16
4
Operating
Your Lawn
Tractor
If you strike 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 restarting and
operating.
Avoid sudden starts,
ex-cessive speed and
sudden stops.
Do not leave the seat
of the tractor without
first placing the PTO
(Blade Engage) lever
in the disengaged
(OFF) position,
depressing the brake
pedal and engaging
the parking brake. If
leaving the tractor
unattended, also turn
the ignition key off
and remove the key.
IMPORTANT: Do NOT hold the key in the START
position for longer than ten seconds at a time. Doing so
may cause damage to your engine’s electric starter.
6. After the engine starts, deactivate the choke control
and place the throttle control in the FAST position.
NOTE: Do NOT leave the choke control on while operat-
ing the tractor. Doing so will result in a “rich” fuel mixture
and cause the engine to run poorly.
Stopping the Engine
WARNING: If you strike 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 restarting and operat-
ing the tractor.
1. If the blades are engaged, place the PTO (Blade
Engage) lever in the disengaged (OFF) position.
2. Turn the ignition key counterclockwise to the STOP
position.
3. Remove the key from the ignition switch to prevent
unintended starting.
Driving The Tractor
WARNING: Avoid sudden starts,
ex-cessive speed and sudden stops.
WARNING: Do not leave the seat
of the tractor without first placing
the PTO (Blade Engage) lever in the
disengaged (OFF) position, depress-
ing the brake pedal and engaging the
parking brake. If leaving the tractor
unattended, also turn the ignition key
off and remove the key.
WARNING: Always look down and
behind before and while backing up to
avoid a back-over accident.
1. Depress the brake pedal to release the parking brake
and let the pedal up.
2. Move the throttle lever into the FAST (rabbit) posi-
tion.
3. Place the shift lever in either the FORWARD or
REVERSE position.
IMPORTANT: Do NOT use the shift lever to change the
direction of travel when the tractor is in motion. Always
use the brake pedal to bring the tractor to a complete
stop before shifting.
4. Release the parking brake by depressing the clutch-
brake pedal and positioning the speed control lever
in desired position.
WARNING
AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR
DEATH
• GO UP AND DOWN SLOPES, NOT ACROSS.
• AVOID SUDDEN TURNS.
• DO NOT OPERATE THE UNIT WHERE IT COULD SLIP OR TIP.
• IF MACHINE STOPS GOING UPHILL, STOP BLADE(S) AND
BACK DOWNHILL SLOWLY.
• DO NOT MOW WHEN CHILDREN OR OTHERS ARE AROUND.
• NEVER CARRY CHILDREN, EVEN WITH BLADES OFF.
• LOOK DOWN AND BEHIND BEFORE AND WHILE BACKING.
• KEEP SAFETY DEVICES (GUARDS, SHIELDS, AND
SWITCHES) IN PLACE AND WORKING.
• 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
BRAKE LOCK, SHUT ENGINE OFF AND REMOVE KEY.
READ OPERATOR’S MANUAL
IMPORTANT: First-time operators should use speed posi-
tions 1 or 2. Become completely familiar with the tractor’s
operation and controls before operating the tractor in
higher speed positions.
5. Release clutch-brake pedal slowly to put unit into
motion.
6. The lawn tractor is brought to a stop by depressing the
clutch-brake pedal.
NOTE: When operating the unit initially, there will be little
difference between the highest two speeds until after the
belts have seated themselves into the pulleys during the
break-in period.
WARNING: Before leaving the operator’s
position for any reason, disengage the
blades, place the shift lever in neutral,
engage the parking brake, shut engine
off and remove the key.
IMPORTANT: When stopping the tractor for any reason
while on a grass surface, always:
1. Place the shift lever in neutral,
2. Engage the parking brake,
3. Shut engine off and remove the key. Doing so will
minimize the possibility of having your lawn ‘‘browned’’
by hot exhaust from your tractor’s running engine.
WARNING
