Operating

· Inspect machine before you operate. Be sure hardware is tight. Repair or replace damaged, badly worn, or missing parts. Make any necessary adjustments before you operate.

· Clear work area of objects that might be thrown. Keep people and pets out of the work area. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.

· If you hit an object, stop the machine and inspect it. Make repairs before you operate. Keep machine and attachments properly maintained and in good working order. Keep all shields and guards in place.

· DO NOT leave machine unattended when it is running.

· Only operate during daylight or with good artificial light.

· Be careful of traffic when operating near or crossing roadways.

· Drive slowly over rough ground.

· Do not wear radio or music headphones while operating the machine. Safe operation requires your full attention.

Mount And Dismount Safely

MIF

· Do not step on pedals when mounting or dismounting.

· Keep step area and platform clean.

· Lock parking brake, stop engine, and remove key before dismounting.

Park Safely

MIF

· Stop machine on a level surface, not on a slope.

· Disengage cutting units.

· Lower cutting units to the ground.

· Engage park brake.

· STOP engine.

· Remove key.

· Before you leave the operator's seat, wait for engine and all moving parts to STOP.

Avoid Tipping

MIF

· DO NOT drive machine on a slope with an incline of greater than 16° where machine could slip or tip.

· Stay alert for holes and other hidden hazards in the terrain.

· Keep away from dropoffs.

· Slow down before you make a sharp turn or operate on a slope.

· Be careful when you change direction on a slope.

· DO NOT try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot on the ground.

Rotating Blades Are Dangerous - Prevent Accidents

MIF

PROTECT OTHERS:

· Turn machine off if another person enters the mowing area.

· Use extra care when you come to blind corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may block your vision.

· DO NOT let untrained person operate the machine.

· DO NOT carry or let others ride on machine.

HELP PREVENT SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENTS:

· Be alert at all times, drive forward carefully. People can move quickly into the mowing area before you know it.

· DO NOT operate machine if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

· Back carefully. Shut off cutting units and look behind the machine carefully before you back up.

· DO NOT mow in reverse.

· Shut off cutting units when you are not mowing.

· Stop engine and wait for reels to stop turning before making any adjustments to the cutting units.

· Keep hands and feet away from cutting units while machine is running.

Operator Training Required

· Study operation section of this manual before operating the machine.

· Operate machine in an open, unobstructed area under the direction of an experienced operator.

· Learn the use of all controls.

· Operator experience is required to learn the moving, stopping, turning and other operating characteristics of the machine.

Keep Riders Off

M56209

· Only allow the operator on the machine. Keep riders off.

· Riders on the machine may be struck by foreign objects or thrown off the machine causing serious injury.

· Riders obstruct the operator's view resulting in the machine being operated in an unsafe manner.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

MIF

· Wear close fitting clothing and safety equipment appropriate for the job.

· Loud noise can cause impairment or loss of hearing, wear a suitable protective device such as earplugs.

· Do not wear radio or music headphones while operating the machine. Safe operation requires your full attention.

Check Wheel Bolts

· A serious accident could occur causing serious injury if wheel bolts are not tight.

· Check wheel bolt tightness often during the first 100 hours of operation.

Transport Safely

MIF

· Use safety lights and devices. Slow moving machines when driven on public roads are hard to see, especially at night. Avoid personal injury or death resulting from a collision with a vehicle.

Avoid High Pressure Fluids

MIF

· Escaping fluid under pressure can penetrate the skin causing serious injury. Avoid the hazard by relieving pressure before disconnecting hydraulic or other lines. Tighten all connections before applying pressure.

· Search for leaks with a piece of cardboard. Protect hands and body from high pressure fluids.

· If an accident occurs, see a doctor immediately. Any fluid injected into the skin must be surgically removed within a few hours or gangrene may result. Doctors unfamiliar with this type of injury should reference a knowledgeable medical source. Such information is available from Deere & Company Medical Department in Moline, Illinois, U.S.A. Information may be obtained in the United States and Canada only by calling 1-800-822-8262.

Adjusting Standard Seat

M78109

1. Push lever (A) to the left.

2. Slide seat forward or backward to desired position.

3. Release lever.

Adjusting Deluxe Seat

Select Seat Position

1. Move lever (A) out.

M97057

2. Slide seat forward or backward to desired position.

3. Release lever to lock seat in position. Make sure all controls can be easily accessed.

Adjust Ride Comfort

Adjust seat spring tension knob (B) to the weight of the operator, so that the seat "floats" in the center of it's travel as the machine traverses rough terrain.

