Cub Cadet Lawn Mower 23HP Z Force 60 User Manual

Hydrostatic Zero-Turn  
Residential Riding Mower  
Turf Equipment  
MODEL  
23HP Z-Force 60  
OPERATOR’S AND SERVICE MANUAL  
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FOREWORD  
The Hydrostatic Zero-Turn Riding Mower provides superb maneuverability and mid-mount cut-  
ting. The machine incorporates many safety features that should be studied by all operators  
before use. The list of safety precautions should receive particular attention.  
This manual presents all of the operating and maintenance instructions necessary to keep  
your mower at peak efficiency. If operated and maintained properly, your mower will give  
dependable service.  
CAUTION:  
Only thoroughly trained persons should operate and maintain this  
mower. This machine can cause serious injury to anyone who mis-  
uses it and does not understand its operation. For their personal  
safety, all operators are required to read this entire manual before  
operating the mower.  
Hazard control and accident prevention are partially dependent  
upon the design and configuration of the equipment. Awareness,  
concern, prudence and proper training of the personnel involved in  
the operation, transport, maintenance and storage of the equip-  
ment, are essential for hazard control and accident prevention.  
NOTE: The engine manufacturer is responsible for all engine-related issues with  
regards to performance, power-rating, specifications, warranty and service.  
Please refer to the engine manufacturer’s owner’s/operator’s manual,  
packed seperately with your unit, for more information.  
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WARNING  
The engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals  
known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.  
This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved  
forest-covered, brush-covered, or grass-covered land unless the engine’s exhaust system is equipped with a  
spark arrester meeting applicable local or state laws (if any). If a spark arrester is used, it should be main-  
tained in effective working order by the operator.  
In the State of California, the above is required by law (Section 4442 of the California Public Resources  
Code). Other States may have similar laws. Federal laws apply to federal lands. A spark arrester muffler  
may be available.  
IMPORTANT  
SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES  
THIS SYMBOL POINTS OUT IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS WHICH, IF NOT FOL-  
LOWED, COULD ENDANGER THE PERSONAL SAFETY AND/OR PROPERTY OF YOURSELF  
AND OTHERS. READ AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE ATTEMPT-  
ING TO OPERATE YOUR UNIT. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY  
RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY. WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL-  
HEED ITS WARNING.  
Your lawn mower was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in  
this manual. As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part  
of the operator can result in injury. This lawn mower is capable of amputating hands  
and feet or throwing objects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions  
could result in serious injury or death.  
DANGER  
5. Be sure the area is clear of other people  
GENERAL SAFETY  
OPERATIONS  
before mowing. Stop machine if anyone  
enters the area.  
6. Never carry passengers.  
7. Disengage the blades before shifting into  
reverse and backing up. Always look down  
and behind before and while backing.  
8. Be aware of the mower and attachment dis-  
charge direction and do not point it at anyone.  
Do not operate the mower without either the  
entire grass catcher or the chute guard in  
place.  
A. GENERAL OPERATION  
1. Read, understand and follow all instructions in  
the manual and on the machine before start-  
ing. Keep this manual in a safe place for  
future and regular reference and for ordering  
replacement parts.  
2. Only allow responsible individuals familiar with  
the instructions to operate the machine. Know  
the controls and how to stop the machine  
quickly.  
9. Slow down before turning. Operate the  
machine smoothly. Avoid erratic operation  
and excessive speed.  
3. Do not put hands or feet under the cutting  
deck or near rotating parts.  
10. Never leave a running machine unattended.  
Always turn off the blades, place the transmis-  
sion in neutral, set the parking brake, stop the  
engine and remove key before dismounting.  
11. Turn off blades when not mowing.  
12. Stop the engine and wait until the blades  
come to a complete stop before (a) removing  
the grass catcher or unclogging chute, or (b)  
making any repairs, adjusting or removing any  
grass or debris.  
13. Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.  
14. Do not operate the machine while under the  
influence of alcohol or drugs.  
15. Watch for traffic when operating near or cross-  
ing roadways.  
4. Clear the area of objects such as rocks, toys,  
wire, etc. which could be picked up and thrown  
by the blades. A small object may have been  
overlooked and could be accidentally thrown  
by the mower in any direction and cause injury  
to you or a bystander. To help avoid a thrown  
objects injury, keep children, animals,  
bystanders and helpers at least 75 feet from  
the mower while it is in operation. Always  
wear safety glasses with side shields or safety  
goggles during operation or while performing  
and adjustment or repair, to protect eyes from  
foreign objects. Stop the blades when cross-  
ing gravel drives, walks or roads.  
16. Use extra care when loading or unloading the  
machine into a trailer or truck. This unit  
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should not be driven up or down a ramp onto  
a trailer or truck under power, because the  
unit could tip over causing serious personal  
injury. The unit must be pushed manually on  
a ramp to load or unload properly.  
• Use slow speed. Choose a low enough speed  
so that you will not have to stop while on the  
slope.  
• Follow the manufacture’s recommendations for  
counterweights with attachments to improve sta-  
bility.  
• Use extra care with grass catchers or other  
attachments. These can change the stability of  
the machine.  
• Keep all movement on the slopes slow and  
gradual. Do not make sudden changes in speed  
or direction. Rapid acceleration or deceleration  
could cause the front of the machine to lift and  
rapidly flip over backwards, which could cause  
serious injury.  
17. Never make a cutting height adjustment while  
the engine is running if the operator must dis-  
mount to do so.  
18. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and  
closefitting slacks and shirts. Do not wear  
loose fitting clothes or jewelry. They can be  
caught in moving parts. Never operate a unit  
in bare feet, sandals or sneakers.  
19. Check overhead clearance carefully before  
driving under power lines, wires, bridges or  
low hanging tree branches, before entering or  
leaving buildings, or in any other situation  
where the operator may be struck or pulled  
from the unit, which could result in serious  
injury.  
• Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. If the  
tires lose traction, disengage the blades and pro-  
ceed slowly straight down the slope.  
DO NOT:  
20. Disengage all attachment clutches, set the  
parking brake to the on position and put the  
lap bars to the neutral or out position, before  
attempting to start the engine.  
21. Your mower is designed to cut normal resi-  
dential grass of a height no more than 10”.  
Do not attempt to mow through unusually tall,  
dry grass (e.g. pasture) or piles of dry leaves.  
Debris may build up on the mower deck or  
contact the engine exhaust presenting a  
potential fire hazard.  
Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then,  
turn slowly and use extra care.  
• Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embank-  
ments. The mower could suddenly turn over if a  
wheel is over the edge of a cliff or ditch, or if an  
edge caves in.  
Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction  
could cause sliding.  
• Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting  
your foot on the ground.  
• Do not use the grass catcher on steep slopes.  
22. Use only accessories approved for this  
machine by Cub Cadet. Read, understand  
and follow all instructions provided with the  
approved accessory.  
C. CHILDREN  
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not  
alert to the presence of children. Children are  
often attracted to the machine and the mowing  
activity. Never assume that children will  
remain where you last saw them.  
B. SLOPE OPERATION  
Slopes are a major factor related to loss of con-  
trol and tip-over accidents, which can result in  
severe injury or death. All slopes require extra  
caution. If you cannot back up the slope  
or if you feel uneasy on it, do not mow it.  
1. Keep children out of the mowing area  
and in watchful care of an adult other than the  
operator.  
2. Be alert and turn the machine off if children  
enter the area.  
For your safety, use the slope gauge included as  
a part of this manual (see pg. 30) to measure  
slopes before operating this unit on a sloped or  
hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15 degrees  
as shown on the slope gauge, do not operate this  
unit on that area or serious injury could result.  
3. Before and when backing up, look behind and  
down for small children.  
4. Never carry children, even with the blades off.  
They may fall off and be seriously injured or  
may interfere with safe machine operation.  
5. Never allow children under 14 years old to  
operate the machine. Children 14 years and  
over should only operate the machine under  
close parental supervision and proper instruc-  
tion.  
DO:  
• Mow across slopes, not up and down.  
• Remove obstacles such as rocks, limbs, etc.  
• Watch for holes, ruts or bumps. Uneven terrain  
could overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide  
obstacles.  
6. Use extra care when approaching blind cor-  
ners, shrubs, trees or other objects that may  
obscure your vision of a child or other hazard.  
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7. Remove the key when the machine is left  
unattended to prevent unauthorized opera-  
tion.  
a.  
b.  
The electrolyte levels can be checked,  
or may be non-serviceable (no attempt  
should be made to open the vents).  
Batteries may contain lead (Pb) and  
sulfuric acid, and they must be re-  
cycled and not disposed of nor aban-  
doned. Sulfuric acid can cause severe  
burns, and in the event of contact, the  
areas should be flushed with water  
and a physician contacted. Battery  
cases should not be punctured. Lead  
is poisonous and is contained within  
the positive and negative terminals as  
well as within the battery’s internal  
grid-work of plates and active materi-  
als.  
Explosive gases are generated when  
batteries are re-charged, so sparks,  
flames and heat sources should be  
avoided. Loose connections at the  
battery terminals can produce sprks  
and heat...connections to the terminals  
must be kept tight, and the terminals  
and battery surfaces kept clean of  
acids and corrosion. If batteries are  
re-charged or “jumped” from external  
sources, make sure that the connec-  
tions are made properly and in the cor-  
rect sequence (see page 19 under  
jump starting).  
D. SERVICE  
1. Use extreme care in handling gasoline and  
other fuels. They are extremely flammable  
and the vapors are explosive.  
a.  
Use only an approved con-  
tainer.  
b.  
c.  
Never remove fuel cap or add fuel with  
the engine running. Allow the engine  
to cool at least two minutes before  
refueling.  
Replace the fuel cap securely and  
wipe off any spilled fuel before starting  
the engine as it may cause a fire or  
explosion.  
c.  
d.  
e.  
Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes  
and other sources of ignition.  
Never refuel the machine indoors  
because fuel vapors will accumulate in  
the area.  
f.  
Never store the fuel container or  
machine inside where there is an open  
flame or spark, such as a gas hot  
water heater, space heater or furnace.  
Prevent fire and explosion caused by  
static electric discharge. Use only non-  
metal, portable fuel containers  
approved by the Underwriter’s Labora-  
tory (U.L.) or the American Society for  
Testing & Materials (ASTM). If using a  
funnel, make sure it is plastic and has  
no screen or filter.  
g.  
3. Never run a machine inside a closed area.  
4. To reduce fire hazard, keep the machine free  
of grass, leaves or other debris build-up.  
Clean up oil or fuel spillage. Allow the  
machine to cool at least 5 minutes before stor-  
ing.  
