Cub Cadet 1535 User manual

Owner’s Manual
GARDEN TRACTOR
Model Number
1535
Important:
Read Safety Rules and Instructions Carefully
Thank you for purchasing an American-built product
CUB CADET CORPORATION • P.O. BOX 360930 • CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136
PRINTED IN U.S.A. FORM NO. 772-4074

aib Cadet
Power Equipment
LIMITED WARRANTY
Proper maintenance of your Cub Cadet equipment is the owner’s responsibility. Follow the instructions
in your owner’s manual for correct lubricants and maintenance schedule. Your Cub Cadet dealer carries a
complete line of quality lubricants and filters for your equipments engine, transmission, chassis and
attachments.
RIDING MOWERS, LAWN TRACTORS, GARDEN TRACTORS, CUB CADET ATTACHMENTS AND HOME
MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS.
FIRST YEAR
This limited warranty for residential and commercial users, covers any defect in material or workmanship in
your Cub Cadet equipment for one year from the date of purchase for the first user purchaser.
Batteries have a one year prorated limited warranty with 100% replacement during the first three months.
We will replace or repair any part or parts without charge through your authorized Cub Cadet dealer.
SECOND YEAR
This limited warranty, for residential users only, covers any defects in material or workmanship in the drive
train for two years from the date of purchase for the first user purchaser.
The drive train consists of the engine, engine cradle, drive shaft, drive shaft clutch, all parts enclosed by the
transmission housing, rear axle housing, brakes and electric power take off (if so equipped). V-belts used for
either the traction drive or any attachments are covered for one year only.
ITEMS NOT COVERED
The warranty does not cover routine maintenance items such as lubricants, filters (oil, fuel, air and
hydraulic), cleaning, tuneups, brake and/or clutch Inspection, adjustments made as part of normal mainte¬
nance, 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 tem¬
porarily 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, write or telephone:
Cub Cadet Corporation Telephone: [phone]
Post Office Box 360930
Cleveland, Ohio 44136
Attn: Customer Service
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.
\
2

CONTENTS
Section
Page
Section
Page
Warranty.
. 2
VI Mowing.
... 30
Safe Operations .
. 3
Optional Equipment
To The Owner.
. 7 and Accessories. .. 31
Serial No. Location.
. 7 Maintenance Chart.
.. 32
1
Controls.
. 8
Trouble Shooting.
.. 33
II
Operation.
. 14
Lubrication Table.
35
III
Adjustments.
. 19
Lubrication Guide.
.. 36
IV
Maintenance.
. 24 Specifications.
.. 39
V
Off-Season Storage.
. 29 Slope Gauge .
41
A
44 Instructions given with this symbol are for
4
personal safety. Be sure to follow them.
4
WARNING
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 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
muffler is available at your nearest engine authorized service center.
IMPORTANT
RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION
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 YOUR UNIT. FAILURE TO COMPLY
WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY. WHEN YOU
SEE THIS SYMBOL - A HEED ITS WARNING.
A WARNING
Your unit 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 serious injury. If
you violate any of these rules, you may cause serious injury to yourself or others.
1. R EAD THIS OWNER’S MANUAL carefully in its
entirety before attempting to assemble or operate
this unit. Keep this manual in a safe place for
future and regular reference and for ordering
replacement parts.
2. This unit is a precision piece of power equipment,
not a plaything. Therefore, exercise extreme cau¬
tion at all times.
3. Know the controls and how to stop the machine
quickly.
3

