Dixon Zeeter Zero-Turn Riding Mower, Safety And Operation Manual

Page 1: ...ZEETER Safety Instructions Operator s Manual ZEETER ...

Page 2: ...r read this Operator s Manual carefully It contains valuable information that is necessary for the safe operation of the machine Observe all safety rules and become completely familiar with the controls The information contained in this manual applies to all Dixon ZEETER mowers See your authorized Dixon dealer for warranty service parts and repairs or to answer any questions you may have about you...

Page 3: ...CONTENTS Page SAFETY WARNING 4 15 WARRANTY 16 SPECIFICATIONS 17 CONTROLS 18 22 OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS 23 31 CARE MAINTENANCE 32 44 STANDARD SERVICE PARTS LIST 45 TROUBLESHOOTING 46 47 ZEETER Part Number 14295 1005 ...

Page 4: ...Run Over Back Over RIDING LAWN MOWERS IF IMPROPERLY OPERATED CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH Pictured below are the most common causes of injury to the operator or bystander Please read and understand this manual to prevent injuries ...

Page 5: ...ently hazardous situation which if not avoided will result in death or serious injury WARNING highlighted in orange indicates a potentially hazardous situation which if not avoided could result in death or serious injury CAUTION highlighted in yellow indicates a potentially hazardous situation which if not avoided may result in minor or moderate injury It may also be used to alert against unsafe p...

Page 6: ... Stop mower if anyone enters the area Be aware of the mower discharge direction and do not point it at anyone Mower blades can throw rocks or other debris Do not operate the mower without either the entire grass catcher or the deflector in place This will decrease the possibility of injury from objects being thrown by the mower blades Never carry passengers They may fall off and become seriously i...

Page 7: ...ng To avoid personal injury from accidental clutch engage ment stop engine before removing grass catcher or unclogging chute Mow only in daylight or good artificial light Do not operate the mower while under the influence of alcohol or drugs Slow down before turning to reduce the risk of tip over Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing road ways Use extra care when loading or unloading t...

Page 8: ...r ability to operate the riding mower safely enough to protect themselves and others from serious injury To protect against possible tip over follow the manufacturer s recommendation for wheel weights and counterweights Maintain or replace safety instruction labels as needed GENERAL OPERATION continued The engine exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the State of California to caus...

Page 9: ...emove obstacles such as rocks tree limbs wires and other foreign objects that can be thrown by mower blades Watch for holes ruts roots and bumps Uneven terrain could overturn the mower Tall grass can hide such obstacles Use slow speed Tires may lose traction on slopes even though the brakes are functioning properly Avoid starting or stopping on a slope If tires lose traction disengage the blades a...

Page 10: ...e caution when operating the mower with attachments to prevent tip over or roll over If front wheels lift off the ground pull levers back to stabilize the mower Discontinue mowing the slope SLOPE OPERATION continued DO continued Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death ...

Page 11: ... 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 mower by putting your foot on the ground Do not use grass catcher or other attachments on steep slopes The added weight may change the stability of the mower thus creating the potential for tip over Failure to observe the following sa...

Page 12: ... mower free of grass leaves and other debris build up If gasoline is spilled do not attempt to start the engine Move mower away from the area of the spill Do not create any source of ignition until gas vapors have dissipated Wipe up spilled fuel and dispose of waste properly Iffuelisspilled onclothing changeclothingimmediately Before storing allow mower to cool Clean fuel and oil spillage Never st...

Page 13: ...aused by static electricity Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck or trailer bed with a plastic liner Always place containers on the ground away from your vehicle before filling When practical remove fuel powered equipment from the truck or trailer and refuel it on the ground If this is not possible refuel such equipment on a trailer with a portable container rather than from a fuel...

Page 14: ...e watchful care of another responsible adult Be alert and turn mower off if a child enters the area Before and during backing look BEHIND and DOWN for small children Never carry children They may fall off and be seriously injured or interfere with safe mower operation Never allow children to operate the mower Use extra care when approaching blind corners shrubs trees or other objects that may obsc...