5. Before cleaning, repairing or inspecting, make  
certain the blade and all moving parts have  
stopped. Disconnect the spark plug wire, and  
keep the wire away from the spark plug to pre-  
vent accidental starting.  
6. Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at  
frequent intervals for proper tightness. Also  
visually inspect blades for damage (e.g.,  
excessive wear, bent, cracked). Replace with  
blades which meet original equipment specifi-  
cations.  
7. Keep all nuts, bolts and screws tight to be  
sure the equipment is in safe working condi-  
tion.  
h.  
Static electric discharge can ignite  
gasoline vapors in a non-grounded fuel  
container. Remove the fuel container  
from the bed of a vehicle or the trunk  
of a car and place on the ground away  
from the vehicle before filling. Keep  
nozzle in contact with container open-  
ing while filling.  
i.  
When practical, remove equipment  
from trailers or truck beds and re-fuel  
them on the ground. If this is not possi-  
ble, use a portable, plastic fuel con-  
tainer to re-fuel equipment on a truck  
bed or trailer.  
2. Batteries are stored electrical energy devices  
that may be serviceable with removable  
caps.  
8. Never tamper with safety devices. Check  
their proper operation regularly. Use all  
guards as instructed in this manual.  
WARNING-YOUR RESPONSIBILITY: Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who  
read, understand and follow the warnings and instructions in this manual and on the machine.  
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9. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine,  
remove the wire from the spark plug and thor-  
oughly inspect the mower for any damage.  
Repair the damage before restarting and  
operating the machine.  
10. Grass catcher components are subject to  
wear, damage and deterioration, which could  
expose moving parts or allow objects to be  
thrown. For your safety protection, frequently  
check the components and replace with man-  
ufacturers recommended parts when neces-  
sary.  
11. Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap  
the blades or wear gloves, and use extra cau-  
tion when servicing blades.  
12. Check park brake operation frequently. Adjust  
and service as required.  
13. Muffler, engine and belt guards become hot  
during operation and can cause a burn. Allow  
to cool down before touching.  
14. Do not change the engine governor settings  
or overspeed the engine. Excessive engine  
speeds are dangerous.  
15. Observe proper disposal laws and regula-  
tions. Improper disposal of fluids and materi-  
als can harm the environment and the  
ecology.  
a.  
Prior to disposal, contact your local  
Environmental Protection Agency to  
determine the proper method for dis-  
posing of the waste. Recycling cen-  
ters are established to properly  
dispose of materials in an environmen-  
tally safe fashion.  
b.  
c.  
Use proper containers when draining  
fluids. Do not use food or beverage  
containers that may mislead someone  
into drinking from them. Properly dis-  
pose of the containers immediately fol-  
lowing the draining of fluids.  
DO NOT pour oil or other fluids into the  
ground, down drain or into a stream,  
pond, lake or other body of water.  
Observe Environmental Protection  
Agency regulations when disposing of  
oil, fuel, coolant, brake fluid, filters,  
batteries, tires and other harmful  
waste.  
16. We do not recommend the use of high pres-  
sure washers to clean your unit. They may  
cause damage to electrical components; spin-  
dles; pulleys; bearings; or the engine.  
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SAFETY DECALS  
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURY,  
D
O
N
O T  
O
P
E
R A T  
E
M
O W  
E
R
U
N L  
E
S
S
DISCHARGE CHUTE COVERORGRASS  
C A T C H E  
R
IS I N I T  
S
P
R O P  
E
R
P
L A C E  
.
WARNING  
D A N G E R  
K E E P H A N D S a n d FE E T A W A Y  
SHIELD MISSING  
DO NOT OPERATE  
Part Number: 00030635  
Part Number: 01002166  
DANGER  
KEEP HANDS AND FEET AWAY.  
DO NOT OPERATE MOWER  
UNLESS CHUTE DEFLECTOR  
OR ENTIRE GRASS CATCHER IS  
IN ITS PROPER PLACE.  
S30503  
ASSEMBLE CHUTE DEFLECTOR TO THIS UNIT BEFORE OPERATING.  
Part Number: 777S30503  
Part Number: 01003452  
Part Number: 01003451  
Part Number: 01006536  
!
WARNING  
Engage parking brake when leaving the machine.  
Do not add fuel while the engine is hot or running.  
Stop engine, disconnect spark plug before adjusting or servicing.  
Before leaving operator's position:  
Disengage implement drive.  
Place speed controls in neutral and set park brake.  
Wait for all movement to stop.  
Do not allow operation by untrained personnel.  
ON  
OFF  
Part Number: 02000162  
!
WARNING  
Serious bodily injury may result from failure to follow safe  
operating procedures.  
Read the Operator's Manual before operating this machine.  
Clear area of debris and other objects before mowing.  
Do not operate machine when children and others are around.  
Do not operate machine without guards, shields and safety  
devices in place and working.  
Avoid slopes greater than 15 degrees.  
Slow down and use caution on slopes. Go across slopes!  
Part Number: 02000163  
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SPECIFICATIONS  
GENERAL INFO.  
Controls:  
Engine ignition and start switch; throttle; choke; left and right  
steering levers; electric blade clutch switch; parking brake;  
mower deck lift  
Parking Brake:  
Seat:  
Frame:  
Instrumentation:  
Front Caster Wheels:  
Drive Wheels:  
Tire Pressure:  
Fuel Tank:  
Internal, mechanical linkage attached to the brake handle  
Adjustable seat with armrests. 5" Adjustment (fore-aft)  
2” Steel square tube and plate, all welded construction  
Hour meter, Tachometer, Maintenance-minder  
11 x 4 - 5.00  
23 x 9.5 - 12 Turf Pro  
8-10 psi Rear, 20-25 psi front caster  
Two 5 gallon w/individual shutoff valves  
0-8.0 + MPH forward. 0-4.3 MPH reverse  
863 lbs. w/60" deck  
Ground Speed:  
Net Weight:  
ENGINE INFO.  
Engine:  
Type:  
Air Cleaner:  
Lube System:  
Hydraulic System:  
Starter:  
23 HP Kohler, 23 HP Kawasaki  
Vertical crankshaft, air cooled V-Twin  
Paper Element  
Pressurized with oil filter  
2 quarts and 1 pint filter per transaxle  
12-volt electric  
Blade Brake Clutch:  
Electric  
TRACTION DRIVE INFO.  
Traction Drive:  
Engine to two variable-speed hydraulic pump/motor, Hydro-Gear  
ZT-2800 transaxles  
CUTTER DECK INFO.  
Cutter Deck;Drive:  
Deck Lift:  
Cutting Height:  
No. of Blades  
60", Belt Driven  
Hand lever w/pin lock for height adjustment  
1-1/2" to 4"  
3, belt-driven, power take-off from engine  
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OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS  
Figure. 1  
Figure. 2  
Tach and  
Electric Blade  
Clutch Switch  
Engine throttle  
Hour Meter  
Choke Lever  
Ignition Switch  
k. Be careful when crossing gravel paths or  
roadways. Always turn off the blade clutch  
switch and wait until the blades stop rotat-  
ing and raise the cutting deck to the trans-  
port position. Always allow other vehicles  
to have the right of way.  
l. If you hit a solid object while mowing, turn  
off the blade clutch switch, place the steer-  
ing levers in the neutral, opened-out posi-  
tion, move the throttle to slow, set the  
parking brake, shut off the engine, and  
take the key from the ignition switch.  
Inspect for damage. Repair the damage.  
Make sure the blades are in good condition  
and that the blade bolts are tight before  
restarting the engine.  
m. Never leave the mower unattended without  
observing the following: turn off the blade  
clutch switch, placing the steering levers in  
the neutral open-out position, moving the  
throttle to slow, setting the parking brake,  
shutting off the engine and taking the key  
from the ignition switch.  
n. Never walk or stand on the discharge side  
of the mower when the engine is running.  
Turn off the blade clutch switch if another  
person approaches while you are operat-  
ing the mower.  
A.General  
1. When Mowing:  
a. Keep adults, children, and pets away from  
the area to be mowed.  
b. When operating this mower, in the forward  
direction, do not allow the steering levers  
to return to Neutral on their own. Always  
maintain a firm grip on the levers, operate  
them smoothly and avoid any sudden  
movements of the levers when starting and  
stopping.  
c. If the mower is equipped for side dis-  
charge, never use the mower without the  
discharge chute installed and placed in the  
down position.  
d. Always remove debris and other objects  
from the area to be mowed (Note: debris  
and loose grass will reduce traction).  
e. Mow only in daylight.  
f. Watch for holes, sprinkler heads, and other  
hidden hazards.  
g. Avoid driving too close to trees, creeks,  
ditches, sand traps, and other obstacles.  
h. Before backing up, check behind and  
watch where you are going.  
i. Always reduce speed when making a turn,  
and when grass is wet.  
j. Always mow across slopes, never up and  
down the slope. Do not operate on steep  
slopes and slow down before turning.  
Avoid turning downhill if possible, start at  
the bottom and work up to the top. Use  
extra care and go slowly when turning  
downhill. Control the speed and direction  
of the zero turn machine “primarily” with  
the speed/directional control (lap bar) of  
the downhill side of the machine...I.E.,  
maintain the uphill side lap bar “essen-  
tially” in a fixed position.  
o. Never attempt to operate the traction unit  
without having the mowing deck attached.  
p. Keep the mower and especially the engine  
and hydraulic components clean and free  
of grease, grass, and leaves to reduce the  
chance of fire and permit proper cooling.  
q. Always mow at full throttle.  
2. Safety Awareness when Mowing  
a. Do not operate on steep slopes, those  
above 15 degrees (27% slope).  
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b. Avoid turning downhill if possible, if not use  
extra care and go slowly.  
c. Avoid turning when going downhill, traction  
is at a minimum going downhill.  
d. Do not operate with discharge side of the  
mower toward streets, buildings, play-  
grounds, parking lots, other machines, ani-  
mals, and other people.  
e. Avoid operation or use extreme care if the  
traction surface is wet, unstable, or slip-  
pery.  
f. Use extra care when grass clippings,  
leaves, pine needles, or debris are present  
as traction can be reduced.  
g. Slow-down before turning and come to a  
complete stop before any zero turn maneu-  
ver.  
h. Do not stop machine or park machine over  
combustible materials such as dry grass,  
leaves, debris, etc.  
B.Controls  
1. Engine Ignition and Start Switch: (See Fig-  
ure 1.) Located on the instrument housing  
below the right side of the operator’s seat.  
When the key is inserted and turned clock-  
wise, 45 degrees, the ignition circuit is closed.  
