Operating


Cutting height can be adjusted from approximately 38 - 100 mm (1-1/2 - 4 in). CNTRLHYDRO 1. Push down on lift lever (A) slightly and hold locking lever (B) down with thumb. 2. Move lift lever to desired cutting height. 3. Release locking lever to keep lift lever in position. 4. Adjust gage wheels.

Adjusting Mower Deck Wheels

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Rotating blades are dangerous. Before adjusting or servicing mower:

· Disconnect spark plug wire(s) to prevent engine from starting accidently.

· Always wear gloves when handling mower blades or working near blades.


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! The mower deck can be damaged if mower wheels are adjusted wrong: · Wheels must not ride on ground supporting mower weight. · Check wheel adjustment each time cutting height is changed.

1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in the Safety Section.)

2. Inflate tires to the correct pressure.

3. Raise lift lever to transport position and adjust cutting height.

4. Move lift lever to mowing position.

NOTE: Bottom of wheels should be approximately 6-13 mm (1/4-1/2 in.) from the ground.

M88571

5. Check mower wheel position. Remove bolt (A), bushing (B), washer (C), and nut (D) and move mower wheels to proper hole.

6. Install bolt and tighten with nut to lock wheels in position.

Adjusting Mower Level (Side-to-Side)

NOTE: Mower wheels should not contact the ground when leveling the deck.

1. Park machine safely on a level surface. (See Parking Safely in the Safety Section).

2. Inflate tires to the correct pressure.

3. Adjust cutting height to middle position.

4. Put lift lever in mowing position.

NOTE: The difference between blade measurements must not be more than 3 mm (1/8 in).

MIF

Picture Note: A convenient leveling gauge (A) is available from your Authorized Service Center.

5. Position mower blades as follows and measure from each outside blade tip (B) to the level surface.

BLADE4

· Turn left blade (C) as shown. Hold drive belt and turn right blade (D) as shown. Take measurement for both blades.

JBOLTLH

6. Loosen top clamping nut (E) facing inside of mower, on left hand side J-bolt (F), approximately one turn.

7. Loosen upper adjusting nut (G).

8. Adjust lift links by turning lower adjusting nut (H) clockwise to raise left side of mower, counterclockwise to lower left side of mower.

9. Tighten upper adjusting nut.

10. Tighten clamping nut.

11. Measure blade tips again and adjust if necessary.

Adjusting Mower Level (Front-to-Rear)


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Make sure each front draft rod is equally tensioned. The installed rods should exhibit identical amounts of movement between left and right rods. If one rod moves more freely than the other, the adjustment nut should be tightened until the movement of the assembly matches that of the other side.

1. Park machine safely on a level surface. (See Parking Safely in the Safety Section).

2. Inflate tires to the correct pressure.

3. Adjust cutting height to middle position.

4. Put lift lever in mowing position.

BLADE5

5. Turn blades so front blade tips (A) point straight forward.

6. Measure from each blade tip to the surface.

· The front blade tip must be 6-9 mm (1/4-3/8 in.) lower than rear blade tip.

DECK2

7. Turn nuts (B) on front draft rods (C) equally until adjustment is correct. Turn nut clockwise to raise front of mower deck or counterclockwise to lower front of mower deck.

8. Measure blade tips again and adjust if necessary.

Testing Safety Systems

MIF

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Engine exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and can cause serious illness or death.

Move the vehicle to an outside area before running the engine.

Do not run an engine in an enclosed area without adequate ventilation.

· Connect a pipe extension to the engine exhaust pipe to direct the exhaust fumes out of the area.

· Allow fresh outside air into the work area to clear the exhaust fumes out.

Use the following checkout procedure to check for normal operation of machine.

If there is a malfunction during one of these procedures, Do not operate machine. See your John Deere dealer for service.

Perform these tests in a clear open area. Keep bystanders away.

Testing Mower Engagement Lever Switch

1. Sit on the seat.

2. Lock the park brake.

3. Push mower engagement lever (A) forward to engage.

4. Try to start engine.

Result: Engine must not start. If engine starts, there is a problem with your safety interlock circuit.

Testing Seat Switch

First Test:

1. Sit on seat.

2. Lock the park brake.

CNTRLGEAR

3. Pull mower engagement lever (A) back to disengage.

4. Start engine and move throttle lever (B) to half-speed position.

5. Push mower engagement lever (A) forward to engage.

6. Move throttle lever to fast speed position.

7. Raise up off of seat, but do not get off tractor.

Result: Engine will begin to stop. If engine does not begin to stop, there is a problem with your safety interlock circuit.

Second Test:

1. Sit on seat.

2. Lock the park brake.

CNTRLGEAR

3. Pull mower engagement lever (A) back to disengage.

4. Start engine and move throttle lever (B) to fast speed position.

5. Raise up off of seat, but do not get off tractor.

Result: Engine should continue to run. If engine stops, there is a problem with your safety interlock circuit.

