Apex Operator’s Manual Manuel du Utilisateur Models 991151 – Apex 60 (SN 000101 +) 991153 – Apex 48 (SN 000101 +) 991155 – Apex 52 (SN 000101 +) 991157 – Apex 60 (SN 000101 +) E10 ENGLISH FRANÇAIS 05128800 • 1/17 Printed in USA
TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 SAFETY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Practices & Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emission Control System. . . . . . . . . . . . Required Operator Training . . . . . . . . . . Safety Alert Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Signal Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Safety Decals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Safety Rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ASSEMBLY . . . .
WELCOME Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to the Ariens family! Every machine in the Ariens lineup is designed for long-lasting and unsurpassed performance. We are confident your machine will be part of your family for many years to come. Have Questions or Need Assistance? ariensstore.com • ariens.custhelp.com A parts manual for your unit is available for free download or purchase at ariens.com. PRODUCT REGISTRATION Record serial number here.
SAFETY WARNING: AVOID INJURY. This cutting machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe the safety instructions in the manuals and on decals could result in serious injury or death. Read these safety rules and follow them closely. Failure to follow these rules could lead to loss of control of unit, severe personal injury or death to you or bystanders, or result in damage to property or the machine.
. Important ALWAYS replace missing or damaged safety decals. Replacement decal part numbers are found in the parts manual for your machine and may be ordered from your dealer. See Figure 2 for safety decal locations. IMPORTANT: Indicates general reference information worthy of special attention. SAFETY DECALS The safety decals on your machine are visual reminders of the important safety information in this manual. All messages on your unit must be fully understood and carefully followed.
Safety Decal Descriptions 3. DANGER! 1. DANGER! Discharge Hazard NEVER operate unit without discharge chute in operating position. Thrown objects can cause injury or damage. DANGER! Read and understand the operator’s manual before operating unit. DO NOT operate mower unless all guards are in operating position or bagger is attached. 3.1 Amputation Hazard To avoid amputation hazard DO NOT put hands near rotating blades. 2.
3.3 Tipping Hazard Look behind when operating the unit in reverse. Avoid tipping hazard. 3.6 Loss of Traction Hazard 15 15 DO NOT operate on slopes over 15°. If loss of traction is experienced do the following: DO NOT operate on slopes over 15°. Disengage PTO. 3.4 Service Hazard Proceed off slope slowly. Before servicing unit do the following: DO NOT try to turn or speed up. Read owners manual before servicing or making adjustments to unit. 4.
SAFETY RULES 7. DANGER! The following safety instructions are based on the B71.1 specifications of the American National Standards Institute and ISO 5395 in effect at the time of production. DANGER! Training Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine and in the manual(s) before starting. No smoking. Be sure the area is clear of bystanders and pets before operating. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.
Children Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence of children. Children are often attracted to the machine and the mowing activity. NEVER assume that children will remain where you last saw them. Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters the area. Before and while backing, look behind and down for small children. NEVER carry children, even with the blade(s) shut off. They may fall off and be seriously injured or interfere with safe machine operation.
NEVER direct discharged material toward anyone. Avoid discharging material against a wall or obstruction. Material may ricochet back toward the operator. Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel surfaces. Check for weak spots on docks, ramps or floors. Avoid uneven work areas and rough terrain. Stay alert for hidden hazards or traffic. NEVER engage PTO when attachment, including mower blades, is not in use. ALWAYS turn off power to attachment when not in active use such as traveling or crossing driveways.
DO NOT park on slopes unless necessary. When parking on slope ALWAYS chock or block wheels. ALWAYS set parking brake. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel tank or container opening at all times until the fueling is complete. DO NOT use a nozzle lock-open device. Choose a low ground speed so you will not have to stop or shift while on a slope. DO NOT mow near drop-offs, ditches, or embankments. The machine could suddenly roll over if a wheel goes over the edge or if the edge caves in.
No flames, No sparks, No smoking near battery. Transporting Unit ALWAYS wear safety glasses and protective gear near battery. Use insulated tools. ALWAYS keep batteries out of reach of children. Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds, chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. Use extra care when loading or unloading the machine into a trailer or truck. Secure unit chassis to transport vehicle.
ASSEMBLY 6. Rotate steering levers to operating position and install eccentric s pacer between steering lever plates. Secure with hardware. See Figure 5. WARNING: AVOID INJURY. Read and understand the Safety section before proceeding. 1. Remove wrap and packaging materials from unit. 2. Remove unit from shipping container. See Move Unit Manually on page 17. 3. Return seat to operating position. See Figure 3. 2 1 3 1. Eccentric Spacer 2. Steering Lever 3. Steering Lever Plate Figure 5 Figure 3 7.
