Operating Guide

ManualsBrandsJohn Deere ManualsLawn MowersZ530M 24-HP V-Twin Dual Hydrostatic 54-in Zero-Turn Lawn Mower with Mulching Capability (Kit Sold Separately)

Table Of Contents

Introduction
- Thank You for Purchasing a John Deere Product
- Using Your Operator’s Manual
- Spark Arrestor
- Special Messages
- Parts
  - Order Service Parts Online
- Service Literature
Contents
Product Identification
- Record Identification Numbers
- Register Your Product and Warranty Online
Safety Labels with Text
- Safety Label Location
- Understanding the Machine Safety Labels
  - French or Spanish Safety Labels and Operator’s Manual
- WARNING
  - Avoid Crushing
- WARNING
- DANGER
- WARNING
- CAUTION
- DANGER
- DANGER
- DANGER
  - ROTATING BLADE
  - THROWN OBJECTS
Safety Labels without Text
- Safety Label Location
- Understanding the Machine Safety Labels without Text
- Avoid Injury from Crushing
  - Avoid Crushing
- Avoid Injury from Loaded Spring
- Avoid Injury from Equipment Fires
- Avoid Injury from Getting Caught in Belts
- Avoid Injury from Rotating Blades
- Read Operator’s Manual
- Avoid Injury from Thrown Objects
- Keep Children Away from Mower
- Avoid Serious Injury or Death from Tipping
Safety
- Use Your Mower Safely
- Preventing Injuries
  - Protect Children
  - Avoid Thrown Objects
- Operating on Slopes and Near Terrain Hazards
- Use Seat Belt Properly
- Rollover Protection System (ROPS) - Use and Maintenance
- Prevent Fires
- Parking Safely
- Additional Safety Information
Machine Cleanout
- General Cleaning Guidelines
- Cleanout Areas
Operating Controls
- Operator’s Station Controls
Operating
- Daily Operating Checklist
- Avoid Damage to Plastic and Painted Surfaces
- Using Operator Display Unit (If Equipped)
  - Operator Display Unit
  - Numeric RPM Display
- Using the Hour Meter and MowerPlus Fuel Gauge (If Equipped)
  - Hour Meter
  - MowerPlusMowerPlus is a trademark of Deere & Company Fuel Gauge (If Equipped)
- Using Electronic Throttle Control (If Equipped)
  - Custom RPM Mode
- Mounting and Dismounting Machine
- Adjusting Seat
  - E-Series Seat
  - M- and R-Series Seat with ComfortGlide
- Adjusting Armrests
- Adjusting Motion Control Levers
- Adjusting Cutting Height
- Adjusting Mower Wheels
  - .
- Testing Safety Systems
- Testing Park Brake Switch
- Testing Park Brake
- Testing Mower Engagement (PTO) Switch
- Testing Seat Switch (E- and M-Series)
- Testing Seat Switch (R-Series)
- Testing Motion Control Lever Switch
- Using Seat Belt
- Raising and Lowering the ROPS
  - Raising the ROPS
  - Lowering the ROPS to the Fully Lowered Position
  - Lowering the ROPS to the Intermediate Position
- Checking Fuel Level
  - Sight Window
  - MowerPlusMowerPlus is a trademark of Deere & Company Fuel Gauge (If Equipped)
- Using Park Brake
- Using Key Switch
- Using Mower Engagement Switch
- Using the Motion Control Levers
  - Start/Shutdown Position
  - Neutral Position
  - Forward and Reverse Travel
  - Left Turn
  - Right Turn
- Starting the Engine
  - Z515E, Z530M, and Z530R
  - Z545R with Electronic Throttle Control
- Engaging Mower
  - Z515E, Z530M, Z530R
  - Z545R with Electronic Throttle Control
- Stopping the Engine
- Unplugging Mower
- Using Headlights (If Equipped)
- Moving Machine by Hand
- Unplugging Mower, Bagger, or Material Collection System
  - Checking for Plugging While Driving
  - Removing Debris from Inspection Points:
- Using Wash Port to Clean Mower Deck
- Transporting Machine on Trailer
- Transporting Material Collection System (If Equipped)
- Towing Loads
- Mowing Tips
- Blade Choices
Service Intervals
- Servicing Your Machine
- Service Intervals
Service Lubrication
- Grease
- Lubricating Mower Deck Spindles
  - 48A, 54A, and 60A Mower Decks
  - 48HC, 54HC, and 60HC Mower Deck
Service Engine
- Emissions Service Information
  - Emission Control System Certification Label
  - Altitude Adjustment (Gasoline or Propane Converted Engines Only)
- Avoid Fumes
- Gasoline Engine Oil
- Checking Engine Oil Level
  - Z515E
  - Z530M, Z530R, and Z545R
- Changing Engine Oil and Filter
- Cleaning Engine Screen Guard
- Cleaning Engine Shroud
- Checking and Cleaning Air Cleaner Element
- Checking Spark Plug
- Replacing Fuel Filter
- Spark Arrestor Maintenance (If Equipped)
- Cleaning Spark Arrestor
  - Z515E, Z530M, Z530R
  - Z545R
Service Transmission
- Transaxle Oil
- Checking Transaxle Oil Level
- Changing Transaxle Oil and Filter
- Checking and Adjusting Neutral Creep
- Adjusting Tracking
- Cleaning Transaxle Cooling Fans
- Checking and Replacing Transaxle/Transmission Drive Belt
  - Checking Transaxle/Transmission Drive Belt
  - Replacing Transaxle/Transmission Drive Belt
Service Mower
- Mower Deck Identification
- Checking and Adjusting Mower Level
  - Quick Leveling Method
  - Optional Leveling Method
- Removing and Installing Mower Deck Foot Plate
  - Removing Foot Plate
  - Installing Foot Plate
- Removing Mower Deck
- Installing Mower Deck
- Replacing Mower Drive Belt
- Checking for Bent Mower Blades
- Servicing Mower Blades
  - Removing Mower Blades
  - Installing Mower Blades
Service Electrical
- Electrical
- Service the Battery Safely
- Removing and Installing the Battery
  - Removing
  - Installing
- Cleaning Battery and Terminals
- Using Booster Battery
- Replacing Fuses
Service Miscellaneous
- Using Proper Fuel and Stabilizer
- Filling Fuel Tank
- Lifting Machine
- Checking ROPS Hardware
- Checking Tire Pressure
- Removing and Installing Wheel Assembly
  - Removing
  - Installing
- Removing and Installing Front Caster Wheels
  - Disassembly:
  - Assembly
- Removing and Installing Side Style Covers
- Cleaning and Repairing Metal Surfaces
Troubleshooting
- Using Troubleshooting Chart
- Engine
- Electrical
- Machine
- Mower
Storage
- Storing Safety
- Preparing Machine for Storage
- Preparing Fuel and Engine For Storage
  - Fuel:
  - Engine:
- Removing Machine From Storage
Specifications
- Engine
- Drivetrain
- Travel Speeds at Full Engine RPM
- Electrical System
- Fuel System
- Tires
- Capacities
- Dimensions
- Mower Decks
- Recommended Lubricants
Warranty
- Product Warranty
  - United States
  - Canada
- California and U.S. EPA Emissions Control System Warranty Statement (Off-Road Gas Engines)
- Tire Warranty
- Limited Battery Warranty For Factory Installed Batteries
John Deere Quality Statement
- John Deere Quality
Service Record
- Record Service Dates
Slope Gauge
- Slope Gauge Template
Index