Testing Park Brake Switch

1. Sit on seat.

2. Unlock the park brake.

3. Pull mower engagement lever (A) back to disengage.

4. Try to start engine.

Result: Engine must not start. If engine starts, there is a problem with your safety interlock circuit.

Testing Park Brake

1. Shut the engine off and lock the park brake (A).

2. Put transmission in N (neutral).

3. Try to push machine manually. Use free-wheeling lever on units with an automatic transmission.

Result: Park brake must prevent machine from moving. If machine moves, parking brake needs to be adjusted.

Testing Reverse Implement Option (RIO)

1. Start engine.

2. Engage mower.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Rotating blades are dangerous. Children or bystanders may be injured by runover and rotating blades.

Before backing up, carefully check the area around the machine.

3. Look behind the vehicle to be sure there are no bystanders.

4. Begin reverse travel by depressing reverse foot pedal for Automatic transmission or moving gear shift lever to R (reverse) position for Gear transmission.

Result: Mower and engine should stop operation. If mower or engine continues to operate as tractor begins travel in reverse, do not continue to operate mower.

Using Park Brake

Locking park brake:

CNTRLGEAR

1. Push and hold brake pedal (A) down.

2. Move park brake lever (B) forward, then to the left to lock position.

3. Release brake pedal. Pedal should stay down and park brake lever should stay locked.

Unlocking park brake:

1. Push and hold brake pedal down.

2. Move park brake lever to the right, then to the rear.

3. Release brake pedal.

Starting Engine

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Engine exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and can cause serious illness or death.

Move the vehicle to an outside area before running the engine.

DO NOT run an engine in an enclosed area without adequate ventilation.

· Connect a pipe extension to the engine exhaust pipe to direct the exhaust fumes out of the area.

· Allow fresh outside air into the work area to clear the exhaust fumes out.

NOTE: Engine will not start unless mower is disengaged and transmission is in neutral.

1. Disengage mower blades.

2. Lock the park brake.

3. Put transmission in neutral.

4. Check starting conditions:

CNTRLHYDRO

Picture Note: Model 2046

· If engine is cold:

On Model 2046, move throttle lever (A) to the half-speed position and pull out choke knob (B). Gradually push in the choke knob after the engine starts and warms up.

On all other Models, move throttle lever (A) to the choke position.

· If engine is warm:

On Model 2046, pull out choke knob (B). Push choke knob in as soon as the engine starts.

On all other Models, move throttle lever (A) to the half-speed position.


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Starter may be damaged if starter is operated for more than 20 seconds at a time: · Wait two minutes before trying again if engine does not start.

94336a

5. Turn key to start position (C) for no longer than five seconds.

6. Release key to run position (D) when engine starts.

· If engine does not start, wait 10 seconds.

· Turn key to start position again for no longer than 5 seconds.

· Repeat procedure if necessary.


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Unnecessary engine idling may cause engine damage. Excessive idling can cause engine overheating, carbon build-up, and poor performance.

7. Let engine run at half-speed position for a couple of minutes to warm-up before operating machine.

Idling Engine


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Unnecessary engine idling may cause engine damage. Excessive idling can cause engine overheating, carbon build-up, and poor performance.

M96455

Engine is air cooled and needs a large volume of air to keep cool. Keep air intake screen (A) on top of engine clean.

Stopping Engine

1. Move throttle lever (A) to slow position. Let engine run at low throttle a few seconds.

M94336a

2. Turn key to stop position (B).

3. Lock the park brake.

4. Remove key.

Using Travel Controls on Gear Transmission

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Children or bystanders may be injured by runover and rotating blades. Before traveling forward or rearward:

· Carefully check the area around the machine.

· Disengage the mower before backing up.


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Stop machine movement before shifting between reverse and forward to prevent transmission damage.

To travel forward:

CNTRLGEAR

1. Push clutch/brake pedal (A) all the way down to stop machine.

2. Move shift lever (B) to desired travel speed.

3. Release clutch/brake pedal slowly.

To travel in reverse:

CNTRLGEAR

1. Push clutch/brake pedal (A) all the way down.

NOTE: The engine and mower will stop as the gear shift lever is moved to R (reverse) if the mower engagement lever is not in the off position.

2. Put mower engagement lever (C) in the off position.

3. Look behind the vehicle to be sure there are no bystanders nearby.

4. Move shift lever (B) to R (reverse) position.

5. Release clutch/brake pedal slowly.

To stop travel:

Push down clutch/brake pedal.

Using Travel Controls on Automatic Transmission

To travel forward:

CNTRLHYDRO

· Units with shift lever: Move transmission shift lever (A) to the right and forward to desired speed.

