Simplicity 1691331 User manual

Operator's
Manual
Simplicity

This manual covers the following Manufacturer’s Numbers:
12 HP Rider
Mfg. No. 1691331
Mfg. No. 1691650
Mfg. No. 1691640
36" Mower
Mfg. No. 1691332
42" Mower
Mfg. No. 1691199

Contents
REPLACEMENT PARTS. inside Front Cover
SAFETY RULES . 2
DECALS... 4
OPERATION. 6
Controls. 6
Check Before Starting.... 7
Interlock Switches . 7
Starting and Stopping . 7
Mowing Pattern & Tips . 8
Pushing Rider By Hand .. 9
NORMAL CARE .10
Normal Care Schedule .10
Storage.11
Lubrication . 1 1
Tire Pressure . 1 3
Battery Maintenance .14
Mower Removal...... 15
Servicing Mower Blades .16
Sharpening & Balancing.16
Blade Installation ...... 17
Mower Installation .17
TROUBLESHOOTING .t.19
Battery Replacement .23
Mower Belt . 2 4
Power Unit Belts . 2 6
ADJUSTMENTS . 2 8
Seat Adjustment . 2 8
Mower Leveling . 2 8
Cutting Height .29
Neutral Adjustment .30
Clutch-Brake Adjustment .. 31
Mower PTO. 31
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT .33
SPECIFICATIONS . 3 4
PARTS MANUAL AVAILABLE .35
i

Safety Rules
Read these safety rules and follow them closely. Failure to obey these rules
could result in loss of control of vehicle, severe personal Injury to your yourself
or bystanders, or damage to property or equipment. The triangle ^ in text
signifies Important cautions or warnings which must be followed
• Know the controls and how to stop quickly. READ THIS
OPERATOR'S MANUAL and instructions furnished with
attachments.
• Do not allow children to operate the machine. Do not allow
adults to operate it without proper instruction.
• Do not carry passengers. Do not mow when children and
others are around.
• Clear the work area of objects (wire, rocks, etc.) that might
be picked up and thrown.
• Disengage all attachment clutches and shift into neutral
before attempting to start the engine (motor).
• Disengage power to attachments and stop the engine
(motor) before leaving the operator's position.
• Disengage power to attachments and stop the engine
(motor) before making any repairs or adjustments.
• Disengage power to attachments when transporting or not
in use.
• Take all possible precautions when leaving the vehicle
unattended, such as disengaging the power-take-off,
lowering the attachments, setting the parking brake,
stopping the engine, and removing the key.
• Do not stop or start suddenly when going uphill or
downhill. Mow up and down the face of steep slopes; never
across the face.
• Reduce speed and exercise extreme caution on slopes and
in sharp turns to prevent tipping or loss of control. Be
especially cautious when changing direction on slopes.
• Stay alert for holes, rocks, and roots in the terrain and
other hidden hazards. Keep away from drop-offs.
• Dp not use machine to pull loads, loss of steering control
could occur.
• Use care when carrying loads.
a. Limit loads to those you can safely control.
b. Do not turn sharply. Use care when backing.
2

Safety Rules
c. Use counterweights or wheel weights when suggested
in this operator's manual, or attachment operator’s
manual. (See page 8.)
• Watch out for traffic when crossing or near roadways.
• When using any attachments, never direct discharge of
material toward bystanders or allow anyone near the vehicle
while in operation.
• Handle gasoline with care — it is highly flammable.
a. Use approved gasoline container.
b. Never remove the fuel cap of, or add gasoline to, a
running or hot engine or an engine that has not been
allowed to coot for several minutes after running. Never
fill the tank indoors and always clean up spilled gasoline.
c. Open doors if the engine is run in the garage — exhaust
fumes are dangerous. Do not run the engine indoors.
• Keep the vehicle and attachments in good operating
condition, and keep safety devices in place and in working
condition.
• Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the
equipment is in safe working condition.
• Never store the equipment with gasoline in the tank inside
a building where fumes may reach an open flame or spark.
Allow the engine to cool before storing in any enclosure.
• To reduce fire hazard, keep the engine free of grass,
leaves, or excessive grease.
• The vehicle and attachments should be stopped and
inspected for damage after striking a foreign object, and the
damage should be repaired before restarting and operating
the equipment.
• Do not change the engine governor settings or overspeed
the engine.
• When using the vehicle with mower, proceed as follows:
a. Mow only in daylight or in good artificial light.
b. Never make a cutting height adjustment while the
engine (motor) is running if the operator must dismount
to do so.
c. Shut the engine (motor) off when removing the grass
catcher or unclogging chute.
d. Check the blade mounting bolts for proper tightness at
frequent intervals.
• Under normal usage, the grass catcher bag material is
subject to deterioration and wear. Check bag frequently for
deterioration and wear and replace worn bags. Check that
replacement bags comply with the original manufacturer’s
recommendations or specifications.
• Disengage power to mower before backing up. Do not
mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary and then only
after observation of the entire area behind the mower.
3