9. Remove battery from unit and charge. See Charge Battery on page 23. 10. Make sure deck is level. See Level and Pitch Mower Deck on page 34. 11. Ensure all hardware is tight.
CONTROLS AND FEATURES 1 23 24 18 15 16 13 22 2 12 17 14 21 19 20 Model 991151 Models 991153 991155 991157 10 11 7 6 6 9 3 3 4 5 5 20 8 4 Figure 6 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Fuel Tank and Cap Fuel Level Window Oil Filter Oil Drain Engine Oil Dipstick Air Filter Ignition Key Choke Control Knob (Model 991151) Throttle Control Lever Power Take-off (PTO) Knob Hour Meter Height-of-Cut Adjustment System Transport Lock Release Lever 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.
THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER WARNING: AVOID INJURY. Read and understand the Safety section before proceeding. See Figure 9. Controls engine speed. See Figure 6 for all controls and features locations. Fast IGNITION KEY See Figure 7. Controls power to the engine. The key cannot be removed when in run position. Slow On Off C On Figure 9 Start POWER-TAKE-OFF (PTO) KNOB See Figure 10. Controls power to mower blades. The engine will not start with the PTO knob in the on position. WARNING: AVOID INJURY.
TRANSPORT LOCK RELEASE LEVER Brake Engaged (On) See Figure 11. Releases deck from transport lock position. Brake Released (Off) Figure 11 DECK LIFT PEDAL Raises mower deck to change height-of-cut setting. SEAT ADJUSTMENT LEVER Unlocks seat to allow operator to move seat forward or backward and then lock in desired position. PARKING BRAKE LEVER See Figure 12. Controls the parking brake. The engine will not start with brake in the off position.
ANTI-SCALP ROLLERS Help prevent the deck from contacting the ground and scalping the lawn when passing over a high spot. 2 OPERATION WARNING: AVOID INJURY. Read and understand the Safety section before proceeding. 1 IMPORTANT: All references to left, right, front or rear are given from the perspective of operator in operator’s position, facing the direction of forward travel. EMERGENCY STOPPING 1. 2. 3. 4. Move steering levers to neutral position. Set parking brake. Push PTO knob down to off position.
OPERATE UNIT For Best Mowing Results 1. Release parking brake. • • • • • WARNING: AVOID INJURY. Move the steering levers slowly and keep the throttle at slow speed until you learn how to operate the unit. • • • 2. Set throttle to slow speed. 3. Pull PTO knob up to on position. IMPORTANT: Never engage the PTO if the mower is plugged with grass or other material. This may cause damage to the electric clutch. • • • 4. Move throttle control lever to fast. 5. Move steering levers to begin mowing.
RELEASE TRANSPORT LOCK 1. Push deck lift pedal forward and lift transport lock release lever. 2. Slowly return mower lift pedal to resting position. MAINTENANCE WARNING: AVOID INJURY. Read and understand the Safety section before proceeding. Proper maintenance can prolong the life of unit. The Maintenance Schedule on page 19 shows the recommended service schedule. Your Ariens dealer can provide service and adjustments to keep your unit operating at peak efficiency.
SERVICE PARTS See your Ariens dealer to purchase service parts for your unit. Description Figure 16 Every 400 hrs. Every 100 hrs. Every 25 hrs. Every 50 hrs.
HOUR / MAINTENANCE METER CHECK SAFETY INTERLOCK SYSTEM Hour Meter-only Models Check function of the Safety Interlock System by performing the tests below. Contact your Ariens dealer for repair if any of the tests fail. Hour meter measures engine runtime and cannot be reset. Maintenance Models See Figure 17. When the key is in the on position, the Timer mode displays. Press the Mode button to toggle between different modes. Timer: Measures engine runtime until reset.
WARNING: AVOID INJURY. Explosive separation of tire and rim parts is possible. • DO NOT inflate tires above the recommended pressure. • DO NOT inflate tires with a compressor; use a hand pump. • DO NOT stand in front of tire assembly when inflating. Use a clip-on chuck and extension hose long enough to allow you to stand to one side. • DO NOT mount a tire without proper equipment and experience. CHECK FASTENERS CHECK MOWER BLADES Check blades for wear. Replace or sharpen as needed. CAUTION: AVOID INJURY.
2. File or grind an equal amount of material from each cutting edge of the blade until sharp. DO NOT change angle of cutting edge or round the corner of the blade. See Figure 20. BATTERY SERVICE WARNING: Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds, chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. DO NOT sharpen to this pattern. 1 2 Remove Battery Sharpen to this pattern. Remove Factory Battery 1.
