Columbia Series 81GH, Operator'S Manual

Page 1: ...S A IMPORTANT READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION OPERATOR S MANUAL LES DISTRIBUTIONS RVI LIMITÉE 2955 JEAN BAPTISTE DESCHAMPS LACHINE QUEBEC H8T 1C5 MTD LLC P O BOX 361131 CLEVELAND OHIO 44136 0019 769 04784 1 17 09 Hydrostatic Garden Tractor Model Series 81GH ...

Page 2: ...you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls operation or maintenance of this unit please call an authorized dealer Please have your unit s model number and serial number ready when you call See previous section to locate this information 2 The engine manufacturer is responsible for all engine related issues with regards to performance power rating speci...

Page 3: ... 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 Sight and hold this level with a vertical tree or a corner of a building or a fence post F o l d a l o n g d o t t e d l i n e r e p r e s e n t s a 1 5 s l o p e 15 Use this page as a guide to determi...

Page 4: ...it until the blade s come to a complete stop before removing grass catcher emptying grass unclogging chute removing any grass or debris or making any adjustments 21 Never leave a running machine unattended Always turn off blade s place transmission in neutral set parking brake stop engine and remove key before dismounting 22 Use extra care when loading or unloading the machine into a trailer or tr...

Page 5: ...and turn machine off if a child enters the area c Before and while backing 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...

Page 6: ...e while the engine is running 11 Grass catcher components and the discharge cover are 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 ...

Page 7: ...NG BLADES Never carry passengers Never carry children even with the blades off DANGER ROTATING BLADES Always look down and behind before and while backing to avoid a back over accident 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 objec...

Page 8: ...nto service after the date shown on the battery charge the battery as instructed in the Maintaining Your Lawn Tractor section of this manual prior to operating the tractor Gas and Oil Fill up The gasoline tank is located under the hood and has a capacity of either two or three gallons Do not overfill WARNING Use extreme care when handling gasoline Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are...

Page 9: ...Styles vary by model If the steering wheel for your tractor did not come attached the hardware for attaching it has been packed within the steering wheel beneath the steering wheel cap Carefully pry off the steering wheel cap and remove the hardware 1 With the wheels of the tractor pointing straight forward place the steering wheel over the steering shaft 2 Place the washer with the cupped side do...

Page 10: ...the instruc tions below to attach it 1 Remove the two hex screws and nuts from the seat pivot bracket 2 Align the front holes of the seat mounting bracket with the holes in the seat pivot bracket on your tractor and secure with previously removed hex screws and nuts See Figures 3 6 or Figure 3 7 Knob Adjustment Seat To adjust the position of the seat loosen the knob on the bottom of the seat See F...

Page 11: ...ock nuts and shoulder screws which secure them to the deck See Fig 3 9 c Place the deck lift lever in the desired mowing height setting d Reinsert the shoulder screw with each gauge wheel into the index hole that leaves approxi mately inch between the bottom of the wheel and the pavement Refer to Leveling the Deck in the Maintenance section of this manual for more detailed instructions regarding v...

Page 12: ...W 0OSITION Figure 4 2 NOTE Any reference in this manual to the RIGHT or LEFT side of the tractor is observed from operator s position Throttle Control Lever The throttle control lever is located on the right side of the tractor s dash panel This lever controls the speed of the engine and on some models when pushed all the way forward the choke control also When set in a given position the throttle...

Page 13: ...oth Safety Interlock Switches and Starting The Engine in this section of the manual for detailed instructions regarding the Ignition Switch Module and operating the tractor in REVERSE CAUTION MODE Drive Pedal The drive pedal is located below the brake pedal on the right front side of the tractor along the running board Depress the upper portion of the drive pedal forward to cause the tractor to tr...

Page 14: ...ll also remind the operator of maintenance intervals for changing the engine oil The LCD will alternately flash the recorded hours CHG and OIL for five minutes after every 50 hours of recorded operation elapse The maintenance interval lasts for two hours from 50 52 100 102 150 152 etc The LCD will also flash as described above for five minutes every time the tractor s engine has been started durin...

Page 15: ...de Engage knob in the engaged ON position regardless of whether the parking brake is engaged With the ignition key in the NORMAL MOWING position the electric PTO Blade Engage clutch will automatically shut off if the PTO Blade Engage knob is moved into the engaged ON position with the drive pedal in Reverse WARNING Do not operate the tractor if the interlock system is malfunctioning This system wa...

Page 16: ...OT 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 A...

Page 17: ... cause serious injury Mow up and down slopes NEVER across Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes Watch for holes ruts bumps rocks or other hidden objects Uneven terrain could overturn the machine Tall grass can hide obstacles Avoid turns when driving on a slope If a turn must be made turn down the slope Turning up a slope greatly increases the chance of a roll over Avoid stoppi...

Page 18: ...rottle control lever to the FAST rabbit position Models with Manual PTO 2 a Grasp the PTO Blade Engage lever and pivot it all the way forward into the engaged ON position Models with Electric PTO b Pull the PTO Blade Engage knob outward into the engaged ON position 3 Keep the throttle lever in the FAST rabbit position for the most efficient use of the cutting deck or other separately available att...

Page 19: ...stalled For best results it is recommended that the first two laps be cut with the discharge thrown towards the center After the first two laps reverse the direction to throw the discharge to the outside for the balance of cutting This will give a better appearance to the lawn Do not cut the grass too short Short grass invites weed growth and yellows quickly in dry weather Mowing should always be ...

