Safe Operation Practices • Set-Up • Operation • Maintenance • Service • Troubleshooting • Warranty
Op e r a t O r ’s Ma n u a l
Hydrostatic Lawn Tractor — SLTX1054
WARNING
READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL
BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS MACHINE.
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
CUB CADET LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019
Printed In USA
Form No. 769-05335
(November 3, 2009)
Important Safe Operation Practices
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WARNING! This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed,
could endanger the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow
all instructions in this manual before attempting to operate this machine. Failure to comply
with these instructions may result in personal injury.
When you see this symbol. HEED ITS WARNING!
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65
WARNING! Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components
contain or emit chemicals known to State of California to cause cancer and birth defects
or other reproductive harm.
WARNING! Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling
DANGER! This machine was built to be operated according to the safe operation practices in
this manual. As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the
operator can result in serious injury. This machine is capable of amputating hands and feet
and throwing objects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in
serious injury or death.
6.
Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to be
used. Remove all stones, sticks, wire, bones, toys, and other
foreign objects which could be picked up and thrown by
the blade(s). Thrown objects can cause serious personal
injury.
General Operation
1.
Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the
machine and in the manual(s) before attempting to
assemble and operate. Keep this manual in a safe place for
future and regular reference and for ordering replacement
parts.
7.
Plan your mowing pattern to avoid discharge of material
toward roads, sidewalks, bystanders and the like. Also,
avoid discharging material against a wall or obstruction
which may cause discharged material to ricochet back
toward the operator.
2.
Be familiar with all controls and their proper operation.
Know how to stop the machine and disengage them
quickly.
3.
Never allow children under 14 years of age to operate this
machine. Children 14 and over should read and understand
the instructions and safe operation practices in this manual
and on the machine and should be trained and supervised
by an adult.
8.
9.
Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles during
operation and while performing an adjustment or repair
to protect your eyes. Thrown objects which ricochet can
cause serious injury to the eyes.
Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-fitting
slacks and shirts. Loose fitting clothes and jewelry can be
caught in movable parts. Never operate this machine in
bare feet or sandals.
4.
5.
Never allow adults to operate this machine without proper
instruction.
To help avoid blade contact or a thrown object injury,
keep bystanders, helpers, children and pets at least 75 feet
from the machine while it is in operation. Stop machine if
anyone enters the area.
10. Be aware of the mower and attachment discharge direction
and do not point it at anyone. Do not operate the mower
without the discharge cover or entire grass catcher in its
proper place.
11. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or under the
cutting deck. Contact with the blade(s) can amputate
hands and feet.
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12. A missing or damaged discharge cover can cause blade
Slope Operation
contact or thrown object injuries.
Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control 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.
13. Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel drives, walks, or
roads and while not cutting grass.
14. Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing
roadways. This machine is not intended for use on any
public roadway.
For your safety, use the slope gauge included as part of this
manual to measure slopes before operating this machine on
a sloped or hilly area. If the slope is greater than 15 degrees as
shown on the slope gauge, do not operate this machine on that
area or serious injury could result.
15. Do not operate the machine while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs.
16. Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.
17. Never carry passengers.
Do:
1.
Mow up and down slopes, not across. Exercise extreme
caution when changing direction on slopes.
18. Disengage blade(s) before shifting into reverse. Back up
slowly. Always look down and behind before and while
backing to avoid a back-over accident.
2.
Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden
objects. Uneven terrain could overturn the machine. Tall
grass can hide obstacles.
19. Slow down before turning. Operate the machine smoothly.
Avoid erratic operation and excessive speed.
3.
Use slow speed. Choose a low enough speed setting so
that you will not have to stop or shift while on the slope.
Tires may lose traction on slopes even though the brakes
are functioning properly. Always keep machine in gear
when going down slopes to take advantage of engine
braking action.
20. Disengage blade(s), set parking brake, stop engine and wait
until the blade(s) come to a complete stop before removing
grass catcher, emptying grass, unclogging chute, removing
any grass or debris, or making any adjustments.
21. Never leave a running machine unattended. Always turn
off blade(s), place transmission in neutral, set parking
brake, stop engine and remove key before dismounting.
4.
5.
6.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for wheel
weights or counterweights to improve stability.
22. Use extra care when loading or unloading the machine into
a trailer or truck. This machine should not be driven up or
down ramp(s), because the machine could tip over, causing
serious personal injury. The machine must be pushed
manually on ramp(s) to load or unload properly.
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
engagement or braking could cause the front of the
machine to lift and rapidly flip over backwards which could
cause serious injury.
23. Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a burn. Do
not touch.