4. Do not allow children to operate vehicle. Do not
allow adults to operate It without proper instruc¬
tion. Only persons well acquainted with these
rules of safe operation should be allowed to use
your mower.
5. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-
fitting slacks and shirts to avoid entanglement in
th# moving parts. Never operate a unit in bare
feet, sandals, or sneakers.
6. To prevent injury, do not carry passengers or give
rides. Keep children, pets and bystanders out of
the area while mowing. Only the operator should
ride on the unit and he/she should ride only in the
seat.
7. Check overhead clearance carefully before driv¬
ing under power lines, guy 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.
8. To maintain control of the unit and reduce the
possibility of upset or collision, operate the tractor
smoothly. Avoid erratic operation and excessive
speed.
9. Keep the area of operation clear of all persons,
particularly small children and pets. Stop engine
when they are in the vicinity of your mower.
Although the area of operation should be com¬
pletely cleared of foreign objects, a small object
may have been overlooked and could be acciden¬
tally thrown by the mower in any direction and
cause injury to you or a bystander.
10. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields during
operation or while performing an adjustment or
repair, to protect eyes from foreign objects that
may be thrown from the machine in any direction.
11. Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel drives,
walks or roads.
12. Disengage all attachment clutches and shift into
neutral before attempting to start engine.
13. Before leaving the operator’s position, disengage
blades, place shift lever in neutral, engage park¬
ing brake, shut engine off and remove key.
14. Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating
parts. Stay clear of the discharge opening at all
times as the rotating blade(s) can cause injury.
15. Disengage power to attachment(s) and stop
engine before making any repairs or adjustments.
Disconnect the spark plug wire(s) and keep the
wire(s) away from the plug(s) to prevent acciden¬
tal starting.
16 . Before attempting to unclog the mower or
discharge chute, stop the engine. The mower
blade(s) may continue to rotate for a few seconds
after the engine is shut off. Therefore, be sure
the blade(s) have stopped completely. Discon¬
nect the spark plug wire(s) and keep the wire(s)
away from the plug(s) to prevent accidental start¬
ing.
17. Disengage power to attachment(s) when trans¬
porting or not in use.
18. For your safety, use the slope gauge included as
part of this manual to measure slopes before
operating this unit on a sloped or hilly area. If the
slope is greater than 15° as shown on the slope
gauge, do not operate this unit on that area or
serious injury could result.
19. Do not stop or start suddenly when going uphill or
downhill. Mow up and down face of steep slopes;
never across the face. Use extreme caution if it is
necessary to drive the tractor up an incline or
back the tractor down an incline because the front
of the tractor could lift and rapidly flip over back¬
ward which could cause serious injury.
20. Reduce speed on slopes and in sharp turns to
prevent tipping or loss of control. Always keep
the tractor in low gear when going down steep
hills to take advantage of engine braking action.
Choose a low enough gear so that you will not
have to stop or shift while on the slope.
21 . Stay alert for holes in terrain and other hidden
hazards which may cause the unit to tip over.
22. Use care when pulling loads or using heavy
equipment.
A. Use only approved drawbar hitch points.
B. Limit loads to those you can safely control.
C. Do not turn sharply. Use care when backing.
D. Use counterweight(s) or wheel weights when
suggested in owner’s manual.
23. Watch out for traffic when crossing or near road¬
ways.
24. When using any attachments, never direct
discharge of material toward bystanders nor allow
anyone near vehicle while in operation.
25. Handle fuel with care. It is highly flammable.
A. Use approved fuel container.
B. Never remove cap or add fuel to a running or
hot engine or fill fuel tank indoors. Wipe up
spilled fuel. Always use original type vented
cap.
4

C. Open doors if engine is run in garage.
Exhaust fumes are dangerous. Do not run
engine indoors.
26. Never store the machine with fuel in the fuel tank
inside a building where ignition sources are
present, such as hot water and space heaters,
clothes dryers, and the like. Allow the engine to
cool before storing in any enclosure.
27. To reduce fire hazard, keep engine and cutting
deck free of grass, leaves or excessive grease.
28. Keep the vehicle and attachments in good operat¬
ing condition, and keep safety devices in place.
Use guards as instructed in operator’s manual.
29. Keep all nuts, bolts and screws tight to be sure
the equipment is in safe working condition.
30. The vehicle and attachments should be stopped
and inspected for damage after striking a foreign
object. The damage should be repaired before
restarting and operating the equipment.
31. Do not change the engine governor settings or
overspeed the engine.
32. When using the vehicle with mower, proceed as
follows:
A. M ow only in daylight or in good artificial light.
B. Never make a cutting height adjustment
while engine is running if operator must
dismount to do so.
C. Shut the engine off and wait until the blade
comes to a complete stop before removing
the grass catcher.
D. Check blade mounting bolts for proper tight¬
ness at frequent intervals.
33. Check grass catcher bags frequently for wear or
deterioration. For safety protection, replace only
with new bag meeting original equipment
specifications.
34. Look behind to make sure the area is clear before
placing the transmission in reverse and continue
looking behind while backing up. Disengage
blades before shifting into reverse and backing
up.
35. This unit should net be driven up 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 to load prop¬
erly.
36. Check brake operation frequently. Adjust and
service according to brake adjustment instruc¬
tions in this manual.
5