Turning the switch further against spring pres-  
sure starts the engine. The engine will only  
start if the blade clutch switch is in the “off”  
position, the parking brake is engaged and  
the left and right steering levers are in the  
neutral, opened-out position. The key should  
always be removed from the switch if the  
operator leaves the mower’s seat.  
2. Engine Throttle Control: (See Figure 2.)  
Located on the left side of the mower next to  
the operator’s seat. Moving the throttle control  
from the rear to the front will increase the  
engine speed from slow to fast.  
3. Left and Right Steering Levers: (See Figure  
3.) These hinged levers open out to the side  
in the neutral position to permit the operator to  
be seated or to leave the mower’s seat. The  
operator, when seated, can pull the levers up  
to the operating position, a comfortable fore-  
arm’s length away. These levers control all of  
the movements of the mower. Pushing both  
levers forward causes the mower to move for-  
ward. Pulling both levers back causes the  
mower to move backward. Pushing one lever  
ahead of the other lever causes the traction  
wheel on the side where the lever is ahead to  
rotate faster than the other traction wheel,  
making the mower turn toward the side where  
the lever is behind. When one lever is pushed  
forward and the other lever pulled back the  
same amount, one traction wheel will turn in  
reverse and the mower will turn within its own  
length.  
3. To Mow Grass and Produce a Striped Pat-  
tern  
a. Pick a point on the opposite side of the  
area to be mowed (post, tree, shrub, etc.).  
b. If on an hillside, start at the bottom so that  
the turns are uphill rather than downhill.  
c. Align the mower so as to head directly  
toward the object on the far side.  
d. Slowly increase the speed of the machine  
to match cutting conditions, terrain, and  
operator familiarity with the controls and  
keep the machine headed directly toward  
the alignment object. Do not go fast as to  
reduce cut quality or to be uncomfortable  
in controlling the speed and direction of the  
machine.  
e. When approaching the other end of a strip,  
slow down or stop before turning. A U-turn  
is recommended unless a zero turn is  
required. The speed of a U-turn that will  
allow for machine controllability and mini-  
mal turf defacement will be dependent on  
several factors including: the speed of the  
turn, the radius of the turn, the tire tread  
pattern, the traction coefficient of the tire to  
the traction surface, the slope of the trac-  
tion surface.  
In order to start the engine, both steering  
levers must be opened out to the side in the  
neutral position; the parking brake must be  
engaged; and the blade clutch switch must be  
“off”. However, once the engine starts, the  
parking brake must be released before the  
operator places the steering levers into the  
operating position or the engine will  
f. Remember, a zero turn requires that the  
forward or reverse travel of the machine be  
stopped prior to the initiation of the turn or  
severe turf defacement can occur.  
g. To prevent rutting or grooving of the turf,  
change the direction that the strips are  
mowed by approximately 45 degrees the  
next and each subsequent time that the  
area is mowed.  
automatically shut off.  
Note: The Steering Lever will return toward  
neutral when released, but they should be  
placed in neutral by the driver. If the Drive  
Handles are not placed in neutral, the tractor  
may creep.  
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Steering Levers  
Deck Lift Handle  
Brake  
Figure. 4  
Fuel Shutoff Valve  
Figure. 3  
mechanism. To service the unit: Remove the  
hairpin clip from the locking pin and remove  
the pin from the pedal assembly. Fold the  
pedal up to vertical position so the hole in the  
pedal aligns with the hole in the lever. Rein-  
stall the locking pin and hairpin clip. This is  
the required position for the foot pedal for the  
foot platform to tilt forward and to access  
some of the machines components.  
4. Electric Blade Clutch Switch: (See Figure  
1.) Located on the right side of the mower  
beside the ignition switch. This is an “on/off”  
push pull switch that controls the electric  
blade clutch which supplies power to the cut-  
ting blades through the PTO. The switch must  
be turned off to start the engine and should  
be turned off for safety any time another per-  
son approaches the mower or the mowing  
deck is raised to the transport position. Power  
to the electric clutch will also be cut off if the  
operator leaves the operator’s seat.  
7. Fuel Shutoff Valve: (See Figure 4.) Located  
on top of the fuel tank. When turned in a  
clockwise direction until it stops, it will shut off  
the flow of fuel to the engine. When turned in  
a counterclockwise direction it will open and  
allow fuel to flow to the engine. Close this  
valve if you are not going to run the mower for  
a period of 30 minutes or more to prevent  
flooding the engine.  
8. Seat Adjustment Lever: The Seat Adjust-  
ment Lever is located beneath the seat. The  
Seat Adjustment Lever is used to move the  
seat forward and backward. To place the seat  
in the desired position pull the seat adjust-  
ment lever to the left then push the seat for-  
ward or back to the desired position. Release  
the lever so the seat will lock in place.  
9. Digital Tachometer and Hour Meter: (See  
Figure 1) Located on the right side of the  
mower in front of the ignition switch. When the  
machine is running the tachometer displays  
engine rpm. When the machine is off the  
tachometer displays running time.  
10. Choke Lever: (See Figure 2) The Choke  
Lever is located on the left instrument panel  
next to the seat. The Choke Lever is operated  
manually. Having the Choke Lever in the ON  
position helps the engine to start during initial  
start-up. During normal operation the Choke  
Lever should be in the OFF position.  
5. Parking Brake: (See Figure 3.) Located on  
the left side of the traction unit. The handle is  
an overcenter lever which applies the internal  
drum-type brake on each drive wheel when  
the handle is pulled to the rear. The brake  
must be engaged in order to start the engine.  
6. Deck Lift Handle and Optional Foot Pedal  
Lift Assist: (See Figure 3.) Located on the  
right front corner of the mowing deck.To raise  
the mowing deck to the transport position, the  
lever is pulled to the rear and moved inward to  
lock into a stop for transport. To lower the  
mowing deck, raise the deck lift handle and  
move it outward. This allows the handle to  
move forward, lowering the deck to the cutting  
position. The foot pedal lift assist (not pictured  
above) can provide “lift assist” to the hand  
lever or with “foot effort only”. To provide  
assistance to the lift handle: remove the hair-  
pin clip from the locking pin and remove the  
pin from the pedal assembly. Fold the pedal  
down to the horizontal position so the hole in  
the pedal aligns with the hole in the lever. Re-  
install the locking pin and hairpin clip. Pull on  
the Lift handle and depress the foot pedal to  
raise the deck. Lifting with “foot effort only”  
depress the foot pedal (the hand lever will lock  
into transport position if fully depressed). To  
release the lift mechanism depress the foot  
pedal, move the hand lever outward and  
slowly reduce foot pedal effort to lower the  
Note:There will be a flashing “LUBE” for  
each recommended lubrication interval. There  
is a flashing “OILat each recommended  
engine oil and filter change.  
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engine, remove the key from the ignition  
switch, remove connection of the spark  
plugs and using the transport lever, lower  
the mowing deck into the cutting position.  
b. Using a ruler, pencil and paper, measure  
and note the distance from the paved sur-  
face to the bottom edge of the mowing  
blade at the front and the back of the deck  
on each side of the mower. (Four dimen-  
sions.)  
C.Initial Adjustments  
1. Check the fluid levels and tires:  
Note:These checks should be made daily,  
before starting the engine.  
a. Fuel: Using a good grade of unleaded,  
regular gasoline (for a gasoline engine), fill  
the fuel tank (beside the engine on the left  
or right side of the mower). When the fuel  
reaches one inch from the top of the tank,  
stop. DO NOT OVERFILL. Space must be  
left for expansion.  
b. Engine Oil: (Filled at the factory before  
shipment.) Pull out the oil dipstick, wipe it  
off and reinsert it. Pull it out again and read  
the oil level. If it is below the operating  
range, add oil through the fill tube using a  
funnel to bring it up to the top of the operat-  
ing range.  
Note:The front edge of the mowing deck  
should be 1/8"-1/4" below the rear edge of the  
deck so that the blades are cutting grass in  
only the front half of their circular path. This  
decreases friction and reduces the drive  
power required.  
c. If the dimension at the front of the mowing  
deck is 1/8"-1/4" lower than the dimension  
at the rear of the deck on each side of the  
mower, do not adjust. If not, you will need  
to adjust the Deck Lift Spring Assist (See  
Figure 5). You may also need to adjust the  
Deck Links (See Figure 5).  
Note:Gasoline Engine: Use SAE 10W30 or  
SAE 10W40 engine oil, rated for service SJ.  
c. Hydraulic Oil: (Filled at the factory before  
shipment.) The hydraulic oil tank is located  
behind the operator’s seat. Always wipe off  
the area around the oil tank fill neck before  
checking the oil level to prevent dirt from  
contaminating the oil. Remove the cap and  
make sure the oil level is at the full cold line  
on the oil tank. If the oil level is low, fill with  
a good grade of SAE15W-40 oil.  
Deck Lift Spring inner nut  
d. Tires: 8-10 psi Rear, 20-25 psi Front  
Caster Tires  
Note:New tires are overinflated in order to  
Deck Links  
properly seat the bead to the rim. The normal  
working pressure for the traction tires is 8-10  
psi. The front caster wheels should be inflated  
to 30 psi.  
Figure. 5  
d. Lower the mower deck to the cutting posi-  
tion. With a wrench loosen the inner rear  
nut on the Deck Lift Spring Assist. To  
adjust the deck up or down, use a wrench  
and with a few turns, adjust clockwise or  
counter clockwise the outer rear nut of the  
Deck Lift Spring Assist. Repeat this proce-  
dure on the opposite side of the Mower.  
Once the deck is adjusted, retighten bolts.  
e. With the deck still in the cutting position,  
adjust the Deck Links. With a wrench  
loosen the top inner bolt of the Deck Link.  
To adjust the side of the deck up or down  
turn the top bolt clockwise or counter  
clockwise a few turns. Adjust both front  
and rear Deck links as necessary.  
2. Check that all Nuts, Bolts and Screws are  
Tight.  
3. Check the tension of the deck drive belts.  
a. Remove the deck cover  
b. The tension of the deck drive belts are  
maintained by a spring mechanism that  
adjusts for wear and stretch.  
c. Examine the belts for cuts, fraying, and  
excessive wear. Replace if any of these  
are detected.  
d. Replace the deck cover.  
4. Adjust the Mowing Deck: The cutting height  
is set anywhere in the range of 1-1/2" to 5-1/  
2". You may need to adjust the mowing deck  
to achieve the proper angle for mowing. Fol-  
low the procedures below to set the appropri-  
ate angle to the mowing deck.  