Page 15: ...ments or repairs with the engine running unless otherwise specified Grass catcher components are subject to wear damage and deterioration which could expose moving parts or allow objects to be thrown Frequently check components Replace with original equipment parts when necessary Mower blades are sharp and can cut Wrap blades or wear gloves and use extra caution when servicing them Batteries conta...

Page 16: ...Warranty labor reimbursement to dealers based on published Dixon flat rate schedule 6 Warranty does not apply to damage in transit or incidents of misuse negligence accidents or alteration The use of parts or components other than those supplied by Dixon Industries VOIDSALLWARRANTY 7 Battery warranty is limited to one year from mower manufacture date 8 The following items are not covered by this w...

Page 17: ...everengagement TRANSMISSION Eachrearwheelisindependentlydrivenbychainand sprockets through a friction mechanical drive ENGINE 11HP Briggs Stratton I C 4 cycle single cylinder air cooled gasoline verticalshaft aluminumheadandblock STARTINGSYSTEM Electricbykeyswitchoperationwithsafetyinterlockson parking brake and blade drive TIRES Front 9 x 3 50 4 Smooth Tread Rear 16 x 6 50 8 Turf Saver RECOMMENDE...

Page 18: ...ving one control lever slightly forward or rearward of the other To turn left move left lever rearward of the right lever To turn right move right lever rearward of the left lever To turn on mower s own axis zero turning radius stop and move one lever to reverse position and the other to forward position BRAKING To brake mower move both levers in direction opposite of travel Note The pressure requ...

Page 19: ...ing brake is engaged while the control levers are in the drive position Engage parking brake before starting engine TO SET PARKING BRAKE The hand operated parking brake is located on the right side of the mower To engage brake pull lever up to the rear To release brake move lever forward down Note Always set parking brake before dismounting Release parking brake before moving mower CAUTION ...

Page 20: ... maintenance instructions 2 Read and observe all safety instructions on your mower and in the manual 3 Check engine oil 4 Check fuel cap to be sure it is in place 5 Be sure parking brake is on 6 Be sure mower blade drive is off 7 Know how to stop engine Turn key to off position ...

Page 21: ... drive levers to control braking turning speed and direction On initial operation set throttle speed to slow Operate with mower blade in OFF position To avoid over controlling the mower use a light touch on the drive levers Slight movements using fingertip control is all that is necessary TRANSMISSION DRIVE SYSTEM Allows the mower to turn on its own axis ZERO TURNING RADIUS Each lever controls one...

Page 22: ... right Throttle control for engine speed Choke for engine starting Throttle control should be set to MAXIMUM or wide open setting to insure adequate cooling of the engine and to maintain mower deck blade speed while mowing MOWER DECK CUT HEIGHT LIFT LEVER Located to the left of the operator Controls the cutting height Seven positions of adjustment Move lever in and forward to lower Move lever in a...

Page 23: ...the mower and making good judgements about the terrain to be mowed NEVER allow anyone to operate the mower without complete knowledge of all controls and their functions NEVER dismount mower without applying parking brake or stopping engine During initial operation learning to drive set throttle at slow speed Sound judgement by the operator will prevent accidents ...

Page 24: ...een operated for a period of time 3 Insert ignition key and turn to start position When engine starts release ignition key Key will return to run position 4 Move throttle from choke to maximum speed position 5 Release parking brake 6 Operate mower per CONTROLS instructions on Page 18 CAUTION Do not operate the engine in an enclosed area due to the harmful exhaust gas produced Note When mowing with...

Page 25: ...urn over or attempt to start SEAT SWITCH TEST a In a safe area away from bystanders start the engine b Engage blade drive switch c Raise slightly off seat Engine should STOP NOTE If any safety check fails do not operate the mower until the system has been checked and repaired by an Authorized Dixon Dealer TESTING OF SAFETY INTERLOCK SYSTEMS Failure to observe the following testing instructions cou...

