Yard-Man 320 Operator's Manual
Operator's Manual
Riding Mower
Internal Bagging System
27.5" Cutting Deck
Model Series 320
IMPORTANT: Read safety rules and instructions carefully before operating equipment.
Warning: This unit 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 ineffective working order by the operator.
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 muffler is available through your nearest engine authorized
service dealer or contact the service department, P.O. Box 361131 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
MTD LLC,P.O.BOX361131CLEVELAND,OHIO44136-0019
FORM NO. 770-10077D
(11/2001 )
TABLEOFCONTENTS
Content Page
Important Safe Operation Practices ............................................................................ 3
Slope Gauge ............................................................................................................... 6
Assembling Your Riding Mower .................................................................................. 7
Know Your Riding Mower ............................................................................................ 9
Operating Your Riding Mower ..................................................................................... 11
Making Adjustments .................................................................................................... 13
Servicing Your Riding Mower ...................................................................................... 16
Maintaining Your Riding Mower ................................................................................... 17
Off-Season Storage .................................................................................................... 19
Troubleshootin{ .......................................................................................................... 20
Parts List ..................................................................................................................... 22
FINDINGMODELNUMBER
This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new riding mower. Itwill help you assemble, prepare
and maintain the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.
Before you start assembling your new equipment, please locate the model plate on the
equipment and copy the information from it in the space providedbelow. The information on
the model plate is very important if you need help from our Customer Support Department or
an authorized dealer.
You can locate the model plate by pivoting the cover upward and looking under the frame. A sample
model plate is explained below. For future reference, please copy the model number and the serial
number of the equipment in the space below.
(Model Number) (Serial Number)
_, MTO LLC
P.O. BOX 361131
CLEVELAND,OH 44136
www.yardman,com 330-220-4683
, 800-800-7310_
Copy the model number here:
Copy the serial number here:
ENGINEINFORMATION
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.
CALLINGCUSTOMERSUPPORT
If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation or
maintenance of this unit, please call the Customer Service at the number below.
Call 1- (330) 220-4MTD (4683) or 1- (800)-800-7310 to reach a Customer Support
representative. Please have your unit's model number and serial number ready when you
call. See previous section to locate this information. You will be asked to enter the serial
number in order to process your call.
SECTION1: IMPORTANTSAFEOPERATIONPRACTICES
_hb 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 instructionsin this
manual before attempting to operate your riding mower. Failure to comply with these instructions may result
in personal injury.When you see thissymbol--heed its warning.
Your riding mower was built to be operated according to the rulesfor safe operation inthis manual. As with any type
of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in serious injury. If you violate any
of these rules, you may cause serious injury to yourself or others.
_lb ARNING: 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.
GeneralOperation
• Read, understand, and follow all instructions inthe
manual and on the machine before starting. Keep
this manual in a safe place for future and regular
reference and for ordering replacement parts.
• Only allow responsible individuals familiar with the
instructions to operate the machine. Know controls
and how to stop the machine quickly.
• Do not put hands or feet under cutting deck or near
rotating parts.
• Clear the area of objects such as rocks, toys, wire,
etc., which could be picked up and thrown by the
blade. A small object may have been overlooked
and could be accidentally thrown by the mower in
any direction and cause injuryto you or a
bystander. To help avoid a thrown objects injury,
keep children, bystanders and helpers at least 75
feet from the mower while it isin operation. Always
wear safety glasses or safety goggles during
operation or while performing an adjustment or
repair, to protect eyes from foreign objects. Stop
the blade(s) when crossing gravel drives, walks or
roads.
• Be sure the area is clear of other people before
mowing. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.
Never carry passengers.
• Disengage blade(s) before shifting intoreverse and
backing up. Always look down and behind before
and while backing.
• Be aware of the mower and attachment discharge
direction and do not point it at anyone. Do not
operate the mower without either the entire grass
catcher or the chute guard in place.
• Slow down before turning. Operate the machine
smoothly. Avoid erratic operation and excessive
speed.
• Never leave a running machine unattended.
Always turn off blade(s), place transmission in
neutral, set park brake, stop engine and remove
key before dismounting.
• Turn off blade(s) when not mowing.
• Stop engine and wait until blade(s) comes to a
complete stop before (a) removing grass catcher or
unclogging chute, or (b) making any repairs,
adjusting or removing any grass or debris.
• Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.
• Do not operate the machine while under the
influence of alcohol or drugs.Watch for traffic when
operating near or crossing roadways.
• Use extra care when loading or unloading the
machine into a trailer or truck. This unit should not
be driven up or down a ramp onto a trailer or truck
under power, because the unit could tip over,
causing serious personal injury.The unit must be
pushed manually on a ramp to load or unload
properly.
• Never make cutting height adjustment while engine
is running, if operator must dismount to do so.
• Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-
fitting slacks and shirts. Do not wear loose fitting
clothes or jewelry. They can be caught in moving
parts. Never operate a unit in bare feet, sandals, or
sneakers.
• Check overhead clearance carefully before driving
under power lines, wires, bridges or low hanging
tree branches, before entering or leaving buildings,
or in any other situation where the operator may be
struck or pulled from the unit, which could result in
serious injury.
• Disengage all attachment clutches, thoroughly
depress the brake pedal, and shift into neutral
before attempting to start engine.
• Your mower isdesigned 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. Debris may build up
onthemowerdeckorcontacttheengineexhaust
presentingapotentialfirehazard.
SlopeOperation
• 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 upthe 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. Ifthe
slope is greater than 15° as shown on the slope
gauge, do not operate this unit in that area or
serious injury could result.
Do:
• Mow up and down slopes, not across.
• Remove obstacles such as rocks, 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 enough gear so that
you will not have to stop or shift while on the slope.
Always keep machine in gear when going down
slopes to take advantage of engine braking action.
• Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for
wheel weights or counterweights to improve
stability.
• Use extra care with grass catchers or other
attachments. These can change the stability of the
machine.
• Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual.
Do not 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.
• Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. Iftires lose
traction, disengage the blade(s) and proceed slowly
straight down the slope.
DoNot
• Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then, turn
slowly and gradually downhill, if possible.
• 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 or ditch, or if an
edge caves in.
• Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could
cause sliding.
• Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting your
foot on the ground.
• Do not use grass catcher on steep slopes.
Children
• 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.
Never assume that children will remain where you
last saw them.
• Keep children out of the mowing area and in
watchful care of an adult other than the operator.
• Be alert and turn machine off if children enter the
area.
• Before and when backing, look behind and down
for small children.
• Never carry children. They may fall off and be
seriously injured or interfere with the safe machine
operation.
• Never allow children under 14 years old to operate
the machine. Children 14 years and over should
only operate machine under close parental
supervision and proper instruction.
• Use extra care when approaching blind corners,
shrubs, trees or other objects that may obscure
your vision of a child or other hazard.
• Remove key when machine is unattended to
prevent unauthorized operation.
Service
• Use extreme care in handling gasoline and other
fuels. They are extremely flammable and the
vapors are explosive.
a. Use only an approved container.
b. Never remove fuel cap or add fuel with the
engine running. Allow engine to cool at least
two minutes before refueling.
c. Replace fuel cap securely and wipe off any
spilled fuel before starting the engine as it may
cause a fire or explosion.
d. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and
other sources of ignition.
e. Never refuel the machine indoors because fuel
vapors will accumulate inthe area.
f. Never store the fuel container or machine
inside where there is an open flame or spark,
such as a gas hot water heater, space heater
or furnace.
• Never run a machine inside a closed area.
• To reduce fire hazard, keep the machine free of
grass, leaves or other debris build-up. Clean up oil
or fuel spillage. Allow machine to cool at least 5
minutes before storing.
• Before cleaning, repairing or inspecting, make
certain the blade and all moving parts have
stopped. Disconnect the spark plug wire, and keep
the wire away from the spark plug to prevent
accidental starting.
• Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at
frequent intervals for proper tightness. Also,
visually inspect blade for damage (e.g., excessive
wear, bent, cracked). Replace with blade which
meets original equipment specifications.
• Keep all nuts, bolts and screws tight to be sure the
equipment is in safe working condition.
• Nevertamperwithsafetydevices.Checktheir
properoperationregularly.Useallguardsas
instructedinthismanual.
• Afterstrikingaforeignobject,stoptheengine,
removethewirefromthesparkplugandthoroughly
inspectthemowerforanydamage.Repairthe
damagebeforerestartingandoperatingthemower.
