Poulan Pro 197498, Operator'S Manual

12

OPERATION

TO OPERATE ON HILLS 

WARNING:  Do not drive up or down 
hills with slopes greater than 15° and 
do not drive across any slope.

•      Choose the slowest speed  before starting up or down 

hills.

•      Avoid stopping or changing speed on hills.
•     If slowing is necessary, move throttle control lever to 

slower position.

•      If stopping is absolutely necessary, push clutch/brake 

pedal quickly to brake position and engage parking 
brake.

•      Move motion control lever to neutral (N) position.

IMPORTANT:

      THE  MOTION CONTROL LEVER DOES NOT 

RETURN TO NEUTRAL (N) POSITION WHEN THE CLUTCH/
BRAKE PED AL IS DEPRESSED.

•      To restart movement, slowly release parking brake and 

clutch/brake pedal.

•      Slowly move motion control lever to slowest setting.
•      Make all turns slowly.

AT TACH MENT 
CLUTCH LEVER
"DISENGAGED" 
PO SI TION

ATTACHMENT
LIFT LEVER
HIGH PO SI TION

"ENGAGED" PO SI TION

LOW
POSITION

TO TRANSPORT (See Figs. 5 and 9)

When pushing or towing your tractor, be sure to disengage 
transmission by placing freewheel control in free wheel ing  
po si tion.  Free wheel control is located at the rear drawbar 
of tractor.

DEFLECTOR 
SHIELD

FIG. 7

REVERSE OPERATION SYSTEM (ROS)

Your tractor is equipped with a Reverse Operation System 
(ROS). Any attempt by the operator to travel in the reverse 
direction with the attachment clutch engaged will shut off 
the engine unless ignition key is placed in the ROS "ON" 
position.

 WARNING:

  Backing up with the attachment clutch en-

gaged while mowing is strongly discouraged. Turning the 
ROS "ON", to allow reverse operation with the attachment 
clutch engaged, should only be done when the operator 
decides it is necessary to reposition the machine with the 
attachment engaged. 

Do not mow in reverse unless 

absolutely necessary

.

USING THE REVERSE OPERATION SYSTEM -

•      Move motion control lever to neutral (N) position.
•      With engine running, turn ignition key counterclockwise 

to ROS "ON" position.

•      Look down and behind before backing.
•         Slowly move motion control lever to reverse (R) po si tion 

to start movement.

•     When use of the ROS is no longer needed, turn the 

ignition key clockwise to engine "ON" position.

02828

ROS "ON" POSITION

ENGINE "ON" POSITION
(NORMAL OPERATING)

CLEVIS PIN

RETAINER 
SPRING

TO OPERATE MOWER (See Fig. 8)

Your tractor  is equipped with an operator presence sensing 
switch.  Any attempt by the operator to leave the seat with 
the engine running and the attachment clutch engaged 
will shut off the engine. You must remain fully and centrally 
positioned in the seat to prevent the engine from hesitating 
or cutting off when operating your equipment on rough, 
rolling terrain or hills.
•      Select desired height of cut.
•      Lower mower with attachment lift control.
•      Start  mower  blades  by  engaging  attachment  clutch 

control.

•      TO STOP MOWER BLADES - disengage attachment 

clutch con trol.

CAUTION:  Do not operate the mower 
without either the en tire grass catcher, 
on mowers so equipped, or the defl ector 
shield in place.

FIG. 8

•      Adjust mower to desired cutting height (See “TO AD-

 JUST MOWER CUT TING HEIGHT” in the Operation 
sec tion of this manual).

•     Remove retainer spring and clevis pin which secure 

each gauge wheel bar.

•      Lower gauge wheels to ground. Raise gauge wheels 

slightly to align holes in bracket and gauge wheel bar 
and insert clevis pin. Gauge wheels should be slightly 
off the ground.

•      Replace retainer spring into clevis pin.
       Be sure all gauge wheels are in the same setting.

IMPORTANT: 

BE SURE TO READJUST GAUGE WHEELS IF YOU 

CHANGE THE CUTTING HEIGHT OF THE MOWER DECK.