Simplicity RTH Series User manual

OPERATOR’S
MANUAL

Table of Contents
SAFETY RULES
DECALS .
MOWER INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL
OPERATION.
CONTROLS .’’’
SAFETY INTERLOCK SYSTEM ...
PUSHING THE TRACTOR BY HAND ....
BEFORE OPERATING .
RECOMMENDED FUEL .
STARTING THE ENGINE.. .
STARTING AND STOPPING OPERATION
CLUTCH/BRAKE PEDAL OPERATION ...
MOWING PATTERN AND TIPS.
10
10
11
12
12
12
13
13
14
15
NORMAL CARE .
NORMAL CARE SCHEDULE ...
CHECKING/ADDING GASOLINE
RAISING HOOD & SEAT DECK
LUBRICATING THE TRACTOR .
LUBRICATING THE MOWER ...
CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE ..
CHECKING THE FUEL FILTER .,
SERVICING THE BATTERY .
ADJUSTING THE SEAT.
16
16
17
17
18
19
21
21
22
22
SHARPENING & BALANCING THE BLADES
CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL_
TRACTOR OFF-SEASON STORAGE.
MOWER OFF-SEASON STORAGE .
STARTING AFTER STORAGE .
TROUBLESHOOTING AND REPAIR .
BATTERY REPLACEMENT .
JUMP STARTING .
TRACTOR BELT REPLACEMENT
MOWER BELT REPLACEMENT .
ADJUSTMENTS .
TRACTOR BRAKE .
ENGINE PULLEY BELT STOPS .
NEUTRAL ADJUSTMENT .
MOWER ADJUSTMENTS.
SMALL LIFT LEVER.
LARGE LIFT LEVER .
28
32
32
35
36
38
38
39
39
40
45
46
SPECIFICATIONS
REPLACEMENT PARTS
OPTIONAL ATTACHMENTS & ACCESSORIES
PARTS MANUAL AVAILABLE .
NOTE
In this manual “left” and “right” are referred to as seen from
the operating position.
1

Safety Rules
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.
GENERAL
• Read the Operator's Manual carefully. Be thoroughly
familiar with the controls and the proper use of the
equipment.
• Never allow children to operate the machine. Do not aiiow
aduits to operate it without proper instruction.
• Do not carry passengers.
• Use oniy attachments or accessories designed for your
machine. See your dealer for a complete list of
recommended attachments or accessories.
• Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, particularly
small children, and pets.
• Never direct discharge of materiai toward bystanders.
• Make sure:
a. tractor and attachments are in good operating
condition,
b. ail safety devices and shields are In place and In good
working condition, and
c. all adjustments are correct.
PREPARATION
• Handle gasoline with care - it is highly flammable.
a. Use approved gasoline container.
b. Never remove the fuel tank cap or add gasoline to a
running or hot engine, or fill the fuei tank indoors. Wipe
up spilied gasoline.
• Do not run the engine indoors. Exhaust fumes are deadly.
• Clear the work area of objects which might be picked up
and thrown by attachments.
• Disengage ali attachment clutches and move transmission
control lever into neutral before attempting to start the
engine.
• Wear heavy footwear. Do not operate tractor when
barefoot or when wearing open sandals or canvas shoes.
OPERATION
• Engage the parking brake, disengage the PTO, lower the
attachment, stop the engine and remove the key before
leaving the operator's position for any reason, such as to
unclog attachment chutes or to make repairs or adjustments.
2

• stop tractor and attachments and inspect for damage after
striking a foreign object. Repair any damage before
restarting and operating the equipment.
• Watch out for traffic when crossing or operating near
roadways.
• Operate only in daylight or in good artificial light.
c. Do not turn sharply. Use care when backing.
d. Use weights when recommended in the tractor or
attachment Operator's Manual.
• Disengage power to attachment(s) when transporting or
not in use.
• Never make adjustment while the engine is running.
• After operation, place transmission control lever in
forward position to help prevent accidental starting.
• Operate only up and down the face of slopes; never across
the face. Do not stop or start suddenly on slopes.
• Reduce speed on slopes and in sharp turns to prevent
tipping or loss of control. Use extreme caution when
changing direction on slopes.
• Be especially careful not to touch tractor or attachment
parts which might be hot from operation. Allow such parts to
cool before attempting to maintain, adjust, or service.
• Stay alert for holes in the terrain and other hidden hazards.
Be extra careful when operating on wet, slippery surfaces.
• If equipment begins to vibrate abnormally, disengage
power to attachments and stop engine at once. Inspect for
damage and correct before starting up tractor.
• Use care when pulling loads or using heavy equipment.
a. Use only drawbar hitch point.
b. Limit loads to those you can safely control.
^^WARNING
Never place hands near the hydro pump cooling fan
when the tractor is running. Cooling fan is located on
left-hand side of hydro pump inside the rear frame.
3

