2013 Silver Eagle Owner/Operator Manual
Serial numbers 13SEXXXXXXXXXXXXX and higher
700297 08/2012
About This Manual
Congratulations on the purchase of your new Dixie Chopper mower! When operated and maintained as directed in this manual, Dixie Chopper is confi dent that this mower will provide you with
years of excellent performance, durability, and trouble free service.
Should you ever have any questions regarding the operation, maintenance, or safety of your
mower, please contact your authorized Dixie Chopper dealer who has been specially trained in
the operation and service of Dixie Chopper mowers.
Please take time to record the information about your new Dixie Chopper mower in the space
below for future reference. Such information may be needed when you contact your authorized
Dixie Chopper dealer with questions.
The general operation, adjustment, and maintenance procedures contained in this manual are
meant for both the beginner and the experienced Dixie Chopper operator. Operating conditions
vary greatly, as do individual skill sets, so take time to learn how to safely operate this machine.
This owner’s manual is considered a permanent part of the mower. It must be available to all of
the operators and/or person(s) servicing the mower. Should the mower be resold, this manual
must remain with the mower.
Illustrations and photographs used in this manual were current as of date of print. Despite this
effort, production changes may have occurred after the time of the purchase of your Dixie Chopper; therefore, your unit may vary slightly from what is depicted in this manual.
All information, illustrations, and specifi cations contained in this manual were in effect at the time
of publication. Dixie Chopper reserves the right to change, modify, and/or discontinue specifi ca-
tions and/or design without notice. If there is a change that has been made to your mower which
is not shown or refl ected in this manual, please see your authorized Dixie Chopper dealer before
operating and/or servicing equipment.
Authorized Dealer:
Model #:
Engine Model #:
Serial #:
Date purchased:
Dixie Chopper ▪ 6302 E. County Road 100 N. ▪ Coatesville, IN ▪ 46121 ▪ www.dixiechopper.com
700297 08/2012
Engine Serial #:
II
Table of Contents
Topic Page#
General Precautions...........................................1
Safety Information Decals..................................3
Warranty...............................................................4
Routine Maintenance Schedule........................7
Maintenance Points...8
Safety Features...................................................9
Controls.............................................................10
Start-up & Operation............................................
Safety Interlock System...11
Starting the Mower...11
Mowing...11
Control Panel...11
Steering Speed Control Levers...12
OCDC (Operator Controlled Discharge Chute)...13
Cut Height Setting...13
Mowing Speed...13
Manual Deck Lift...14
Electric Deck Lift...14
Quick Lift...14
Shutdown...............................................................
Shutdown Procedures...15
Moving the Mower Without Power...15
Bypass Valve...15
Adjustments, Maintenance, & Repair.................
Blade Replacement...16
Under Deck Cleaning...16
Parking Brake Adjustment...16
Mower Cleaning & Off-season Storage...16
Preparation for New Mowing Season...17
Belt Routing...17
Notes......................................................................
Dixie Chopper ▪ 6302 E. County Road 100 N. ▪ Coatesville, IN ▪ 46121 ▪ www.dixiechopper.com
700297 08/2012
Notes...18-20
III
General Safety Precautions
16. When mowing downhill, loss of traction and/or braking ability may occur. To compensate, slightly
increase ground speed and make shallow turns gradually, until tighter control is regained.
17. Stay alert for holes, rocks, roots or other terrain features which may cause loss or sudden increase in
traction. Care must be taken to keep away from dropoffs.
PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS OPERATION MANUAL AND THE INSTRUCTIONS
FURNISHED WITH ATTACHMENTS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS MOWER.
1. Know the location and function of the controls and how to operate them. Know how to stop quickly.
2. Do not allow children under the age of 18 to operate machine.
3. Do not allow adults to operate the machine without proper instruction.
4. Do not carry passengers.
5. Do not mow when children, pets, or others are present. The operator is responsible for the safety
of others within the vicinity of the operation of this mower.
6. While operating the machine, always:
• place roll over protection system in up position
• wear seat belt
• keep hands and feet inside of the machine.
7. Keep hands, feet, and clothing away from rotating blades or other rotating parts while engine is
running.
8. Clear the work area of objects (wire, rocks, toys, or debris of any kind).
9. Disengage all attachment clutches, set parking brake, and place steering speed control levers into
neutral-lock (open) position before attempting to start engine.
10. Disengage power to attachments, stop engine, and remove ignition key before leaving the operator
position or leaving machine unattended.
11. Do not attempt to adjust or repair the mower deck, the drive system, the mower blades, or any moving
parts of the machine while the engine is running. You must disengage power to attachments,
disengage PTO (Deck Engagement Switch), set steering speed control levers to neutral-lock, set
parking brake, shut off the engine, and remove key before making any repairs or adjustments or
attempting any of the following tasks:
• Adjusting deck pitch
• unclogging the mower deck chute
• checking blade mounting bolts for proper tightness at the specifi ed intervals
• refueling (never add fuel while engine is running or hot)
Failure to comply with the above may result in personal injury or death.
