Columbia Series 81GH Operator's Manual

Safety • Set-Up • Operation • Adjustments • Maintenance • Troubleshooting • Warranty

OPERATOR’S MANUAL

Hydrostatic Garden Tractor — Model Series 81GH

IMPORTANT:
READ SAFETY RULES AND
INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
BEFORE OPERATION

LES DISTRIBUTIONS RVI LIMITÉE, 2955, JEAN-BAPTISTE DESCHAMPS, LACHINE, QUEBEC H8T 1C5

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

MTD LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019

769-04784

1.1 7.0 9

This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new equipment. It will help you assemble,
prepare and maintain the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.

Table of Contents

Slope Gauge..........................................................................3

Safe Operation Practices .....................................................4

Setting Up Your Lawn Tractor ...............................................8

Operating Your Lawn Tractor ..............................................12

Adjusting Your Lawn Tractor ..............................................20

Maintaining Your Lawn Tractor ...........................................22

Finding and Recording Model Number

BEFORE YOU START ASSEMBLING
YOUR NEW EQUIPMENT,
please locate the model plate on the equipment and copy
the information from it in the space provided below. You can
locate the model number by looking beneath the seat. This
information will be necessary to use the manufacturer’s web
site and/or help from the Customer Support Department or an
authorized service dealer.

Off-Season Storage / Attachments ...................................28

Trouble Shooting ................................................................29

Replacement Parts .............................................................30

Warranty for units purchased in Canada ..........................31

Warranty for units purchased in United States ................32

Emissions Control Warranty Statement ...........................33

Model Number

Serial Number

Customer Support

Please do

1. If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation or maintenance of this
unit, please call an authorized dealer.

Please have your unit’s model number and serial number ready when you call. See previous section to locate this
information.

2. The engine manufacturer is responsible for all engine-related issues with regards to performance, power-rating, specifica­tions, warranty and service. Please refer to the engine manufacturer’s Owner’s/Operator’s Manual, packed separately with
your unit, for more information.

NOT

return the unit to the retailer from which it was purchased,

without rst contacting Customer Support.

2

Sight and hold this level with a vertical tree...

or a corner of a building...

or a fence post

Fold along dotted line (represents a 15° slope)

15°

Use this page as a guide to determine slopes where you may not operate safely. Do not operate
your lawn mower on such slopes.

1

Slope

Gauge

WARNING

Do not mow on inclines
with a slope in excess
of 15 degrees (a rise
of approximately
2-1/2 feet every 10
feet). A riding mower
could overturn and
cause serious injury.
If operating a walk­behind mower on such
a slope, it is extremely
difficult to maintain your
footing and you could
slip, resulting in serious
injury.

Operate RIDING
mowers up and down
slopes, never across
the face of slopes.

3

Operate
WALK-BEHIND
mowers across the
face of slopes, never
up and down slopes.

WARNING: Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components
contain or emit chemicals known to State of California to cause cancer and birth defects
or other reproductive harm.

2

Safe

Operation

Practices

This symbol points
out important safety
instructions which, if
not followed, could
endanger the personal
safety and/or property
of yourself and others.
Read and follow all
instructions in this man­ual before attempting to
operate this machine.
Failure to comply with
these instructions
may result in personal
injury. When you see
this symbol, HEED ITS

WARNING.

Your

Responsibility

Restrict the use
of this power machine
to persons who read,
understand
and follow the warnings
and instructions
in this manual and on
the machine.

DANGER: This machine was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this manual.
As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in serious
injury. This machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe the
following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.

General Operation

1. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the ma­chine and in the manual(s) before attempting to assemble
and operate. Keep this manual in a safe place for future
and regular reference and for ordering replacement parts.

2. Be familiar with all controls and their proper operation.
Know how to stop the machine and disengage them
quickly.

3. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate this
machine. Children 14 years old and over should read and
understand the instructions and safe operation practices
in this manual and on the machine and should be trained
and supervised by a adult.

4. Never allow adults to operate this machine without proper
instruction.

5. To help avoid blade contact or a thrown object injury, keep
bystanders, helpers, children and pets at least 75 feet
from the machine while it is in operation. Stop machine if
anyone enters the area.

6. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to
be used. Remove all stones, sticks, wire, bones, toys,
and other foreign objects which could be picked up and
thrown by the blade(s). Thrown objects can cause serious
personal injury.

