15
OPERATION
FIG. 12
PURGE TRANSMISSION
CAUTION: Never engage or disengage
freewheel lever while the engine is run-
ning.
To ensure proper operation and performance, it is rec om -
mend ed that the transmission be purged before operating
tractor for the fi rst time. This procedure will remove any
trapped air inside the transmission which may have de-
vel oped during shipping of your tractor.
IMPORTANT: SHOULD YOUR TRANSMISSION RE QUIRE
REMOVAL FOR SERVICE OR REPLACEMENT, IT SHOULD
BE PURGED AFTER REINSTALLATION BEFORE OPERATING
THE TRACTOR.
• Place tractor safely on level surface with engine off and
parking brake set.
• Disengage transmission by placing freewheel control
in freewheeling position (See “TO TRANSPORT” in this
section of manual).
• Sitting in the tractor seat, start engine. After the en-
gine is running, move throttle control to slow position.
Dis en gage parking brake
• Move motion control lever to full forward position and
hold for fi ve (5) seconds. Move lever to full reverse
position and hold for fi ve (5) seconds. Repeat this
procedure three (3) times.
NOTE: During this procedure there will be no movement
of drive wheels. The air is being removed from hydraulic
drive system.
• Move motion control lever to neutral (N) position. Shut-
off engine and set parking brake.
00272
MOWING TIPS
• Tire chains cannot be used when the mower housing
is attached to tractor.
• Mower should be properly leveled for best mowing per-
formance. See “TO LEVEL MOWER HOUSING” in the
Service and Adjustments section of this man u al.
• The left hand side of mower should be used for trim-
ming.
• Drive so that clippings are discharged onto the area
that has been cut. Have the cut area to the right of
the tractor. This will result in a more even dis tri bu tion
of clippings and more uniform cutting.
• When mowing large areas, start by turning to the right so
that clippings will discharge away from shrubs, fences,
driveways, etc. After one or two rounds, mow in the
opposite direction making left hand turns until fi nished
(See Fig. 12).
• Remove retainer spring from the drive belt tension
handle to relieve belt tension.
• Start engine and allow it to warm up for three (3) min-
utes.
• Shut-off engine and engage parking brake.
• Engage drive belt tension handle and replace the
re tain er spring.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WARM UP
• Before driving the unit in cold weather, the trans mis sion
should be warmed up as follows:
• Be sure the trac tor is on level ground.
• Place the motion control lever in neu tral. Re-
lease the parking brake and let the brake slowly
return to operating position.
• Allow one minute for transmission to warm up.
This can be done during the engine warm up
period.
• The attachments can be used during the engine warm-
up period after the transmission has been warmed
up and may require the choke con trol be pulled out
slight ly.
NOTE: If at a high altitude (above 3000 feet) or in cold
temperatures (below 32 F) the carburetor fuel mixture may
need to be adjusted for best engine performance. See “TO
ADJUST CARBURETOR” in the Service and Ad just ments
section of this manual.
• Engage transmission by placing freewheel control in
driving position (See “TO TRANSPORT” in this sec tion
of manual).
• Sitting in the tractor seat, start engine. After the engine
is running, move throttle control to half (1/2) speed.
Disengage parking brake.
• Slowly move motion control lever forward, after the
tractor moves approximately fi ve (5) feet, slowly move
motion control lever to reverse position. After the trac-
tor moves approximately fi ve (5) feet return the mo-
tion control lever to the neutral (N) position. Repeat
this procedure with the motion control lever three (3)
times.
• Your tractor is now purged and now ready for normal
op er a tion.
• If grass is extremely tall, it should be mowed twice to
reduce load and possible fi re hazard from dried clip-
pings. Make fi rst cut relatively high; the second to the
desired height.
• Do not mow grass when it is wet. Wet grass will plug
mower and leave undesirable clumps. Allow grass to
dry before mowing.
• Always operate engine at full throttle when mow-
ing to assure better mowing performance and proper
dis charge of material. Regulate ground speed by se-
lect ing a low enough gear to give the mower cut ting
per for mance as well as the quality of cut de sired.
• When operating attachments, select a ground speed
that will suit the terrain and give best performance of
the at tach ment being used.