12. Disengage power to attachments when transporting unit or when unit is not in use.
13. Never operate this mower on slopes exceeding 10 degrees in any direction.
NOTE: To operate on terrain that exceeds these limits constitutes misuse of the equipment
and as such, any and all injuries as a result of said use are expressly disclaimed.
14. Reduce speed and exercise extreme caution on slopes to prevent tipping and/or loss of control of
mower. Be especially cautious and slow down when changing directions on steep terrain.
15. DO NOT operate on slopes when grass is wet.
16. When mowing downhill, loss of traction and/or braking ability may occur. To compensate, slightly
increase ground speed and make shallow turns gradually, until tighter control is regained.
17. Stay alert for holes, rocks, roots or other terrain features which may cause loss or sudden increase in
traction. Care must be taken to keep away from dropoffs.
18. Use care when pulling loads or using heavy attachments.
• Use only approved drawbar hitch points.
• Limit loads to those you can safely control.
• Do not turn sharply. Use care when reversing.
19. Watch out for traffi c when near or crossing roads, and obey traffi c laws. Disengage blades and wait for
them to stop completely before crossing gravel roads.
20. When using any attachments, never direct discharge of materials toward bystanders, nor allow anyone
near the machine while it is in operation.
21. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure equipment is in safe working condition.
Dixie Chopper ▪ 6302 E. County Road 100 N. ▪ Coatesville, IN ▪ 46121 ▪ www.dixiechopper.com
700297 08/2012
1
General Safety Precautions
22. Allow engine to cool before storing in any enclosure.
23. Never attempt to operate mower while under the infl uence of alcohol or drugs.
24. Handle gasoline with care.
Follow these guidelines:
• Use approved gasoline container
• Place container out of reach of children
• Use gasoline only as a fuel, never as a cleaner
• Never remove fuel cap while engine is running or hot
• Never add fuel while engine is running or hot
• Never fi ll fuel tank indoors
• Wipe up spilled gasoline
• Do not smoke while refueling the machine
• Never store equipment with gasoline in the tank inside a building where fumes may reach an
open fl ame or spark
• Always have a fi re extinguisher present when using gasoline or other fl ammable substance.
25. Keep vehicle and attachments in good operating condition. Keep safety devices, such as guards,
shields, and covers, in place and in working condition.
26. Do not operate the mower or attachments if any guards are missing or are not functioning properly.
27. After striking a foreign object, stop and secure the mower. and then inspect for damage. Repair any
damage before restarting and operating the equipment.
28. The machine is calibrated at the factory. Do not change engine governor settings or overspeed the
engine.
29. Disengage power to mower deck before backing up. The mower is not designed to mow in reverse.
Dixie Chopper’s zero turning radius nearly eliminates the need for backing up. Simply turn the mower
around within its own dimension and proceed forward.
30. Do not mow with mower blades that are out of balance, have worn, or have been damaged.
31. Personal protection equipment such as safety goggles, hearing protection and other devices must be
worn while operating the machine. Do not operate or service the mower when barefoot or wearing
open-toed shoes.
32. Use caution when handling mower blades during replacement or maintenance. Wear appropriate
protective gloves and clothing. Failure to comply may result in personal injury.
33. Operate mower only in daylight or good artifi cial light.
34. Do not operate when grass is wet.
35. Do not make sudden turns, stops, starts, reversals, or any other abrupt maneuvers, especially when
negotiating slopes. The steering speed control levers are very responsive to slight movement. Rapid,
rough, or jerky manipulation of the steering speed control levers may result in damage to equipment
and personal injury.
36. Do not run the engine in an enclosure without adequate ventilation. Exhaust fumes contain carbon
monoxide which is harmful to animals and humans. Failure to comply can result in personal injury or
death.
37. Do not work underneath the mower unless it is adequately supported by jack stands or similar type
devices that have a safe working load of at least 2000 lbs or more. Failure to adequately support the
machine in this manner may result in property damage, personal injury, or death.
38. Disconnect the negative battery terminal when setting up, adjusting, or doing repairs on your mower.
Failure to comply may result in personal injury or death.
39. Do not touch hot parts of the mower. Failure to comply can result in personal injury.
40. Give complete and undivided attention to the job at hand.
41. Obey all safety decals.
Dixie Chopper ▪ 6302 E. County Road 100 N. ▪ Coatesville, IN ▪ 46121 ▪ www.dixiechopper.com
700297 08/2012
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Safety Information Decals
The following decals are intended to alert you to potential hazards and to
provide you with important safety information. Should these decals become
diffi cult to read or missing from the mower, contact your Dixie Chopper dealer
for a replacement.