7. Plan your mowing pattern to avoid discharge of material
toward roads, sidewalks, bystanders and the like. Also,
avoid discharging material against a wall or obstruction
which may cause discharged material to ricochet back
toward the operator.

8. Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles during
operation and while performing an adjustment or repair
to protect your eyes. Thrown objects which ricochet can
cause serious injury to the eyes.

9. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-fitting
slacks and shirts. Loose fitting clothes and jewelry can be
caught in movable parts. Never operate this machine in
bare feet or sandals.

10. Be aware of the mower and attachment discharge
direction and do not point it at anyone. Do not operate the
mower without the discharge cover or entire grass catcher
in its proper place.

11. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or under the
cutting deck. Contact with the blade(s) can amputate
hands and feet.

12. A missing or damaged discharge cover can cause blade
contact or thrown object injuries.

13. Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel drives, walks, or
roads and while not cutting grass.

14. Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing
roadways. This machine is not intended for use on any
public roadway.

15. Do not operate the machine while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.

16. Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.

17. Never carry passengers.

18. Disengage blade (s) before shifting into reverse. Back up
slowly. Always look down and behind before and while
backing to avoid a back-over accident.

19. Slow down before turning. Operate the machine smoothly.
Avoid erratic operation and excessive speed.

20. Disengage blade (s), set parking brake, stop engine and
wait until the blade(s) come to a complete stop before
removing grass catcher, emptying grass, unclogging chute,
removing any grass or debris, or making any adjustments.

21. Never leave a running machine unattended. Always turn off
blade(s), place transmission in neutral, set parking brake,
stop engine and remove key before dismounting.

22. Use extra care when loading or unloading the machine into
a trailer or truck. This unit should not be driven up or down
ramp(s), because the unit could tip over, causing serious
personal injury. The unit must be pushed manually on
ramp(s) to load or unload properly.

23. Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do
not touch.

24. Check overhead clearances carefully before driving under
low hanging tree branches, wires, door openings etc., where
the operator may be struck or pulled from the unit, which
could result in serious injury.

25. Disengage all attachment clutches, depress the brake pedal
completely and shift into neutral before attempting to start engine.

26. Your machine is designed to cut normal residential grass of
a height no more than 10”. Do not attempt to mow through
unusually tall, dry grass (e.g., pasture) or piles of dry leaves.
Dry grass or leaves may contact the engine exhaust and/
or build up on the mower deck presenting a potential fire
hazard.

27. Use only accessories and attachments approved for this
machine by the machine manufacturer. Read, understand
and follow all instructions provided with the approved acces­sory or attachment.

28. 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 themselves and
others from serious injury.

29. If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use
care and good judgment. Contact your customer service
representative for assistance.

4

Slope Operation

Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and tip-over
accidents which can result 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.
For your safety, use the slope gauge included as part of this
manual to measure slopes before operating this unit on a
sloped or hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15 degrees as
shown on the slope gauge, do not operate this unit on that area
or serious injury could result.

Do:

1. Mow u

2. Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden objects.

3. Use slow speed. Choose a low enough speed setting so that

4. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for wheel

5. Use extra care with grass catchers or other attachments.

6. Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual. Do not

7. Avoid starting or sto

Do Not:

1. Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then, turn slowly

2. Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments. The

3. Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot on

4. Do not use a grass catcher on steep slopes.

5. Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could cause

6. Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill. Over-speeding

7. Do not tow heavy pull behind attachments (e.g. loaded

Children

1. Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the

p and down slopes, not across. Exercise extreme

caution when changing direction on slopes.

Uneven terrain could overturn the machine. Tall grass can
hide obstacles.

you will not have to stop or shift while on the slope. Tires may
lose traction on slopes even though the brakes are function­ing properly. Always keep machine in gear when going down
slopes to take advantage of engine braking action.

weights or counterweights to improve stability.

These can change the stability of the machine.

make sudden changes in speed or direction. Rapid engage­ment or braking could cause the front of the machine to lift
and rapidly flip over backwards which could cause serious
injury.

pping on a slope. If tires lose
traction, disengage the blade(s) and proceed slowly
straight down the slope.

and gradually downhill, if possible.

