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16

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ectiOn

 5— O

peratiOn

Starting the Engine

WARNING! 

This tractor is equipped with a safety 

interlock system designed for the protection of the 

operator. Do not operate the tractor if any part of 

the interlock system is malfunctioning. Periodically 

check the functions of the interlock system for 

proper operation.

 

WARNING! 

For personal safety, the operator must 

be sitting in the tractor seat when starting the 

engine.

NOTE: 

Refer to the Engine Operator’s Manual for oil fill-up 

instructions and refer to the Assembly & Set-Up section for 

gasoline fill-up instructions.

Operator must be sitting in the tractor seat.

1. 

Engage the parking brake. Refer to Fig. 5-1.

2. 

Make certain the PTO switch is in the disengaged (down) 

3. 

position. Refer to Fig. 5-1.
Pull the choke control upward into the full choke position

4. 

 NOTE: 

If the engine is warmed up, it may not be necessary 

to place the throttle control in the choke position.

Move the throttle control to midway between its SLOW and 

5. 

FAST positions.
Turn the ignition key clockwise to the START position. 

6. 

After the engine starts, release the key. It will return to the 

NORMAL MOWING position.

CAUTION: 

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.

After the engine starts, deactivate the choke control.

7. 

NOTE: 

Do NOT leave the choke control on while operating 

the tractor. Doing so will result in a “rich” fuel mixture and 

cause the engine to run poorly.

Allow the engine to run for a few minutes at mid throttle 

8. 

before putting the engine under load.

Observe the hour meter/indicator panel. If the battery 

9. 

indicator light or oil pressure light come on, immediately 

stop the engine. Have the tractor inspected by your Cub 

Cadet dealer.

Cold Weather Starting

When starting the engine at temperatures near or below 

freezing, ensure the correct viscosity motor oil is used in the 

engine and the battery is fully charged. Start the engine as 

follows:

Be sure the battery is in good condition. A warm battery 

1. 

has much more starting capacity than a cold battery.
Use fresh winter grade fuel. Winter grade gasoline has 

2. 

higher volatility to improve starting. Do not use gasoline 

left over from summer.

Follow the previous instruction for Starting the Engine.

3. 

Using Jumper Cables To Start Engine

WARNING! 

Batteries contain sulfuric acid and 

produce explosive gasses. Make certain the area is 

well ventilated, wear gloves and eye protection, and 

avoid sparks or flames near the battery.

If the battery charge is not sufficient to crank the engine, 

recharge the battery. If a battery charger is  unavailable and 

the tractor must be started, the aid of a booster battery will be 

necessary. Connect the booster battery as follows:

Connect the end of one cable to the disabled tractor 

1. 

battery’s positive terminal; then connect the other end of 

that cable to the booster battery’s positive terminal.

Connect one end of the other cable to the booster 

2. 

battery’s negative terminal; then connect the other end of 

that cable to the  frame of the disabled tractor, as far from 

the battery as possible.

Start the disabled tractor following the normal starting 

3. 

instructions previously provided; then disconnect 

the jumper cables in the exact reverse order of their 

connection.

Have the tractor’s electrical system checked and repaired 

4. 

as soon as possible to eliminate the need for jump starting.

Stopping the Engine

Place the PTO switch in the “OFF” position.

1. 

Engage the parking brake.

2. 

Move the throttle control to the SLOW position and allow 

3. 

the engine to idle for about one minute.

Turn the ignition key to the “OFF” position and remove the 

4. 

key from the ignition switch.

NOTE: 

Always remove the key from the ignition switch to prevent 

accidental starting or battery discharge if the equipment is left 

unattended.

Engage the Parking Brake

Figure 5-1

Summary of Contents for Z-Force S 54

Page 1: ...Practices Set Up Operation Maintenance Service Troubleshooting Warranty WARNING READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS MACHINE FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY Z Force S 54 Form No 769 06499 October 20 2010 ...

Page 2: ...ications for various models Characteristics and features discussed and or illustrated in this manual may not be applicable to all models We reserve the right to change product specifications designs and equipment without notice and without incurring obligation If you have any problems or questions concerning the machine phone your local Cub Cadet dealer or contact us directly Cub Cadet s Customer ...

Page 3: ...jects which ricochet can cause serious injury to the eyes Wear sturdy rough soled work shoes and close fitting 9 slacks and shirts Loose fitting clothes and jewelry can be caught in movable parts Never operate this machine in bare feet or sandals Be aware of the mower and attachment discharge direction 10 and do not point it at anyone Do not operate the mower without the discharge cover or entire ...

Page 4: ...hat operators age 60 years and above are 28 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 themselves and others from serious injury If situations occur which are not covered in this manual use 29 care and good judgment Contact your customer service representative for assistance Slop...

Page 5: ...d allow extra distance to stop 12 Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill 13 Service Safe Handling of Gasoline To avoid personal injury or property damage use extreme 1 care in handling gasoline Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive Serious personal injury can occur when gasoline is spilled on yourself or your clothes which can ignite Wash your skin and change clothes imm...