Dixie Chopper ▪ 6302 E. County Road 100 N. ▪ Coatesville, IN ▪ 46121 ▪ www.dixiechopper.com
700297 08/2012
3
Warranty
Dixie Chopper Limited Warranty
General Warranty Conditions
Dixie Chopper warrants that it will, at its option, adjust, repair, or replace, any factory original part
used in the manufacturing of a Dixie Chopper complete unit, found to be defective in material
or workmanship. For the purposes of this Warranty, a Dixie Chopper complete unit is defi ned
as a riding lawn mower manufactured by Dixie Chopper. This warranty is non-transferable
absent written authorization by Dixie Chopper. Dixie Chopper is in no way liable for any special,
incidental or consequential damages for breach of any written or implied warranty on any
product.
Purchaser/Operator’s Responsibilities under the Warranty
As a condition of the Dixie Chopper Warranty, the purchaser and or the operator must have
fully read and understood the operator’s manual. This includes being familiar with how to
operate the equipment safely, as well as how to maintain the equipment properly prior to actually
operating the equipment. This Warranty applies only to equipment that is operated under
normal conditions and maintained per the service schedule specifi ed in this owner’s manual.
Maintenance of the unit is the sole responsibility of the owner.
To obtain warranty service, the unit must be registered before obtaining any warranty work.
This information must be submitted to Dixie Chopper within ten (10) days of the original retail
purchase date to enable validation of the warranty period.
A Dixie Chopper mower requiring repair or warranty work must be returned to an authorized Dixie
Chopper Service Dealer within the warranty period. The expense of transporting the unit to and
from the authorized Dixie Chopper service dealer for warranty work will be the sole responsibility
of the purchaser/owner and in no way will be attributed to Dixie Chopper. All warranty work must
be performed by an authorized Dixie Chopper Dealer using genuine Dixie Chopper parts. Failure
to have warranty repair performed by an authorized Dixie Chopper Dealer will result in the denial
by Dixie Chopper to pay for said warranty repair work.
Should a Purchaser encounter problems with receiving warranty service from an authorized Dixie
Chopper Dealer, or is in need of assistance or clarifi cation of this warranty, contact us at:
Dixie Chopper
6302 E CR 100 North
Coatesville, IN 46121
Dixie Chopper ▪ 6302 E. County Road 100 N. ▪ Coatesville, IN ▪ 46121 ▪ www.dixiechopper.com
700297 08/2012
4
Warranty (cont.)
Warranty Period & Limitations
The Silver Eagle is warranted to be free of defects in material or workmanship for a period of
three (3) years from the retail purchase date by the original purchaser regardless of the amount
of hours of service on the machine. For the fi rst two years of the warranty period, Dixie Chop-
per will be responsible for both parts and labor for all warrantable claims. During the fi nal third
year of the warranty, Dixie Chopper will be responsible for the cost of parts only for warrantable claims. In the event that the original purchaser has fewer than six hundred (600) hours on
their machine at the end of the third year from the date of original purchase, the warranty period
extends, for parts only, for up to fi ve (5) years from the date of original purchase. The warranty
during years four and fi ve ends upon the machine reaching greater than six hundred (600) hours
of service or at exactly fi ve (5) years from the date of original purchase, whichever occurs fi rst.
Dixie Chopper will only be responsible for the cost of parts for years four and fi ve in the event
the machine has fewer than six hundred (600) hours; labor for warranty service during this time
interval remains the sole responsibility of the purchaser.
The Silver Eagle carries a drive train warranty for the fi rst three (3) years from the date of pur-
chase, regardless of the amount of hours of service on the machine. This applies to the original
purchaser of the machine only. For the fi rst two years of the warranty period, Dixie Chopper will
be responsible for both parts and labor on all warrantable claims. During the fi nal third year of
the warranty, Dixie Chopper will be responsible for the cost of parts only for warrantable claims.
In the event that after the end of the third year, the machine has less than three thousand (3,000)
hours, the drive train remains under warranty, for parts only, for up to fi ve (5) years from the date
of original purchase. The drive train warranty during years four and fi ve ends upon the machine
reaching greater than three thousand (3,000) hours of service or at exactly fi ve (5) years from
the date of original purchase, whichever occurs fi rst. For clarity, years three, four, and fi ve, Dixie
Chopper will be responsible for parts only. Labor costs will be the sole responsibility of the owner
of the machine.
Drive train parts covered by Dixie Chopper are limited to pumps and wheel motor parts only, no
other parts are covered.
Dixie Chopper original equipment batteries are warranted against OEM factory defects in materials or workmanship for a period of six (6) months from the retail purchase date. If a battery
failure occurs after this initial six (6) month period, but before one (1) year has passed since the
date of retail purchase, the battery will be replaced at 50% of the cost of the standard replacement battery. Abuse or using the battery for purposes not associated with its intended use voids
the battery warranty.
Dixie Chopper ▪ 6302 E. County Road 100 N. ▪ Coatesville, IN ▪ 46121 ▪ www.dixiechopper.com
700297 08/2012
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