Retighten nuts.  
f. Raise the mowing deck to the transport  
position using the transport lever.  
g. Use the transport lever to lower the mow-  
ing deck to the cutting position and repeat  
step “b.above to make sure that the  
a. Park the mower on a flat paved surface,  
engage the parking brake, shut off the  
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desired cutting height has been attained. If  
the dimensions are not correct, repeat  
steps “c.through “f.above.  
4. That no non-approved devices are  
installed.  
5. That all safety signs and decals are  
properly installed and legible.  
5. Lubricate all fittings listed in the mainte-  
nance section.  
e. This is a one person machine, operator  
only! Riders are not permitted under any  
circumstance!  
f. To start the engine on the machine:  
1. Make sure the park brake is set to the  
“UP” position, both lap bars are in the  
neutral/start (opened-out) position, and  
the Power Take Off (PTO also referred to  
as blade control switch) is in the “off”  
(down) position.  
2. Push the choke control forward to the on  
position and the engine speed control  
(throttle) forward (half way).  
3. Insert the ignition key, turn the switch  
toward the spring-loaded “Start” position,  
maintain the Start position until the  
engine begins to run, then release the  
switch (it will return to the “Run” posi-  
tion).  
D. Zero Turn Break-In And Operating  
Procedures  
DANGER:  
Reread the “When Mowing” Safety Precautions.  
The following procedures are suggested for opera-  
tors of ride-on machines which have zero turn  
capabilities.  
1. Orientation:  
a. Read the entire Operator’s Manual.  
b. Sit on the machine, adjust the seat before-  
and-after, then adjust the speed/directional  
(lap bar) controls (they can be adjusted up-  
and-down — 9/16" wrench required).  
Optional lapbar can also be adjusted fore  
and aft.  
c. Become familiar with all of the machine  
controls, instrumentation, safety and  
instruction signs, and safety devices.  
d. Move (or have moved) the machine to a  
safe, level area with no obstructions includ-  
ing objects, pedestrians, and animals.  
2. Initial Operation:  
4. Retard the choke slowly by pulling it  
rearward. If the engine is “cold”, the  
choke may need to be partially applied  
for a few minutes. Be sure to totally pull  
the choke to the off position after the  
engine has “warmed up”.  
g. Check safety devices:  
1. With the park brake engaged, move one  
of the lap bars (speed/directional control)  
from the neutral/start position to the neu-  
tral position (out of the slot, toward the  
center of the machine) — the engine  
should stop running. Move the lap bars  
back to the neutral/start position and the  
engine should run.  
a. Use protective equipment for eyes, hands,  
hearing, feet, legs, head and other areas of  
the body if needed — safety eye glasses,  
gloves, earplugs, boots, hats, etc.  
WARNING:  
Hearing Protection is required for all operator  
exposure exceeding two (2) hours.  
2. Repeat this procedure with the opposite  
side lap bars.  
3. With the park brake engaged and the lap  
bars in the neutral/start position,  
advance the engine speed control com-  
pletely forward (Hi-idle), engage the PTO  
control switch (pull upward), then lift off  
the seat — the engine should stop run-  
ning. Sit down and the engine should  
run. Turn off the PTO by pushing the  
control switch down.  
b. Ensure that the area is free of animals and  
bystanders, especially children!  
c. Survey the area where the equipment is to  
be used to make sure it is free of debris,  
sticks, stones, wires, bones, and other for-  
eign objects which could cause injury to  
bystanders, damage to the machine, or  
damage to nearby facilities.  
h. To drive in the FORWARD direction:  
1. Set the engine speed to 2000 to 2500  
rpm (refer to tachometer on right control  
panel). This must be increased to full  
speed (3525-3675 rpm) after becoming  
familiar with the machine.  
2. Release the park brake to the down posi-  
tion.  
3. Move both lap bars out of the neutral/  
start position to the neutral position  
d. Inspect the machine to make sure:  
1. All guards, shields (including mower  
chute deflector) are in their proper place,  
are secure, and are functional.  
2. That there are no spilled or leaking fuel  
or oil sources, nor loose fuel or hydraulic  
tank caps, hoses or fittings.  
3. That there are no loose or missing hard-  
ware nor any missing items.  
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(toward center of machine). Slowly, move  
both lap bars toward the front of the  
machine until the machine begins to  
move forward — release the lap bars  
and the machine should stop. The more  
that the lap bars are moved toward the  
front of the machine, the faster the  
machine will move in the forward direc-  
tion. Release the lap bars and the  
machine should stop traveling forward.  
(This is a safety check, the normal pro-  
cedure is for the operator to slowly bring  
the lap bars to the neutral position).  
4. Do not advance the lap bars rapidly as  
this could cause turf defacement, loss of  
traction, and/or instability.  
5. To turn, advance one lap bar ahead of  
the other and the machine will turn  
toward the opposite from the side that  
was advanced — I.E. to turn clockwise  
(to the Right), move the LEFT lap bar for-  
ward more than the right side, and to  
turn counter-clockwise (to the LEFT),  
move the RIGHT lap bar forward more  
than the left side. NOTE: If one lap bar is  
in the neutral position and the other is  
advanced, the turn side tire will not  
rotate and a “pivot turn” will be executed  
— turf defacement could occur (if on  
grass) as well as potential damages to  
the traction surface and the tire. If the lap  
bar on the turn side is not brought all the  
way to neutral, then the turn side tire will  
continue to rotate and a “U-turn” will be  
executed with a low potential for turf  
defacement as well as traction surface  
and tire damage.  
the same side that was retarded — I.E.,  
to turn counter-clockwise (to the LEFT),  
move the LEFT lap bar rearward more  
than the right side, and to turn clockwise  
(to the RIGHT), move the RIGHT lap bar  
rearward more than the left side. NOTE:  
If one lap bar is in the neutral position  
and the other is retarded, the turn side  
tire will not rotate and a “pivot turn” will  
be executed. Turf defacement could  
occur (if on grass) as well as potential  
damages to the traction surface and the  
tire. If the lap bar on the turn side is not  
brought all the way to neutral, then the  
turn side tire will continue to rotate and a  
“U-turn” will be executed with a low  
potential for turf defacement as well as  
traction surface and tire damage.  
j. To perform a “zero turn”:  
1. Please note, a zero turn maneuver can  
not be executed while the machine is  
moving in the Forward or, Reverse direc-  
tions, the machine must come to a stop  
first.  
2. To turn clockwise, slowly move the LEFT  
lap bar forward while simultaneously  
moving the RIGHT lap bar rearward.  
Release both lap bars and the machine  
should stop turning.  
3. To turn counter-clockwise, slowly move  
the RIGHT lap bar forward while simulta-  
neously moving the LEFT lap bar rear-  
ward. Release both lap bars and the  
machine should stop turning (this is a  
safety check, the normal procedure is for  
the operator to slowly bring the lap bars  
to the neutral position).  
i. To drive in the REVERSE direction:  
1. Make sure no bystanders, animals, or  
objects are behind the machine. Look  
behind the machine, and use extreme  
care.  
3. Start the Engine:  
a. Open the fuel shutoff valve.  
b. Sit on the Seat. Set the parking brake  
“On”.  
c. Move the left and right steering levers to  
the neutral, opened-out position.  
d. Turn the electric blade clutch switch “Off”.  
e. Push the throttle control to a position a  
third of the way between slow and fast.  
f. Insert the key in the ignition and start  
switch and turn the switch to “On”.  
g. Gasoline Engine: If the engine is cold,  
push the choke to the on position.  
h. Turn the ignition key in a clockwise direc-  
tion to the “Start” position until the engine  
starts.  
2. Slowly, move both lap bars toward the  
rear of the machine until the machine  
begins to move rearward. Release the  
lap bars and the machine should stop.  
The more the lap bars are moved toward  
the rear of the machine, the faster the  
machine will move in the reverse direc-  
tion. Release the lap bars and the  
machine should stop traveling in reverse  
(this is a safety check, the normal proce-  
dure is for the operator to slowly bring  
the lap bars to the neutral position).  
3. Do not retard the lap bars rapidly as this  
could cause turf defacement and/or loss  
of traction.  
Note:Do not hold the key in the “Start”  
position for more than 10 seconds or you may  
damage the starter. If the engine does not start  
in this time, wait about 30 seconds and try  
again.  
4. To turn, retard one lap bar ahead of the  
other and the machine will turn toward  
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i. Gasoline Engine: Once the engine starts,  
push the choke on halfway and as the  
engine warms, push the choke off all the  
way.  
5. Parking the Mower:  
a. Push off the electric blade clutch switch.  
b. Use the Deck Lift Handle to raise the mow-  
ing deck to the transport position.  
c. Drive the mower to the cleanup or storage  
area.  
d. Move the throttle to slow.  
e. Place the steering levers in the neutral  
position.  
4. Operating the Mower: Operating a zero-turn-  
ing-radius mower is not like operating a trac-  
tor-type riding mower. The zero-turning-radius  
mower is much more maneuverable and  
much less fatiguing to operate. However, get-  
ting used to the fingertip control of the zero-  
turning-radius mower takes some practice.  
We strongly recommend that you locate a  
“test area” where you can operate the mower  
for about 30 minutes without being disturbed.  
a. Get into the operator’s seat.  
f. Set the parking brake.  
g. Turn off the ignition switch and take the key  
from the switch.  
h. Close the fuel shutoff valves.  
E. Mower Cutting Blades  
The blades normally “factory installed” on a mower  
afford the best grass cutting performance on the  
majority of grasses and mowing conditions; however,  
there will be occasions whereby the grass type,  
stage of grass growth, soil conditions, and weather  
conditions will require different cutting blade types.  
Since the mower decks are designed so that over-lap  
of the cutting blades generally exceed 1.5”, there is  
no need for orientation of one cutting blade to an  
adjacent blade (I.E., the blades do not need to be  
“timed” nor synchronized).  
b. Start the engine.  
c. Use the transport lever to raise the mowing  
deck to the transport position. Make sure  
the blade clutch switch is off.  
d. After the engine has warmed, adjust the  
throttle to the fast position.  
e. Release the parking brake.  
f. Fold in the steering levers to the operating  
position.  
WARNING:  
Hi-lift- These are generally the best cutting blades  
for most grasses and mowing conditions. These  
blades will provide extra “lift” for the thinner leaf  
grasses, will handle lush grasses, and will provide  
maximum grass and debris discharge. These blades  
are generally required for material collection sys-  
tems. More horsepower is required for these blades  
when compared to others, and they generally pro-  
duce the highest noise levels.  
