Simplicity 5200 Series User manual

5200
Series
Hydrostatic Lawn
Tractors
Operator's
Manual

This manual covers the following Manufacturer’s Numbers:
5212.5H: 12.5 HP TRACTOR
MFG. NO. 1691234
MFG. NO. 1691235
MFG. NO. 1691473
5216H: 16 HP TRACTOR
MFG. NO. 1690810
MFG. NO. 1690853
MFG. NO. 1690881
MFG. NO. 1690919
MFG. NO. 1690936
MFG. NO. 1691032
MFG. NO. 1691033
MFG. NO. 1691362
MOWERS: 42" MOWER
MFG. NO. 1690708
MFG. NO. 1691423
48" MOWER
MFG. NO. 1690709
MFG. NO. 1691425

Table of Contents
SAFETY RULES . 2
DECALS . 4
MOWER INSTALLATION & REMOVAL . 5
OPERATION. 8
CONTROLS . 8
SAFETY INTERLOCK SYSTEM . 9
PUSHING THE TRACTOR BY HAND . 10
BEFORE OPERATING . 10
STARTING THE ENGINE. 10
STARTING & STOPPING OPERATION. 10
CLUTCH/BRAKE PEDAL OPERATION. 12
MOWING PATTERN & TIPS . 12
NORMAL CARE . 13
OPERATING TIME. 13
NORMAL CARE SCHEDULE . 13
RAISING HOOD/SEAT DECK . 13
LUBRICATING THE TRACTOR. 14
ADJUSTING THE SEAT . 15
CHECKING/ADDING GASOLINE . 15
CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL.15
FUEL FILTER . 16
BATTERY FLUID . 16
CLEANING THE BATTERY & CABLES. 16
TIRE PRESSURE . 17
TRACTOR STORAGE ..... 17
TRACTOR OFF-SEASON STORAGE. 17
STARTING AFTER STORAGE .17
MOWER LUBRICATION. ‘‘8
SHARPENING BLADES . 18
MOWER OFF-SEASON STORAGE . 19
TROUBLESHOOTING & REPAIR .20
BATTERY REPLACEMENT .22
JUMP STARTING . 23
TRACTOR BELT REPLACEMENT . 24
MOWER BELT REPLACEMENT.25
ADJUSTMENTS .27
TRACTOR ADJUSTMENTS .27
TRACTOR BRAKE .27
ENGINE PULLEY BELT STOPS.27
NEUTRAL ADJUSTMENT . 28
TRANS. CONTROL LEVER .28
TRANS. ENGAGEMENT LEVER . 28
MOWER ADJUSTMENTS. 29
LIFT LEVER . 33
SPECIFICATIONS . 34
COMMON REPLACEMENT PARTS . 36
OPTIONAL ATTACHMENTS & ACCESSORIES 37
PARTS MANUAL AVAILABLE .39
In this manual “left” and “right” are referred
to as seen from the operating position.
1

saTexy nuies
A 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 yourself or
bystanders, or damage to property or equipment The triangle ^ in the
text signifies important cautions or warnings which must be followed .
• Know the controls and how to stop
quickly. READ THIS OPERATORS
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.
2
• 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, lower¬
ing 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.
• 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 counterweights or wheel
weights when suggested in this
operator’s manual.
• 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

Safety Rules
allowed to cool 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 ad¬
justment 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 in¬
tervals.
• 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 recommen¬
dations 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
ALL WARNINGS. CAUTIONS, and in-
structional messages on your tractor
and mower should be carefully read and
obeyed. Personal bodily injury can re¬
sult when these instructions are not
followed. The information is for your
safety and it is important. The safety
messages on this page are on your
tractor and mower.
A DANGER
ROTATING CUTTING GLADE
•DO NOT OPERATE MOWER WITHOUT
DEFLECTOR OR ENTIRE GRASS
CATCHER IN PLACE.
A DANGER
ROTATING CUTTING BLADE
•00 NOT PUT HANDS OR FEET UNDER
MOWER DECK WHILE BLADE IS
ROTATING
SNOWTHROWER & 1
MOWER PTO
ENGAGE
B- ™
DISENGAGE
A CAUTION
TO A VOID POSSIBLE INJURY
• READ OPERATOR S MANUAL(S).
• KNOW LOCATION ANQ FUNCTION OF ALL
CONTROLS
• KEEP SAFETY QEVICES (GUARDS. SHIELDS
AND SWITCHES) IN PLACE AND WORKING.
• REMOVE OBJECTS THAT C0UL0 BE THROWN
BY BLADE.
• 00 NOT MOW WHEN CHILDREN ANO 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
BLA0E ANO BACK SLOWLY DOWN.
• BE SURE BLA0E AND ENGINE ARE STOPPED
BEFORE PLACING HANDS OR FEET NEAR
BLADE.
• WHEN LEAVING MACHINE REMOVE KEY ANO
SET PARKING BRAKE.
CAUTION
PULLEY GROOVE \
--cm-X—.
..
■ 4-1/16"
7 CLEARANCE
BRAKE PAD Jj
/ WITH
/ MOWER
1 ENGAGED
)
ALWAYS CHECK MOWER BRAKE PAD
TO V-PULLEY CLEARANCE WHEN
REPLACING BELT OR REPAIRING
MOWER. BRAKE PADS WILL BE
OAMAGED IF BRAKE PAD CONTACTS
PULLEY WHEN MOWER IS ENGAGED.
TRANSMISSION
ENGAGE
IMPORTANT: Do not
tow tractor. Damage to
transmission will result.
Disengage transmission
to manually push tractor.