PRODUCT GRAPHICS missing, painted over or can no longer be read.
Keep safety product graphics (decals) clean. Replace Replacement safety graphics are available through
any safety graphic that is damaged, destroyed, your dealer.
LIFT LEVER
LOWER
BRAKE LOCK,
NOTE: IF THE BRAKE LOCK IS
DISENGAGED AND THE OPERA¬
TOR LEAVES THE SEAT WHILE
THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, THE
ENGINE WILL SHUT-OFF
RAISE
DEPRESS BUTTON TO OPERATE LEVER. RO¬
TATE PIN INTO SLOT FOR LEVER TO ROAT
CAUTION. WHEN IN FLOAT POSTON, AND
ATTACHMENT ENCOUNTERS AN OBSTRUCTION,
THE LEVER MAY MOVE RAPIDLY REARWARD!
LIFT LEVER STOP
TO
PRESET
LIFT
LEVER
HEIGHT
LIFT
'LEVER
LOCKING
CLUTCH/BRAKE
PEDAL
CLUTCH
POSITION
w ..._.. . V
V_/
IGNITION '
ON-LIGHTS
\- ON
START
BRAKE -
POSITION
CHOKE
HI
LO
4 -
GEAR SELECTOR
OFF
PTO
START
RUN
PTO SWITCH MUST
BE IN OFF POSITION
BEFORE STARTING
UNIT AND BEFORE
SHIFTING TRACTOR
INTO REVERSE
TO START THE
FRONT PTO PULL
KNOB OUT AND
LIFT UP (NOTE
KNOB WILL RE¬
TRACT INTO RUN
POSITION)
LOOK'
BEFORE
BACKING
POSITION AT
WHICH PTO WILL
RUN IF STARTING
PROCEDURE HAS
BEEN COMPLETED
(NOTE If PTO IS
RUNNING ANO UNIT
IS SHIFTED INTO
REVERSE OR OPERA¬
TOR LEAVES THE
SEAT THE PTO
WILL OISENGAGE
TO REACTIVATE
PTO, PULL KNOB
OUT AND LIFT UP
INTO START
POSITION i
A CAUTION
RECEIVE INSTRUCTION — Read operator's manual Learn to operate this machine
SAFELY Don't risk INJURY or DEATH
1 Before starting engine or operation:
Be familiar with controls.
Be m operator's position with transmission in neutral. PTO turned off, and brake
depressed
2 Keep shields in place. Keep away from moving parts
3 NO RIDERS 1 Keep all people and pets a safe distance away.
A Don't pom! mower discharge at people
5 Avoid slopes Tractors can be rolled over.
6 Before leaving operator's position
Shut off PTO Place transmission m neutral Set brake lock Shut oft engine
Remove ignition key Wait tor all movement to stop before servicing or cleaning
7 Do not till gasoline lank when engine is running or while engine is hot Tighten cap
securely
AD
35290 ( 641 )
GENERAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS CAUTION
LOCATED ON THE FRAME COVER
6

TO THE OWNER
Assembled in this manual are operation, lubrication,
and maintenance instructions for the Cub Cadet 1535
Tractor. The material has been prepared in detail to
help you better understand the correct care and
efficient operation of your tractor. Before you operate
the tractor, study this manual carefully. Additional
copies may be ordered from your dealer at a nominal
price.
Your local authorized dealer is interested in the per¬
formance you receive from your tractor. He has
factory-trained servicemen, informed in the latest
method of servicing tractors, modern tools, and
original-equipment service parts which assure proper
fit and good performance.
To obtain top performance and assure economical
operation the tractor should be inspected, depending
on its use, periodically, or at least once a year, by your
authorized dealer.
When in need of paits, always specify the model,
chassis, and engine serial numbers, including the
prefix and suffix letters. Write these serial numbers in
the space provided on this page.
Should you have difficulties with the unit, consult your
authorized dealer. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES
SHOULD YOU ATTEMPT TO SERVICE THESE
UNITS YOURSELF. Only your dealer is authorized to
repair or replace units on this drive under the terms of
the warranty. Should you desire additional information
not found in this manual, contact your authorized Cub
Cadet dealer.
SERIAL NUMBER LOCATION
NOTE
cates grille end of the tractor; to REAR, the
drawbar end.
LEFT and RIGHT indicate the left and right
sides of the tractor when facing forward in Chassis serial number plate is located near left rear
the driver’s seat. Reference to FRONT indi- fender. (See Figure 1.)
CHASSIS SERIAL NUMBER
Figure 1
Figure 2
MODE!_
DELIVERY DATE
7