· Units with foot control: Push down the forward travel pedal (B).

To travel in reverse:


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! To prevent transmission damage, stop tractor movement before changing direction of travel. When cruise control is not in use, hand lever should be returned manually, all the way rearward to OFF position. Otherwise, hand lever will restrict travel of reverse pedal linkage and reverse speed of tractor will be too slow.

NOTE: The engine and mower will stop as the shift lever is moved to R (reverse) or the reverse pedal is pushed if the mower engagement lever is not in the off position.

1. Put mower engagement lever in the off position.

2. Look behind the vehicle to be sure there are no bystanders nearby.

CNTRLHYDRO

3. Units with shift lever: Move transmission shift lever (A) reward into the R (reverse) position.

Units with foot control: Push down the reverse travel pedal (C).

To stop travel:

CNTRLHYDRO

· Units with shift lever: Push down on brake/clutch pedal (D). Transmission shift lever will automatically return to NEUTRAL position and brakes will be applied.

· Units with foot control: If cruise control is engaged, move lever to off position. Release travel pedals and unit will automatically return to neutral and stop. Push down on brake/clutch pedal (D). Brakes will be applied to assist in stopping.

Using Cruise Control

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! DO NOT use cruise control when going down hills. Tractor speed will increase. Operate tractor in a large, open area to learn how the cruise control works


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! When cruise control is not in use, hand lever should be returned manually, all the way rearward to OFF position. Otherwise, hand lever will restrict travel of reverse pedal linkage and reverse speed of tractor will be too slow.

Use cruise control when you want to maintain travel speed without having to hold the forward travel pedal down. Cruise control operates only for forward travel.

Engage cruise control:

CNTRLHYDRO

1. Put the cruise control lever (A) in the off position.

2. Move cruise control lever forward.

· Move cruise control lever toward the position to begin forward travel.

· Increase tractor speed by moving the cruise control lever toward the position.

· Select desired speed and release lever.

Disengage cruise control:

1. Depress brake pedal or put cruise control lever in the off position

Using The Reverse Implement Option (RIO)

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Rotating blades are dangerous. Children or bystanders may be injured by runover and rotating blades.

Before backing up, carefully check the area around the machine.

NOTE: Backing up while the mower is engaged is strongly discouraged. The Reverse Implement Option should be used ONLY when operating another attachment or when the operator deems it necessary to reposition the machine with the mower engaged.

1. Stop forward travel.

2. Look behind the vehicle to be sure there are no bystanders.

3. Push and hold in the reverse implement switch (A) while depressing reverse foot pedal slightly for Automatic Transmission OR moving the gear shift lever to the R (reverse) position for Gear Transmission.

NOTE: If the engine and mower stop while repositioning the machine, return the mower engagement lever to the off position. Start engine and engage mower. Begin again with Step 2.

4. Release the reverse implement switch and reposition the machine as the machine begins to move rearward.

5. Resume forward travel. The mower should continue operating.

6. Repeat procedure to position the machine again.

Using Mower Lift Lever

CNTRLHYDRO

1. Push down on lift lever (A) slightly and hold locking lever (B) down with thumb.

2. Move lift lever (A) down to lower mower or up to raise mower.

3. Release locking lever lock (B) to keep lift lever (A) in position.

Using Mower

1. Start engine and allow it to idle for two to three minutes.

2. Lower mower to cutting height.

CNTRLHYDRO

3. Push throttle lever (A) up to the full throttle position.

4. Push mower engagement lever (B) forward to start mower.

5. Pull lever (B) back to stop mower blades.

Mower Blade Selection

· Standard Blades: Designed for bagging, side discharging, and all mowing conditions.

· Bagging Blades: Designed for cutting and bagging thick, tall grass and/or leaves.


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Blades that are not specifically used for mulching, will destroy the mulch plug and may damage the tractor and mower deck. Mulching blades must be used with the mulch plug insert.

· Mulching Blades: Must be used only with the Mulch Plug. See your John Deere dealer.

Using Mower Deck Side Discharge (42-Inch Mower Deck)

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Before you adjust mower: STOP engine, remove key, and wait for blades to STOP.

Be careful, sharp edges on mower blades. Always wear gloves when handling mower blades.

NOTE: For maximum side discharge operation, it may be necessary to change the mower blades, see Servicing Mower Blades in the SERVICE MOWER section.

M96105

To set-up and operate the 42" deck for side discharge operation the factory installed mulch cover (A) must be removed.

1. Remove mulch cover:

· Lift plastic discharge chute.

· Grasp corner of steel chute, pull outward to unlock and pivot up.

· Unhook both rubber hooks (B) and remove mulch cover.

2. Store mulch cover in a well protected area and have it readily available for when you want to use deck as a mulching deck.

