaged, or broken.

3. Air trapped in transmission 3. Purge transmission.
during shipment or servicing.

Engine “backfi res” 1. Engine throttle control not 1. Move throttle control to
when turning set at “SLOW” position for 30 “SLOW” position and allow
engine “OFF” seconds before stopping to idle for 30 seconds before

engine. stopping engine.

31

SERVICE NOTES

32

15 DEGREES MAX.

ONLY RIDE UP AND DOWN HILL,

NOT ACROSS HILL

FOLD ALONG DOTTED LINE

THIS IS A 15 DEGREE SLOPE

WARNING: To avoid serious injury, operate your tractor up and

down the face of slopes, never across the face. Do not mow

slopes greater than 15 degrees. Make turns gradually to prevent

tipping or loss of control. Exercise extreme caution when

changing direction on slopes.

1. Fold this page along dotted line indicated above.

2. Hold page before you so that its left edge is vertically parallel to a tree

trunk or other upright structure.

3. Sight across the fold in the direction of hill slope you want to measure.

4. Compare the angle of the fold with the slope of the hill.

SUGGESTED GUIDE FOR SIGHTING SLOPES FOR SAFE OPERATION