SECTION I. CONTROLS
Your Cub Cadet Tractor has been safety engineered. and controls before attempting to start or operate the
Thoroughly acquaint yourself with all the instruments tractor.
1. Brake Spring
2. Brake Rod
3. Safety Starting Switch
4. Clutch Adjusting Nut
5. Steering Gear Box
6. Clutch Release Rod
7. Drain Plug
8. Transmission
Figure 3. Automotive-Type Transmission and Differential
A. Low Oil Indicator
B. Low Fuel Indicator
C. Amp Indicator
D. Hour Meter
E. Reverse Indicator
F. Disengage PTO Indicator
G. Depress Left Pedal Indicator
H. Lift Handle
I. Lift Height Indicator
J. Cam Lock Knob
K. Gear Shift Lever
L. Ignition/Light Switch
M. Tilt Wheel Release Lever
N. Choke Control
O. Creeper Drive Shift Lever
P. Brake Lock
Q. Clutch/Brake Pedal
R. Throttle Control Lever
S. Front Power Take-Off (PTO) Control Switch
T. Fuse (Not Shown)
U. Safety Interlock Switches (Not Shown)
Figure 4

A. L OW OIL INDICATOR
This indicator will illuminate when the oil level is low.
A CAUTION
When "LOW OIL" indicator illuminates, stop
the tractor and check the oil level. Continu¬
ing to operate the tractor could result in
severe damage to the engine.
B. LOW FUEL INDICATOR
This indicator will illuminate when the fuel level in the
fuel tank is low.
C. AMP INDICATOR
This indicator will illuminate when a problem exists
with the charging system or the battery. If this indica¬
tor illuminates, stop the tractor and contact your Cub
Cadet Dealer.
D. HOUR METER
The hour meter indicates the actual hours of engine
operation. This enables the operator to determine
when lubrication, change of oil or periodic inspections
are necessary. It also provides a means of computing
cost of specific jobs. The hour meter operates when¬
ever the engine is running or the ignition key is in the
"ON" position.
E. R" INDICATOR
This indicator is illuminated when the tractor is in
reverse. The "R“ indicator must be off before the trac¬
tor can be started.
F. DISENGAGE PTO INDICATOR
This indicator will illuminate if an attempt is made to
start the tractor with the PTO switch engaged. This
indicator must be off before the tractor can be started.
When starting the tractor, this indicator will briefly
flash.
G. DEPRESS LEFT PEDAL INDICATOR
This indicator will illuminate when an attempt is made
to start the tractor with the clutch/brake pedal not fully
depressed.
H. L IFT HANDLE
The lift handle is used to lift or lower equipment used
with the tractor. The equipment can be set in multiple
positions by depressing the button on the handle and
releasing it when the desired position is reached.
An additional feature has been provided to give
increased float capability to the deck by depressing
the button and rotating the pin into the slot as shown
in Figure 5.
Figure 5
1. Lift Handle
2. Slot
3. Button
4. Pin
I. LIFT HEIGHT INDICATOR
The lift height indicator will indicate the height of deck
attachment when installed. (See Figure 6).
LIFT
HEIGHT
INDICATOR
9

J. C AM LOCK KNOB
The cam stop may be adjusted to allow the implement
to return to a single height. (See Figure 7.)
With the implement in a desired height position,
release cam stop by turning locking knob counter¬
clockwise. Turn cam stop until it contacts lift bracket
on lift handle. Lock cam stop into this position by turn¬
ing cam knob clockwise.
■ ^NOTE
Figure 8
Refer to the equipment manual for proper
hitching instructions.
1
4
Figure 7
1. Cam Stop
2. Locking Knob
3. Lift Handle
4. Lift Bracket
K. GEAR SHIFT LEVER
This lever is used to select various gear ratios pro¬
vided in the transmission. There are three forward
speeds and one reverse speed. Refer to "SPECIFI¬
CATIONS". (See Figure 4.)
L. IGNITION/LIGHT SWITCH
WARNING
Remove the key from the tractor when the
tractor is not in use to prevent accidental
starting and battery discharge.
The combination lights and ignition switch is a four-
position switch. (See Figure 8.)
M. T ILT WHEEL RELEASE LEVER
The tilt wheel release lever is used to adjust the steer¬
ing wheel forward away from the operator or rearward
towards the operator. Refer to ADJUSTING THE
STEERING WHEEL in Section III.
N. CHOKE CONTROL
The choke control is operated manually. Pull knob out
to choke engine. Push knob in to open choke. (See
Figure 4.)
O. CREEPER DRIVE SHIFT LEVER
The creeper drive provides a slower speed in each
respective gear by a four-to-one reduction in speed
from direct drive. When the creeper shift lever is all
the way forward, the tractor will be in direct drive. If
the creeper shift lever is all the way rearward, the trac¬
tor will be in creeper drive. (See Figure 4.)
P. BRAKE LOCK
Always engage the brake lock when dismounting the
tractor. To lock the brake, depress clutch/brake pedal
and place the brake lock in the engaged position.
(See Figure 9.) To disengage the lock, press down on
the pedal, lift the lock up and place it in the disen¬
gaged position.
1 2
Figure 9
1. Clutch/Brake Pedal
2. Brake Lock
10

