Cub Cadet RZT-S Zero Operator's Manual

Safe Operation Practices • Set-Up • Operation • Maintenance • Service • Troubleshooting • Warranty

OperatOr’s Manual

RZT-S Zero

WARNING

READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL

BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS MACHINE.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.

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

Printed In USA

Form No. 769-08316

(Februar y 27, 2013)

To The Owner

Thank You

Thank you for purchasing a Cub Cadet Electric Zero-Turn tractor.
It was carefully engineered to provide excellent performance
when properly operated and maintained.

Please read this entire manual prior to operating the equipment.
It instructs you how to safely and easily set up, operate and
maintain your machine. Please be sure that you, and any other
persons who will operate the machine, carefully follow the
recommended safety practices at all times. Failure to do so could
result in personal injury or property damage.

All information in this manual is relative to the most recent
product information available at the time of printing. Review
this manual frequently to familiarize yourself with the machine,

its features and operation. Please be aware that this Operator’s

Manual may cover 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. Cub Cadet
LLC reserves the right to change product specifications, designs
and equipment without notice and without incurring obligation.

Table of Contents

Safe Operation Practices ........................................ 3

Set-Up ....................................................................... 9

Controls & Features ................................................ 11

Operation ................................................................15

Maintenance & Adjustment ................................ 20

1

If you have any problems or questions concerning the machine,
phone your local Cub Cadet dealer or contact us directly. Cub

Cadet’s Customer Support telephone numbers, website address

and mailing address can be found on this page. We want to
ensure your complete satisfaction at all times.

Throughout this manual, all references to right and left side of the
machine are observed from the operating position.

Service .................................................................... 24

Troubleshooting .................................................... 25

Replacement Parts ................................................ 27

Attachments & Accessories .................................. 28

Warranty ................................................................ 32

Record Product Information

Before setting up and operating your new equipment, please

locate the model plate on the equipment and record the
information in the provided area to the right. You can locate the
model plate by standing at the left side of the tractor, pivoting
the seat forward and looking down at the seat frame. This
information will be necessary, should you seek technical support
via our web site or with your local Cub Cadet dealer.

Model NuMber

Serial NuMber

Product Registration and Customer Support

Please register your product on our website, www.cubcadet.com.

If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation, or maintenance of
this machine, you can seek help from the experts. Choose from the options below:

◊ Visit us on the web at www.cubcadet.com

See How-to Maintenance and Parts Installation Videos at www.cubcadet.com/tutorials

◊ Locate your nearest Cub Cadet Dealer at [phone]

◊ Write to Cub Cadet LLC • P.O. Box 361131 • Cleveland, OH • 44136-0019

2

Important Safe Operation Practices

WARNING: 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!

CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65

WARNING! Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories contain lead and lead

compounds, chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling.

DANGER: This machine was built to be operated according to the safe operation practices 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 fingers, hands,
toes and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could
result in serious injury or death.

WARNING: When using electric tractors, basic safety precautions should always be followed
to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, and personal injury. These basic precautions include
the following pages:

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS

2

48 Volt Battery System

Servicing requires extreme care and knowledge of the system and should be performed only by a qualified
service technician. For repair service take the tractor to your nearest authorized service dealer. Always use original

equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) replacement parts when servicing.

General Operation

1. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the
machine and in the manual(s) before attempting to
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. This machine is a precision piece of power equipment,
not a plaything. Therefore, exercise extreme caution at all
times. This machine has been designed to perform one job:
to mow grass. Do not use it for any other purpose.

4. Never allow children under 14 years of age to operate this

machine. Children 14 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 an adult.

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

6. Do not charge or operate the tractor in the rain or in wet
areas.

7. In case of a system fault or a complete loss of battery
power the tractor can free-wheel. Depress the brake pedal
to maintain control and stop the unit. Restart the tractor. If
the problem persists, contact your service dealer.

8. Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could cause
sliding.

9. Only responsible individuals who are familiar with these rules

of safe operation should be allowed to use this machine.

10. 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.

11. 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.

3

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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 in its proper place.

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

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

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

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

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

21. Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.

22. Never carry passengers.

23. Back up slowly. Always look down and behind before and
while backing to avoid a back-over accident. Be aware

and pay attention to the safety system function that
stops power to the blades when driving in reverse. If not
functioning properly, contact an authorized dealer for
safety system inspection and repair.

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

25. Stop the tractor, disengage blade(s), set parking brake and
wait until the blade(s) come to a complete stop before
unclogging chute, removing any grass or debris, or making
any adjustments.

26. Never leave a powered machine on and unattended.
Always stop tractor, turn off blade(s), set parking brake and
remove key before dismounting.