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

the ground.

sliding.

may cause the operator to lose control of the machine
resulting in serious injury or death.

dump cart, lawn roller, etc.) on slopes greater than 5
degrees. When going down hill, the ex

push the tractor and may cause you to loose control.
(e.g. tractor may speed up, braking and steering ability
are reduced, attachment may jack-knife and cause
tractor to overturn).

presence of children. Children are often attracted to the
machine and the mowing activity. They do not understand
the dangers. Never assume that children will remain where
you last saw them.

tra weight tends to

a. Keep children out of the mowing area and in watchful

care of a responsible adult other than the operator.
b. Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters the area.
c. Before and while backing, look behind and down for

small children.
d. Never carry children, even with the blade(s) shut off.

They may fall off and be seriously injured or interfere

with safe machine operation.
e. Use extreme care when approaching blind corners,

doorways, shrubs, trees or other objects that may

block your vision of a child who may run into the

machine.
f. To avoid back-over accidents, always disengage

the cutting blade (s) before shifting into Reverse. If

equipped, the “Reverse Caution Mode” should not

be used when children or others are around.

g. Keep children away from hot or running engines. They

can suffer burns from a hot muffler.
h. Remove key when machine is unattended to prevent

unauthorized operation.

2. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate this
machine. Children 14 years old and over should read
and unde

practices in this manual and on the machine and
should be trained and supervised by a adult.

Towing

1. Tow only with a machine that has a hitch designed for

towing. Do not attach towed equipment except at the hitch
point.

2. Follow the manufacturers recommendation for weight
limits for towed equipment and towing on slopes.

3. Never allow children or others in or on towed equipment.

4. On slopes, the weight of the towed equipment may cause
loss of traction and loss of control.

5. Always use extra caution when towing with a machine
capable of making tight turns (e.g. “zero-turn” ride-on
mower). Make wide turns to avoid jack-knifing.

6. Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop.

6. Do not shift to neut

rstand the instructions and safe operation

ral and coast downhill.

Service

Safe Handling of Gasoline:

1. To avoid personal injury or property damage use
extreme care in handling gasoline. Gasoline is

extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive.
Serious personal injury can occur when gasoline is spilled
on yourself or your clothes which can ignite. Wash your
skin and change clothes immediately.

a. Use only an approved gasoline container.
b. Never fill conta

or trailer bed with a plastic liner. Always place contain-

ers on the ground away from your vehicle before filling.

c. When practical, remove gas-powered equipment from

the truck or trailer and refuel it on the ground. If this is
not possible, then refuel such equipment on a trailer
with a portable container, rather than from a gasoline
dispenser nozzle.

d. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel

tank or container opening at all times until fueling is
complete. Do not use a nozzle lock-open device.

iners inside a vehicle or on a truck

2

Safe

Operation

Practices

This symbol points
out important safety
instructions which, if
not followed, could
endanger the personal
safety and/or property
of yourself and others.
Read and follow all
instructions in this man­ual before attempting to
operate this machine.
Failure to comply with
these instructions
may result in personal
injury. When you see
this symbol, HEED ITS

WARNING.

Your

Responsibility

Restrict the use
of this power machine
to persons who read,
understand
and follow the warnings
and instructions
in this manual and on
the machine.

5

2

Safe

Operation

Practices

This symbol points
out important safety
instructions which, if
not followed, could
endanger the personal
safety and/or property
of yourself and others.
Read and follow all
instructions in this man­ual before attempting to
operate this machine.
Failure to comply with
these instructions
may result in personal
injury. When you see
this symbol, HEED ITS

WARNING.

Your

Responsibility

Restrict the use
of this power machine
to persons who read,
understand
and follow the warnings
and instructions
in this manual and on
the machine.

e. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other

sources of ignition.
f. Never fuel machine indoors.
g. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine

is hot or running. Allow engine to cool at least two

minutes before refueling.
h. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½

inch below bottom of filler neck to allow space for fuel

expansion.
i. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
j. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equip-

ment. Move unit to another area. Wait 5 minutes before

starting the engine.
k. To reduce fire hazards, keep machine free of grass,

leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel

spillage and remove any fuel soaked debris.
l. Never store the machine or fuel container inside where

there is an open flame, spark or pilot light as on a

water heater, space heater, furnace, clothes dryer or

other gas appliances.
m. Allow a machine to co

storing.

General Service

1. Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated

area. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an
odorless, and deadly gas.

2. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain the
blade(s) and all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect
the spark plug wire and ground against the engine to
prevent unintended starting.

