Operator’s Manual Automatic Lawn Tractor Models: LT-542K LT-942K LT-946K IMPORTANT: READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY PRINTED IN U.S.A. P. O.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Customer Support Important Safe Operation Practices Slope Gauge Setting Up Know Your Lawn Tractor Operating Your Lawn Mower Adjustments Content Maintenance Service Off-Season Storage Attachments and Accessories Troubleshooting Warranty Parts List Page 2 3 7 8 10 14 18 K Page 20 21 25 25 26 27 28 FINDING MODEL NUMBER This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new lawn tractor. It will help you assemble, prepare and maintain the unit for best performance.
SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES WARNING: This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed, could endanger the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all instructions in this manual before attempting to operate this machine. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in personal injury. When you see this symbol—heed its warning.
6. Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual. Do not make sudden changes in speed or direction. Rapid engagement or braking could cause the front of the machine to lift and rapidly flip over backwards which could cause serious injury. 7. Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. If tires lose traction, disengage the blade(s) and proceed slowly straight down the slope. 25. Disengage all attachment clutches, depress the brake pedal completely and shift into neutral before attempting to start engine. 26.
f. Never fuel machine indoors. g. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine is hot or running. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling. h. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½ inch below bottom of filler neck to allow space for fuel expansion. i. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely. j. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equipment. Move unit to another area. Wait 5 minutes before starting the engine. k.
manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only, listed in this manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the original equipment specifications may lead to improper performance and compromise safety!” 12. Do not change the engine governor settings or over-speed the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe operating speed of the engine. 13. Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as necessary. 14. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas, oil, etc. to protect the environment. 9.
SECTION 2: SLOPE GAUGE Use this page as a guide to determine slopes where you may not operate safely. Do not operate your lawn tractor on such slopes. FO L D ON D O TT ED L INE 15° , RE ° SL OPE OR A FENCE POST A CORNER OF A BUILDING A POWER POLE SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE PR ESE N T I N GA 15 DANGER Do not mow on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degrees (a rise of approximately 2-1/2 feet every 10 feet). A riding mower could overturn and cause serious injury.
SECTION 3: TRACTOR SET-UP NOTE: This owner’s manual covers various models of WARNING: Use extreme care when lawn tractors. The units illustrated may vary slightly from your unit. Follow only those instructions which pertain to your model lawn tractor. handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive. Never fuel machine indoors or while the engine is hot or running. Extinguish cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and other sources of ignition.
Attaching the Seat WARNING: The mowing deck is capable of throwing objects. Failure to operate the riding mower without the discharge cover in the proper operating position could result in serious personal injury and/or property damage. Refer to Figures 4 and 5 to identify your tractor’s seat style and follow applicable instructions. NOTE: For shipping reasons, seats are either fastened to the tractor seat’s pivot bracket with a plastic tie, or mounted backward to the pivot bracket.
KNOB ADJUSTMENT WARNING Knobs AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH Shoulder Screws • • • • Opening in Slot • • • • Pivot Bracket • • • Figure 5 • GO UP AND DOWN SLOPES, NOT ACROSS. AVOID SUDDEN TURNS. DO NOT OPERATE THE UNIT WHERE IT COULD SLIP OR TIP. IF MACHINE STOPS GOING UPHILL, STOP BLADE(S) AND BACK DOWNHILL SLOWLY. DO NOT MOW WHEN CHILDREN OR OTHERS ARE AROUND. NEVER CARRY CHILDREN, EVEN WITH BLADES OFF. LOOK DOWN AND BEHIND BEFORE AND WHILE BACKING.
B† G A H B† I + 1/10 P P J K C D N E L M F NOTE: Steering Wheel not shown for clarity.
Ignition Switch Module Systems Indicator Monitor LCD WARNING: Never leave a running machine Located in the center of the tractor’s console, the systems indicator monitor records, and displays on its LCD, hours of tractor operation whenever the ignition key is rotated out of the STOP position. unattended. Always disengage PTO, move shift lever into neutral position, set parking brake, stop engine and remove key to prevent unintended starting.
found, release the seat adjustment lever to lock the seat in place. Refer to Seat Adjustment of this manual for more detailed instructions. for the proper battery charging procedure or have the charging system checked by an authorized dealer. On units so equipped, the ammeter (if so equipped) measures the electrical output of the engine’s charging system. Under normal operating conditions, with the engine at full throttle, the ammeter’s needle should measure a positive charge.
Shift Lever The shift lever is located on the left side of the fender and has three positions, FORWARD, NEUTRAL and REVERSE. The brake pedal must be depressed and the tractor must not be in motion when the moving shift lever. See Figure 10. F IMPORTANT: Never force the shift lever. Doing so may result in serious damage to the tractor’s transmission.