Page 6: ...o improper performance and compromise safety Do not change the engine governor settings or over speed 12 the engine The governor controls the maximum safe operating speed of the engine Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels as 13 necessary Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas oil 14 etc to protect the environment According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission 15 CP...

Page 7: ...semble and operate 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 objects which can cause serious personal injury WARNING THROWN OBJECTS This machine may pick up and throw and objects which can cause serious personal injury BYSTANDERS Ke...

Page 8: ...NG Do not operate your lawn mower on such slopes 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 Operate riding mowers up and down slopes never across the face of slopes Operate Z Force S zero turn tractors across the face of slopes rather than up and down Begin with the first pass a...

Page 9: ...lumn is tilted all the way back for shipping purposes To tilt the column forward press the steering tilt pedal Release the steering tilt pedal when the column is in the desired position Steering Wheel Remove the hardware for attaching the steering wheel 1 from beneath the steering wheel cap Carefully pry off the steering wheel cover to remove the hardware With the wheels of the tractor pointing st...

Page 10: ... To adjust the position of the seat push the seat adjustment lever to the left Slide the seat forward or rearward to the desired position then release the adjustment lever Make sure seat is locked into position before operating the tractor See Fig 3 5 Install the Rear Hitch Bracket Remove the hex flange screws and flange lock nuts that 1 secure the hitch bracket and muffler mount bracket to the bu...

Page 11: ...ch the red cable to the positive battery terminal with the bolt and hex nut See Fig 3 8 Remove the plastic cover if present from the negative 2 battery terminal and attach the black cable to the negative battery terminal with the bolt and hex nut See Fig 3 8 Position the red rubber boot over the positive battery 3 terminal to help protect it from corrosion NOTE If the battery is put into service a...

Page 12: ...cking behind the notch on the front of the index plate Remove and replace the lock rod into the desired height index hole then push pedal forward and rock forward to unlock and slowly allow the pedal to move back until it reaches the lock rod Ignition Switch Module Warning Never leave a running machine unattended Always disengage PTO set parking brake stop engine and remove key to prevent unintend...

Page 13: ...ll flash as described for five minutes every time the tractor s engine is started during this maintenance interval Follow the oil change intervals provided in the engine manual HOURS 1 10 PTO BLADE P ARK BRAKE OIL BA TT Indicator Panel Features Battery Indicator Illuminates and the battery voltage is displayed briefly when the ignition switch it turned to the ON position Illuminates to indicate th...

Page 14: ...e faster the tractor will travel The pedal will return to its original position when it s not pressed Cup Holder The cup holder is located on the LH console to the left of the operator s seat Storage Tray The storage tray is located at the rear of the LH console Seat Adjustment Lever The seat adjustment lever is located below the front left of the seat The lever allows for adjustment of the fore t...

Page 15: ...l minutes to cool before refueling Tighten the fuel cap securely Before Operating Your Tractor Before you operate the tractor study this manual carefully to familiarize yourself with the operation of all the instruments and controls It has been prepared to help you operate and maintain your tractor efficiently This engine is certified to operate only on clean fresh unleaded regular gasoline For be...

Page 16: ...ear or below freezing ensure the correct viscosity motor oil is used in the engine and the battery is fully charged Start the engine as follows Be sure the battery is in good condition A warm battery 1 has much more starting capacity than a cold battery Use fresh winter grade fuel Winter grade gasoline has 2 higher volatility to improve starting Do not use gasoline left over from summer Follow the...

Page 17: ...king brake If leaving the tractor unattended also turn the engine off and remove the ignition key Reverse Caution Mode The REVERSE CAUTION MODE position of the key switch module allows the tractor to be operated in reverse with the blades PTO engaged NOTE Mowing in reverse is not recommended Warning Use extreme caution while operating the tractor in the REVERSE CAUTION MODE Always look down and be...

Page 18: ...charged material to ricochet back toward the operator Do not mow at high ground speed especially if a mulch kit or grass collector is installed Do not cut the grass too short Short grass is prone to weed growth and yellows quickly in dry weather Always operate the tractor with the throttle lever in the FAST rabbit position while mowing For best results it is recommended that the first two laps be ...

Page 19: ...cted to the correct terminals reversing them could result in serious damage to your engine s alternating system Battery Storage When storing the tractor for extended periods disconnect the 1 negativebatterycable Itisnotnecessarytoremovethebattery All batteries discharge during storage Keep the exterior 2 of the battery clean especially the top A dirty battery will discharge more rapidly The batter...

Page 20: ...n tractor is equipped with dual integrated hydrostatic pumps transaxles that are sealed and are maintenance free However this model is equipped with a transmission oil expansion reservoir Under normal operating conditions the oil level in the expansion reservoir does not need to be checked and no additional oil is needed If checking the reservoir oil level proceed as follows WARNING Check the oil ...