When operating this mower forward, do not  
allow the steering levers to return to the neu-  
tral position on their own. Always maintain a  
firm grip on the steering levers, operate them  
smoothly and avoid any sudden movements of  
the levers when starting or stopping.  
g. To go forward, move both steering levers  
slightly forward and the mower will slowly  
move forward. The farther you move the  
levers forward the faster the mower will go  
forward.  
Medium-lift- These blades require less horsepower  
than the hi-lift, and they generally work well in wider  
leaf grasses and some mulch applications.  
Low-lift- These blades require less horsepower than  
hi-lift and medium-lift blades, and they generally work  
best with wide leaf grasses, sparse grass growth,  
and sandy soil conditions. They generally produce  
the lowest noise levels. Bahia blades are configured  
without offset, and with a maximum amount of sharp-  
ened cutting edge.  
h. To back up, move both steering levers  
slightly backward and the mower will  
slowly move backward. The farther you  
move the levers backward the faster the  
mower will go backward.  
i. To turn, pull the lever back on the side to  
which you want to turn. The farther back  
you pull the lever, the faster and more  
sharply you will turn. Initially, you will have  
to be careful to avoid turning to fast and  
too far.  
j. After you have mastered operating the  
mower, use the transport lever to lower the  
mowing deck to the cutting position and  
pull on the electric blade clutch switch to  
start the blades rotating.  
Mulch- These blades are generally designed for use  
in cutting decks equipped with mulch baffles. The  
shape of the blade generally produces higher turbu-  
lence in order that the grass can be repeatedly cut  
and re-cut into smaller pieces. These blades gener-  
ally require more horsepower than other blades.  
Mulch blades work best when the grasses are cut at  
the highest levels, minimal lengths of grasses are  
removed, and grass conditions are generally dry.  
k. Practice mowing in straight passes. When  
you feel confident, slowly practice mowing  
around obstacles such as trees.  
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Linch Pins  
Linch Pins  
Height of Cut Clevis Pin  
Figure. 6  
h. To install reverse the process.  
MAINTENANCE AND  
SERVICE  
2. Changing a Blade:  
a. Jack up the front of the mowing deck about  
one foot and block it in that position.  
b. Wrap a rag around one end of the blade  
and grasp it to prevent it from turning, or  
secure the blade by placing a block of  
wood between the blade and the deck  
housing.  
c. Use a 1-1/8" socket wrench on the pulley  
side of the spindle to secure.  
d. Remove the hex nut using a 1-1/8" wrench.  
e. Remove the hex nut.  
WARNING:  
Disconnect the spark plug wires or remove the  
key from the ignition to prevent the engine  
from accidentally starting before performing  
any maintenance on this mower.  
A. Mower Deck  
1. Removing the Mower Deck:  
a. Apply the parking brake. Remove ignition  
key and both spark plug caps.  
b. Lower the cutter deck to the ground. Cap-  
ture the lift handle by placing the height of  
cut clevis pin above the lift handle.  
f. To replace the blade reverse the above  
process and tighten nut to 100-120 lb ft.  
WARNING:  
c. Remove tension of the PTO belt by moving  
the belt tensioning rod.  
Never mow with dull blades! Blades that are  
bent should be replaced! The cutting blades  
are sharp and can cause severe injury. Wrap  
the cutting surface of the blade with a rag to  
avoid injury.  
Note:There is a certain amount of spring  
tension due to the weight of the deck. When  
removing the lift linkage from the deck the ten-  
sion of the springs will go from the deck to the  
lift handle. Not capturing the lift handle while  
removing the lift linkage from the deck will  
cause it to snap back.  
a. Apply the parking brake.  
b. Clean any debris from the blades. Keep  
blades sharp and free of build up at all  
times.  
c. Sharpen blades evenly at the original 30°  
angle to maintain balanced cutting blades.  
Do not sharpen the underside of the  
blades. Use a electric blade sharpener, a  
conventional electric grinder or a hand file  
to sharpen the blades.  
d. Replace any blade with severe nicks or  
dents that cannot be removed by filing.  
e. Check the balance of the blade after  
sharpening by placing it on a blade bal-  
ancer. Do not use un-balanced blades.  
f. If the blade dips on one end, file stock off  
of the cutting surface on that end.  
d. Detach the mower drive belt.  
e. Remove six linchpins (See Fig. 6) (4) from  
the deck and (2) from the front of the  
mower. Remove the linchpins on the left  
and right rear side of the cutter deck (2);  
remove the linchpins on the left and right  
front side of the cutter deck (2); and  
remove the linchpins on the front of the  
mower (2).  
f. Turn front caster wheels outward.  
g. Shift the deck toward the ignition switch  
side of the mower and remove.  
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Hydraulic Tank  
Cover  
Plate  
Spindle  
Hydro Release Levers  
Transmission  
Figure. 8  
Figure. 7  
f. Using a wrench or socket rachet remove  
four hex nuts, and the four hex head cap  
screws. Remove the spindle assembly.  
Note:Blades that cannot be easily bal-  
anced—REPLACE.  
3. Changing the Blade Drive Belts:  
a. Set the parking brake. Remove ignition key  
and both spark plug caps.  
b. Unscrew the wing nuts from the deck cov-  
ers and remove both covers.  
c. Using a 1/2" socket breaker bar or socket  
rachet insert the male end into the 1/2"  
opening in the lower idler arm assembly  
and pull the idler arm clockwise. While  
holding the idler arm back, loosen the  
blade drive belt from the pulley and slide  
the belt away from the pulley.  
d. Remove tension of the PTO belt by moving  
the belt tensioning rod. Loosen the belt  
retaining bolt.  
B.Hydraulic Oil  
WARNING:  
Never overfill the hydraulic units. Damage can  
occur if the oil level is not within the proper  
operating range.  
Note:When adding hydraulic oil, do so in  
small quantities and recheck the oil level  
before adding more. It is important that you do  
not overfill the reservoir.  
1. Adding Hydraulic Oil (use Shell Rimula  
SAE15W 40 or equivalent)  
a. Place the Mower on a level surface and  
engage the parking brake.  
b. Stop the engine and remove the key  
from the ignition switch.  
c. Clean the area around the Hydraulic Oil fill  
e. Pull the tensioner pulley away from the belt  
and remove the PTO belt then remove the  
blade drive belt.  
f. Reverse the process to install the belt.  
neck.  
d. Remove the hydraulic fill cap and check  
the level. The correct level is at the full cold  
line on the tank.  
e. Pour hydraulic oil into the reservoir up to  
the full cold line on the oil tank, if neces-  
sary.  
Note:When replacing belts do not over-  
tighten. Adjust the idler pulley so that a ten-  
pound pull with a spring scale between two  
pulleys deflects the belt about 1/2".  
4. Changing the Spindle Assembly  
a. Jack up the front of the mowing deck about  
one foot and block it in that position.  
b. Make sure the blade clutch is disengaged.  
c. Remove the deck cover.  
2. Draining Hydraulic Oil  
Used hydraulic oil must be disposed of properly. Do not  
pour it down a drain or sewer, or dump it on open land, this  
creates an environmental hazard. Please be aware of the  
environment when disposing of used oil.  
d. Remove the drive belts. (See 3. Changing  
Blade Drive Belts.)  
e. Remove the cutter blade. (See 2. Chang-  
ing a Blade.)  
a. Place the Mower on a level surface and  
engage the parking brake.  
b. Stop the engine and remove the key from  
the ignition switch.  
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c. Remove the mower deck. See Mower Deck  
on page 17.  
d. Raise the seat forward to expose the  
hydraulic oil fill point.  
c. Store the battery with a full charge. A dis-  
charged battery will freeze (refer to the  
table below)..  
e. Clean the area around the hydraulic fill oil  
cap.  
Specific Gravity  
Freezing Temp (°F)  
f. Remove hydraulic fill oil cap.  
g. Place a suitable container (at least 2 gal-  
lon) under the hydraulic reservoir and the  
transaxels.  
h. Remove the hydraulic filter from each tran-  
saxle to allow hydraulic oil to drain.  
(See Figure 8)  
1.265  
1.250  
1.200  
1.150  
1.100  
-71  
-62  
-16  
5
i. Coat new filter seals with oil before instal-  
lation.  
16  
j. Add hydraulic oil to reservoir until the level  
remains at the full cold line on the oil tank.  
k. Run and purge gearboxes. Check oil level.  
l. Add proper amount of hydraulic oil to res-  
ervoir and repeat step K.  
d. Recharge battery when ever the specific  
gravity value is less than 1.225  
3. Battery Removal  
Warning:  
C.Electrical Circuit  
When removing the cables from the battery  
follow these steps to avoid a short between  
the wrench and the frame.  
Danger:  
a. Remove the Negative (black) cable.  
b. Remove the Positive (red) cable.  
c. Release the hold down straps.  
d. Remove the battery without tipping.  
4. Installing the Battery  
Read General Safety Precautions Nos. 9 and 10.  
1. Battery: The battery is located beneath the  
operator’s seat. Remove the fillcaps and  
check the level of the liquid electrolyte in the  
battery every 50 operating hours. If the level  
in any of the six cells has dropped below the  
bottom of the split ring inside the fill hole, refill  
the cell with distilled water. To keep the out-  
side of the battery clean, brush on a strong  
solution of bicarbonate of soda and water and  
rinse with clean water. Keep the contacts and  
cable ends clean with a wire brush and make  
sure the connections are tight. Coat the termi-  
nals with petroleum jelly to prevent corrosion.  
2. Battery Storage: When storing the Mower for  
long periods of time the following guidelines  
should be taken.  
Note:The battery is delivered from the fac-  
tory fully charged and filled with electrolyte.  
a. Attach the Positive (red) cable.  
b. Attach the Negative (black) cable.  
c. Attach the rubber battery strap.  
5. Jump Starting  
Warning:  
Failure to use this starting procedure can  
cause sparking, and the gases in the battery  
to explode.  
a. Disconnect the battery cables from the ter-  
minals and remove the battery.  
b. Clean the battery before storing. A dirty  
battery will lose its charge over time.  
a. Attach the end of the red jumper cable to  
the Positive terminal (+) of the charged  
battery.  
b. Attach the other end of the red jumper  
cable to the Positive terminal (+) of the low  
charge battery.  
c. Attach the end of the black jumper cable to  
the Negative terminal of the charged bat-  
tery.  
d. Attach the other end of the black jumper  
cable to the frame of the unit with the low  
charge battery.  
6. Fuses: There is one fuse located in the wiring  
between the battery and ignition switch and  
other electrical components. This is a stan-  
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dard plug-in type automotive fuse rated at  
20.0 amp.  
and try to start the engine. The engine  
should not start. If it does, the left steering  
lever switch must be repositioned or per-  
haps replaced. Open the left steering lever  
to the neutral position and swing the right  
steering lever up to the operating position  
and try to start the engine. The engine  
should not start. If it does, the right steer-  
ing lever switch must be repositioned or  
perhaps replaced. If the engine does not  
start, Open the right steering lever to the  
neutral position and start the engine.  