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

28. Do not turn key off and coast downhill.

4 Section 2 — impo rtant Safe operation practiceS

29. 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
machine, which could result in serious injury.

30. Do not attempt to mow through unusually tall, dry grass (e.g.,
pasture) or piles of dry leaves. Dry grass or leaves may build up
on the mower deck presenting a potential fire hazard.

31. 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.

32. 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.

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

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 machine on

a sloped or hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15 degrees as

shown on the slope gauge, do not operate this machine on that
area or serious injury could result.

Do:

1. Mow across slopes, not up and down. Exercise extreme
caution when changing direction on slopes.

2. Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden
objects. Uneven terrain could overturn the machine. Tall
grass can hide obstacles.

3. Use slow speed. Choose a low enough speed so that you
will not have to stop while on the slope. Avoid starting
or stopping on a slope. If the tires are unable to maintain
traction, disengage the blades and proceed slowly and
carefully straight down the slope.

4. Use extra care with any attachments. These can change the
stability of the machine.

5. Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual. Do
not make sudden changes in speed or direction. Rapid
acceleration or deceleration could cause the front of the
machine to lift and rapidly flip over backwards, which
could cause serious injury.

Do Not:

1. Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then turn slowly
uphill and use extra care while turning.

2. Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments. The
mower could suddenly turn over if a wheel is over the edge
of a cliff, ditch, or if an edge caves in.

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

4. Do not operate the tractor in the rain or in wet areas.

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

6. Do not tow heavy pull behind attachments (e.g. loaded
dump cart, lawn roller, etc.) on slopes greater than 5 degrees.
When going down hill, the extra weight tends to push
the tractor and may cause you to lose control (e.g. tractor
may speed up, braking and steering ability are reduced,
attachment may jack-knife and cause tractor to overturn).

7. Do not turn key off and coast downhill.

Children

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

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. To avoid back-over accidents, always 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
path of the machine.

f. Remove key when machine is unattended to

prevent unauthorized operation.

2. Never allow children under 14 years of age to operate this

machine. Children 14 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 an 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. The maximum weight on the hitch is 50 lbs. and the

maximum towed load is 250 lbs.

6. Loss of traction can occur on slopes, 5° (9 %) maximum
grade.

7. Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop.

8. Use caution during turns to avoid jack-knifing.

9. Use extra caution when operating in reverse.

10. Do not modify or repair the hitch, replace the hitch if

damaged.

11. Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop.

12. Do not turn key off and coast downhill.

Service

General Service

1. Have your tractor serviced by a qualified repair person
using only identical replacement parts. This will ensure that
the safety of the ride-on lawn mower is maintained.

2. Recharge only with the charger specified by the
manufacturer. A charger that is suitable for one type of
battery pack may create a risk of fire when used with
another battery pack.

3. Do not use the charger in the rain.

4. Replace batteries if battery capacity drops below 50% of
initial capacity

5. Using old or faulty batteries could cause a system fault that
results in loss of power

6. Turn off and remove key before servicing, cleaning, or
removing material from the tractor.

7. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain the
blade(s) and all moving parts have stopped.

8. 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 machine
should be serviced professionally by an authorized dealer.

9. Regularly check the safety interlock system for proper
function, as described later in this manual. If the safety
interlock system does not function properly, have your
machine serviced professionally by an authorized dealer.

10. Check the blade(s) 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!”

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

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

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

14. After striking a foreign object, stop the tractor. Thoroughly
inspect the machine for any damage. Repair the damage
before starting and operating.

15. Never attempt to make adjustments or repairs to the
tractor while it is running.

16. The discharge cover is subject to wear and damage which
could expose moving parts or allow objects to be thrown.
For safety protection, 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!

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

Storage

Store idle tractor indoors, when not in use, the tractor should be
stored in an indoor dry and locked-up place — out of reach of
children.

5Section 2 — impo rtant Safe operation practiceS

Safety Symbols

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

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—ELECTRIC SHOCK
Do not use the charger in the rain and do not run the tractor with the charger plugged in.
Do not operate the tractor in the rain or wet conditions.

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.

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.

6 Section 2 — impo rtant Safe operation practiceS

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!

Symbol Description

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.

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

DANGER— ROTATING BLADES
To avoid a back-over accident, keep children away from the machine while it is in operation.

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

WARNING—FIRE HAZARD
Do not allow debris to accumulate. The build up of debris can lead to a fire.

WARNING—FIRE HAZARD
Do not place gas container inside cargo box.