Page 21: ...ort on your decks 3 surface See Fig 6 2 Turn the water on 4 While sitting in the operator s position on the tractor start 5 the engine and place the throttle lever in the FAST rabbit position Move the tractor s PTO Blade Engage into the ON position 6 Remain in the operator s position with the cutting deck 7 engaged for a minimum of two minutes allowing the underside of the cutting deck to thorough...

Page 22: ...k hanger link is not adjustable and is used to help adjust the other hanger links Using a wrench raise or lower the left side of the deck by 4 turning the adjustment gears See Fig 6 5 The deck is properly leveled when both blade tip measurements are equal Retighten the hex bolt on the front left deck hanger bracket when proper adjustment is achieved Leveling the Deck Front To Rear NOTE Check the t...

Page 23: ...l to its highest setting a Remove the front and rear deck wheels by removing b the lock nuts and shoulder bolts which secure them to the deck See Fig 6 7 Place the deck lift pedal in the desired mowing c height setting Reinsert the shoulder bolts with each gauge wheel d into the index hole that leaves approximately inch between the bottom of the wheel and the pavement Parking Brake Adjustment If t...

Page 24: ...echarge the battery after the tractor has been stored for a period of time A voltmeter or load tester should read 12 6 volts DC or higher across the battery terminals See Fig 7 2 Charge the battery with a 12 volt battery charger at a MAXIMUM rate of 10 amps Servicing Electrical System A fuse is installed to protect the tractor s electrical system from damage caused by excessive amperage Always use...

Page 25: ...7 side Deck Installation Install the deck on the tractor as follows Place the deck lift pedal in the highest mowing position 1 and secure it by placing the click pin behind the pedal Refer to Fig 7 3 Slide the deck under the tractor on the right side of the 2 tractor lining up the deck lift adjustment brackets and the deck lift brackets on the deck See Fig 7 6 Once the deck is under the tractor mo...

Page 26: ...ades must be kept sharp at all times Sharpen the cutting edges of the blades evenly so that the blades remain balanced and the same angle of sharpness is maintained If the cutting edge of a blade has already been sharpened many times or if any metal separation is present it is recommended that new blades be installed New blades are available at your authorized dealer After all four cotter pins are...

Page 27: ...he blades Replace any blade with severe nicks or dents that cannot 3 be removed by filing Check the balance of the blade after sharpening by placing 4 it on a blade balancer Do not use un balanced blades If the blade dips on one end file stock off of the cutting 5 surface on that end NOTE Replace any blades that cannot be easily balanced Changing the Spindle Assembly Remove the deck from beneath t...

Page 28: ...ssure 3 Perform side to side deck adjustment 1 Sharpen or replace blade 2 Check tire pressure in all four tires 3 Mower will not mulch grass If Equipped w Mulching Kit Engine speed too low 1 Wet grass 2 Excessively high grass 3 Dull blade 4 Place throttle in FAST rabbit position 1 Do not mulch when grass is wet 2 Mow once at a high cutting height then 3 mow again at desired height or make a narrow...

Page 29: ...n KH 12 132 02 S Spark Plug KH 32 083 06 S Air Filter KH 32 083 08 S Pre Cleaner KH 25 050 22 S1 Fuel Filter KH 52 050 02 S Oil Filter 754 04137A Deck Belt 954 04262 PTO Belt 754 04250 Drive Belt 02005018 Mowing Blade 618 04426 Deck Spindle 634 3159 Deck Wheel ...

Page 30: ...onent Part Number and Description 925 1707D Battery 751 11817 Gas Cap 946 1086 Throttle Control Cable 746 04752 Choke Control Cable 925 2054A Ignition Key 01006693 Chute Deflector 634 04295 Wheel Assembly 634 04629 Caster Wheel Assembly ...

Page 31: ...Attachments Accessories 10 31 Part No Part 19A70012100 54 Triple Bagger 19A70018100 Headlight Kit ...

Page 32: ...Notes 11 32 ...

Page 33: ...33 Section 11 Notes ...

Page 34: ...at cause the failure of a warranted part to be identical in all material respects to that part as described in MTD Consumer Group Inc s application for certification The warranty period begins on the date the outdoor equipment engine 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 w...

Page 35: ...till eligible for warranty coverage Further the coverage under this warranty extends only to parts that were present on the off road engine and equipment purchased The following emission warranty parts are covered if applicable 1 Fuel Metering System Cold start enrichment system soft choke Carburetor and internal parts or fuel injection system Fuel pump Fuel tank 2 Air Induction System Air cleaner...

Page 36: ...overage if the hour meter or any part thereof is altered modified disconnected or otherwise tampered with HOW TO OBTAIN SERVICE Warranty service is available WITH PROOF OF PURCHASE AND APPLICABLE MAINTENANCE RECORDS through your local authorized service dealer To locate the dealer in your area In the U S A Check your Yellow Pages or contact Cub Cadet LLC at P O Box 361131 Cleveland Ohio 44136 0019...

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