Charge Battery 4. Remove T bracket from upper slots in hold-down brackets. Retain for reinstallation. 5. Remove battery. Check battery with a voltmeter. If battery is less than 11 volts, charge battery. NOTICE: DO NOT fast charge. Charging at a higher rate damages or destroys the battery. ONLY use an automatic charger designed for use with your battery. Clean Battery 1. Clean terminals and battery cable ends with a wire brush. 2. Coat terminals with dielectric grease or petroleum jelly.
1 Figure 24 1. Cold Fill Line Figure 23 3. Operate engine for 1 minute and recheck oil levels. 4. Add hydraulic oil, if needed. a. Remove expansion tank caps. b. Fill expansion tanks with 15W-50 synthetic motor oil until oil reaches the cold fill indicator mark. See Figure 23. c. Reinstall expansion tank caps. Change Hydraulic Oil and Filter 1. Operate unit for a few minutes to warm hydraulic oil. 2. Stop engine, remove key and wait for all moving parts to stop and for hot parts to cool. 3.
Purge Hydraulic System SERVICE & ADJUSTMENTS Purge air from hydraulic system after draining oil or changing the filter. WARNING: AVOID INJURY. This adjustment requires operating the engine. Use extreme care to avoid contact with moving parts and hot surfaces. Be sure rear of unit is well supported and secure before starting engine. WARNING: AVOID INJURY. Read and understand the Safety section before proceeding. ADJUST SEAT 1. Park unit facing a wall or chock wheels. 2. Release parking brake. 3.
3. Position steering lever at desired height and align with lower control arm. Secure with original hardware. 8. Loosen mounting hardware, align levers and tighten hardware. See Figure 28. Figure 28 Adjust Forward Position Figure 26 4. Adjust steering lever position. See Adjust Steering Levers on page 25. 5. Turn eccentric spacer so levers are at the same height and have a 1.3 – 2.5 cm (1/2 – 1") gap between lever ends. See Figure 27.
• If increasing tire pressure does not correct tracking, adjust the limiter bolts as directed below. Adjust Limiter Bolts See Figure 29. Limiter bolts can be adjusted to increase or decrease drive wheel speeds. To adjust: 1. Loosen jam nut. • Turn limiter bolt counterclockwise to increase maximum drive wheel speed on that side. • Turn limiter bolt clockwise to reduce maximum drive wheel speed on that side. 2. Tighten jam nut. 2. Stop engine and engage parking brake. 3.
1. Remove defective relay. 2. Determine cause of relay failure and repair condition. 3. Install new relay. 12 21 1. Transaxle Control Arm 2. Wheel Hub Figure 31 3. Hold the transaxle control arm in position and tighten the return-to-neutral screw. 4. Start engine, move throttle lever to fast position and release parking brake. 5. Move steering levers forward and backward 5 or 6 times and then return levers to neutral position. 6. Check wheel hubs for rotation.
Remove Mower Drive Belt 1. Remove PTO belt. See Remove PTO Belt on page 28. CAUTION: Use care when releasing idler spring tension. Keep body parts away from idlers when performing this operation. See Figure 35. 2. Slowly remove spring hook from anchor bolt to release tension from belt idler. 3. Remove mower drive belt. 2 1 Figure 33 3 CAUTION: Use care when releasing idler spring tension. Keep body parts away from idlers when performing this operation. 4 See Figure 34. 4.
Install Mower Drive Belt 1. Install mower drive belt around bottom groove of split pulley at deck center and around bottom groove of right spindle pulley. See Figure 36. 2. Reinstall idler spring hook around anchor bolt to apply tension to belt. 1 3 4 2 1 1 3 Figure 37 2 1. 2. 3. 4. Idler Pulley Split Pulley Left Spindle Pulley PTO Belt Figure 37 IMPORTANT: Make sure belts are correctly aligned in pulleys. 1. Split Pulley 2. Right Spindle Pulley 3. Mower Drive Belt Figure 36 5.
5. Remove transaxle drive belt from drive system in the following order: a. From right transaxle sheave. b. From left transaxle sheave. c. From clutch sheave. Install Transaxle Drive Belt 4 3 1 2 1. 2. 3. 4. See Figure 40. 1. Install transaxle drive belt to drive system in the following order: a. Around clutch sheave. b. Around left transaxle sheave. c. Around right transaxle sheave. 2. Align belt with idler pulley. 3. Reinstall idler spring hook onto anchor bolt.
4. Reinstall clutch stop bracket and secure with original hardware. See Figure 41. ADJUST ANTI-SCALP ROLLERS See Figure 43. The anti-scalp rollers are set at the factory for typical mowing height, but can be adjusted for high or low cutting conditions. Make sure all rollers are set to the same height. 1. Stop engine, remove key and wait for moving parts to stop and for hot parts to cool. 2. Remove hardware securing anti-scalp rollers to deck and remove rollers. 3.