Decals
WARNING
• DO NOT STOP OR START SUDDENLY WHEN OPERATING UPHILL OR
DOWNHILL
•MOW UP AND DOWN THE FACE OF STEEP SLOPES; NEVER ACROSS
THE FACE.
•SELECT SLOW GROUND SPEED BEFORE DRIVING ONTO A SLOPE.
• NEVER OPERATE ON SLOPES GREATER THAN 16° WHICH IS A RISE OF
3 FEET (0.91 METERS) VERTICALLY IN 10 FEET (3.1 METERS)
HORIZONTALLY.
•USE A REAR WEIGHT KIT ON SLOPES GREATER THAN 8° WHICH IS A
RISE OF 1.5 FEET (0.45 METERS) VERTICALLY IN 10 FEET (3.1
METERS) HORIZONTALLY.
P.T.O. NEUTRAL
l?l»131>!
ERS
A DANGER
ROTATING CUTTING BLADE
► D O NOT PUT HANDS OR FEET UNDER
MOWER DECK WHILE BLADE IS
ROTATING.
A DANGER
SLb-=t
ROTATING CUTTING BLADE
► M l NOT OPERATE MOWER WITHOUT

Decals
MOWER PTO
/ / up to Er
/ / ENGAGE
ZI\ DOWN To/ /?
IGNITION SWITCH
OFF
, R u »
AN L_ START
A CAUTION
TO AVOID POSSIBLE INJURY
• READ OPERATOR’S MANUAL(S).
• KNOW LOCATION AND FUNCTION OF ALL
CONTROLS
• KEEP SAFETY DEVICES (GUARDS. SHIELDS.
AND SWITCHES! IN PLACE AND WORKING.
• REMOVE OBJECTS THAT COULD BE THROWN
BY BLADE.
• DO NOT MOW WHEN CHILDREN AND OTHERS
ARE AROUND.
• NEVER CARRY CHILDREN.
• ALWAYS LOOK BEHIND MACHINE BEFORE
BACKING.
» 00 NOT MOW WHERE MACHINE COULD TIP OR
SLIP.
• IF MACHINE STOPS GOING UPHILL STOP
BLADE AND BACK SLOWLY DOWN.
• DO NOT MOW IN REVERSE UNLESS ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY
• WHEN LEAVING MACHINE REMOVE KEY AND
SET PARKING BRAKE.
MOWER LIFT
%
CLUTCH & BRAKE
E n W*st \\ B B i KE
CLUTCH ! C, PARKING V
1 KEONT
CU®n
Eh p
5

Operation
Figure 1. Controls
6
ITEM NAME FUNCTION
A
Engine Speed
Control Lever
Controls engine speed. Push fully
forward to activate choke.
B
Transmission
Control Lever
Controls ground speed and
forward/reverse motion. Push
forward to go forward. Pull
back to go in reverse.
c Clutch-Brake
Pedal
Press down to disengage drive
and engage brake. Release to
engage drive.
D
Mower Lift
Lever
Raises mower for transport. Pull
up and hold to raise mower.
E
Parking Brake
Lever
Locks brake. Depress pedal,
then latch lever over edge.
F Ignition Switch Starts and stops engine.
G
Mower PTO
Lever
Engages mower. Pull up to begin
mowing. Push down to
disengage mower.
A WARNING