• Grasscatchercomponentsaresubjecttowear,
damageanddeterioration,whichcouldexpose
movingpartsorallowobjectstobethrown.Foryour
safetyprotection,frequentlycheckcomponents
andreplacewithmanufacturer'srecommended
partswhennecessary.
• Mowerbladesaresharpandcancut.Wrapthe
blade(s)orwearglovesanduseextracautionwhen
servicingblade(s).
• Checkbrakeoperationfrequently.Adjustand
serviceasrequired.
• Muffler,engineandbeltguardsbecomehotduring
operationandcancauseaburn.Allowtocooldown
beforetouching.
Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingsor
overspeedtheengine.Excessiveenginespeeds
aredangerous.
Observeproperdisposallawsandregulations.
Improperdisposaloffluidsandmaterialscanharm
theenvironmentandtheecology.
a. Priortodisposal,determinethepropermethod
todisposeofwastefromyourlocalofficeof
EnvironmentalProtectionAgency.Recycling
centersareestablishedtoproperlydisposeof
materialsinanenvironmentallysafefashion.
b. Usepropercontainerswhendrainingfluids.Do
notusefoodorbeveragecontainersthatmay
misleadsomeoneintodrinkingfromthem.
Properlydisposeofthecontainersimmediately
followingthedrainingoffluids.
c. DONOTpouroilorotherfluidsintotheground,
downadrainorintoastream,pond,lakeor
otherbodyofwater.ObserveEnvironmental
ProtectionAgencyregulationswhendisposing
ofoil,fuel,coolant,brakefluid,filters,batteries,
tiresandotherharmfulwaste.
Illustratedbelowaretherepresentationofthesafetylabelsontheequipment.Forafulllistofpartnumbers
andlocationofallthelabels,seepage38.
ASSEMBLECHUTEDEFLECTORTOTHIS UNITBEFOREOPERATING,
o .,
L _ IIq A POWER POLE
I q A CORNER OF A BUILDING
| "_ _" "_ _" _ ! OR A FENCE POST
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SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE
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 walk-behind 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.
Operate WALK-BEHIND mowers across the face of slopes, never up and down slopes.
cO
SECTION3: ASSEMBLINGYOURRIDINGMOWER
• Remove all screws and staples from the crate.
• Holding sides of the crate firmly, lift top of the crate
up and set it aside. Avoid tire punctures.
• Remove and discard plastic bag covering the unit.
• Lift the rear of the mower and clear the bottom of
the crate. Repeat for the front.
• Be sure the parking brake is disengaged. See
Figure 8for location of the parking brake. Roll unit
out of the crate.
LooseParts
• Remove loose parts from the grass catcher and/or
the crate very carefully. Compare with list and
illustration (Figure 1) below.
1. Mulching plug & side-discharge chute
2. Oil drain sleeve
3. Bumper (optional)
4. Ignition keys (not shown)
5. Operator's manual (not shown)
,_ide-Discharge _
" Oil D_in
Plug Bumper
Figure 1
AttachingBatteryCables
The battery is located under the hood assembly above
the left rear wheel. Refer to Figure 3.
• To access the battery, lift the hood assembly from
the left side of the hood only. Stand on the right side
of the unit and pivot the hood assembly towards
you until fully opened. See Figure 2.
• Remove both wing nuts securing the battery and
cover to the battery hold-down rods. See Figure 3.
• Remove red and black insulation caps from battery
terminals. See Figure 3
• Remove battery terminal screws with a Phillips
screw driver or a 10 mm. socket wrench.
• Attach the red battery cable to the positive terminal
(marked +), and the black battery cable to the
negative terminal (marked -) on the battery. See
Figure 3.
• Align the cables with the slots in the battery cover
and tighten the screws on the battery terminals.
d_lb WARNING: Press the battery cables against
side of battery so that these do not make
contact with flange of rider frame when it is
opened or closed.
• Reassemble the battery cover to the hold-down
rods on two ends with the two wing nuts removed
earlier. Check to ensure that the cables pass easily
through slots in cover.
• Place right hand on the left side of the seat and
slowly lower the hood assembly until fully closed.
NOTE: Do not place your hand around the bottom
edge of the hood assembly; it may get pinched between
the hood assembly and grass ca tcher or the frame rail.
Wing
Wing Nut
Nut Negative
Battery Terminal Positive
Cover_
NOTE: Do not lift the hood assembly by the two vent
openings located behind the seat.