WARNING—RIDERS/STABILITY
The cargo box is not a seat. Do not allow anyone to sit or stand on the cargo box. The storage

area has a maximum weight capacity of 20 pounds. Do not overload the cargo box, it may

damage the machine and affect the stability of the machine

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.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!

7Section 2 — impo rtant Safe operation practiceS

15° Slope

Figure 2Figure 1

Slope Gauge

15° Slope

(OK) (TOO STEEP)

15° dashed line

USE THIS SLOPE GAUGE TO DETERMINE

IF A SLOPE IS TOO STEEP FOR SAFE OPERATION!

To check the slope, proceed as follows:

1. Remove this page and fold along the dashed line.

2. Locate a vertical object on or behind the slope (e.g. a pole, building, fence, tree, etc.)

3. Align either side of the slope gauge with the object (See Figure 1 and Figure 2 ).

4. Adjust gauge up or down until the left corner touches the slope (See Figure 1 and Figure 2).

5. If there is a gap below the gauge, the slope is too steep for safe operation (See Figure 2 above).

Do not operate machine on slopes in excess of 15 degrees. All slopes require extra caution.

Always mow across the face of slopes, never up and down slopes.

WARNING! Slopes are a major factor related to tip-over and roll-over accidents which can result in severe injury or death.

8 Section 2 — Safe operation practi ceS

Set-Up

Hex Screw

Flat Washer

High

Low

Contents of Crate

• One Rider • One Battery Charger • One Deck Wash Hose Coupler

• One Rider Operator’s Manual • One Battery Charger Manual

3

Rider Preparation

Steering Wheel Column

Place the steering column in one of the two desired positions (high
or low) and secure in place with the hex screws and flat washers.

See Figure 3-1.

Figure 3-1

Adjusting the Seat

To adjust the position of the seat, lift the seat adjustment lever
up. 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 rider. See Figure 3-2.

Figure 3-2

NOTE: In order to have the seat tilted up, the seat must be
positioned all the way to the rear. Caution should be used to
avoid damage to the battery cover when tilting the seat forward.

9

Manually Moving the Rider

a

b

1. Engage the transmission bypass rods, one on each side of
the rider, to move the rider manually without starting it.
The transmission bypass rods are located on the rear of the
rider, just inside each rear wheel. Engage the bypass rods
by pulling each one out (a) and to the right (b) to lock it into

place. See Figure 3-3.

Figure 3-3

2. Disengage the bypass rods by reversing steps a & b after

moving the rider. See Figure 3-3.

3. Remove the deck wash system nozzle adapter from the

manual bag and store for future use.

Refer to the manual packed with your battery charger for
information and instructions on charging the batteries. Refer to
the Controls & Features section of this manual for the location of
the charging port on the rider.

NOTE: Use only the battery charger provided with this rider.

NOTE: The batteries should be fully charged before the initial use.

NOTE: Never charge a frozen battery.

NOTE: It is recommended that the rider be charged once every

month during off-season storage.

NOTE: Always disconnect battery charger (or extension cord,
if used) from the electrical outlet first, then disconnect battery
charger from the charging port.

NOTE: It is recommended that the batteries be fully charged
after each use. Storing batteries in a discharged state could
reduce future performance.

NOTE: It is recommended that the uit be plugged in at all times
when not in use.

LCD Display

The language and measurements can be changed while the

rider is on by pressing the “BLADE NORMAL” button below the

icon. To set the language, press the “BLADE NORMAL” button

until the desired langauge is displayed. To change the language
and measurement, press the “SYSTEM SETTINGS” button below
the icon. When the menu comes up, press the “BLADE

BOOST” button below the icon to change the measurements,
to change the language press the “BLADE NORMAL” button

below the icon. To go back to the home screen, press the
“SYSTEM SETTINGS” button below the icon.

Charging the Batteries

CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65 WARNING!

Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories

contain lead and lead compounds, chemicals known
to the State of California to cause cancer and
reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling.

WARNING: The batteries contain corrosive fluid

and toxic material — HANDLE WITH CARE. Keep
away from children. Do not puncture, disassemble,
mutilate, or incinerate. Explosive gases could be
vented during charging or discharging. Charge in a
well ventilated area, away from sources of ignition.

WARNING! Recharge only with the charger

provided with this rider. A charger that is not
suitable for this machine may damage the batteries
or create the risk of fire.

WARNING! Do not charge or operate the rider in the

rain or in wet conditions.

NOTE: The batteries in your rider are not expected to last for
the life of your rider. Rechargeable batteries degrade with time
and use. The batteries may eventually need to be replaced. To
have the batteries replaced, contact your authorized Cub Cadet
Service Dealer.

10 Section 3— Se t-Up