Operation
CHECKS BEFORE STARTING
1. Check that gas tanks (one on each side) are 3/4 full. (If
one tank is empty, either add gasoline, or shut off the
valve on bottom of tank.)
2. Check engine oil level and add if necessary. Refer to
engine Owner’s Manual for recommendations.
WARNING
Never add gasoline when engine is hot or running.
3. Make sure either deflector or grass collection system is
in place.
4. Check for loose nuts, screws, bolts, oil leaks, gasoline
leaks, etc.
5. Make sure the mower is in desired cutting height.
6. To operate, the tow valve must be disengaged. See
“Push Rider By Hand.”
INTERLOCK SWITCHES
A switch under the seat will stop the engine if the operator
leaves the seat when PTO is engaged and/or transmission is
in gear. Also, to start engine, the operator must be in seat,
the gear shift lever must be in neutral and the mower PTO
disengaged.
STARTING AND STOPPING
1. Before using this mower for the first time, the owner
should operate in an open area, without mowing, to
become accustomed to the unit. The unit is steered with
the rear wheels, which allows very quick, tight turns.
The left side of the mower can be used to trim close to
objects in the lawn.
2. Make sure mower is disengaged and transmission
control lever is in neutral.
3. Place engine speed control into choke position unless
engine is hot.
4. Turn the key to start and release when engine starts.
Move lever out of choke position as engine warms.
5. Make sure desired direction is clear of objects, people
and animals.
6. Release the parking brake.
7. Move the transmission control lever out of Neutral to
travel Push forward to go forward, or pull back to go in
reverse. The farther the lever is moved, the faster the
ground speedi
8. Place engine speed control lever between 3/4 and full
speed. Full engine speed is recommended, especially if
mowing thick grass.
7

Operation
9. S e lect the appropriate ground speed for conditions. If
the terrain is rough, hilly or sloping, drive slowly. You
should also drive slowly to cut thick grass. On level,
smooth ground, with light grass, you can use full speed.
10. Use the transmission control lever to slow down for
turns or to trim around objects, then increase speed.
11. To stop, move the transmission control lever into
NEUTRAL position. You can also stop by depressing
the clutch-brake pedal. If you stop by depressing the
pedal, move control lever to NEUTRAL before
releasing pedal.
12. Before leaving operator’s position, set the parking
brake and disengage the mower PTO. (The parking
brake is shown set in figure 4.) Set the engine speed
control to SLOW and allow the engine to idle for 20
seconds. Turn the key to OFF and remove it. Wait for
moving parts to stop.
13. Clean all dirt and grass from the mower and rider. Be
sure to clean the engine and transmission compartment.
Allow engine to cool before touching engine parts.
^WARNING
To reduce fire hazard, keep the engine, rider and
mower free of grass,/leaves and excess grease. _
A WARNING
Do not stop or start suddenly when operating uphill or
downhill. Mow up and down the face of steep slopes;
never across the face. Select slow ground speed before
driving onto a slope. Never operate on slopes greater
than 16° which is a rise of 3 feet (0.91 meters) vertically
in 10 feet (3.1 meters) horizontally. Use a rear weight
kit on slopes greater than 8° which is a rise of 1.5 feet
(0.45 meters) vertically in 10 feet (3.1 meters)
horizontally.
MOWING PATTERN & TIPS
For the first use of the mower choose a smooth level area.
Cut long straight strips overlapping slightly.
The size and type of area to be mowed determines the best
mowing pattern to use. Obstructions such as trees, fences
and buildings must also be considered. Where possible,
make one or two passes in a clockwise direction around the
outside of the area to keep cut grass off fences and walks.
The remainder of the mowing should be done in a
counterclockwise direction so the clippings are dispersed on
the cut area.
Most lawns should be mowed to keep the grass
approximately two to three inches (50 to 76 mm) high. Best
8