Poulan 532402705, 960 72 00-11, 96072001100, GTT342 User Manual

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OWNER’S MANUAL
Model GTT342
Mfg. ID No. 96072001100
Product No. 960 72 00-11
42 Inch Mower
Grass Catcher

• Assembly

• Operation

• Customer Responsibilities

• Repair Parts

532402705 11.17.05 rad

Printed in U.S.A.

SAFETY RULES

Safe Operation Practices for Ride-On Mowers

IMPORTANT: THIS CUTTING MACHINE IS CAPABLE OF AMPUTATING HANDS AND FEET AND THROW ING OBJECTS. FAILURE

TO OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

• Data indicates that operators, age 60 years and above, are

WARNING: In order to prevent ac­ ci den tal starting when setting up,
trans port ing, ad just ing or making re­pairs, al ways 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 low est 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.

I. GENERAL OPERATION

• Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine
and in the manual before starting.

• Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or under the
machine. Keep clear of the discharge opening at all times.

• 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 blades.

• Be sure the area is clear of bystanders before operating.
Stop machine if anyone enters the area.

• Never carry passengers.

• Do not mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary. Always
look down and behind before and while back ing.

• Never direct discharged material toward anyone. Avoid
discharging material against a wall or obstruction. Material
may ricochet back toward the operator. Stop the blades when
crossing gravel surfaces.

• Do not operate machine without the entire grass catcher,
discharge guard, or other safety devices in place and work­ing.

• Slow down before turning.

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

• Disengage blades when not mowing. Shut off engine and
wait for all parts to come to a complete stop before cleaning
the machine, removing the grass catcher, or unclogging the
discharge guard.

• Operate machine 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 unloading the machine into
a trailer or truck.

• Always wear eye protection when operating machine.

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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.

• Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for wheel weights
or counterweights.

• 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 build-up 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 loss of control and tip-over
accidents, which can result in severe injury or death. Operation
on all slopes requires extra caution. If you cannot back up the
slope or if you feel uneasy on it, do not mow it.

• Mow up and down slopes, not across.

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

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

• Do not mow on wet grass. Tires may lose traction.

Always keep the machine in gear when going down slopes.

Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill.

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

• Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual. Do not
make sudden changes in speed or direction, which could
cause the machine to roll over.

• Use extra care while operating machine with grass catch­ers or other at tach ments; they can affect the stability of the
machine. Do no use on steep slopes.

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

• Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches, or embankments. The
machine could suddenly roll over if a wheel is over the edge
or if the edge caves in.

III. CHILDREN

Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the pres­ence of children. Children are often attracted to the ma chine
and the mowing activity. Never assume that children will remain
where you last saw them.

• Keep children out of the mowing area and in the watchful
care of a responsible adult other than the operator.

• Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters the area.

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

• Never carry children, even with the blades shut off. They may
fall off and be seriously injured or interfere with safe machine
operation. Children who have been given rides in the past
may suddenly appear in the mowing area for another ride
and be run over or backed over by the machine.

• Never allow children to operate the machine.

• Use extra care when approaching blind corners, shrubs,
trees, or other objects that may block your view of a child.

SAFETY RULES

Safe Operation Practices for Ride-On Mowers

IV. TOWING

• Tow only with a machine that has a hitch designed for towing.
Do not attach towed equipment except at the hitch point.

• Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for weight limits
for towed equipment and towing on slopes.

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

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

• Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop.

V. SERVICE

SAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE

To avoid personal injury or property damage, use extreme care
in handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely fl ammable and the
vapors are explosive.

• Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and other sources of
ignition.

• Use only approved gasoline container.

• Never remove gas cap or add fuel with the engine running.
Allow engine to cool before refueling.

• Never fuel the machine indoors.

• Never store the machine or fuel container where there is an
open fl ame, spark, or pilot light such as on a water heater
or other appliances.

• Never fi ll containers inside a vehicle or on a truck or trailer
bed with plastic liner. Always place containers on the ground
away from your vehicle when fi lling.

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

• 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.

• If fuel is spilled on clothing, change clothing immediately.

• Never overfi ll fuel tank. Replace gas cap and tighten se­curely.

GENERAL SERVICE

• Never operate machine in a closed are.

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

• Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper opera­tion regularly.

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

• If you strike a foreign object, stop and inspect the machine.
Repair, if necessary, before restarting.

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

• Check grass catcher components and the discharge guard
frequently and replace with manufacturer's recommended
parts, when necessary.

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

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

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

• Be sure the area is clear of bystanders before operat­ing. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.

• Never carry passengers.

• Do not mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary.
Al ways look down and behind before and while back­ing.

• Never carry children, even with the blades shut off. They
may fall off and be seriously injured or interfere with
safe machine operation. Children who have been given
rides in the past may suddenly appear in the mowing
area for another ride and be run over or backed over
by the machine.

• Keep children out of the mowing area and in the watchful
care of a responsible adult other than the operator.

• Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters the
area.

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

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

• Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters the
area.

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

• Avoid starting, stopping, or turning on a slope. If the
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 necessary, and then, turn
slowly and gradually downhill, if possible.

CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of a new Grass Catcher. It has been designed, en gi neered and manu fac tured to
give you the best pos sible de penda bil ity and per form ance.

Should you experience any prob lems you can not easily remedy, please contact your nearest au tho rized service center/
department. They have com pe tent, well trained tech ni cians and the proper tools to service or repair this unit.

Please read and retain this manual. The in struc tions will enable you to assemble and main tain your Grass Catch er properly.
Always observe the "SAFETY RULES".

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SAFETY RULES .........................................................2-3

CARTON CONTENTS....................................................4

ASSEMBLY.................................................................5-7

OPERATION .................................................................. 8

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES................................. 9

STORAGE ...................................................................... 9

REPAIR PARTS.......................................................10-11

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KNOW YOUR GRASS CATCHER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE ASSEMBLING OR OPERATING YOUR GRASS CATCH ER.
Compare the illustrations with the carton contents to familiarize yourself with the parts before starting the assembly. Study
the operating instructions and safety precautions thoroughly to insure proper functioning of your Grass Catcher and to
prevent injury to yourself and others. Save this manual for future reference.

The operation of any tractor can result in foreign objects thrown into the eyes,
which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields
be fore starting your trac tor and while mow ing. We recommend a wide vision safety
mask for over the spec tacles or stan dard safety glasses.

UNPACKING INSTRUCTIONS

• Remove all parts and packing materials from carton.

• Check carton contents against list. Be sure all parts
are there.

PARTS IDENTIFICATION

COVER
ASSEMBLY

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CARTON CONTENTS:

(3) Container Tops
(3) Container Bottoms
(1) Upper Chute

(1) Lower Chute
(1) Support Assembly
(1) Cover Assembly

FULL
BAG
INDICATOR

CHUTE LATCH

GRASS
CATCHER
CONTAINERS

UPPER CHUTE

LOWER CHUTE

LOWER CHUTE
ATTAC HING
STRAPS

NOTE: When right hand (R.H.) and left hand (L.H.) are mentioned in this manual, it means when you are seated on the

tractor, in the operator's position.

CAUTION: BEFORE ASSEMBLING GRASS CATCHER TO TRACTOR:

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

• Place gearshift/motion control lever in "NEUTRAL" position.

• Place attachment clutch in "DISENGAGED" position.

• Turn ignition key "OFF" and remove key.

• Make sure the blade and all moving parts have completely stopped.

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

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