Spark Plug Gap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.75 mm (0.029 in)

Spark Plug Torque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 N•m (14.75 lb·ft)

Z545R

Make . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Briggs & Stratton

Model Number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(EFI) 44X977

Power Rating Information . . . . . .http://www.briggsandstratton.com/

Bore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79.25 mm (3.12 in)

Stroke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73.40 mm (2.89 in)

Displacement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 724 cm3 (44.18 in³)

Cylinders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V-Twin

Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Four

Valve Clearance (Cold). . . . . . . . 0.10 - 0.15 mm (0.004 - 0.006 in)

Spark Plug Gap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.75 mm (0.030 in)

Spark Plug Torque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 N•m (14.75 lb·ft)

SB31882,0000490-19-26AUG20

Drivetrain

Transaxle Motors (Z515E, Z530M and Z530R). . . Tu󰀨 Torq TZT7 U

Transaxle Motors (Z545R) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tu󰀨 Torq TZT7 M

Number of Speeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydrostatic, Variable Speed

SB31882,0000491-19-21AUG20

Travel Speeds at Full Engine RPM

Z515E and Z530M

Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-12.87 km/h (0-8.0 mph)

Reverse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-6.44 km/h (0-4.0 mph)

Z530R and Z545R

Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-14.48 km/h (0-9.0 mph)

Reverse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0-7.24 km/h (0-4.5 mph)

SB31882,0000492-19-26AUG20

Electrical System

Battery Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Volt

Cold Cranking Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 Amps

TH84124,0000201-19-11JUN15

Fuel System

Fuel Types (Recommended):

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Regular Grade 87 Octane Unleaded Fuel

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ethanol Blended Fuel (Up to 10%)

Fuel Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Replaceable - paper element

Fuel Pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pulse

Fuel Delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carburetor

Z515E, Z530M, Z530R

Fuel Types (Recommended):

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Regular Grade 87 Octane Unleaded Fuel

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ethanol Blended Fuel (Up to 10%)

Fuel Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Replaceable - paper element

Fuel Delivery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fuel Injection

Z545R

SB31882,00003E9-19-10JUN20

Tires

Front (Z515E, Z530M, Z530R, Z545R) . . . . . . 13x6.50-6 (Ribbed)

Rear (Z515E, Z530M, Z530R) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22x9.5-10 (Turf)

Rear (Z545R) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23x10.5-12 (Turf)

Ination - Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 kPa (15 psi)

Ination - Rear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 kPa (10 psi)

SB31882,0000493-19-26AUG20

Capacities

Crankcase with oil lter:

Z515E (Briggs & Stratton Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.9 L (2.0 qt)

Z530M, Z530R (Kawasaki Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1 L (2.2 qt)

Z545R (Briggs & Stratton Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.9 L (2.0 qt)

Fuel Tank:

All models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 L (4.5 gal)

Oil Sump:

Z515E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.9 L (2.0 qt)

Z530M, Z530R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.0 L (2.1 qt)

Z545R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.9 L (2.0 qt)

Towing:

Maximum Towing Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113.4 Kg (250 lb)

Maximum Tongue Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.4 Kg (100 lb)

SB31882,000048F-19-21AUG20

Dimensions

Z515E

Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1780 mm (70.1 in)

Width (48A Deck) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1587 mm (62.4 in)

Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1954 mm (76.9 in)

Weight (with 48A Deck) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340 kg (750 lb)

Z530M

Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1780 mm (70.1 in)

Width (with 48A Deck) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1587 mm (62.4 in)

Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1954 mm (76.9 in)

Weight (with 48A Deck) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353 kg (776 lb)

Z545R

Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1796 mm (70.7 in)

Specications