Using Mower Deck Mulch Ready (42-Inch Mower Deck)

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Before you adjust mower: STOP engine, remove key, and wait for blades to STOP.

Be careful, sharp edges on mower blades. Always wear gloves when handling mower blades.

NOTE: For maximum mulching operation, it may be necessary to change the mower blades, see Servicing Mower Blades in the SERVICE MOWER section.

M96105

To set-up and operate the 42" deck for mulching operation the factory installed mulch cover (A) must be installed.

1. Install mulch cover:

· Lift plastic discharge chute.

· Grasp corner of steel chute, pull outward to unlock and pivot up.

· Install mulch cover into deck discharge opening and hook both rubber hooks (B).

Using Mower Deck with Optional Equipment (42-Inch Mower Deck)

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Before you adjust mower: STOP engine, remove key, and wait for blades to STOP.

Be careful, sharp edges on mower blades. Always wear gloves when handling mower blades.

NOTE: For maximum mower deck operation, it may be necessary to change the mower blades, see Servicing Mower Blades in the SERVICE MOWER section.

M96105

To set-up and operate the 42" deck for either the 2-Bag Bagger or Mulch Plug Kit the factory installed mulch cover (A) must be removed.

1. Remove mulch cover:

· Lift plastic discharge chute.

· Grasp corner of steel chute, pull outward to unlock and pivot up.

· Unhook both rubber hooks (B) and remove mulch cover.

2. Store mulch cover in a well protected area and have it readily available for when you want to use deck as a standard mulching deck.

Pushing Machine


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Transmission damage may occur if the machine is moved or towed incorrectly: · Move unit by hand only. · DO NOT use another vehicle to move unit. · DO NOT tow unit.

CNTRLHYDRO

1. Unlock the park brake (A).

2. Put transmission in N (neutral).

CNTRLHYDRO

3. On Automatic Models: Pull out on free-wheeling lever (B).

4. Push machine to desired location.


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! The transmission might be damaged if the free-wheeling lever is not pushed back in completely before attempting to start the engine. DO NOT start or operate the machine with the free-wheeling lever pulled out.

5. On Automatic Models: Push free-wheeling lever back in.

Unplugging Mower or Optional Bagger

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Rotating blades are dangerous:

· Park the machine safely and lock the park brake before getting off the seat.

· Turn the mower off.

· Stop the engine.

Before getting off the seat:

1. Stop machine.

2. Disengage mower blades.

3. Move throttle lever to slow position.

4. Lower mower to the ground.

5. Lock the park brake.

6. Stop the engine.

7. Remove the key.

8. Wait for all moving parts to stop.

Transporting Machine on Trailer

Be sure trailer has all the necessary lights and signs required by law.


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Transmission damage may occur if the machine is moved or towed incorrectly: · Move unit by hand only. · Do not use another vehicle to move unit. · Do not tow unit.

1. Drive forward onto heavy-duty trailer.

2. Lower mower to trailer deck.

3. Lock park brake.

4. Fasten lawn tractor to trailer with heavy-duty straps, chains, or cables. Both front and rear straps must be directed down and outward from tractor.

5. Strap down hood.

Avoid Using Ground Engaging Equipment


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! This tractor is not intended for use with ground engaging equipment. Use of such equipment could result in damage to transmission components.

This tractor is not intended for use with ground engaging equipment such as a rear tiller, disk, plow or rear mounted scrapper blade.

Using Wheel Weights

· Install front wheel weights for added stability and steering control when you use equipment such as the rear-mounted grass bagger.

· Install rear wheel weights when using the front blade or snowthrower.

· Remove wheel weights when not required.

Using Tire Chains

Tire chains are recommended for use with snowthrower and, under certain conditions, the front blade.

See your Authorized Service Center for Tire Chains.

Mowing Tips

The following recommendations will produce the best lawn cut quality and appearance:

· Keep mower blades sharp. Dull blades will tear grass; tips of grass will then turn brown.

· Cutting grass too short may kill grass and let weeds grow easily.

· Adjust cutting height to remove only 1/3 of the grass at a time.

· Mow grass often. Short grass clippings will decay quickly.

· Mow with engine at full throttle.

· Adjust travel speed to match mowing conditions:

· Travel at SLOW speed when you mow thick, tall grass, make sharp turns or trim around objects.

· Travel at MODERATE speed when you mow thin grass.

· Use a different mowing pattern each time you mow. Overlap mowing paths 50 to 100 mm (2 to 4 in).

· Drive over ridges and through shallow ditches straight-on, not at an angle.

· A thick layer of mulched leave can prevent sunlight from getting to grass and smother it. Taller grass heights allow mulched leaves to dispense easier in lawn. Mulch leaves several times if needed.

· Use a thatcher in late spring or summer to pull up dead grass and aerate ground.

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