1. Adjust seat suspension.

· Turn seat spring tension knob (B) to the right (clockwise) for a firmer ride.

· Turn seat spring tension knob (B) to the left (counterclockwise) for a softer ride.

Adjust Back Comfort

The back has three positions, from a straight upright position to a slightly inclined position.

M99460

1. Place one hand on the back of the seat (D) and other hand on lever (C).

2. Gently pull forward or backward on the seat back (D) and lift lever (C) to lock in desired position and release.

Fuel Shut-Off Valve


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Never attempt to start engine with the fuel shut-off valve in the off position.

M78088

The fuel tank is equipped with a fuel shutoff valve (A). This valve should be closed if the machine is placed in extended storage. OFF is shown with the handle across the direction of the fuel line and ON is in the direction of the fuel line.

Park Brake

M79100

Engage the park brake (A) by pulling lever towards operator.

M79100

Disengage the park brake (A) by pushing lever away from operator.

Hydrostatic Ground Drive

M99479

Depress forward (left) pedal (A) to move machine forward.

Depress reverse (right) pedal (B) to move the machine backward.

Mow/Lift Lever

M97051

Pull lever (A) downward to raise cutting units and stop reel rotation. Hold in this position until the rear cutting unit is fully raised.

Push lever (A) forward to lower cutting units. If PTO switch is engaged, reels will begin to rotate when the cutting units are lowered.

PTO Switch

M56178

Push knob (A) down, to the OFF position to start engine. The maximum forward travel speed will increase when this is in the OFF position.

Pull knob up, to the ON position to mow. Reels will begin to rotate when lowered. Maximum forward speed will be limited to 5.0 m.p.h.

Throttle Lever

M56180

Push lever (A) forward against stop (B) to operate engine at FAST (r) idle.

NOTE: Always operate at full throttle for best mowing performance.

Pull lever downward against stop (C) to operate at SLOW (t) idle. Slow engine to idle before shutting off ignition.

Ignition Interlock System

For the starter to engage and the engine to run, the following conditions must be met simultaneously:

M79100

· Park brake (A) engaged. PTO switch (B) OFF. Hydrostatic ground drive pedals (C) in neutral.

M56177

M99479

· If the operator is mowing (PTO switch on and/or ground drive engaged) and the operator leaves the seat the engine will stop.

· If the operator has stopped mowing (PTO OFF) and leaves the seat with ground drive in neutral, but without the park brake engaged, the engine will stop.

· If the operator attempts to drive forward or backward while the park brake is engaged, the engine will stop.

· Provisions have been made to allow a single operator to backlap the reels. (See Backlapping Cutting Units in Service-Cutting Unit Section.)

Starting The Engine

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Start engine ONLY outdoors or in a well ventilated place. Exhaust fumes are dangerous. Make sure fuel shutoff valve is turned on

M78109

1. Move seat lever (A) to the left. Slide seat forward or backward to the most comfortable position.

M79100

2. Engage the park brake by pulling lever (B) toward operator.

NOTE: Mower has an ignition interlock switch. Engine will not start unless:

· Park brake is engaged.

· PTO is OFF.

· Hydrostatic ground drive pedal is in neutral.

M56178

3. Push PTO switch (C) down to the OFF position.

4. Move throttle lever (D) to half speed position.

M56180

When key is in start position, all four indicator lights in the indicator module should come on.

M56177

· Engine Oil Pressure

· Hydraulic Oil Temperature

· Battery Discharge Indicator

· Engine Coolant Temperature

If indicator lights do not come on in start position, see Troubleshooting section.


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! DO NOT operate starter for more than 20 seconds at a time or damage may occur. If engine does not start, wait 2 minutes before trying again. If engine will not start, see Troubleshooting section.

M78091

1. Turn key (E) to the START position.

2. When engine starts, release key to the RUN position.

3. Release the parking brake.

Checking Indicator Lights

After engine starts:

M56177

· Hydraulic oil temperature, engine oil pressure, and engine coolant temperature lights (A) should go out within 5 seconds.

· Battery discharge indicator (B) should go out within 10 seconds. If not, move throttle lever to 3/4 position.

If indicator lights stay on longer than given time, stop engine, find and correct problem. See Troubleshooting section.

Warming And Idling Engine

WARMING ENGINE:

· Run engine at half speed for 2 to 3 minutes.

IDLING ENGINE:

· The engine needs a large volume of air to keep cool. Keep grille and screens clean.

