Poulan Pro 196085, Operator'S Manual

14

FIG. 9

 MOWING TIPS

•      Mower should be properly leveled for best mowing per-

formance.  See “TO LEVEL MOWER HOUSING” in the 
Service and Adjustments section of this manual.

•      The left hand side of mower should be used for trim-

 ming.

•     Drive so that clippings are discharged onto the area 

that has been cut.  Have the cut area to the right of the 
machine.  This will result in a more even dis tri bu tion of 
clippings and more uniform cutting.

•         When mowing large areas, start by turning to the right so 

that clippings will discharge away from shrubs, fences, 
driveways, etc.  After one or two rounds, mow in the 
opposite direction making left hand turns until fi nished 
(See Fig. 9).

OPERATION

•      If grass is extremely tall, it should be mowed twice to 

reduce load and possible fi re hazard from dried clip-
 pings.  Make fi rst cut relatively high; the second to the 
desired height.

•      Do not mow grass when it is wet.  Wet grass will plug 

mower and leave undesirable clumps.  Allow grass to 
dry before mowing.

•        

Always operate engine at full throttle when mow-
ing 

to assure better mowing performance and proper 

dis charge of material.  Regulate ground speed by se-
 lect ing a low enough gear to give the mower cut ting 
per for mance as well as the quality of cut desired.

•     When operating attachments, select a ground speed 

that will suit the terrain and give best performance of 
the at tach ment being used.

PURGE TRANSMISSION

CAUTION:  Never engage or disengage 
freewheel lever while the engine is run-
 ning.

To ensure proper operation and performance, it is rec om -
mend ed that the transmission be purged before operating 
tractor for the fi rst time. This procedure will remove any 
trapped air inside the transmission which may have de-
 vel oped during shipping of your tractor.

IMPORTANT:

  SHOULD YOUR TRANSMISSION RE 

QUIRE 

REMOVAL FOR SERVICE OR REPLACEMENT, IT SHOULD 
BE PURGED AFTER REINSTALLATION BEFORE OPERATING 
THE TRACTOR.

•         Place tractor safely on level surface with engine off and 

parking brake set.

•      Disengage transmission by placing freewheel control 

in freewheeling position (See “TO TRANSPORT” in this 
section of manual).

•      Sitting in the tractor seat, start engine. After the engine 

is running, move throttle control to slow position. With 
motion control lever in neutral (N) po si tion, slowly dis-
engage clutch/brake pedal. 

•      Move motion control lever to full forward position and 

hold for fi ve (5) seconds. Move lever to full reverse 
position and hold for fi ve (5) seconds. Repeat this 
procedure three (3) times.

NOTE:  

During this procedure there will be no movement 

of drive wheels. The air is being removed from hydraulic 
drive system.
•      Move motion control lever to neutral (N) position. Shut- 

off engine and set parking brake.

•     Engage transmission by placing freewheel control in 

engaged position (See “TO TRANSPORT” in this sec-
 tion of manual).

•         Sitting in the tractor  seat, start engine. After the engine 

is running, move throttle control to half (1/2) speed. 
With motion control lever in neutral (N) position, slowly 
disengage clutch/brake pedal.

•         Slowly move motion control lever forward, after the tractor 

moves approximately fi ve (5) feet, slowly move motion 
control lever to reverse position. After the tractor moves 
approximately fi ve (5) feet return the motion control lever 
to the neutral (N) position. Repeat this procedure with 
the motion control lever three (3) times.

•     Your transmission is now purged and now ready for 

normal op er a tion.

WARM WEATHER STARTING (50° F and above)
•     When engine starts, slowly push choke control in until 

the engine begins to run smoothly. If the engine starts to 
run roughly, pull the choke control out slightly for a few 
seconds and then continue to push the control in slowly.

•      The attachments and ground drive can now be used. If 

the engine does not accept the load, restart the engine 
and allow it to warm up for one minute using the choke 
as described above.

COLD WEATHER STARTING (50° F and below)
•      When engine starts, slowly push choke control in until 

the engine begins to run smoothly. Continue to push 
the choke control in small steps allowing the engine to 
accept small changes in speed and load, until the choke 
control is fully in. If the engine starts to run roughly, pull 
the choke control out slightly for a few seconds and 
then continue to push the control in slowly. This may 
require an engine warm-up period from several sec onds 
to several minutes, depending on the temperature.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WARM UP

•        

Before driving the unit in cold weather, the trans mis sion 
should be warmed up as follows:

•     Be sure the tractor is on level ground.
•     Place the motion control lever in neu tral.  

Re lease the parking brake and let the clutch/brake 
slowly return to operating po si tion.

•       Allow one minute for transmission to warm up. This 

can be done during the engine warm up period.

•      The attachments can be used during the engine warm-up 

period after the transmission has been warmed up and 
may require the choke con trol be pulled out slight ly.

NOTE:

 If at a high altitude (above 3000 feet) or in cold 

temperatures (below 32 F) the carburetor fuel mixture may 
need to be adjusted for best engine performance. See “TO 
ADJUST CARBURETOR” in the Service and Ad just ments 
section of this manual.