ADJUST PARKING BRAKE LEVER See Figure 44. 1. Place unit in service position. See Service Position on page 18. 2. Loosen jam nuts on cable adjustment barrel. 3. Adjust cable tension. • To increase lever response, loosen the upper jam nut and tighten the lower jam nut until both jam nuts are tight against cable bracket. • To decrease lever sensitivity, loosen the lower jam nut and tighten the upper jam nut until both jam nuts are tight against cable bracket. 4. Check parking brake and readjust if necessary.
7. Remove hardware retaining deck lift links to deck lift brackets. See Figure 47. 6. Level the deck. See Level and Pitch Mower Deck on page 34. LEVEL AND PITCH MOWER DECK IMPORTANT: Make sure unit is on a flat, level surface and that tires are inflated to the recommended pressures. Check Blade Level and Pitch 1. Raise deck to 3 1/2" (8.9 cm) cutting height. 2. Stop engine, remove key and wait for moving parts to stop and for hot parts to cool. 3. Engage parking brake. See Figure 49. 4.
If the front measurement is not 3.2 mm (1/8") lower than the rear measurements, adjust the blade pitch. See Adjust Blade Pitch on page 35. Level Mower Deck See Figure 51. 1. Lower the high side of deck: a. Loosen jam nuts against deckleveling links. b. Turn adjustment bolts counterclockwise. c. Measure distance between the ground and cutting edges of left and right blades. Continue adjustment if necessary. d. Tighten jam nuts against deckleveling links. 2. Raise the low side of deck: a.
TROUBLESHOOTING Problem Probable Cause Safety Interlock System is not engaged or is faulty. Correction Check Safety Interlock System. See Check Safety Interlock System on page 20. Fuel tank is empty. Fill fuel tank. See Before Operating Unit on page 16. Fuel supply is contaminated. Replace with clean fuel. Battery is discharged. Charge battery. See Install U1 Battery on Engine does page 23. not start. Connection between battery and Tighten and/or clean battery and battery battery cables is poor. cables.
TROUBLESHOOTING Problem Poor cutting quality. Blades do not stop within 5 seconds. Probable Cause Correction Mower blades not level or mower Level and adjust pitch of mower deck. deck pitch is incorrect. See Level and Pitch Mower Deck on page 34. Mower blades are dull or faulty. Sharpen or replace mower blades. See Sharpen Blades on page 21. Mowing speed is too fast. Drive slower when cutting grass. Belt tension or condition is poor. Replace mower belts. See Check Mower Belts on page 23.
START-OF-SEASON PREPARATION STORAGE 1. Before adding fuel for the first time after long-term storage, add fresh, stabilizertreated fuel to fuel tank and any fuel containers with remaining fuel. 2. Charge and install the battery. SHORT-TERM STORAGE IMPORTANT: NEVER wash unit with highpressure water or store outdoors. 1. Allow unit to cool and clean with mild soap and water. 2. Tighten all hardware to correct specifications. 3. Inspect unit for visible signs of wear or damage. Repair as needed. 4.
SPECIFICATIONS Model Number Description Engine 991151 Apex 60 Kawasaki 3 3 Engine Displacement – cm (in ) Maximum RPM – No Load Oil Capacity Liquid or Air Cooled Transmission Type Oil Hydraulic Oil Filter Drive Forward Maximum – km/h (mph) Reverse Maximum – km/h (mph) Turning Radius Brakes Electrical Starter Battery PTO (Power Take-off) Fuel Fuel Tank Capacity – Liter (gal) Type Size and Weight Length – cm (in) Width – cm (in) Height – cm (in) Weight – kg (lbs) Tires Front Tire Size – in Rear Tire Size –
Consumer Mowing Equipment Limited Warranty Warr Ariens Company (Ariens) warrants to the original purchaser that Ariens, Gravely and Countax brand lawn and garden consumer products purchased on or after 9/1/2016 will be free from defects in material and workmanship for the time period noted in the chart below.
• Promptly notify Ariens or an authorized Ariens, Gravely or Countax service representative of the need for warranty service. • Transport the product to and from the place of warranty service at owner's expense. • Have the warranty service performed by an authorized Ariens, Gravely or Countax service representative. To Find an Authorized Service Representative: In the U.S. and Canada: Use the dealer locator on our websites: www.ariens.com • www.gravely.com Or contact us by mail or by phone: In the U.S.
655 West Ryan Street Brillion, WI 54110 ariensstore.com ariens.custhelp.com parts.ariens.