3. Periodically check to make sure the blades come to
complete stop within approximately (5) five seconds after
operating the blade disengagement control. If the blades
do not stop within the this time frame, your unit should be
serviced professionally by an authorized Service Dealer.

4. Check brake operation frequently as it is subjected to wear
during normal operation. Adjust and service as required.

5. Check the blade(s) and engine mounting bolts at frequent
intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect
blade(s) for damage (e.g., excessive wear, bent, cracked).
Replace the blade(s) with the original equipment manu­facturer’s (O.E.M.) blade(s) only, listed in this manual.
“Use of parts which do not meet the original equipment
specifications may lead to improper performance and
compromise safety! ”

6. Mower blades are sharp. Wrap the blade or wear gloves,
and use extra caution when servicing them.

7. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the
equipment is in safe working condition.

8. Never tamper with the safety interlock system or other
safety devices. Check their proper operation regularly.

9. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect
the spark plug wire(s) and ground against the engine.
Thoroughly inspect the machine for any damage. Repair
the damage before starting and operating.

10. Never attempt to make adjustments or repairs to the
machine while the engine is running.

11. Grass catcher components and the discharge cover are
subject to wear and damage which could expose moving
parts or allow objects to be thrown. For safety protection,

ol at least five minutes before

frequently check components and replace immediately with
original equipment manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only, listed
in this manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the original
equipment specifications may lead to improper performance
and compromise safety!”

12. Do not change the engine governor settings or over-speed
the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe
operating speed of the engine.

13. Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as neces­sary.

14. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas, oil,
etc. to pro

15. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission
(CPSC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), this product has an Average Useful Life of seven (7)
years, or 270 hours of operation. At the end of the Average
Useful Life, have the machine inspected annually by an
authorized service dealer to ensure that all mechanical
and safety systems are working properly and not worn
excessively. Failure to do so can result in accidents, injuries
or death.

Spark Arrestor

If a spark arrester is used, it should be maintained in effective
working order by the operator.
A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest
engine authorized service dealer.

Do not modify engine

To avoid serious injury or death, do not modify engine in any
way. Tampering with the governor setting can lead to a runaway
engine and cause it to operate at unsafe speeds. Never tamper
with factory setting of engine governor.

Notice regarding Emissions

Engines which are certified to comply with California and
federal EPA emission regulations for SORE (Small Off Road
Equipment) are certified to operate on regular unleaded
gasoline, and may include the following emission control
systems: Engine Modification (EM) and Three Way Catalyst
(TWC) if so equipped.

tect the environment.

Warning: This machine is equipped with
an internal combustion engine and should
not be used on or near any unimproved
forest-covered, brushcovered or grass­covered land unless the engine’s exhaust
system is equipped with a spark arrester
meeting applicable local or provincial laws
(if any) .

6

This page depicts and describes safety symbols that may appear on this product. Read, understand, and follow all instructions
on the machine before attempting to assemble and operate.

Symbol Description

READ THE OPERATOR’S MANUAL(S)
Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the manual(s) before attempting
to assemble and operate

DANGER— ROTATING BLADES
Never carry passengers. Never carry children, even with the blades off.

DANGER— ROTATING BLADES
Always look down and behind before and while backing to avoid a back-over
accident.

WARNING— ROTATING BLADES
Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or under the cutting deck. Contact
with the blade(s) can amputate hands and feet.

WARNING—THROWN OBJECTS
This machine may pick up and throw and objects which can cause serious
personal injury.

WARNING—THROWN OBJECTS
This machine may pick up and throw and objects which can cause serious
personal injury.

BYSTANDERS
Keep bystanders, helpers, children and pets at least 75 feet from the machine
while it is in operation.

WARNING— SLOPE OPERATION
Do not operate this machine on a slope greater than 15 degrees.

2

Safe

Symbols

This symbol points
out important safety
instructions which, if
not followed, could
endanger the personal
safety and/or property
of yourself and others.
Read and follow all
instructions in this man­ual before attempting to
operate this machine.
Failure to comply with
these instructions
may result in personal
injury. When you see
this symbol, HEED ITS

WARNING.

WARNING— HOT SURFACE
Engine parts, especially the muffler, become extremely hot during operation. Allow
engine and muffler to cool before touching.

DANGER — ROTATING BLADES
To reduce the risk of injury, keep hands and feet away. Do not operate unless
discharge cover or grass catcher is in its proper place. If damaged, replace
immediately.