Q. CLUTCH/BRAKE PEDAL
NOTE
The clutch/brake pedal must be fully
depressed to start the tractor.
The clutch/brake pedal is located on the left side of the
tractor. This pedal serves a dual purpose. When the
clutch/brake pedal is slightly depressed, the clutch is
disengaged and the gears may be changed with the
gear shift lever. Fully depressing the clutch/brake
pedal actuates the brakes to stop the tractor.
R. THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER
This lever controls the speed of the engine. When set
in a given position, it will maintain a uniform engine
speed. (See Figure 4.)
■ ^NOTE
When using power take-off operated equip¬
ment, best performance is achieved with the
throttle lever in the "FAST" position.
Figure 10
The safety interlock system will automatically shut off
the engine if the operator leaves the seat before
engaging the brake lock.
The safety interlock system will automatically disen¬
gage the PTO if the operator leaves the seat with the
PTO in the "RUN" position, or the unit is shifted into
reverse with the PTO in the "RUN" position. To reen¬
gage the PTO, shift into neutral ("N"), move the PTO
switch into the "OFF" position and then engage the
PTO while seated.
This symbol shows slow position.
This symbol shows fast position.
S. FRONT POWER TAKE-OFF (PTO) CONTROL
SWITCH
The power take-off (PTO) control switch, which is
located on the left side of the instrument panel (see
Figure 4), operates an electric clutch. This electric
clutch controls the engagement ("RUN") or disengage¬
ment ("OFF") of the front PTO.
T. FUSE
The fuse is located under the hood on the left side of
the engine compartment. It is installed to protect the
tractor's electrical circuitry and components from dam¬
age caused by excessive amperage overload. (See
Figure 10.)
U. SAFETY INTERLOCK SWITCHES
This tractor is equipped with a safety interlock system
for the protection of the operator. If the interlock sys¬
tem should ever malfunction, do not operate the trac¬
tor. Contact your authorized Cub Cadet Dealer.
The safety interlock system prevents the engine from
cranking or starting unless the clutch/brake pedal is
fully depressed and the PTO switch is in the "OFF"
position.
FUEL TANK
The fuel tank is located in the rear of the tractor. The
fuel tank filler cap is located on the left rear fender.
The main fuel shut-off valves are located on the bot¬
tom (left and right sides) of the tank. These valves
control the flow of fuel to the engine. To open the
valves turn the knobs counterclockwise until they stop.
To close the valves, turn the knobs clockwise until
they are tight. (See Figure 11.)
FUEL TANK FILLER CAP
Figure 11
11

HOOD AND SIDE PANELS
The tractor hood is arranged to swing up and forward
for easy access to the engine compartment. (See Fig¬
ure 12.) Whenever engine maintenance is required,
the side panels can be removed.
1. Side Panel (One On Each Side)
2. Hood
▲ WARNING
If engine is hot, use caution not to burn your¬
self when removing the side panels.
To remove either right or left side panel, proceed as
follows: Engage the brake lock and raise the lift han¬
dle. Raise the hood. Refer to Figure 13 and at rear of
side panel remove wing nut and flat washer.
Remove front snaps by applying pressure to side of
grille and gently pulling on side panel until snaps pop
out of grille side flange. (See Figure 14.)
■ ^NOTE
Be sure both top and bottom snaps have
popped out.
Figure 13
1. Wing Nut
2. Flat Washer
3. Side Panel
Figure 14
1. Snap
2. Grille
3. Side Panel
4. Grille Side Flange
12

3
See Figure 15 and locate lock tab and dash panel
lock.
To remove lock tab, (A) gently pull front of side panel
towards you and (B) pull up. Then (C) slide side panel
forward to disengage dash panel lock. (Refer to Fig¬
ure 16.)
Installation of either side panel is exactly the reverse
of removal. After inserting snaps at front of panel into
grille side flange holes, make sure upper front corner
of side panel is inside of lip on grille as shown in Fig¬
ure 17.
1. Side Panel
2. Lock Tab
3. Dash Panel Lock
Figure 16
1. Lock Tab
2. Side Panel
3. Dash Panel Lock
13

