42" Briggs & Stratton 20 hp Gas Powered Riding Lawn Tractor - (CA) Operator's Manual

STARTING THE ENGINE DRiViNG THE TRACTOR
Do notoperatethe tractorifthe interlocksystemis malfunctioning.
Thissystemwasdesignedfor your safetyandprotection.
NOTE: Referto the Gasolineand Oilfill-upinstructionsearlierinthis
section.
1. Insertthe tractorkeyintothe ignitionswitch.
2. Placethe PTO(BladeEngage)leverinthe disengaged(OFF)
position.
3. Engagethe tractor'sparkingbrake.
4. Activatethe chokecontrolby movingthe throttle/chokeleverall
thewayup intothe chokeposition.
5. Turnthe ignitionkeyclockwiseto the STARTposition.Afterthe
enginestarts,releasethe key.It will returnto the ON (orNormal
Mowing)position.
DO NOTholdthekeyinthe STARTpositionfor longerthanten
secondsat a time.Doingso maycausedamageto yourengine's
electricstarter.
6. Afterthe enginestarts,deactivatethe chokecontroland placethe
throttlecontrolinthe FASTposition.
NOTE: Do NOTleavethechokecontrolonwhileoperatingthe tractor.
Doingso will resultina "rich"fuel mixtureandcausethe engineto run
poorly.
STOPPING THE ENGINE
If youstrikea foreignobject,stopthe engine,disconnectthe spark
plugwire(s)andgroundagainstthe engine.Thoroughlyinspectthe
machinefor anydamage.Repairthe damagebeforerestartingand
operating
1. Ifthe bladesareengaged,placethe PTO(BladeEngage)leverin
thedisengaged(OFF)position.
2. Turnthe ignitionkeycounterclockwiseto the STOPposition.
3. Removethe keyfromtheignitionswitchto preventunintended
starting.
Avoidsuddenstarts,excessivespeedand suddenstops.
Donot leavethe seatof the tractorwithoutfirst placingthe PTO
(BladeEngage)leverin the disengaged(OFF)position,depressing
the brakepedalandengagingthe parkingbrake.If leavingthe tractor
unattended,also turnthe ignitionkeyoff andremovethe key.
Alwayslook downandbehindbeforeandwhile backinguptoavoida
back-overaccident.
1. Depressthe clutch-brakepedalto releasethe parkingbrakeand
then letthe pedalup.
2. Movethethrottleleverintothe FAST(rabbit)position.
3. Placethe shift leverineitherthe FORWARDor REVERSE
position.
IMPORTANT: Do NOTuse the shiftleverto changethedirectionof
travelwhenthe tractoris in motion.Alwaysusethe clutch-brakepedal
to bringthe tractortoa completestopbeforeshifting.
4. Graduallybeginto applypressureto the drivepedal.Thefurther
downthe pedalis pushed,thefasterthe tractorwilltravelinthe
desireddirectionbasedon the positionof the shift lever.
5. The lawntractoris broughtto a stopby releasingthedrive pedal
andthen depressingthe brakepedal.
WARNING!Beforeleavingthe operator'spositionforany reason,
disengagethe blades,placethe shiftleverin neutral,engagethe
parkingbrake,shutengineoff and removethe key.
WHEN stoppingthe tractorforany reasonwhileon a grasssurface,
always:
1. Placethe shift leverinneutral,
2. Engagethe parkingbrake,
3. Shutengineoffand removethe key.Doingso will minimizethe
possibilityof havingyour lawn"browned"byhot exhaustfrom
yourtractor'srunningengine.
16