Page 26: ...the engine speed control to the wide open or full setting 3 Place the mower deck cut height selector in either the top or second notch Never cut more than 3 4 to 1 off the grass at any one time Attempting to cut more grass will result in the deck plugging and cause the engine to stall 4 It may be necessary to cut the lawn twice to achieve acceptable mulching performance especially on first cutting...

Page 27: ...mpeller are still turning 8 Alternate mower direction This will evenlydisperse the mulched grass clippings over the lawn for even fertilization If the mulching quality of the mower does not seem to be satisfactory try one or more of the following tips a Raise the height of cut setting on your mower b It may be necessary to cut your grass more frequently c Operate the mower at a slower ground speed...

Page 28: ...underside of the deck and the attachment chutes Empty bags often to prevent plugging 4 If the grass is tall place the mower deck cut height selector in the top or second notch Initially overlap cutting swaths instead of a full swath with each pass 5 Keep the underside of the mower deck clean Frequent removal of dried grass and dirt will greatly assist in bagging of the clippings Never under any ci...

Page 29: ... Watch for low hanging branches or other obstacles which might hit the catcher top while turning or backing the mower Use care when backing to avoid pushing the grass bags into the frame or hot exhaust muffler of the engine Fire could result Disengage blade and stop engine prior to clearing grass from either the discharge chute or grass catcher components Do not operate the mower with the grass ca...

Page 30: ...t to cut grass when it is wet Wet grass will clog the underside of the deck and discharge area 3 If the grass is tall place the mower deck cut height lever in the top or second notch Initially overlap cutting swaths instead of a full swath with each pass Some applications may require a second cutting 4 Keep the underside of the mower deck clean Frequent removal of dried grass and dirt will allow t...

Page 31: ... blades throughout the cutting season As a rule of thumb never cut off more than 1 3 of the total grass blade length Correct mowing height can reduce weeds and disease by 50 to 80 The following grass cut heights are based on adequate moisture conditions and normal thatch build up in a healthy lawn Some locations and applications may require slightly different cut heights If in doubt consult your l...

Page 32: ...Check deck drive belt after 20 hours break in Check crankcase oil level before each use Clean grass debris from muffler manifold area before each use Check air intake screen after each use Clean grass under deck after each use Check tire pressure every 10 hours Inspect blades for sharpness every 10 hours Clean air filter element every 25 hours Grease all zerks every 50 hours Check all belts every ...

Page 33: ...y DANGEROUS DO NOT USE BLADE IN THIS CONDITION When notch starts discard blade New Blade Check sharpness of mower blades after every 10 hours of operation Observe proper blade position prior to removal 1 Safely raise front of mower 2 Hold or block blade from turning 3 Loosen blade bolt and remove blade 4 When replacing blade tighten blade bolt securely Refer to diagram Be sure blade is centered on...

Page 34: ...r Clean top of battery and terminals with baking soda and water Identify each cable so they can be reconnected to the correct terminal Disconnect cables from terminals ALWAYS discon nect ground cable first and reconnect last Charge battery Note Your Dixon mower comes equipped with a quick disconnect harness for the optional Dixon Battery Manager The Dixon Battery Manager maintains the proper charg...

Page 35: ...S 5 grease zerks LOCATIONS 1 each front wheel caster 1 each front wheel hub 1 each mower deck hub SERVICE INTERVALS Every 50 hours of operation or once per season RECOMMENDED Name brand wheel bearing GREASE or multi purpose grease 3 pumps each ...

Page 36: ...djustment Engine to Mower Deck Belt manual clutch P N 7725 No adjustment required TIRES Correct tire pressure is essential for efficient operation of the mower Check tire pressure periodically Inflate tires to the pressure listed below Front tires 9 x 3 50 4 16 21 lbs Rear tires 16 x 6 50 8 8 14 lbs Lug nuts or lug bolts should be checked regularly for tightness ...

Page 37: ...g your mower start the engine and engage the mower deck for a few minutes to disperse any water that may have accumulated in bearings pulleys or fans Note Allow mower to cool before washing If bearings are hot they will draw moisture inside as they dry and cause corrosion SERIAL NUMBERS The serial number is located on frame at rear of engine WARRANTY Refer to warranty information page 16 PARTS SER...