24. Check overhead clearances carefully before driving under
low hanging tree branches, wires, door openings etc.,
where the operator may be struck or pulled from the
machine, which could result in serious injury.
7.
Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. If tires lose traction,
disengage the blade(s) and proceed slowly straight down
the slope.
25. Disengage all attachment clutches, depress the brake
pedal completely and shift into neutral before attempting
to start engine.
Do Not:
1.
Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then, turn slowly
and gradually downhill, if possible.
26. Your machine is designed to cut normal residential 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.
Dry grass or leaves may contact the engine exhaust and/
or build up on the mower deck presenting a potential fire
hazard.
2.
Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments. The
mower could suddenly turn over if a wheel is over the edge
of a cliff, ditch, or if an edge caves in.
3.
Do not try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot on
the ground.
4.
5.
Do not use a grass catcher on steep slopes.
27. Use only accessories and attachments approved for this
machine by the machine manufacturer. Read, understand
and follow all instructions provided with the approved
accessory or attachment.
Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could cause
sliding.
6.
7.
Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill. Over-speeding
may cause the operator to lose control of the machine
resulting in serious injury or death.
28. Data indicates that operators, age 60 years and above, are
involved in a large percentage of riding mower-related
injuries. These operators should evaluate their ability
to operate the riding mower safely enough to protect
themselves and others from serious injury.
Do not tow heavy pull behind attachments (e.g. loaded
dump cart, lawn roller, etc.) on slopes greater than 5
degrees. When going down hill, the extra weight tends
to push the tractor and may cause you to loose control
(e.g. tractor may speed up, braking and steering ability are
reduced, attachment may jack-knife and cause tractor to
overturn).
29. If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use
care and good judgment. Contact your customer service
representative for assistance.
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Children
Service
1.
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the
Safe Handling of Gasoline:
presence of children. Children are often attracted to the
machine and the mowing activity. They do not understand
the dangers. Never assume that children will remain where
you last saw them.
1.
To avoid personal injury or property damage use extreme
care in handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely
flammable and the vapors are explosive. Serious
personal injury can occur when gasoline is spilled on
yourself or your clothes which can ignite. Wash your skin
and change clothes immediately.
a. Keep children out of the mowing area and in
watchful care of a responsible adult other than the
operator.
a. Use only an approved gasoline container.
b. Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters the
area.
b. Never fill containers inside a vehicle or on a truck
or trailer bed with a plastic liner. Always place
containers on the ground away from your vehicle
before filling.
c. Before and while backing, look behind and down for
small children.
d. Never carry children, even with the blade(s) shut off.
They may fall off and be seriously injured or interfere
with safe machine operation.
c. When practical, remove gas-powered equipment
from the truck or trailer and refuel it on the ground.
If this is not possible, then refuel such equipment on
a trailer with a portable container, rather than from a
gasoline dispenser nozzle.
e. Use extreme care when approaching blind corners,
doorways, shrubs, trees or other objects that may
block your vision of a child who may run into the
path of the machine.
d. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel
tank or container opening at all times until fueling is
complete. Do not use a nozzle lock-open device.
f.
To avoid back-over accidents, always disengage
the cutting blade(s) before shifting into Reverse.
If equipped, the “Reverse Caution Mode” should
not be used when children or others are around.
e. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other
sources of ignition.
f.
Never fuel machine indoors.
g. Keep children away from hot or running engines.
They can suffer burns from a hot muffler.
g. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine
is hot or running. Allow engine to cool at least two
minutes before refueling.
h. Remove key when machine is unattended to
prevent unauthorized operation.
h. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than ½
inch below bottom of filler neck to allow space for
fuel expansion.
2.
Never allow children under 14 years of age to operate this
machine. Children 14 and over should read and understand
the instructions and safe operation practices in this manual
and on the machine and should be trained and supervised
by an adult.
i.
j.
Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and
equipment. Move machine to another area. Wait 5
minutes before starting the engine.
Towing
1.
Tow only with a machine that has a hitch designed for
towing. Do not attach towed equipment except at the
hitch point.
k. To reduce fire hazards, keep machine free of grass,
leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or fuel
spillage and remove any fuel soaked debris.
2.
Follow the manufacturers recommendation for weight
limits for towed equipment and towing on slopes.
l.
Never store the machine or fuel container inside
where there is an open flame, spark or pilot light
as on a water heater, space heater, furnace, clothes
dryer or other gas appliances.
3.
Never allow children or others in or on towed equipment.
4.
On slopes, the weight of the towed equipment may cause
loss of traction and loss of control.
m. Allow a machine to cool at least five minutes before
storing.
5.