· Avoid unnecessary engine idling.

Stopping Engine

M56180

1. Move throttle lever down to SLOW (t) position (A). Let engine idle before stopping.

2. Engage the park brake.

3. Turn key to the OFF position.

4. Remove the key.

Glow Plug

Glow plugs preheat the engine for better starting performance.

1. Turn key switch to the run position.

M78114

2. Depress and hold down glow plug switch (A) to an ON position.

3. After approximately 5-30 seconds release the glow plug switch and start the engine.

NOTE: Glow plug should be utilized when outside temperature reaches 0°C (32°F). The length of time the glow plug switch is depressed may be dependent on varying cold weather extremes.

Using Hydrostatic Transmission


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Run engine at full throttle for best performance.

1. Release the parking brake.

M56180

2. Move throttle lever all the way forward to FAST (r) position (A).

M99479

3. Slowly push hydrostatic control pedal (B) down to travel forward.

· The farther the pedal is pushed down, the faster the mower will travel.

· Push reverse pedal (C) down for Reverse.

Forward travel speed is 0-12.8 km/h (0-8 m.p.h.).

To travel in reverse:

· Allow forward pedal to slowly return to neutral.

· Check area behind mower.

· Slowly push reverse pedal (C) down to travel in reverse.

· The farther the pedal is pushed down the faster the mower will travel.

Reverse travel speed is 0-8.1 km/h (0-5 m.p.h.).

Emergency Stopping

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Avoid quick stops.

M79100

Remove foot from Hydrostatic Control Pedal.

Pull back on Park brake lever (A).

Using Free-Wheeling Lever


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! NEVER tow mower faster than walking speed. The Free Wheeling mechanism is designed to allow manual movement when machine is not in operation. Hydraulic drive component damage will occur if the mower is towed, at high speed.

· Lift hinged cover plate on right side of engine.

M78108, M99479

· Turn valve (A) horizontal to ENGAGE the Free Wheeling valve.

· Turn Valve (A) vertical (as shown) to DISENGAGE the Free Wheeling valve.

DAILY OPERATING CHECKLIST

4 Test safety systems.

4 Check tire pressure.

4 Check fuel level.

4 Check all oil levels.

4 Check coolant level.

4 Remove grass and debris from machine.

TESTING SAFETY SYSTEMS

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Engine exhaust fumes can cause sickness or death.

· If it is necessary to run an engine in an enclosed area, remove the exhaust fumes for the area with an exhaust pipe extension.

· If you do not have an exhaust pipe extension, open the doors and get outside air into the area.

Checking Ignition Interlock Switches

Use the following procedure to check correct operation of the ignition interlock system. DO NOT operate the machine with a faulty system.

TEST 1

1. Sit on the seat.

2. Engage the parking brake.

3. Move the hydrostatic drive pedals to the NEUTRAL position.

4. Move the PTO switch to the ON position.

5. Turn key to the START position. Engine must not crank.

6. Turn key to the OFF position.

7. Move the PTO switch to the OFF position.

8. Turn key to the START position. Engine should crank.

TEST 2

1. Sit on the seat.

2. Engage the parking brake.

3. Move the PTO switch to the OFF position.

4. Move the hydrostatic drive pedal out of the NEUTRAL position.

5. Turn key to the START position. Engine must not crank.

TEST 3

1. Sit on the seat.

2. Move the PTO switch to the OFF position.

3. Release the parking brake.

4. Move the hydrostatic drive pedal to the NEUTRAL position.

5. Turn key to the START position. Engine must not crank.

6. Turn key to the OFF position.

7. Engage the parking brake.

8. Turn key to the START position. Engine should crank.

Using The Weight Transfer Control

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! DO NOT lift the reels on a slope or at fast speed. This could cause the machine to become unstable.

M56183a, M97044

Use the weight transfer control (A) to help improve traction.

To transfer some of the mower weight to the drive wheels:

· Turn the knob clockwise to activate weight transfer and add weight to the drive wheels.

NOTE: If knob is turned enough clockwise, the reels will lift off the ground.

· Turn the knob counterclockwise to reduce weight to the drive wheels.

· Turn the knob fully counterclockwise to deactivate weight transfer.

Avoid Damage To Plastic And Painted Surfaces

· Insect repellent spray may damage plastic and painted surfaces. Do not spray insect repellent near machine.

· Be careful not to spill fuel on machine. Fuel may damage surface. Wipe up spilled fuel immediately.