Swing the left steering lever up to the oper-  
ating position and the engine should stop.  
If the engine does not stop, the left steering  
lever switch must be repositioned or  
replaced. Open the left steering lever out  
to the neutral position and start the engine.  
Swing the right steering lever up to the  
operating position and the engine should  
stop. If the engine does not stop, the right  
steering lever switch must be repositioned  
or replaced.  
7. Safety Switches: There are five safety  
switches in the electrical circuit which control  
the engine. They are (1) the blade clutch  
switch, (2) the parking brake switch, (3) the  
left and (4) the right steering lever switches  
and (5) the seat switch.They operate so that  
in order to start the engine, the blade clutch  
switch must be off, the parking brake must be  
engaged, and both steering levers must be  
opened-out to the side in the neutral position.  
Once the engine is started, the seat must be  
occupied and the parking brake must be  
released before either of the steering levers is  
folded up to the operating position or the  
engine’s electronic ignition will be grounded  
out and the engine will stop. Also, the seat  
must be occupied before the blade clutch  
switch can cause the blades to rotate.  
8. Safety Switch Operation Checks: The fol-  
lowing operational checks should be made  
daily.  
a. Blade Clutch Switch: Sit in the operator’s  
seat. With both steering levers opened-out  
in the neutral position and the parking  
brake engaged, turn the blade clutch  
switch “on” and try to start the engine. The  
engine should not start. If it does, the blade  
clutch switch must be replaced. If the  
engine does not start, turn the blade clutch  
switch “off” and start the engine. Now turn  
the blade clutch switch “on” and the blades  
should rotate. If the blades do not turn, the  
blade clutch switch must be replaced, the  
seat switch must be replaced or the elec-  
tric PTO clutch must be repaired.  
d. Seat Switch: With both steering levers  
opened-out to the neutral position, the  
parking brake engaged and the blade  
clutch switch in the “off” position, start the  
engine. Now release the parking brake,  
hold down on the back of the operator’s  
seat against spring pressure, and swing  
one of the steering levers up to the operat-  
ing position. Release the operator’s seat  
and the engine should stop. If the engine  
does not stop, the seat switch must be  
replaced. With both steering levers folded  
out in the neutral position, the parking  
brake engaged and the blade clutch switch  
in the “off” position, sit in the operator’s  
seat and start the engine. Turn the blade  
clutch switch to the “on” position and the  
blades should start to rotate. Raise up  
slightly off the operator’s seat and the  
blades should stop. If the blades do not  
stop when you dismount from the opera-  
tor’s seat, the seat switch must be  
b. Parking Brake Switch: Sit in the opera-  
tor’s seat. With both steering levers  
opened-out in the neutral position and the  
blade clutch switch “off”, release the park-  
ing brake and try to start the engine. The  
engine should not start. If it does, the park-  
ing brake switch must be repositioned or  
perhaps replaced. If the engine does not  
start, engage the parking brake and start  
the engine. Swing one steering lever up to  
the operating position and the engine  
should stop. If the engine does not stop,  
the parking brake switch must be reposi-  
tioned or replaced.  
replaced.  
e. Electric PTO Clutch: This clutch operates  
when the engine is running, the operator is  
in the operator’s seat and the blade clutch  
switch is turned on.This electric clutch is a  
fairly trouble free device. If a problem  
develops and the blades do not turn, first  
check the 7.5 amp fuse in the yellow, 16-  
gauge wire between terminal “L(for the  
Gasoline Engine) on the ignition switch  
and the hour meter and then investigate  
the wiring harness and the connections to  
c. Left and Right Steering Lever Switches:  
Sit in the operator’s seat. With both steer-  
ing levers opened-out in the neutral posi-  
tion, the parking brake engaged and the  
blade clutch switch “off”, swing the left  
steering lever up to the operating position  
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the seat switch, the blade clutch switch and  
the electric blade clutch. Then check out  
the seat switch, the blade clutch switch and  
finally the electric blade clutch.  
Then tighten the locknut on the end of the  
axle assembly.  
Lower the mower off the jack and continue  
mowing. The wheel with the leaking tire  
should be taken to the maintenance area, the  
tire inflated to 20 psi and the wheel placed in  
a large bucket of water. Carefully inspect the  
tire, rim and valve for escaping air bubbles  
which indicate a leak. Mark each leak with a  
yellow marking crayon and then deflate the  
tire to 8 psi and repeat the inspection. If the  
leaks you find are pin hole size to 1/16"  
diameter, the tire can be repaired using an  
aerosol can of tire inflater and latex sealer  
available from any auto supply store. Follow  
the directions on the can. If the leaks are  
larger than 1/16" diameter, the tire can be  
repaired with rubber plugs also available in a  
kit from any auto supply store. If the tire bead  
is damaged, a tube will have to be installed in  
the tire or the tire will have to be replaced.  
D.Tires  
The two front wheels are caster wheels that are free  
to swivel to accommodate the direction of the Mower.  
The two rear wheels are used to propel the Mower in  
the direction of input from the drive handles. Inflation  
pressure of the rear tires is important for stability  
while the Mower is in operation. If the tire diameter is  
not equal between the two tires, the Mower will pull to  
one side.  
1. Inflation Pressure:  
a. Traction Tires—20 psi max; 8-10 psi rec-  
ommended  
b. Front Caster Wheel—40 psi max; 20-25  
psi recommended  
3. Creeping: Creeping is the slight forward or  
backward movement of the mower when the  
throttle is on and the lapbars are in the  
opened-out position. If your mower creeps do  
the following.  
a. Jack up rear of unit.  
b. Place Lapbars in neutral opened-out posi-  
tion.  
c. Cutting Deck Ball Wheels—Solid Polyure-  
thane.  
Use the Following guidelines for maintaining the tires:  
a. Balance inflation pressure between the  
rear tires to help maintain straight travel  
(see tire side wall for proper inflation pres-  
sure).  
b. Keep the valve caps tightened to prevent  
air pressure loss.  
c. Locate jam nuts (ref no. 23 in the control  
assembly parts list). See Illustrated Parts  
Book.  
d. Loosen jam nuts on both ends of rod con-  
nectors. (ONLY if mower creeps.)  
e. Start unit and push throttle all the way on.  
f. Locate the left and right rod connectors  
between each jam nut. See Control  
assembly in the Illustrated Parts Book.  
g. If unit creeps forward rotate counter-clock-  
wise. And if unit creeps in reverse, rotate  
clockwise.  
2. Leaking Tires: When a flat tire occurs, repair  
or replace immediately. The normal procedure  
is to remove the wheel and replace it with a  
spare. Take the leaking tire to a maintenance  
area and repair. If a tire is getting soft, park  
the mower on the nearest level, paved area. If  
the leaking tire is on a traction wheel, put  
blocks on each side of the opposite traction  
wheel and jack up the tire that leaks about an  
inch off the ground. Loosen and remove the  
lug nuts and remove the wheel. Mount a  
spare wheel and tire, replace the lug nuts, and  
using a torque wrench, tighten them to 60  
10 ft-lbs.  
Adjust the appropriate rod connector. The  
left rod for the left side of the mower and  
the right rod for the right side of mower.  
Afterward, retighten jam nuts.  
E. Brakes  
If the leaking tire is on a front caster wheel,  
block both traction wheels and raise the  
caster wheel so that the tire is an inch off the  
ground. Loosen and remove the locknut from  
the axle assembly and pull the axle assembly  
from the caster yoke. The wheel and two  
spacer sleeves will drop free. Slip the axle  
assembly through one side of the caster  
yoke, through a spacer sleeve, a spare  
wheel, the other spacer sleeve and finally  
through the other side of the caster yoke.  
While the mower is in motion, all braking is performed  
dynamically through the hydraulic pumps and traction  
motors, controlled by the two steering levers. When the  
mower is parked with the engine shut off, the hydraulic  
system locks the traction wheels.  
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Note:If you wish to move the mower by  
Note:Always wipe off the hydraulic tank fill  
pushing, you must release the dynamic brak-  
ing. Locate the levers at the rear of the mower.  
Pull both levers out and lock in position. After  
pushing the mower to the desired location,  
return both levers to the operating position  
(See page 18 Figure 8).  
cap and the area around it before removing  
the cap to prevent dirt from contaminating the  
oil.  
Remove the fill cap and fill the tank with the same  
15W40 oil selected for the filter until the oil level is up  
to the full cold line on the tank. Leave this air space  
for expansion. Start the engine and let it run at idle for  
about five minutes. Check the filters for leaks. Idling  
the engine and the transaxless in this way will purge  
any air from the system. Shut off the engine and  
recheck the oil level in the tank. Top-off if necessary  
until the oil level is up to the full cold line on the tank.  
When the mower is parked with the engine running  
and the steering levers opened out in the neutral  
position, the parking brakes should be applied. The  
parking brakes are disk-type brakes integrated into  
each transaxle.They are both engaged by the same  
operating lever.  
1. Adjustments: The parking brake handle is an  
overcenter lever that should engage with  
moderate force.  
Note:After unit is up to operating tempera-  
ture, turn off engine and re-check hydraulic  
oil. If oil appears foamy or contains excessive  
air bubbles, DO NOT OPERATE UNIT. Contact  
Cub Cadet Service Dealer.  
Note:To increase parking brake capacity  
tighten the brake rods going back to the brake  
arms equally. Tighten rods one full turn and  
check parking capacity. Repeat Step.  
3. Hydrostatic Transmissions and motors:  
The pumps are the hardest-working compo-  
nents in the hydraulic system. They are in  
operation all the time the engine is running.  
Because of extremely close tolerances, wear  
is an important factor in their life. Contami-  
nants in the hydraulic oil does the greatest  
harm to the pumps.  
To adjust either brake individually, disconnect the  
brake rod from the brake arm by removing the cotter  
pin from the clevis pin and pulling the clevis pin from  
the brake clevis. Loosen the hex nut and turn the  
brake clevis in a clockwise direction one full turn  
looking down the brake rod. This will tighten the brake  
about .040 inch. Tighten the hex nut and reassemble  
the brake clevis to the brake shaft assembly.  
Normally, both brakes should be adjusted and equal  
amount.  