SECTION II. OPERATION
A WARNING
RECEIVE INSTRUCTION - Read operator's
manual. Learn to operate this machine
SAFELY. Don’t risk INJURY or DEATH.
1. Before starting engine or operation: Be
familiar with controls. Be in operator’s
position with transmission in neutral,
PTO turned off and brake depressed.
2. Keep shields in place. Keep away from
moving parts.
3. NO RIDERS! Keep all people and pets
a safe distance away. Look before
backing up.
4. Don’t point mower discharge at people.
5. Avoid slopes. Tractors can be rolled
over.
6. Before leaving operator’s position: Shut
off PTO. Place transmission in neutral.
Engage brake lock. Shut off engine.
Remove ignition key. Wait for all move¬
ment to stop before servicing or clean¬
ing.
7. Do not fill gasoline tank when engine is
running or while engine is hot. Tighten
cap securely.
BEFORE OPERATING YOUR TRACTOR
1. Before you operate the tractor study this manual
carefully. It has been prepared to help you
operate and maintain your tractor with utmost
efficiency.
2. Familiarize yourself with the operation of all the
instruments and controls.
3. Fill the tank with either lead-free, low-lead or reg¬
ular gasoline. Make sure before you fill the tank
that the gasoline is clean and fresh.
4. Check the engine and transmission oil levels.
9. Make certain that the backside of the grille insert
is clean and unobstructed. Push down on the top
of the grille insert and pull forward as shown in
Figure 18. Lift the grille insert up removing the
tabs from the bottom of the grille housing.
Remove by hand any accumulated grass and
debris.
PULL
FORWARD
AND
UP
Figure 18
10. Refer to various sections of the Owner’s Manual
for additional information.
STARTING THE ENGINE
WARNING
Do not operate tractor if the interlock system
is malfunctioning. It is a safety device
designed for protection of the operator.
A WARNING
Operator must be seated before starting the
tractor.
Hi^ NOTE
This tractor is equipped with a safety inter¬
lock system for the protection of the opera¬
tor.
5. Clean the air cleaner element if necessary.
6. Check the tire inflation pressures.
7. Adjust the seat and steering wheel for operator’s
maximum comfort, visibility and complete control
of the tractor.
8. Remove the side panels and clean any accumu¬
lated grass and debris from the intake fan on
engine.
The safety interlock system prevents the
engine from cranking or starting unless the
clutch/brake pedal is fully depressed, and
the PTO engagement switch is in the "OFF"
position.
The safety interlock system will automati¬
cally shut off the engine if the operator
leaves the seat before engaging the brake
lock.
14

NOTE
The safety interlock system will automati¬
cally disengage the PTO if the operator
leaves the seat with the PTO in the "RUN"
position, or the unit is shifted into reverse
with the PTO in the "RUN" position. To
reengage the PTO, shift into neutral ("N"),
move the PTO switch into the "OFF" position
and then engage the PTO while seated.
1. Operator must be seated.
2. Pull choke control knob to full choke position.
Less choking may be necessary due to variations
in temperature, grade of fuel, etc. Little or no
choking will be needed when the engine is warm.
3. Place the throttle midway between the "SLOW"
and "FAST” positions.
4. Place the PTO switch in the "OFF" position.
5. Press the clutch/brake pedal slightly down and
place the gear shift lever in neutral ("N").
6. Fully depress the clutch/brake pedal.
7. Turn the ignition key clockwise to the "START"
position and release it as soon as the engine
starts; however do not operate the starter for
more than 10 seconds at any one time. If the
engine does not start within this time, turn the key
"OFF" and wait a few minutes, then try again.
8. After the engine starts, slowly release the
clutch/brake pedal and gradually push the choke
control knob all the way in. Do not use the choke
to enrich the fuel mixture, except as necessary to
start the engine.
STOPPING THE ENGINE
A CAUTION
Remove the key to prevent accidental start¬
ing and battery discharge if equipment is left
unattended.
Move the throttle lever to the "SLOW" position and
allow the engine to idle for a short time before stop¬
ping. Then turn the key to the "OFF" position.
Remove key from ignition switch.
TRACTOR BREAK-IN PROCEDURE
A CAUTION
Never operate a new engine immediately
under full load, Break it in carefully as
shown in the tabie below.
Period
Engine Throttle
Control Lever
Position
Load
'A -V* Full
1 st hour
X
None
2 hour
X
X
Light drawbar load
or
Mowing with tractor
at slow speed
3rd through
13th hour
X
X
Medium draw¬
bar load
or
Normal mowing
COLD WEATHER STARTING
A WARNING
During operation do not run the engine in
confined area such as storage building any
longer than is necessary. Immediately move
the tractor outside into the air.
A WARNING
Operator must be seated before starting the
tractor.
fl|^ NOTE
in cold weather the starting motor may
disengage prematurely. This is caused by
the engine firing once but failing to continue
running. If this happens several times, the
engine will be flooded and it will be neces¬
sary to leave the throttle in the "SLOW 1 posi¬
tion but push the choke in all the way; then
turn the ignition key to the "START" position
and slowly pull the choke out to the position
which will cause the engine to start and con¬
tinue running. If the engine falters after put¬
ting tractor into motion, pull the choke out
part way until the engine runs smoothly, then
gradually push the choke back in as the
engine warms.
15