Always use extra caution when towing with a machine
capable of making tight turns (e.g. “zero-turn” ride-on
mower). Make wide turns to avoid jack-knifing.
General Service
1.
Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area.
Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless,
and deadly gas.
6.
7.
Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop.
Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill.
2.
Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain the
blade(s) and all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the
spark plug wire and ground against the engine to prevent
unintended starting.
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3.
Periodically check to make sure the blades come to
complete stop within approximately (5) five seconds after
operating the blade disengagement control. If the blades
do not stop within the this time frame, your machine
should be serviced professionally by an authorized MTD
Service Dealer.
Do not modify engine
To avoid serious injury or death, do not modify engine in any
way. Tampering with the governor setting can lead to a runaway
engine and cause it to operate at unsafe speeds. Never tamper
with factory setting of engine governor.
4.
5.
Check brake operation frequently as it is subjected to wear
during normal operation. Adjust and service as required.
Notice Regarding Emissions
Engines which are certified to comply with California and federal
EPA emission regulations for SORE (Small Off Road Equipment)
are certified to operate on regular unleaded gasoline, and
may include the following emission control systems: Engine
Modification (EM), Oxidizing Catalyst (OC), Secondary Air
Injection (SAI) and Three Way Catalyst (TWC) if so equipped.
Check the blade(s) and engine mounting bolts at frequent
intervals for proper tightness. Also, visually inspect blade(s)
for damage (e.g., excessive wear, bent, cracked). Replace
the blade(s) with the original equipment manufacturer’s
(O.E.M.) blade(s) only, listed in this manual. “Use of parts
which do not meet the original equipment specifications
may lead to improper performance and compromise
safety!”
Spark Arrestor
WARNING! This machine is equipped with an
internal combustion engine and should not be used
on or near any unimproved forest-covered,
brushcovered or grass-covered land unless the
engine’s exhaust system is equipped with a spark
arrester meeting applicable local or state laws (if
any).
6.
7.
Mower blades are sharp. Wrap the blade or wear gloves,
and use extra caution when servicing them.
Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the
equipment is in safe working condition.
8.
9.
Never tamper with the safety interlock system or other
safety devices. Check their proper operation regularly.
If a spark arrester is used, it should be maintained 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 on federal lands.
A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your
nearest engine authorized service dealer or contact the service
department, P.O. Box 361131 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019.
After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect
the spark plug wire(s) and ground against the engine.
Thoroughly inspect the machine for any damage. Repair
the damage before starting and operating.
10. Never attempt to make adjustments or repairs to the
machine while the engine is running.
11. Grass catcher components and the discharge cover are
subject to wear and damage which could expose moving
parts or allow objects to be thrown. For safety protection,
frequently check components and replace immediately
with original equipment manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only,
listed in this manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the
original equipment specifications may lead to improper
performance and compromise safety!”
12. Do not change the engine governor settings or over-speed
the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe
operating speed of the engine.
13. Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as
necessary.
14. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas, oil,
etc. to protect the environment.
15. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission
(CPSC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
this product has an Average Useful Life of seven (7) years,
or 270 hours of operation. At the end of the Average Useful
Life have the machine inspected annually by an authorized
service dealer to ensure that all mechanical and safety
systems are working properly and not worn excessively.
Failure to do so can result in accidents, injuries or death.
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.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
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Safety Symbols
This page depicts and describes safety symbols that may appear on this product. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the
machine before attempting to assemble and operate.
Symbol
Description
READ THE OPERATOR’S MANUAL(S)
Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the manual(s) before attempting to
assemble and operate
DANGER— ROTATING BLADES
Never carry passengers. Never carry children, even with the blades off.
DANGER— ROTATING BLADES
Always look down and behind before and while backing to avoid a back-over accident.
WARNING— ROTATING BLADES
Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or under the cutting deck. Contact with the
blade(s) can amputate hands and feet.
WARNING—THROWN OBJECTS
This machine may pick up and throw and objects which can cause serious personal injury.
WARNING—THROWN OBJECTS
This machine may pick up and throw and objects which can cause serious personal injury.
BYSTANDERS
Keep bystanders, helpers, children and pets at least 75 feet from the machine while it is in
operation.
WARNING— SLOPE OPERATION
Do not operate this machine on a slope greater than 15 degrees.
WARNING— HOT SURFACE
Engine parts, especially the muffler, become extremely hot during operation. Allow engine
and muffler to cool before touching.
DANGER — ROTATING BLADES
To reduce the risk of injury, keep hands and feet away. Do not operate unless discharge cover
or grass catcher is in its proper place. If damaged, replace immediately.
WARNING— TOWING
Avoid jack-knifing when towing, go slow and make wide turns.
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