Contaminants or foreign matter in the oil will  
damage the pumps . To prevent this, use a fil-  
ter that captures particles as small as 30  
microns or 30 millionths of a meter in diame-  
ter. You can help in the battle against dirt by  
being very careful when you remove or repair  
a component in the hydraulic system. Thor-  
oughly clean off any component before you  
work on it. Plug the ends of any hose or line  
you remove with a rubber or plastic plug. Use  
plastic caps to seal off the ends of hydraulic  
fittings. Place any component you remove in a  
clean plastic bag so it can’t pick up dust or  
dirt. Clean your hands frequently when work-  
ing on the hydraulic components.  
2. Repair: The mower is equipped with internal  
wet disc brakes and will not normally require  
maintenance. If they are not working properly,  
please contact your service center.  
F. Hydraulic System  
1. Hoses: Check the hoses from the hydraulic  
oil tank to the transaxles daily for leaks or  
abrasion and replace any damaged hoses.  
Make certain there are no kinks or twists in  
any hose.  
2. Hydraulic Oil Tank and Filters:  
Note:The transaxles are not owner-repair-  
able. If a transaxle fails, contact your cub  
cadet dealer. Do not disassemble the tran-  
saxle.  
Note:Change the hydraulic oil and the oil  
filter after 500 hours of operation and every  
500 hours thereafter.  
4. Steering Lever Adjustments: Place the  
mower on level ground with the engine run-  
ning, parking brake off and steering levers  
opened out to the neutral position. If the  
Mower begins to creep, adjust the Steering  
Levers.  
To drain the hydraulic oil tank, place a 2 gallon drain  
pan under the transaxles. Remove the filters, drain  
the transaxles and the tank. Remove the filters by  
unscrewing in a counterclockwise direction. The filters  
will be full of oil, so empty each into the drain pan.  
Coat the filter seal with Shell Rimula 15W40 oil or  
equivalent. Screw the filter onto the filter base until it  
seats, and then add another one-half turn to seal.  
If the mower creeps, first determine whether it  
creeps to the right or left side and which direc-  
tion the mower moves — to the front or the  
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rear. To make the adjustment, place the steer-  
ing levers in the opened-out neutral position  
and set the parking brake, shutoff the engine,  
take the key from the ignition switch and pivot  
the seat forward. If the mower creeps to the  
right, you will adjust the linkage on the left  
side of the mower and vice-versa. Remove  
the cap screw and lock washer that secure  
the linkage control arm rod end bearing to the  
control lever pivot. Loosen the jam nut which  
prevents the rod end bearing from turning. If  
the mower creeps forward, thread the rod end  
bearing one-half turn clockwise into the link-  
age control arm. If the mower creeps back-  
ward, thread the rod end bearing one half turn  
counterclockwise out of the linkage control  
arm. Then tighten the jam nut and reconnect  
the rod end bearing to the control lever pivot  
by replacing the cap screw and lock washer.  
leys and blades. (Be careful not to get any  
oil on the drive belts.)  
d. Lubricate the mower.  
e. Drain the engine oil. The engine should be  
warm so that all the oil drains. Replace the  
engine oil filter and refill the crankcase with  
fresh oil.  
f. Gasoline Engine: Drain all the fuel. Close  
the fuel tank shutoff valve. Disconnect the  
fuel line from the carbuetor and put the end  
into an approved fuel container. Open the  
fuel tank shutoff valve and drain the fuel  
tank and line into the approved container.  
Replace the fuel line on the carburetor.  
Start the engine and allow it to run out of  
fuel. This will prevent gum and varnish  
deposits from forming. Replace the fuel fil-  
ter.  
g. Gasoline Engine Only: Remove the spark  
plugs and pour approximately one ounce  
of oil into each cylinder. Crank the engine  
one or two turns to spread the oil evenly on  
the cylinder walls. Replace the spark  
plugs.  
h. Clean the battery and make sure it is fully  
charged.  
i. Inspect the hydraulic hoses, lines and fit-  
tings. Replace as necessary.  
j. Jack the mower up and store it on blocks to  
take the weight off of the tires.  
2. To Put the Mower Back in Service:  
a. Check the battery. Charge if necessary.  
b. Gasoline Engine Only: Remove the spark  
plugs and wipe them off. Using the starter,  
crank the engine to pump the excess oil  
out of the spark plug holes. Replace the  
spark plugs and the ignition leads. Refill  
the fuel tank with fresh gasoline.  
After adjusting the steering linkage, swing the  
seat back to its normal position and place the  
steering lever on the side you adjusted up to  
the operating position. If you feel a slight push  
forward or a slight pull backward from the  
neutral position you must adjust the lever  
return assembly. To do this, swing the steering  
lever back out to the neutral position, pivot the  
seat forward and loosen the jam nut on the  
lever return rod where it is threaded into the  
hex-shaped end of the lever return bolt. If the  
steering lever was pushed forward, turn the  
hex-shaped lever return bolt clockwise one-  
half turn off of the lever return rod. If the steer-  
ing lever was pulled back, turn the hex shaped  
lever return bolt counterclockwise one-half  
turn onto the lever return rod. Then tighten the  
jam nut, pivot the seat back into the operating  
position and start the mower to check that  
your adjustments were made correctly.  
c. Check the level of the oil in the crankcase  
and the hydraulic tank.  
d. Lower the mower off the block and check  
the tire pressure.  
e. Push the mower outdoors and start the  
engine. Let the engine idle until it has  
warmed up completely (4 to 5 minutes).  
G. Storage  
1. General: If your mower will not be in service  
for a few months, it should be stored in a dry  
location that is not subject to drastic changes  
in temperature. Before storing, the following  
maintenance procedures should be per-  
formed.  
a. Clean the mower. The entire tractor and  
cutting deck should be washed and  
cleaned.  
b. Sharpen the blades so that the mower will  
be ready to use when needed.  
c. Protect the metal surfaces. Repair  
scratches with the appropriate touch-up  
spray paint. Brush a rust preventive oil on  
any unpainted surfaces including the pul-  
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7. Lubricate all grease fittings. Follow the  
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE  
Lubrication Chart.  
D. Every 100 Hour Checks  
1. Change the engine oil filter. (Every 50 hours  
under heavy duty operation.)  
A. Daily Checks  
1. Before starting engine:  
a. Check the fuel level.  
2. Check the engine spark plugs.  
3. Check the air gap on the balde brake clutch  
(PTO Clutch) and if it exceeds 0.025” adjust to  
0.012” - 0.015”.  
b. Check the engine oil level.  
c. Check the hydraulic oil level.  
d. Check the hydraulic hoses for leaks, abra-  
sion, kinks, twists, or a flattened condition.  
e. Check the tires and tire pressure.  
Drive Tires: 8-10 psi.  
E. Yearly Checks  
Check the oil in the hydraulic reservoir.  
Front Caster Wheels: 20-25 psi.  
f. Check the spindle belt, the mower drive  
belt and the hydro drive belt.  
g. Check the blades. Make sure they are  
sharp and that the blade securing cap  
screws are tight.  
* Perform maintenance more frequently under dusty  
conditions.  
**Reference Engine Owner’s Manua  
h. Check the cutting height.  
2. When ready to start the engine:  
a. Check the five safety switches for proper  
operation.  
3. After mowing:  
a. Clean the mower.  
b. Clean the engine air screen.  
c. Oil the wear points. Follow the Oiling  
Chart.  
d. After the first five hours, Change the  
engine oil and engine oil filter.  
B. Every 25 Hour Checks  
1. Service the engine foam element air pre-  
cleaner.*  
2. Grease the three spindle bearings.  
C. Weekly or Every 50 Hour Checks  
1. Change the engine oil. (Every 25 hours under  
heavy duty operation.)  
2. Clean or replace the engine’s paper air  
cleaner element.*  
3. Check the battery’s electrolyte level.  
4. Clean the engine cooling fins and external  
surfaces.*  
5. After the first 500 hours, change the hydraulic  
oil and the hydraulic oil filter. Change them  
every 500 hours thereafter.  
6. Oil wear points. Follow the Oiling Chart.  
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OIL CHART  
Apply a few drops of SAE 15W40 oil or use a spray lubricant. Apply the oil  
to both sides of pivot points. Wipe off any excess. Start engine and operate  
mower briefly to insure that oil spreads evenly.  
Number of Oil Points  
Description  
DAILY  
4
4
2
2
2
2
1
2
Deck Suspension Pivots  
Height Adjustment Turnbuckle Clevis Pin  
Height Adjustment Handle Pivots  
Height Adjustment Stop Pivots  
Deck Lift Linkage Pivots  
Transport Handle Pivots  
Transport Handle Pin  
Deck Frame Up-and-Down Pivots  
WEEKLY  
Seat Hinge  
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
4
2
2
Steering Lever Linkage Rod End Bearings  
Lever Return Assembly Rod End Bearings  
Pump Control Lever Pivots  
Brake Lever Pivot Clevis Pin  
Brake Lever Control Rod Pivot  
Brake Control Rod Swivel Joint  
Brake Rod Clevis Pins  
Brake Shaft Assembly Pivots  
Grass Collection System Lid Hinges  
(If Mower is so equipped)  
LUBRICATION CHART  
Use a grease-gun filled with NO. 2 Multipurpose Lithium Base Grease  
No. of Grease Fittings  
Description  
EVERY 25 HOURS  
3
Blade Spindle Bearings  
WEEKLY  
2
2
4
2
1
4
1
1
2
Front Caster Wheels  
Front Caster Wheel Spindles  
Mowing Deck Pivots  
Deck Take-Up Idler Pivots  
Axle Pivot  
Steering Lever Pivots  
Hydro Take-up Idler Pivot  
Park Brake Pivot  
Mower Deck Ball Wheels  
25  
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B. Enginge RPM Check and Adjustment  
Performance Adjustments  
Description  
23 HP Kohler  
23 HP Kawasaki  
High RPM Spec.  
3750 +/-75  
Low RPM Spec.  
1650 +/-100  
A. High Speed Tracking Adjustment  
If mower tracks to one side with both lap bars in fully  
forward position:  
3750 +/-75  
1650 +/-100  
NOTE: RPM Specs. are for free running engines under no load.  
1. Check air pressure in all four tires:  
a. Pressure should be within specified ranges  
and balanced side-to-side.  
1. Verify that the lap bars are in the neutral posi-  
tion, the parking brake is on, and the PTO  
drive is disengaged.  
2. Start the mower and let it run at approximately  
half throttle for 3-5 minutes to bring the engine  
up to operating temperature.  
3. Locate the Hour Meter/Tachometer/ Service  
Minder display on the right hand operator con-  
trol panel. (see Fig.1 on page 10 of the man-  
ual) This display defaults to Tachometer mode  
when engine is running.  