Mower Installation &
Removal
A WARNING
Engage the parking brake, disengage
the PTO, stop the engine and remove
the key before attempting to install or
remove the mower.
NOTE
The lift chain (E, figure 1) should be
connected to the rear hole in lift arm
(D) unless optional large lift lever (B,
figure 8) is used to raise mower. With
large lift lever, connect chain in for¬
ward hole.
INSTALLATION
1. Place the tractor and mower on a flat,
level surface, such as concrete, with the
mower on the right side of the tractor.
2. Insert the end of the PTO rod (A, figure
1) from the right-hand side and work
the “S” bend (C) around until rod
appears as in figure 1.
3. Using the mower height control lever
(F, figure 7), place the mower in lowest
Figure 1. PTO Rod Connection (42"
mower shown)
A. PTO Rod D. Lift Bracket
B. PTO Arm E. Chain
C. "S" Bend
cutting height.
4. Turn the front wheels toward the left.
5. Place the lift lever fully forward so that
lift arm (B, figure 2) is in lowest posi¬
tion.
6. Slide the mower under the tractor so
that the lift chain (C, figure 2) is under
the lift arm (B).
7. Insert the link (A) into lift arm (B) then
pivot back and down. Secure chain (C)
to clevis (D) with pin (E) and clip (F).
(Early models are equipped with a
simple hook instead of clevis assembly
shown in figure 2.) If chain has four
links, be sure to use only three links.
8. Lift up front of mower and insert pins
(F, figure 3) to attach mower hitch arms
to tractor hitch (E). (You can insert a
pry bar under front edge of deck to
raise.)
Figure 2. Lift Assembly
A. Lift Link C. Chain E. Pin
B. Lift Arm D. Clevis F. Clip
5

Mower installation & Removal
Figure 3. L.H. Belt Stop
A. Belt Stop D. Mi
B. Belt E. Tr
C. PTO Pulley F. Pii
D. Mower Hitch Arm
E. Tractor Hitch
F. Pins
Figure 4. Mower Hitch Attached
A. Tractor Hitch
B. Pins
C. Safety Clips
D. Drive Belt
Figure 5. Right-Hand Belt Stop - 42'
Mowers
A. Belt Stop
B. PTO Pulley
C. Belt
9. Install the clips (C, figure 4) in the pins.
10. Slip the mower drive belt onto the
engine PTO pulley loosening belt stops
as necessary. The left-hand belt stop is
shown in figure 3. The right-hand belt
stop for 42" mowers is shown in figure
5. Position belt stops 1/16" from belt.
11. Insert the rear end of the PTO rod in the
hole marked “MOW” in the PTO arm
(B, figure 6). Insert the spring clip (C).
12. I f installing mower for the first time,
check the following adjustments.
a. Mower belt tension (page 27).
b. PTO pulley belt stops (page 27).
c. Mower belt stops (page 27).
d. Mower levelling (page 28).
e. Blade brake (page 30).
f. Lift lever (page 31).
6

Mower Installation & Removal
A. PTO Rod
B. Tractor PTO Arm
C. Spring Clip
REMOVAL
1. Place mower in lowest cutting height.
Lower the lift lever. Disengage the PTO
lever.
2. Remove the belt from the PTO pulley,
loosening belt stops as necessary.
3. Remove the spring clip (C, figure 6) and
pull PTO rod from hole. Reinstall the
spring clip in the rod for storage.
4. Unhook the lift chain (C, figure 2) from
the clevis (D).
5. Pull the safety clips from the hitch pins.
Push the pins out while holding mower
hitch up then allow mower to drop
down.
6. Turn the tractor wheels as far as they go
to the left.
7. Slide the mower out from under the
tractor from the right side.
7

OPERATION
CONTROLS
Ref.
Name
Function
A
Clutch-Brake
Disengages tractor clutch when pressed down at least
halfway. Applies brake when fully depressed. Engages
parking brake when latched over footrest.
B.
Optional
Lift Lever
Lifts and holds attachments in transport position (only
required with attachment other than mower).
C Ignition
Switch
Operates with key to start, run, or stop engine.
Light Switch
Switches headlights on or off.
m
Lift Lever
Lifts and holds mower in transport position.
F
Mower Height
Control Lever
Adjusts mower cutting height.
G
PTO (Power
Take Off)
Lever
Engages and disengages power to attachments. Pull
back to disengage.
H
Transmission
Control Lever
Controls ground speed and forward/reverse motion.
Push toward left to move out of neutral (center)
position. Push down to go forward. Pull up to go rearward.
1
Engine Speed
Control
Position from SLOW to FAST to control engine speed.
J
Gas Gauge/
Cap
Shows amount of gasoline in the tank and serves as
tank cap.
K
Choke
Pull out to aid starting engine.
L
Seat Deck
Latch
Pull down on latch underneath left foot rest while
raising seat deck.
M
Seat Safety
Switch
Shuts off engine if operator leaves seat when PTO is
engaged and/or hydrostatic control lever is in forward/
reverse slot.
8