Engine starting is possible in cold weather providing
the correct weight of engine oil is used, the battery is
fully charged, and the proper starting procedure is fol¬
lowed. The best procedure for starting at tempera¬
tures near or below freezing are as follows:
1. Operator must be seated.
2. Pull the choke all the way out into the full choke
position.
3. Move the throttle lever midway between the
"SLOW" and "FAST" positions.
4. Place the PTO switch in the "OFF" position.
5. Press the clutch/brake pedal slightly down and
place the gear shift lever in neutral ("N").
6. Fully depress the clutch/brake pedal.
7. Move the key switch into the "START' position
and hold until the engine starts; however, do not
operate the starter for more than 10 seconds at
any one time. As soon as the engine starts,
slowly push the choke in part way.
DRIVING THE TRACTOR
A CAUTION
Do not shift gears while the engine clutch is
engaged or while tractor is moving.
A CAUTION
The clutch/brake pedal must be pushed
slightly down in order to change gears.
A CAUTION
Do not leave the seat of the tractor without
depressing the clutch/brake pedal and
engaging the brake lock. If leaving the trac¬
tor unattended, also turn the ignition key off
and remove the key.
A CAUTION
Avoid sudden starts, excessive speed and
sudden stops. Keep tractor in gear when
going down hills.
A CAUTION
Do not rest your foot on the clutch/brake
pedal while driving the tractor. This will lead
to premature and excessive wear of the
clutch.
NOTE
When using power take-off operated equip¬
ment, best performance is achieved with the
throttle lever in the "FAST" position.
1. Press the clutch/brake pedal down, and release
the brake lock. Raise the clutch/brake pedal
slightly and move the gear shift lever to the
desired speed.
2. Start the tractor in motion by slowly releasing the
clutch/brake pedal and moving the throttle lever to
the position where the engine operates best for
the load to be handled.
DRIVING ON SLOPES
(Refer to "SLOPE GAUGE" on page 40 in order to
help determine slopes where you may not operate
safely.)
A WARNING
Do not mow on inclines with a slope in
excess of 15 degrees (a rise of approxi¬
mately 2-1/2 feet every 10 feet). A tractor
could overturn and cause serious injury.
A WARNING
Operate tractor up and down slopes, never
across slopes.
A CAUTION
Always drive up or down the face of a slope.
Do not drive so that the tractor may tip over
sideways.
16

Before operating the tractor on any slope, walk the
slope to look for possible hazards such as rocks,
mounds, ruts, stumps or other surface irregularities
which could cause an upset.
Back the tractor with implement up the steepest por¬
tion of each slope you intend to work. If the tractor
cannot negotiate the slope in reverse, the slope is too
steep to be worked.
Avoid turns when driving on a slope. If a turn must be
made, turn down the slope. Turning up a slope
greatly increases the chance of a roll over.
Avoid stopping when driving up a slope. If It is neces¬
sary to stop while driving up a slope, start up smoothly
and carefully to reduce the possibility of flipping the
tractor over backward.
STOPPING THE TRACTOR
A CAUTION
Always engage brake lock, lower equipment
and shut off engine before dismounting.
Never try to start engine from ground.
Fully depress the clutch/brake pedal. When tractor
has stopped, raise the clutch/brake pedal slightly and
shift into neutral ("N").
Before dismounting always disengage the PTO,
engage the brake lock and turn the ignition "OFF."
OPERATING THE CREEPER DRIVE
To operate the tractor in creeper drive, depress the
pedal and move the creeper shift lever all the way
rearward. Then select the transmission speed desired
and proceed as instructed under "DRIVING THE
TRACTOR."
^^NOTE
Do not use a mid-point position on the
creeper drive as neutral. Neutral position
must be selected only with the standard
transmission gear shift lever.
The following table shows speeds available in each of
the three forward gears and reverse gear.
SPEED TABLE
Miles Per Hour
GEAR
Direct
Creeper
Drive
Drive
First
2.3
.6
Second
3.3
.8
Third
6.8
1.7
Reverse
2.5
.6
DRAWBAR
Drawbar equipment must be hitched to the tractor only
at the hitch hole in the drawbar. (See Figure 19.)
Figure 19
OPERATING THE FRONT POWER TAKE-OFF
(PTO) CLUTCH
NOTE
Be certain to follow break-in instructions
listed below.
1. Move the throttle lever back to the medium or
"SLOW" position.
2. Flip the toggle switch to the "RUN" position. (See
Figure 20.)
3. Advance throttle to operating speed (full speed).
4. The operator must remain in tractor seat at all
times. If operator should leave tractor seat
without turning off the power take-off switch, the
PTO will automatically disengage.
17