4. Move the throttle lever to the high speed posi-  
tion and note the RPM reading on the display.  
5. Move the throttle lever back to the low speed  
position and again note the displayed RPM’s.  
6. Compare these noted RPM readings to the  
specifications in Table 1, for the engine that is  
on your mower.  
b. Rear tires 8-10 psi. recommended (20 psi  
MAX.)  
c. Front tires 20-25 psi. recommended (40 psi  
MAX.  
2. Check hydraulic fluid level (Ref. Engine  
owner’s manual)  
3. Verify that the mower does not creep when  
the engine is running, the lap bars are in the  
neutral position and the parking brake is  
released. (Refer to section D-3 on page 19 of  
this manual if this condition exists).  
4. Recheck the tracking after any adjustments  
based on the above.  
5. If uneven tracking persists, adjust as follows.  
(see Fig. 10)  
a. Unit tracks to the RIGHT, adjust Left lap  
bar stop bolt to make it longer.  
7. If the readings do not correspond to the  
ranges in the table, refer to the engine  
owner’s manual for the proper adjustment pro-  
cedures.  
b. Unit tracks to the LEFT, adjust Right lap  
bar stop bolt to make it longer.  
6. Re-check the tracking and make any fine tun-  
ing adjustments to the lap bar stop bolts as  
required.  
8. If adjustments per the engine operator’s man-  
ual do not result in proper RPM readings, con-  
tact your service technician.  
9. Note: The throttle cable sheath may shrink or  
slip over time, changing the relationship  
between the throttle lever on the left hand  
operator control panel and the throttle arm on  
the engine. To readjust the throttle cable:  
a. Make sure the engine is off, place lap bars  
in the neutral position, set the parking  
brake, and disconnect and ground both of  
the spark plug wires.  
Note:If stop bolt is adjusted too far, track-  
ing problem will change sides. Make the fine  
tuning adjustments by shortening the same  
bolt.  
b. Locate and loosen the cable clamp on the  
engine throttle plate.  
c. Place the operator’s throttle lever to the  
high speed position and then slide the  
cable through the clamp until the throttle  
arm is in the full throttle position. (Ref.  
Engine owner’s manual)  
d. Tighten the cable clamp.  
e. Move the operator’s throttle lever between  
high and low speed and verify that the  
engine throttle arm also moves through it’s  
full range of motion.  
f. Repeat as required to obtain proper throt-  
tle adjustment.  
Figure. 9  
Lap Bar Stop Bolt  
g. Verify proper throttle adjustment by check-  
ing RPM readings as outlined above.  
26  
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4. Check factory settings of lap bars for the con-  
ditions listed above.  
C. Deck Corner Ball Wheel Roller Settings  
1. Matching the set heights of the ball rollers on  
the four corners of the mower deck to the  
desired cut height will prevent edge scalping  
and minimize any side-to-side variance in cut  
height.  
2. There are three height adjustment holes in  
the bracket that mount the ball rollers to the  
deck.  
Note:If lap bar adjustments are required,  
height adjustments should be made prior to  
angular adjustments.  
5. To adjust the height of the lap bars,  
a. Remove the nuts from the lap bar mounting  
bolts (see Fig. 11).  
b. Remove the bolts and lap bar and repostion  
to the seconc set of holes in the mounting  
block.  
a. Use the top set of holes for cut heights of 2  
inches or lower.  
c. Replace the bolts and nuts and tighten to  
28-34 ft-lbs.  
b. Use the middle set of holes for a 2-1/2 - 3-1/2  
inch cut height.  
c. Use the bottom set of holes for cut heights of  
4 inches or higher.  
1. If angular adjustments are also required,  
nuts can be tightened until snug at this  
point.  
d. The same adjustments should be made to  
both sides of the mower.  
6. (Optional lapbars only) To adjust the front-to-  
rear angle of the lap bars,  
D. Deck Center Anti-Scalp Roller Settings  
1. The front and rear rollers help prevent the  
scalping of high spots and uneven terrain  
across the center section of the deck.  
2. The rollers on the front of the deck are fixed at  
the factory and can not be adjusted.  
3. The rollers on the rear of the deck can be  
adjusted downward one inch.  
a. Loosen the nuts on the lap bar mounting  
bolts, leaving the bottom one fairly snug.  
b. The top hole is slotted, allowing the lap bar  
to pivot on the bottom bolt.  
c. Move lap bar to the desired angle and  
tighten the nuts to 28-34 ft-lbs.  
a. Lowering the roller will increase the strip-  
ing effect left behind the mower.  
b. This positioning of the rear roller will also  
help to filter the mulched grass clippings  
into the turf.  
Note:In the neutral position, the handles of  
the lap bars should be aligned with approxi-  
mately a one inch gap between the tips. Adjus-  
the gap by adding shim washers to the top  
mounting bolt between the lap bar and the  
mounting block.  
c. Roller should not be lowered if the cut  
height is set at 2-1/2 inches or lower.  
d. Check the results of any adjustments to  
the conditions described in section a,  
above. Repeat any adjustment procedures  
as required until all conditions are met.  
E. Lap Bar Adjustment  
1. Proper lap bar and seat adjustment will result  
in the following:  
a. In the neutral position with hands on the  
lap bars,  
1. Operator’s upper arms should be relaxed  
and approximately vertical.  
2. Operator’s forearms should be approxi-  
mately vertical.  
b. In the full forward position,  
1. Operator’s back should stay in contact  
with the seat back.  
2. Lap bars should not contact operator’s  
legs.  
c. In the full reverse position,  
1. Lap bars should not contact the opera-  
tor’s legs or torso.  
Figure. 10  
Lap Bar Mounting Bolt and Nuts  
2. Set the seat to the preferred operating position.  
a. Adjustment lever is located under the front  
edge of the seat.  
b. The seat has five inches of front-to-rear  
adjustment available.  
27  
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to-ground height at the rear of the blade tip  
should be 1/8" to 1/4” higher than the front tip.  
This is referred to as blade pitch. The sam  
height difference should be true for the left  
blade, measured front and back.  
F. Deck leveling Procedure  
1. Park the mower on a flat paved surface, engage  
the parking brake, shut off the engine, remove  
the key from the ignition switch, disconnect the  
spark plug wires and using the transport lever,  
lower the mowing deck into the 4" height of cut  
position. (The 4" height of cut position is recom-  
mended in order for one to see and obtain a  
measurement. Any height of cut position is  
acceptable as long as a proper measurement  
can be taken.)  
2. Check the right and left front tire pressure.  
Adjust as necessary to 20-25 psi. Tire pressure  
can affect blade height by as much as a 1/4”.  
3. Check the right and left rear Drive tire pressure.  
Adjust as necessary to 8-10 psi.  
4. Measure blade-to-ground height at the front tip  
of the right blade. To obtain an accurate mea-  
sure, align blades in parallel with mower center-  
line, (i.e. front to back).  
5. Measure blade-to-ground height at the front tip  
of the left blade. Be sure to measure at the  
blade tip with the blades arranged in proper  
position.  
8. To adjust the blade pitch the deck pitch must be  
adjusted. Loosen the inner jam nuts at the rear  
of the horizontal threaded rods. Start at Point C  
to raise the rear of the deck, tighten the rear  
outer jam nut to raise the deck pitch. Adjust the  
rear jam nut at Point D to take the “slack out of  
the threaded rod.  
9. The final adjustment would be to take the “slack”  
out of the left rear linkage (Point D) by adjusting  
the jam nuts on the eyebolt. Loosen the jam  
nuts and tighten the upper nut to remove “slack”.  
10. In many cases it will be necessary to adjust  
deck height using both eyebolt adjustments and  
pitch adjustment to achieve the correct blade-to-  
ground heights. If you remember that the front  
right blade tip adjustment is fixed and you level  
to that height, adjusting the decks will be simpli-  
fied.  
6. To level the deck, adjust the eyebolt at the left  
front of the deck (Point B) so that the blade-to-  
ground height at the right front blade tip  
matches that of the left front blade tip. This is  
done by loosening the jam nuts on the eyebolt  
and tightening the upper nut to raise the deck  
and loosening the nut to lower the deck. The  
right front blade tip height is fixed so you must  
adjust the left front tip to match it.  
7. Measure the blade-to-ground height at the right  
rear blade tip. Again be sure to measure at the  
blade tip at the rear of the right blade when  
aligned along the mower centerline. The blade-  
Height of Cut LInk  
Eyebolt  
Point B  
Eyebolt  
Point D  
Point A  
Jam Nuts  
Figure. 11  
Point C  
28  
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WIRING DIAGRAM  
GD: 02000167  
29  
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SLOPE GAUGE  
30  
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31  
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MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR:  
TWO-YEAR RESIDENTIAL  
ONE-YEAR COMMERCIAL  
Proper maintenance of your Cub Cadet equipment is the owner’s responsibility. Follow the instructions in  
your operator’s manual for correct lubricants and maintenance schedule. Your Cub Cadet dealer carries a  
complete line of quality lubricants and filters for your equipment’s engine, transmission, chassis and  
attachments.  
Riding mowers, lawn tractors, garden tractors, utility vehicles,  
Cub Cadet attachments and home maintenance products  
This limited warranty for residential users, covers any defect in materials or workmanship in your Cub  
Cadet equipment for two years from the date of purchase for the first user purchaser. We will replace or  
repair any part or parts without charge through your authorized Cub Cadet dealer.  
Batteries have a one-year prorated limited warranty with 100% replacement during the first three months.  
V-belts for either the traction drive or any attachments are covered for one year only.  
Cub Cadet equipment used commercially is warranted for one year only.  
(Commercial use is defined as either having hired operators or used for income producing purposes.)  
Items not covered  
The warranty does not cover routine maintenance items such as lubricants, filters (oil, fuel, air and hydrau-  
lic), cleaning, tune-ups, brake and/or clutch inspection, adjustments made as part of normal maintenance,  
blade sharpening, set-up, abuse, accidents and normal wear. It does not cover incidental costs such as  
transporting your equipment to and from the dealer, telephone charges or renting a product temporarily to  
replace a warranted product.  
There is no other express warranty.  
How to obtain service  
Contact your authorized Cub Cadet servicing dealer who sold you your Cub Cadet equipment. If this  
dealer is not available, see the Consumer Yellow Pages under “lawn mowers” for the name of a dealer  
near you.  
If you need further assistance in finding an authorized Cub Cadet servicing dealer, contact:  
Cub Cadet LLC  
Post Office Box 361131  
Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0119  
Phone: 877-282-8684  
How does state law apply?  
This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from  
state to state.  
Form No. 02001553 Rev. 06-1 01/24/2006  
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