NOTE: The parking brake must be engaged if the 3. Depress the REVERSE PUSH BUTTON (Orange, Triangular Button) at the top, right corner of the key switch module. The red indicator light at the top, left corner of the key switch module will be ON while activated. See Figure 11. 4. Once activated (indicator light ON), the tractor can be driven in reverse with the cutting blades (PTO) engaged. 5. Always look down and behind before and while backing to make sure no children are around. 6.
Stopping the Engine • • WARNING: If you strike a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect the spark plug wire(s) and ground against the engine. Thoroughly inspect the machine for any damage. Repair the damage before restarting and operating • • • • • If the blades are engaged, place the PTO (Blade Engage) knob (or lever) in the disengaged (OFF) position. Turn the ignition key counterclockwise to the OFF position. Remove the key from the ignition switch to prevent unintended starting.
Models with Manual PTO • Grasp the PTO (Blade Engage) lever and pivot it all the way forward into the engaged (ON) position. Models with Electric PTO • • • Pull the PTO (Blade Engage) knob outward into the engaged (ON) position. See Figure 12.
SECTION 6: MAKING ADJUSTMENTS WARNING: Never attempt to make any • adjustments while the engine is running, except where specified in the operator’s manual. Side to Side If the cutting deck appears to be mowing unevenly, a side to side adjustment can be performed. Adjust if necessary as follows: Leveling the Deck • NOTE: Check the tractor’s tire pressure before performing any deck leveling adjustments. Refer to Tires section for information regarding tire pressure.
Steering Adjustment If the tractor does not come to a complete stop when the brake pedal is completely depressed, or if the tractor’s rear wheels can roll with the parking brake applied, the brake is in need of adjustment. The brake disc can be found on the right side of the transmission in the rear of the tractor.
SECTION 7: MAINTAINING YOUR LAWN TRACTOR WARNING: • Before performing any maintenance or repairs, disengage PTO, move shift lever into neutral position, set parking brake, stop engine and remove key to prevent unintended starting. IMPORTANT: Refer to the separate engine manual packed with your unit for information regarding the quantity and proper weight of motor oil.
Deck Wash System™ (Optional) A hex plug can be found on your tractor’s deck surface. This plug can be replaced with a water port to be used as part of a separately-available deck wash system. Use the Deck Wash System to rinse grass clippings from the deck’s underside and prevent build-up of corrosive chemicals. Refer to page 25 for information regarding this and other separately-available attachments & accessories for your tractor.
• • • Always keep the battery cables and terminals clean and free of corrosive build-up. After cleaning the battery and terminals, apply a light coat of petroleum jelly or grease to both terminals. Always keep the rubber boot positioned over the positive terminal to prevent shorting. Hex Flange Nut Wood Block IMPORTANT: If removing the battery for any reason, disconnect the NEGATIVE (Black) wire from it’s terminal first, followed by the POSITIVE (Red) wire.
Changing the Deck Belt & PTO Belt IMPORTANT: If the cutting edge of the blade has already been sharpened to within 5/8" of the wind wing radius, or if any metal separation is present, replace the blades with new ones. See Figure 20. WARNING: Be sure to shut the engine off, remove ignition key, disconnect the spark plug wire(s) and ground against the engine to prevent unintended starting before removing the belt(s). Blade Separation WARNING: Avoid the possibility of a pinching injury.
Changing the Transmission Drive Belts NOTE: Several components must be removed and special tools (i.e. air/impact wrench) in order to change the tractor’s drive belts. See an authorized dealer to have your drive belts replaced.
Idler Bracket Belt Guard Idler Bracket 3/8” Square Hole 3/8” Square Hole Belt Guard Figure 23 Figure 22 SECTION 9: OFF-SEASON STORAGE Follow the instructions in the separate engine manual packed with your unit for proper engine care prior to storing your tractor. Clean and lubricate the tractor as instructed in MAINTAINING YOUR LAWN TRACTOR of this manual before storing for an extended period. WARNING: Drain fuel only into an approved container outdoors, away from an open flame.
SECTION 11: TROUBLESHOOTING Trouble Possible Cause(s) Corrective Action Engine fails to start PTO engaged. Place PTO knob (or lever) in disengaged (OFF) position. Engage parking brake. Connect wire(s) to spark plug(s). Place throttle lever to FAST position. Parking brake not engaged. Spark plug wire(s) disconnected. Throttle control lever not in correct starting position. Choke not activated Fuel tank empty, or stale fuel. Blocked fuel line. Faulty spark plug. Engine flooded.
SECTION 12: MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY The limited warranty set forth below is given by MTD LLC with respect to new merchandise purchased and used in the United States and/or its territories and possessions, and by MTD Products Limited with respect to new merchandise purchased and used in Canada and/or its territories and possessions (either entity respectively, “MTD”).