Your

Responsibility

Restrict the use
of this power machine
to persons who read,
understand
and follow the warnings
and instructions
in this manual and on
the machine.

7

3

Setting Up
Your Lawn

Tractor

WARNING

Use extreme care
when handling
gasoline. Gasoline is
extremely flammable
and the vapors are
explosive. Never fuel
machine indoors
or while the engine
is hot or running.
Extinguish cigarettes,
cigars, pipes, and
other sources of
ignition.

NOTE: This Operators

Manual covers a range
of product specifications
for various models.
Characteristics and
features discussed
and/or illustrated in
this manual may not be
applicable to all models.
MTD LLC reserves the
right to change product
specifications, designs
and equipment without
notice and without incur­ring obligation.

Connecting the Battery Cables

CAUTION: When attaching battery
cables, always connect the POSITIVE
(Red) wire to its terminal first, followed
by the NEGATIVE (Black) wire.

For shipping reasons, both battery cables on your
equipment may have been left disconnected from the
terminals at the factory. To connect the battery cables,
proceed as follows:

NOTE: The positive battery terminal is marked Pos. (+).
The negative battery terminal is marked Neg. (–).

1. Remove the plastic cover, if present, from the
positive battery terminal and attach the red cable to
the positive battery terminal (+) with the bolt and hex
nut. See Figure 3-1.

2. Remove the plastic cover, if present, from the
negative battery terminal and attach the black cable
to the negative battery terminal (–) with the bolt and
hex nut. See Figure 3-1.

3. Position the red rubber boot over the positive battery
terminal to help protect it from corrosion.

NOTE: If the battery is put into service after the date
shown on the battery, charge the battery as instructed
in the Maintaining Your Lawn Tractor section of this
manual prior to operating the tractor.

Gas and Oil Fill-up

The gasoline tank is located under the hood and has a
capacity of either two or three gallons. Do not overfill.

WARNING: Use extreme care when
handling gasoline. Gasoline is
extremely flammable and the vapors
are explosive. Never fuel machine
indoors or while the engine is hot or
running. Extinguish cigarettes, cigars,
pipes, and other sources of ignition.

Service the engine with gasoline and oil as instructed
in the separate Engine Operator/Owner Manual packed
with your tractor. Read instructions carefully.

IMPORTANT: Your tractor is shipped with motor oil
in the engine. However, you MUST check the oil level
before operating. Be careful not to overfill.

Shipping Brace Removal

WARNING: Make sure the riding
mower’s engine is off, remove the
ignition key, and set the parking brake
before removing the shipping brace.

• Locatetheshippingbrace,ifpresent,andaccom­panying warning tag found on the right side of the
mower, between the discharge chute and the cutting
deck. See Figure 3-2.

Figure 3-1

Figure 3-2

• Whileholdingthedischargechutewithyourlefthand,

remove the shipping brace with your right hand by
grasping it between your thumb and index finger and
rotating it clockwise.

WARNING: The shipping brace, used
for packaging purposes only, must be
removed and discarded before operat­ing your riding mower.

WARNING: The mowing deck is capable
of throwing objects. Failure to operate
the riding mower without the discharge
cover in the proper operating position
could result in serious personal injury
and/or property damage.

8

Attaching the PTO Lever
(

Models with Manual PTO only)

If the PTO lever for your tractor was not attached at the
factory, follow the instructions below to attach it.

1. Position the PTO lever on the PTO shaft and secure
with the hex lock nut. See Fig. 3-3.

2. Place the PTO lever cap over the hex nut and push
downward until it “clicks” into place.

3

Setting Up
Your Lawn

Tractor

Figure 3-3

Attaching The Steering Wheel

NOTE: There are two different styles of steering wheel
cap. See Figure 3-4. Styles vary by model.

If the steering wheel for your tractor did not come
attached, the hardware for attaching it has been packed
within the steering wheel, beneath the steering wheel
cap. Carefully pry off the steering wheel cap and remove
the hardware.

1. With the wheels of the tractor pointing straight
forward, place the steering wheel over the steering
shaft.

2. Place the washer (with the cupped side down) over
the steering shaft and secure with the hex bolt. See
Figure 3-4.

3. Place the steering wheel cap over the center of the
steering wheel and push downward until it “clicks” into
place.

Identifying the Mulch Plug

(if so equipped)

On tractor models so equipped, a mulch plug can either
be found within the cutting deck’s discharge opening or
packed separately with your unit.