Figure 20
5. PTO switch must be in the "OFF" (A) position
when shifting the tractor into reverse or the PTO
will shut off automatically. To reengage the PTO,
shift unit into neutral. Move PTO switch to "OFF"
(A) position. Then pull knob out and lift up to
"START" (B) position and release.
FRONT PTO CLUTCH BREAK-IN PROCEDURE
To break in the components and increase the life of
the clutch assembly, proceed as follows.
1. Attach mowing deck, snow thrower, etc. to the
tractor.
2. Adjust the belt tension as recommended in
attachment owner’s manual.
3. Engage and disengage the PTO ten to fifteen
times without any load (not cutting grass, not
blowing snow, etc.).
18

SECTION III. ADJUSTMENTS
ADJUSTING THE SEAT
Before starting the tractor, adjust the seat to the most
comfortable driving position. Tilt the seat forward over
the steering wheel, loosen the four cap screws in the
seat support, and slide the seat assembly forward or
rearward to the position which is most comfortable for
the operator. (See Figure 21.)
Retighten the cap screws after the seat is adjusted.
Figure 21. Cap Screws For Seat Adjustment
ADJUSTING THE POWER TAKE-OFF (PTO)
CLUTCH
A WARNING
To avoid possible injury, disengage PTO
switch, move gear shift lever into neutral,
engage the brake lock and turn the ignition
"OFF" before working on the machine.
A WARNING
The clutch may be hot. Allow the engine
and clutch to cool before adjusting the
clutch.
The clutch is factory adjusted and should not require
further adjustment under normal operating conditions.
However, if the clutch fails to operate properly, check
as follows:
Using a feeler gauge, check the air gap. (See Figure
22.) Insert feeler gauge into one of three access slots
located around the outside of the brake plate. The air
gap should be .017 inch. Adjust the self-locking nuts
to obtain the proper clearance. Repeat the operation
in all three access slots.
1. Access Slots
2. Brake Plate
3. Self-Locking Nuts
ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL
A WARNING
Do not adjust the steering wheel when the
tractor is moving. Adjusting the steering
wheel while the tractor is moving could
cause the operator to lose control of the
tractor.
Before starting the tractor, adjust the steering wheel
forward or rearward to the most comfortable position.
To position the steering wheel, push the tilt wheel
release lever down (as shown in Figure 23) and move
the steering wheel forward or rearward. Release the
lever when the steering wheel is comfortably posi¬
tioned. Gently push the steering wheel forward and
rearward once to be sure wheel is locked in place. Make
sure tilt wheel release lever is all the way up as shown
in Figure 24.
19

Figure 23
Figure 24
ADJUSTING THE CLUTCH
A CAUTION
The clutch must be adjusted before the
brakes can be adjusted.
It is important that a clearance of .050 inch be main¬
tained between the clutch release lever and the clutch
release bearing. In order to maintain this clearance,
the pedal should have a free movement of approxi¬
mately 9/32 inch. This measurement is taken at the
point of contact of the pedal arm with the front edge of
the pedal return stop.
The clutch pedal adjustments are set at the factory
and should not require frequent attention unless the
linkage has been disturbed or when the pedal move¬
ment becomes less than 9/32 inch. When it is neces¬
sary to adjust the clutch, turn the adjusting nut on the
clutch release rod in or out as required to get the
proper measurements. (See Figure 25.)
4
Figure 25
1. Clutch Release Lever
2. Safety Starting Switch
3. Clutch Release Rod
4. Adjusting Nut
ADJUSTING THE BRAKES
A CAUTION
The clutch must be adjusted before the
brakes can be adjusted.
Brake adjustment
During normal operation on this machine, the brakes
are subject to wear and will require periodic examina¬
tion and adjustment.
Brake adjustment check
1. To check brake adjustment, place a 1-3/4 inch
thick wood block between the clutch/brake pedal
and the brake lock (see Figure 26).
2. With the 1-3/4 inch thick wood block installed, the
brake disc pads should be applying a light
amount of friction against the brake disc rotor. If
they are not, the brakes need adjustment.
20