Use and Care Manual

18 Section 4 — Product care
Removing The Tractor From Storage
1. Check the engine oil.
2. Fully charge the battery and inflate the tires
to the recommended pressure.
3. Fill the fuel tank with clean, fresh gasoline.
4. Start the engine and allow to idle for a few
minutes to ensure engine is operating properly.
5. Drive the tractor without a load to
make certain all the tractor systems are
functioning properly.
Adjustments
WARNING
Shut the engine off, remove the ignition key and engage
the parking brake before making adjustments. Protect your
hands by using heavy gloves when handling the blades.
Adjusting RH & LH Drive Control Levers
The RH and LH drive control levers can be adjusted
up or down and forward or backward for the
comfort of the operator. The drive control levers
can be placed in either of two height positions,
and/or can be moved forward or rearward within
the range of the slot in each lower arm.
To adjust the drive control lever height, proceed
as follows:
1. Remove the upper hex screw (a) and flat
washer (b) securing the drive control lever
(c) to the lower arm (d).
2. While supporting the drive control lever to
keep it from falling, remove the hex screw (e)
and flat washer (f) from the bottom of the drive
control lever (c) and lower arm (d). Refer to
Figure 4-5.
(d)
(c)
(b)
(e)
(a)
(f)
Figure 4-5
3. Reposition the drive control lever to align
with the other set of holes in the lower arm
and insert the hex screw through the flat
washer and into the lower arm. Tighten the
hex screw until snug.
4. Insert the hex screw through the flat washer
and through the control lever slot and the
lower arm. Do not tighten now.
5. If you are going to adjust the control levers
forward or rearward, proceed to the next step.
If not, fully tighten the hex screw.
To adjust the drive control levers forward/
rearward, proceed as follows:
1. If not already loose, loosen the hex screw (e)
and rotate the control lever either forward
or rearward to the desired position. See
Figure 4-5.
Note: If the control lever is too tight to
move, slightly loosen the hex screw (a) at
the top of the control lever.
2. Tighten the hex screw (e) to fix the control
lever in the adjusted position
Repeat the above procedure to adjust the other
control lever into the same position. Adjust so that
both levers are even with each other when in the
neutral position.
Deck Leveling
Note: Check the tractor’s tire pressure before
performing any deck leveling adjustments. Refer
to Tires for information regarding tire pressure.
WARNING
Shut the engine off, remove the key and engage the
parking brake before making adjustments. Protect your
hands by using heavy gloves when handling the blades.
Leveling the Deck (Side-to-Side)
Note: Check the tractor’s tire pressure before
performing any deck leveling adjustments. Refer to
Tires for information regarding tire pressure. Always
level the deck side-to-side before front to rear.
If the cutting deck appears to be mowing unevenly,
a side-to-side adjustment can be performed. Adjust
if necessary as follows:
1. With the tractor parked on a firm, level surface,
place the deck lift handle in a middle mowing
position and rotate both outside blades so
that they are perpendicular with the tractor.
2. Measure the distance from the outside of
the left blade tip to the ground and the
distance from the outside of the right blade
tip to the ground. Both measurements taken
should be equal. If they’re not, proceed to
the next step.
3. Loosen, but do NOT remove, the hex bolt (a) on
the rear left deck hanger link. See Figure 4-6.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4-6
Note: The rear right deck hanger link is not
adjustable and is used to help adjust the
other hanger links.
4. Using a wrench, raise or lower the left side of
the deck by turning the adjustment gear (b).
See Figure 4-6.
5. The deck is properly leveled when both
blade tip measurements are equal. Retighten
the hex bolt on the front left deck hanger
bracket when proper adjustment is achieved.
Leveling the Deck (Front-To-Rear)
Note: Check the tractor’s tire pressure before
performing any deck leveling adjustments. Refer
to Tires for information regarding tire pressure.
Always level the deck side-to-side before front-to-
rear.
The front of the deck should be between ⁄⁄”
lower than the rear of the deck. Adjust if necessary
as follows:
1. Park the tractor on a firm, level surface
and place the deck lift handle in a middle
position.
2. Rotate the blade nearest the discharge
chute so that it is parallel with the tractor.
3. Measure the distance from the front of
the blade tip to the ground and the rear
of the blade tip to the ground. The first
measurement taken should be between ⁄”
and ⁄” less than the second measurement.
4. Determine the approximate distance
necessary for proper adjustment and
proceed, if necessary.
5. To raise the front of the deck, remove the end
cap, loosen the outer nut (a) then tighten
(thread inward) the inner nut (b) against the
front hanger bracket. See Figure 4-7. When
proper adjustment is achieved, re-tighten the
outer nut (a) and replace the end cap.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4-7
6. To lower the front of the deck, remove
the end cap, loosen the outer nut (a) then
loosen (thread outward) the inner nut (b),
away from the front hanger bracket. See
Figure 4-7. When proper adjustment is
achieved, re-tighten the outer nut (a) and
replace the end cap.