Battery
Frame
Figure 3
Figure 2
I_l'ood Assembly
AttachingSide-DischargeChute
4_ WARNING: Battery posts, terminalsand
related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds. Wash hands after handling.
Your riding mower is shipped to you with the grass
catcher fully assembled on the unit. A side-discharge
chute and a mulching plug are included as loose parts.
Follow the instructions below to attach the side-
discharge chute.
,_ WARNING: DO not operate the mower if any
one or more of the grass catcher, discharge
chute or mulching plug is not firmly installed on
the mower.
• Pivot the hood assembly up and lower the cutting
height adjustment lever to the lowest position.
• Remove the two wing nuts (A and B in Figure 4 )
from two ends of the grasscatcher chute.
• Loosen the wing nut (C in Figure 4 ) in the middle of
the chute. Do not remove.
• Slide the grasscatcher chute to the right and out of
the deck frame. Slide the side-discharge chute in
and place it on the deck so that the three wing nut
positions align with those on the deck.
• Reinsert wing nuts A and B. Tighten all three.
_rass Catcher
hute
• To attach the mulching plug now to the unit, follow
instructions on previous page to attach side-
discharge chute to the deck.
• Place wing nut on each of the hex bolts and thread
a few turns. See Figure 5. Check that the mulch
plug is aligned correctly within the discharge chute.
• Tighten both wing nuts
AttachingBumper(ifequipped)
• Remove bumper from the grass catcher inside
which itwas shipped.
• Loosen and remove the two pairs of hex bolts and
lock nuts from the front rail on the riding mower.
See Figure 6.
• Align the two holes on the bumper tube with the
corresponding holes on the rider frame (from where
you removed the hardware). See Figure 6.
• Re-insert the two hex bolts through the bumper and
the rider frame and secure with the two lock nuts.
Lock 4,.
Nut
L
Bumper
Rider Frame
Rail
Nut
Figure 4
AttachingMulch Plug
While operating your riding mower, you have three
options: (i) to collect grass clippings in the grass
catcher, (ii)to discharge grass clippings on the side, or
(iii) to mulch grass and recirculate clippings back to the
lawn. For the third option, attach the mulching plug to
the side-discharge chute and then to the deck.
• Put two hex bolts through the mulching plug at the
respective openings. See Figure 5.
• Place speed nuts over the hex bolts.
/Side Discharge Chute
Wing Nut
Speed A
Nut
Hex BOI_ _ Plug
Figure 5
Insert the plug into the side-discharge chute
aligning the two slots on two sides of the side-
discharge chute with those on the mulching plug.
= _ Hex Bolt
Figure 6
AttachingHitchPlate(ifequipped)
The hitch plate, ifso equipped, was loosely attached to
the rear frame of the rider for shipping purposes.
• Loosen the nut attaching the hitch plate to the
frame and swing the plate outward. Make sure that
the wider side ofthe hitch plate aligns withthe rear
frame as shown in Figure 7.
• Remove the hex bolt, lockwasher and hex nut from
the other end of the rear frame. Save the hardware.
• Align the hole on the hitchplate with the
corresponding hole on the rear frame assembly
(from where you removed the hardware).
• Re-insert the hex bolt through the hitch plate and
the rear frame. Secure with lock washer and hex
nut removed earlier. See Figure 7. Tighten both
sets of hardware.
Hitch Plate
Rear
Washer
Hex
N_
Figure 7
SECTION4: KNOWYOURRIDINGMOWER
Compare the illustrations in Figure 8 with your riding mower to familiarize yourself with the location of various
controls and adjustments.
_ WARNING: The operation of any riding mower can result in foreign objects being thrown into the
operator's eyes, causing severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses before operating the mower, or
while performing any adjustments or repairs on it.
Throttle/Choke
Seat Control
Steering Wheel
Shift Lever
Indicator
-- Cutting Height
Adjustment Lever
Blade Engagement
Pedal
Ignition
Switch
Side Discharge
Chute
Pedal Brake
\\
Cutting Pedal
Deck
Hood
_Assembly
Parking
Engine
Blade
Engagement
Pedal
Blade
Lock
Throttle/ChokeControl
Use to regulate the engine speed and to start the
engine.
"Go" Pedal
Use to regulate the ground speed of the riding mower.