Page 20: ...ved Side to Side If the cutting deck appears to be mowing unevenly a side to side adjustment can be performed Adjust if necessary as follows 1 With the tractor parked on a firm level surface place the deck lift lever in the top notch highest position and rotate both blades so that they are perpendicular with the tractor 2 Measure the distance from the outside of the left blade tip to the ground an...

Page 21: ...If the tractor turns tighter in one direction than the other or if the ball joints are being replaced due to damage or wear the steering drag links may need to be adjusted Adjust the drag links so that equal lengths are threaded into the ball joint on the left and right side 1 Loosen the jam nut found on the drag link at the rear of the ball joint See Fig 5 3 2 Remove hex nut on the top of ball jo...

Page 22: ...ne Operator Owner Manual packed with your unit Perform the above steps in the opposite order after oil has finished draining 7 Refill the engine with new motor oil as instructed in the Engine Operator Owner Manual packed with your unit IMPORTANT Refer to the Engine Operator Owner Manual packed with your unit for information regarding the quantity and proper weight of motor oil Air Cleaner Service ...

Page 23: ...1 on the opposite side of the 46 cutting deck Cutting Deck Removal To remove the cutting deck proceed as follows 1 Place the PTO Blade Engage knob or lever in the disengaged OFF position and engage the parking brake 2 Lower the deck by moving the deck lift lever into the bottom notch on the right fender 3 Remove the belt keeper rod from around the engine pulley by removing the self tapping screw 4...

Page 24: ... of time charge the battery with an automotive type 12 volt charger for a minimum of one hour at six amps WARNING Batteries give off an explosive gas while charging Charge battery in a well ventilated area and keep away from an open flame or pilot light as on a water heater space heater furnace clothes dryer or other gas appli ances Jump Starting WARNING When removing or installing the battery fol...

Page 25: ...that secures the blade to the spindle assembly See Figure 6 5 4 To properly sharpen the cutting blades remove equal amounts of metal from both ends of the blades along the cutting edges parallel to the trailing edge at a 25 to 30 angle IMPORTANT If the cutting edge of the blade has already been sharpened to within 1 5 8 from the edge or if any metal separation is present replace the blades with ne...

Page 26: ...on key discon nect the spark plug wire s and ground against the engine to prevent unintended starting before remov ing the belt s Avoid the possibility of a pinching injury Do not place your fingers on the idler spring or between the belt and a pulley while removing the belt Figure 6 7 5 Remove the deck belt from around all pulleys including the deck idler pulleys and the electric PTO clutch units...

Page 27: ...gure 6 9 This Operators Manual covers 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 MTD LLC reserves the right to change product speci fications designs and equipment without notice and without incurring obligation ...

Page 28: ...ignition prior to draining fuel Follow the instructions in the separate engine manual packed with your unit for proper engine care prior to storing your tractor WARNING Never store the machine or fuel container indoors where there is an open flame spark or pilot light such as on water heater furnace clothes dryer or other gas appliance Attachments Accessories The following attachments and accessor...

Page 29: ...idge element or clean pre cleaner if so equipped 1 Unit running with CHOKE applied 2 Spark plug wire s loose 3 Blocked fuel line or stale fuel 4 Vent in gas cap plugged 5 Water or dirt in fuel system 6 Dirty air cleaner Engine overheats 1 Fill crankcase with proper oil 2 Clean grass clippings and debris from around the engine s cooling fins and blower housing 1 Engine oil level low 2 Air flow rest...

Page 30: ...use or exposure d Service completed by someone other than an authorized service dealer e MTD does not extend any warranty for products sold or exported outside of Canada including possessions and territories f Replacement parts that are not genuine MTD parts g Transportation charges and service calls h If Products are used commercially MTD may separately offer Limited Commercial Warranties on cert...

Page 31: ... AGAINST THESE COMPONENTS MUST BE HANDLED THROUGH THE RESPECTIVE MANUFACTURERS SERVICE DEALERS Belts light bulbs clutch parts friction wheels grass bags tires seats rider deck wheels and cutting blades are covered by a 60 day limited warranty Batteries are warranted against defect for 90 days at 100 of their value and 50 of their value for the period between the 91st day and the 120th day Fuses sh...

Page 32: ...p Inc s application for certification The warranty period begins on the date the lawn mower is delivered to an ultimate purchaser or first placed into service The warranty period is two years Subject to certain conditions and exclusions as stated below the warranty on emission related parts is as follows 1 Any warranted part that is not scheduled for replacement as required maintenance in the writ...

Page 33: ...ring System Cold start enrichment system soft choke Carburetor and internal parts Fuel pump Fuel tank 2 Air Induction System Air cleaner Intake manifold 3 Ignition System Spark plug s Magneto ignition system 4 Exhaust System Catalytic converter SAI Reed valve 5 Miscellaneous Items Used in Above System Vacuum temperature position time sensitive valves and switches Connectors and assemblies 6 Evapor...

Page 34: ...without incurring obligation Hydrostatic Garden Tractor Drive Belt Mowing Deck 46 Deck 754 04033 Deck Blade 46 Deck Center Blade one ea 742 0612A Deck Blade 46 Deck Outer Blades two ea 742 0611A Deck Spindle 46 Deck three ea 618 0666A Deck Wheel Rear 5 0 x 1 38 two each 734 0973 Deck Wheel Front 5 0 Dia Ball two each 734 04155 Battery 925 1707D Tire Front 16 x 7 5 x 8 Square Shoulder 634 04088A Ti...