Operating

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: This unit is equipped with a electronic safety interlock. Engine will not start unless the PTO switch is in the disengaged position, the control levers are in the swing-out neutral position and the park brake lever is in thposition.

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 PTO Safety Switch

1. Sit on the operator's seat with the control levers in the swing-out neutral position.

2. Lock park brake.

3. Pull PTO switch up to the engaged position.

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4. Turn key switch to the start position (A).

Result: Engine must not crank.

Testing Seat Safety Switch

1. Start the engine.

2. Unlock the park brake.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Before engaging mower, clear area of bystanders, especially children.

3. Pull PTO switch up to engaged position.

4. Raise slightly off the seat.

Result: Engine must stop.

Testing Neutral Safety Switch

1. Move both control levers inward to the centered neutral position.

2. Lock the park brake.

3. Push PTO switch down to disengaged position.

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4. Turn key switch to the start position (A).

Result: Engine must not crank.

Testing Park Brake Safety Switch

1. Sit on the operator's seat with the control levers in the swing-out neutral position.

2. Push PTO switch down to disengaged position.

3. Unlock the park brake.

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4. Turn key switch to the start position (A).

Result: Engine must not crank.

Testing Park Brake

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1. Stop front mower on a maximum 17° slope. Stop the engine and lock the park brake.

Result: Park brake must hold the machine stationary. (ANSI standards permit movement of no more that 61cm (24 in.) in one hour.) If machine moves more than that, brakes need to be adjusted. See your John Deere Dealer.

Starting the Engine

c CAUTION: Avoid injury!

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

· If an exhaust pipe extension is not available, open the doors and get outside air into the area.

1. Raise cowling.

2. Open the fuel shut-off valve.

3. Lower cowling.

4. Move both control levers to the swing-out neutral position.

5. Sit on the operator's seat.

6. Lock the park brake.

NOTE: Check position of machine PTO switch. Switch knob must be pushed down to the off position to start engine.

7. Move throttle lever to set engine speed:

· Cold engine: set throttle lever at 1/2 to 3/4 fast position.

· Warm / Hot engine: set throttle lever in the fast position.

8. Position choke knob:

· Cold engine: Pull knob up to the choke position.

· Warm/Hot engine: If necessary, pull up knob to choke position.

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9. Turn key switch to the run position (A).

NOTE: The battery indicator light (B) may illuminate if battery voltage is low.

M93937

10. Check that the engine oil pressure indicator light (C) illuminates.

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11. Turn key switch to the start position (D). Release key when the engine starts.

12. With engine started:

· Push choke knob to the off position.

· Move throttle lever to the desired engine speed.

Stopping the Engine


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! To help prevent engine backfiring, throttle lever should be set at the 1/2 to fast position prior to stopping the engine. Do not stop engine when mower is on a slope. Oil may run through valve train into carburetor and muffler.

1. Move control levers to the swing-out neutral position.

2. Move throttle lever to a 1/2 - fast position.

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3. Turn key switch to STOP position (A).

4. Lock the park brake.

5. Remove key.

Using the Throttle Lever

MX7924

Push lever (A) all the way forward to fast position. Use this position when you mow.

Pull lever (A) to rear to slow position. Do not run engine at slow idle any longer than necessary.

Move lever (A) to the 1/2 to full fast position when stopping the engine.

Using the Hour Meter

NOTE: The machine is equipped with an electric start. The hour meter digital display will not illuminate or operate with the key switch in the STOP position. The hour meter digital display will illuminate and continue to operate when the key switch is left in the run position.

MX7929a

The hour meter (A) shows number of hours the machine has run.

The service interval chart gives necessary service intervals.

Use the hour meter and service interval chart to determine when machine will need service.

Using the PTO Switch Knob

Engage PTO:

MX7924

1. Move throttle lever (A) to the 1/2 to 3/4 fast position.

2. Pull PTO knob (B) up.

3. Move throttle lever (A) forward to the fast position for mowing.

Disengage PTO:

· Push PTO knob (B) down.

Check Indicator Lights

Oil Pressure Indicator


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! If the indicator lights red when the engine is running, stop the engine immediately or the engine may be seriously damaged from lack of lubrication.

M93937

· The red indicator light (A) means the oil is low and/or the oil pressure is low.

· The indicator should illuminate when the key switch is turned to the run position.

· The light should go out when the engine starts.