IgnitionSwitch
Use to turn the engine ON or OFF.
Figure 8
ShiftLever
Use to change direction ofthe mower.
Grass Fill Level Indicator
Use to determine the level ofgrass clipping in the bag
and when to stop and empty it.
Parking Brake
Use to stop the mower from moving while parked.
BladeEngagementPedal
Use to engage or disengage the blade.
BladeLock
Use to lock blade at the engaged position.
CuttingHeightAdjustmentLever
Use to raise and lower the cutting deck which
determines the cutting height.
BrakePedal
Use to stop the mower's forward or reverse motion.
StoppingMower
• Release blade engagement pedal all the way.
• Release the "Go" Pedal and depress the brake
pedal.
• When the mower comes to a complete stop, place
the shift lever in neutral.
• Engage the parking brake by pulling up onthe
parking brake knob.
• Turn the ignition key to OFF position and remove
the key.
SafetyInterlock
This unit is equipped with a safety interlock system for
your protection. The interlock safety switches are
connected to the brake pedal, the blade engagement
pedal, the shift lever, and the seat.
The purpose of the safety interlock system is threefold:
a. to prevent the engine from starting unless the
brake pedal is depressed and the blade
engagement pedal is disengaged;
b. to shut off the engine if the blade pedal is not
disengaged when the shift lever is put into
reverse; and
c. to shut the engine off when the operator leaves
the seat without engaging the parking brake.
,_ WARNING: To avoid the risk of serious
injury, do not operate the riding mower ifthe
interlock system is malfunctioning.
• Remove objects that could be thrown by the
blade(s).
• Know location and function of all controls.
• Be sure blade(s) and engine are stopped before
placing hands or feet near blade(s).
• Before leaving operator's position, disengage
blade(s), place the shift lever in neutral, engage
parking brake, shut engine off and remove key.
UsingShiftLever
The shift lever is used to regulate the direction of your
riding mower. Itcan be set at forward, neutral, or
reverse settings. These settings, marked as F, N,and R
respectively, are located next to the shift lever on the
unit. See Figure 9.
• Before you move the shift lever to any of the
positions, depress the brake pedal and stop the
unit. Keep your foot on the brake pedal.
Figure 9
• Move the lever outwards (left) to remove the
locking pin from the lever and slide the lever to the
position desired. Look at the rear and make sure
the path is free of obstacles before positioning the
shift lever to the reverse.
• Do not force the shift lever. Ifit does not shift,
release the brake pedal slightly to line up the
shifting collar in the transmission, then try to move
the shift lever.
• Slowly release the brake pedal and take your foot
off the pedal. Always make sure that there is no one
in the way when you run the mower.
GrassFillLevelIndicator
This indicator (Figure 10 ) was designed to add
convenience to your riding mower. While the mower is
running, air will flow through the discharge chute and
into the grass catcher. If the grass catcher is empty, air
flows through easily pushing the ball up. If the grass
catcher is full, air does not flow through it allowing the
ball to fall. So ifyou see the ball in the grass catcher fill
level indicator falling down, you should stop the mower
and empty the bag.
Figure 10
Fill
Level
indicator
10
SECTION5: OPERATINGYOURRIDINGMOWER
UsingThrottle/ChokeControl
The throttle/choke control is used to increase or
decrease the speed of the engine.The FAST and the
SLOW positions are marked with illustrations of a rabbit
and a turtle respectively. See Figure 9.
• For normal operation and when using a grass
catcher, move the throttle/choke control to the
FAST position.
• For maximum charging of the battery and also for a
cooler engine while running, move the throttle/
choke control to the FAST position.
• For transport and to tow pull-behind attachments,
move the throttle/choke control to the SLOW
position.
• Do not adjust the governor to increase or decrease
the engine speed. The governor is set at the factory
for maximum engine performance, and should not
be altered.
UsingParkingBrake
To engageparkingbrake
• Completely push the brake pedal down and stop
the unit.
• With your right foot on the brake pedal, move the
shift lever to the neutral position.
• Continuing to hold down the brake pedal with your
right foot, pull up the parking brake knob. Make
sure the parking brake holds the unit.
• Release the brake pedal. Stop the engine and
remove the ignition key. Now your riding mower is
parked.
To releasethe parkingbrake
• Depress the brake pedal. The parking brake will be
automatically disengaged.