NOTE: Refer to Mulching on page 19 for more detailed
information.

If you’d prefer to operate the cutting deck without mulch­ing, simply remove the mulch plug by unthreading the
plastic wing nut which fastens it to the cutting deck. This
will allow the clippings to discharge out of the discharge
opening during operation. See Figure 3-5.

Figure 3-4

WARNING

Make sure the riding
mower’s engine is
off, remove the igni­tion key, and set the
parking brake before
removing the shipping
brace.

The shipping brace,
used for packaging
purposes only, must
be removed and
discarded before
operating your riding
mower.

The mowing deck is
capable of throwing
objects. Failure to
operate the riding
mower without the
discharge cover in
the proper operating
position could result
in serious personal
injury and/or property
damage.

Figure 3-5

9

3

Setting Up
Your Lawn

Tractor

Attaching The Seat

NOTE: For shipping reasons, the seat is either fastened
to the tractor seat’s pivot bracket with a plastic tie, or
mounted backward to the pivot bracket. In either case,
free the seat from its shipping position being careful not to
bend or kink the wiring harness and follow the instruc­tions below to attach it.

1. Remove the two hex screws and nuts from the seat
pivot bracket.

2. Align the front holes of the seat mounting bracket with
the holes in the seat pivot bracket on your tractor and
secure with previously removed hex screws and nuts.
See Figures 3-6 or Figure 3-7.

WARNING

Before operating the
tractor, make sure the
seat is engaged in the

seat-stop. Engage the
parking brake. Stand
behind the machine
and pull back on seat
until it clicks into
place.

NOTE: For shipping
reasons, seats are
either fastened to
the tractor seat’s
pivot bracket with a
plastic tie, or mounted
backward to the pivot
bracket. In either case,
free the seat from
its shipping position
being careful not
to bend or kink the
wiring harness.

Figure 3-6

Figure 3-7

Knob Adjustment Seat

To adjust the position of the seat loosen the knob on the
bottom of the seat. See Figure 3-7. Slide the seat forward
or backward as desired. Retighten the knobs

Quick Adjustment Seat

To adjust the position of the seat, pull up and hold the
seat adjustment lever. Slide the seat forward or rearward
to the desired position; then release the adjustment lever.
Make sure seat is locked into position before operating
the tractor. See Fig. 3-8.

Warning! Before operating the tractor,
make sure the seat is engaged in the

seat-stop. Engage the parking brake.
Stand behind the machine and pull back
on seat until it clicks into place.

Figure 3-8

10

Setting the Deck Gauge Wheels

Move the tractor on a firm and level surface, preferably
pavement, and proceed as follows

1. Select the height position of the cutting deck by plac­ing the deck lift lever in the normally desired mowing
height setting (any of the six different cutting height
notches on the right fender).

2. Check the gauge wheels for contact or excessive
clearance with the surface below. The deck gauge
wheels should have between ¼-inch and ½-inch
clearance above the ground as follows:

If the gauge wheels have excessive clearance or contact
with the surface, adjust as follows:

a. Raise the deck lift handle to its highest setting.

b. Remove the front and rear gauge wheels by

removing the lock nuts and shoulder screws which
secure them to the deck. See Fig. 3-9.

c. Place the deck lift lever in the desired mowing

height setting.

d. Reinsert the shoulder screw (with each gauge

wheel) into the index hole that leaves approxi­mately ½-inch between the bottom of the wheel
and the pavement.

Refer to Leveling the Deck in the Maintenance section
of this manual for more detailed instructions regarding
various deck adjustments.

Tire Pressure

WARNING: Maximum tire pressure un­der any circumstances is 30 psi. Equal
tire pressure should be maintained at
all times.

The tires on your unit may be over-inflated for shipping
purposes. Reduce the tire pressure before operating
the tractor. Recommended operating tire pressure is
approximately 10 p.s.i for the rear tires & 14 p.s.i. for the
front tires. Check sidewall of tire for maximum p.s.i.

3

Setting Up
Your Lawn

Tractor

Figure 3-9

WARNING

WARNING: Maximum
tire pressure under
any circumstances
is 30 psi. Equal tire
pressure should be
maintained at all
times.

11