Use and Care Manual

• Adjust cutting height to remove only 1/3 of the grass at a time.
• Do not mow wet grass.
• Mow grass often. Short grass clippings will decay quickly.
• Mow with engine at full throttle.
• Adjust travel speed to match mowing conditions:
- Travel at slow speed when you mow thick, tall grass, make sharp
turns or trim around objects.
- Travel at moderate speed when you mow thin grass.
• Use a different mowing pattern each time you mow. Overlap mowing
paths by specied distance.
Specication
Overlap Mowing Paths — Distance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 - 100 mm (2 - 4 in.)
• Drive over ridges and through shallow ditches straight-on, not at an
angle.
GXAL42003—UN—04MAR13
• Mow around the outside twice, then mow inside in straight passes.
Best cut is achieved when mowing in a straight line.
• When mowing or mulching near pavement, overlap the pavement by
50 mm (2 in.) to allow clippings to dispense over grass.
• A thick layer of mulched leaves can prevent sunlight from getting to
grass and smother it. Taller grass heights allow mulched leaves to
dispense easier in lawn. Mulch leaves several times if needed.
• Use a thatcher in late spring or summer to pull up dead grass and
aerate ground.
• For Mulching Mower: Shorter cut heights will provide better cut
quality, but may leave noticeable clippings. Higher cut heights will
reduce clippings, but cut quality may decline.
Service Intervals
Servicing Your Machine
IMPORTANT: Operating in extreme conditions may require more
frequent service intervals:
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Please use the following timetables to perform routine maintenance on
your machine.
Park the vehicle safely. See Park Safely in the SAFETY Section.
Service Intervals
Initial Service 8 Hours
• Change engine oil and lter.
• Lubricate mower spindles and pivot points.
• Check/Adjust mower deck belt tension (Manual PTO).
• Check/Adjust mower deck spindle brakes (Manual PTO).
• Lubricate front axle pivot and axle spindles.
• Lubricate front axle wheel bushings.
Every 25 Hours
• Lubricate mower spindles and pivot points.
• Lubricate front axle pivot and axle spindles.
• Lubricate front axle wheel bushings.
Yearly or Every 50 Hours
• Change engine oil and lter. (Service more frequently under dusty
conditions.)
• Replace air lter element. (Service more frequently under dusty
conditions.)
• Replace fuel lter.
• Replace spark plug(s).
• Clean engine cooling ns.
• Clean/Replace emission lter (If equipped).
• Sharpen/replace mower blades.
• Check/replace mower drive belts.
• Check/level mower deck.
• Clean mower deck.
• Check/Adjust mower deck belt tension (Manual PTO).
• Check/Adjust mower deck spindle brakes (Manual PTO).
• Clean battery terminals.
Every 200 Hours
• Check/adjust valve clearance. See your John Deere dealer for this
service.
Service Lubrication
Grease
IMPORTANT: Avoid Damage! Use recommended John Deere
greases to avoid component failure and premature wear.
The following grease is recommended for service:
• John Deere Multi-Purpose HD Lithium Complex Grease
• Grease-Gard™ Premium Plus
Not all grease types are compatible; John Deere does not recommend
mixing greases. If using any product other than the recommended
grease in service, purge any remaining grease from the system prior to
application. If this is not practical, grease twice as often until all old
grease is purged from the system.
Service Intervals
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