Page 38: ...NGINE OIL 1 The oil drain valve is located on the lower left side of the engine crankcase 2 Place a suitable container under the drain valve 3 To drain remove plug from 90 degree fitting 4 After engine is drained replace drain plug NOTE Refer to engine manufacturer s recommenda tions for frequency of oil changes ...

Page 39: ...s 2 Refill engine with type and quantity of oil recom mended by the engine manufacturer in engine literature NOTE Engine oil changes on the ZEETER mower will require replacement of the oil filter These filters may be available from your local Dixon Dealer Protect your environment Please dispose of used oils at proper collection centers CAUTION ...

Page 40: ...ck to see if that measurement is the same If adjustment is required turn nut on one or both of the rear L rods until both measurements are equal 4 Turn blade so tips align with the deck in a front to rear manner 5 Measure from the floor surface up to the bottom of the blade tip at both the front and rear of the blade Rear blade tip should be 1 8 to 1 4 higher than the front blade tip If adjustment...

Page 41: ...CARE AND MAINTENANCE 41 IllustrationB ...

Page 42: ...hten the nut on top of the rubber spring until the chain has approximately 1 4 movement up and down when measured at mid point Refer to Illustration B page 41 NOTE Adjust rear drive chains after first 10 hours of use and every 40 hours thereafter NOTE DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN CHAIN Maintenance Periodically remove any build up of grass mud or other debris from both the spring loaded roller and the upper ...

Page 43: ...le down through hole in lower fender 6 Remove hair pin cotter and washer from one end of deck support cross shaft Note location of remaining shim washers used between chassis and mower deck pan arms Slide shaft from chassis and mower deck 7 Remove hair pin cotter and washer from each deck adjustment rod Carefully push each link to disengage from deck lift arms At this point deck will drop down 8 C...

Page 44: ...ealer There are a number of simple owner service items which greatly influence the performance of the drive system 1 Front and rear tires must be inflated to proper specifications 2 Rear drive chain tension 3 Tighteness of all controls and linkages pertaining to the drive levers 4 Lubrication of both primary and final drive chains The use of a high quality chain lubricant is highly recommended ...

Page 45: ...eck P N 7725 Engine to Transmission P N 7650 ENGINE AIR AND OIL FILTERS Refer to Engine Operator s Manual for correct service intervals for engine oil changes and air filter maintenance Protect your engine investment use only original equipment filters Refer to the Engine Operator s Manual or ask your dealer for correct replacement parts ...

Page 46: ... clean or replace fuel filters 3 HARD TO START ENGINE Fuel line clogged clean fuel line and check fuel filter Faulty fuel pump consult dealer 4 ENGINE STARTS BUT CUTS OUT Water in fuel drain old fuel replace with new fuel Clogged fuel line check fuel filter Fuel tank vent plugged clean fuel vent Faulty fuel pump consult dealer 5 ENGINE OVERHEATED Air intake screen or fins clogged clean intake scre...

Page 47: ...ck system consult dealer Fauty blade spindle bearing consult dealer Deck drive belt not properly routed reroute Blades blocked by foreign material clean under deck 9 DRIVE SYSTEM Mower pulls to side check tire inflation adjust control linkage Mower creeps in neutral adjust control linkage Low on power check belt tension 10 CUT QUALITY Cut uneven left to right check tire inflation level deck Ends o...

Page 48: ...NOTES ...

Page 49: ...NOTES ...

Page 50: ...NOTES ...

Page 51: ...INFORMATION Date of Purchase Mower Model Number Mower Serial Number Purchased From Name Address DATE OIL CHANGED DATE ENGINE TUNED Dixon Industries Inc P O Box 1569 Coffeyville Ks 620 251 2000 Fax 620 251 4117 ...

Page 52: ...es Inc DIXON INDUSTRIES INC P O Box 1569 Coffeyville Ks 67337 0945 620 251 2000 ZEETER Part No 14295 1005 The engine exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer birth defects or other reproductive harm WARNING ...