Battery Indicator


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! If the indicator lights yellow when the engine is running, stop the engine. Find and correct the cause or the battery will lose power.

M93937

· The yellow indicator light (B) means the battery is not getting enough charge from the alternator.

· If the battery voltage is low enough, the light will illuminate.

· If the battery is fully charged, the light will not come on.

Using the Park Brake Lever

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! If the engine should stop while operating on an incline, the front mower will free wheel. If this should occur, lock the park brake, start the engine, release brake and resume operation.

Lock park brake or use as emergency stop:

MX7924

1. Raise park brake lever (A) to lock park brake.

Unlock park brake:

MX7925

· Lower park brake lever (A) to unlock park brake.

Using Free-Wheeling Levers


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Prevent transmission damage. Do not tow the machine, push machine by hand only.

When the machine needs to be moved without starting the engine, use the free-wheeling levers.

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

2. Raise cowling.

MX7926

3. Turn both free-wheeling levers (A) counterclockwise approximately two revolutions.

4. Lower cowling.

5. Lock park brake.

6. Push machine to desired location. Due to transmission gear reduction, machine will move slowly.

Using Fuel Shut-Off Valve

MX7921

1. Raise cowling.

2. Open the fuel shut-off valve:

MX3139

· Arrow on knob should face upward as shown in position (B) for fuel flow to be open.

3. Close the fuel shut-off valve:

MX3140

· Arrow on knob should be turned downward as shown in position (C) for fuel flow to be closed.

4. Lower cowling.

Using the Control Levers

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Learn the use of the control levers. Practice at half throttle until becoming proficient and comfortable with the operation of the front mower.

Do not move control levers from forward to reverse or reverse to forward position rapidly. Sudden direction changes could cause loss of control or damage the front mower.

The functions of the control levers are:

· Operates as a dual function neutral position.

· Controls forward speed and reverse motion.

· Controls direction.

Swing-Out Neutral Position

MX7905

Picture Note: Control levers shown in the swing-out neutral position.

· Control levers (A) must be in the swing-out neutral position and the park brake locked to start the engine.

· Forward and reverse movement of the control levers is prevented when control levers are in a swing-out neutral position.

· Operator can exit front mower with the engine running when the control levers are in the swing-out neutral position and the park brake is locked.

· Control levers must be in the swing-out neutral position to safely enter and exit the operator seat.

Centered Neutral Position

MX7907

Picture Note: Control levers shown in the centered neutral position.

· Front mower speed, motion, and direction can be controlled when the engine is running, control levers (A) are in the centered neutral position, and the park brake is unlocked.

Forward and Reverse Motion:

1. Move throttle lever to the fast position.

2. Unlock the park brake.

MX7906

3. Move both control levers (A) from swing-out neutral inward.

4. Push the control levers forward to move the front mower forward. Pull the control levers past center rearward at the same time to move the front mower in reverse.

· The further forward the control levers are moved, the faster the front mower will travel.

Speed Range

· Forward: 0-13.2 km/h (0-8.2 mph).

· Reverse: 0-6.5 km/h (0-4 mph).

To stop forward or reverse motion, pull or push both control levers back until machine comes to a complete stop.

Forward Travel:

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· Push both control levers forward at the same time.

Reverse Travel:

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· Pull both control levers past center rearward at the same time.

Gentle Left Turn:

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· Push right control lever further forward than the left control lever.

Gentle Right Turn:

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· Push left control lever further forward than the right control lever.

Sharp Left Turn

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· Push right control lever forward and pull left control lever rearward at the same time.

Sharp Right Turn

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· Push left control lever forward and pull right control lever rearward at the same time.

Transporting Machine

MX7908

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Do not operate the front mower with the mower deck raise-to-service lever (A) unlatched. Operation in reverse direction on an uneven surface may cause the mower deck to unexpectedly rotate up trapping the operator on the machine and expose bystanders to mower deck blades.


IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! Always back machine onto transporting trailer. If it is necessary to transport the machine on a trailer facing straight ahead, the cowling must be secured in front with straps or rope. This will prevent the cowling from unexpectedly lifting up and becoming damaged.

1. Use a heavy-duty trailer to transport your machine.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Use extra care when loading or unloading the machine into a trailer or truck.

2. Back front mower with attachment onto a trailer.

3. Stop engine and lock park brake.

4. Turn the fuel shut-off valve to the off position.

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

6. Trailer must have signs and lights required by law.