BeforeStarting
Service the engine with gasoline as described in the
engine manual. Check the oil level.
,_ WARNING: Never fill fuel tank indoors, or
when engine is running or hot. Do not smoke
while filling up the gasoline tank.
StartingEngine
• Attach the wire to the spark plug.
• Depress the brake pedal with your right foot.
• Set throttle/choke control in the CHOKE position
(all the way forward).
• Place the shift lever in the NEUTRAL position.
• Turn the ignition key to the START position. As
soon as the engine starts, let the key return to the
ON position.
• Move throttle/choke control out of CHOKE position
and into FAST throttle position.
StartingMower
• Depress the brake pedal so that the parking brake
is disengaged.
• Place the shift lever in either the FORWARD or the
REVERSE position as you desire. Look to the rear
and check before backing up.
• Release the brake pedal.
• Depress the "Go" Pedal.
• To stop, release the "Go" Pedal and depress the
brake pedal.
• Press the blade engagement pedal downward until
the blades are turning.The blades can be engaged
either while the mower is in motion or while it is
standing.
NOTE: Your riding mower is equipped with a blade lock
to keep the blade engaged without the operator having
to depress the blade pedal continuously. See Figure 8.
To engage the blade lock: While pressing down
on the blade pedal, push the blade lock down with
your heel. It should click into the "blade engaged"
position. To disengage the blade lock, simply push
down on the blade pedal and release the lock.
,_ WARNING: When the blades are engaged,
keep hands and feet away from the discharge
opening, the blades or any part of the deck.
StoppingMower
• Release blade engagement pedal all the way.
• Release the "Go" Pedal and depress the brake
pedal.
• When the mower comes to a complete stop, place
the shift lever in neutral.
• Engage the parking brake by pulling up on the
parking brake knob.
• Turn ignition key to OFF position and remove key.
NOTE: Do not leave the key in the ON position when
you are not operating the mower. Such action will drain
the battery dead.
ToEmptyGrassCatcher
• Stop the mower completely, pull up on the
parking brake knob and take the ignition key out.
Get off the operator's seat.
• Pivot the hood assembly up. Pull up the
11
grasscatcher bag by the handle and take it to the
proper disposal site. See Figure 11 .
Hold the bag away from your body. Push down
on the bag lever and let the bottom section of
the bag fall downwards. The grass clippings
will be disposed of from the bottom. See
Figure 11.
Tap the bag on the ground so that the three legs
of the bag press against the ground. The bag
lever should snap close while you push the bag
downwards.
Replace the bag on to the mower making sure
the bag is placed on the flange on top of the
discharge chute. Pivot the hood assembly down.
• When mowing an area for the first time, watch out
for objects lying on the grass. If you strike a foreign
object, stop the engine. Remove wire from spark
plug and thoroughly inspect the mower for any
damage. Repair the damage before operating it
again.
• Avoid scalping the lawn by adjusting the cutting
height upwards and/or sharpening the blades.
• Mow at full throttle. Learn the terrain on which you
are mowing. For best mowing results, mow only
when the grass is dry.
• The recommended mowing pattern is given below:
S
Grass Catcher
Bag
Assembly
Figure 11
UsingTheMower
Observe safety rules listed on pages 3-5 of this manual
for safe operation of your mower.
• Before mowing, make sure that the cutting deck is
leveled. For deck adjustment, refer to page 14.
• You can engage the blade by pressing on the blade
engagement pedal with your left foot while sitting
on the operator's seat.
• Mow grass often and in regular intervals so that you
can cut only 1/3 of the grass blade in one mowing.
• To empty grass bag, stop the mower completely,
engage the parking brake, and turn the ignition off.
This will prevent the hot engine exhaust gas from
browning the grass.
• Many communities no longer haul grass clippings
to landfills. Composting the clippings from your
grass catcher is a viable solution. For this you will
have to empty the grass catcher at the designated
composting site.
• Your riding mower is equipped with a mulching plug
to mulch the grass and recycle into the lawn instead
of collecting in the grasscatcher bag.
• Mulch only when the grass is dry. Mulching wet
grass may damage the underside of the deck
because wet grass tends to stick to it. Clean deck
thoroughly if you mulch wet grass.
• For effective mulching, overlap mowing paths so
that the clippings are distributed evenly.
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