Safety Rules
MAINTENANCE & STORAGE
• Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure the
equipment is in safe working condition.
• Do not change the engine governor settings or overspeed
the engine.
• To reduce fire hazard, keep the engine free of grass,
ieaves, and excess grease.
• Never store the equipment with gasoiine in the tank inside
a buiiding where fumes may reach an open fiame or spark.
Aiiow the engine to cooi before storing in any enciosure.
4

Decals
ALL WARNINGS, CAUTIONS,
and instructional messages on
your tractor and mower should be
carefully read and obeyed.
Personal bodily injury can result
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.
IMPORTANT
DO NOT TOW TRACTOR
DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION WILL
RESULT. DISENGAGE TRANSMISSION
TO MANUALLY PUSH TRACTOR.
TRANSMISSION
ENGAGED
TRANSMISSION
DISENGAGED
SNOWTHROWER &
MOWER PTO
A DANGER
ROTATING CUTTING BLADE
DO NOT OPERATE MOWER
WITHOUT DEFLECTOR
OR ENTIRE GRASS
CATCHER IN PLACE.
A C A U T I O N
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 ODJECTS THATCOULO BE THROWN
BY BLADE.
DO NOT MOW WHEN CHILDREN AND OTHERS
ARE AROUND.
NEVER CARRY CHILDREN.
ALWAYS LOOK BEHIND MACHINE BEFORE
BACKING.
DO NOT MOW WHERE MACHINE COULD TIP
OR SLIP.
IF MACHINE STOPS GOING UPHILL. STOP
BLADE AND BACK SLOWLY DOWN.
BE SURE BLADE AND ENGINE ARE STOPPED
BEFORE PLACING HANDS OR FEET NEAR
BLADE.
WHEN LEAVING MACHINE REMOVE KEYANO
SET PARKING BRAKE.
BRAKE & CLUTCH
ENGAGE,
BRAKE
CLUTCH
A DANGER
ROTATING CUTTING BLADE
DO NOT PUT HANDS
OR FEET UNDER
MOWER DECK WHILE
BLADE IS ROTATING.
5

Mower Installation & Removal
Figure 1. Installing 36" Mower
A. Lift Chain
B. Lift Arm
C. Mower Hitch Arms
6
NOTE
The lift chain (A, figure 1) should be connected to the
rear hole in lift arm (B) unless optional large liftarm (B,
figure 8) is used to raise mower. With large lift lever,
connect chain in forward hole.
1. Place your tractor on a level surface, with the mower on
the right side of the tractor.
2. Turn the tractor front wheels full left (figure 1).
3. Place the mower in lowest cutting position and slide it
under the tractor, aligning arms (C, figure 1) with tractor
hitch (A, figure 2).
Figure 2. Mower Hitch Arms
A. Hitch C. Safety Clips
B. Pins D. Drive Belt

Mower Installation & Removal
4. I n sert the link (A, figure 3) into lift arm (B) then pivot
back and down. Secure chain (C) to clevis (D) with pin
(E) and clip (F). If chain has four links, be sure to use
only three links.
Figure 3. Lift Assembly
A. Lift Link D. Clevis
B. Lift Arm E. Pin
C. Chain F. Clip
5. Lift up front of mower and insert pins (B, figure 2) to
attach mower hitch arms to tractor hitch (A). (You can
insert a pry bar or wood under front edge to raise deck.)
Connect the clips (C) into the pins.
6. Slip the mower drive belt onto the PTO pulley (C, figure
4). Loosen belt stops as necessary. The left-hand belt
stop (A) is shown in figure 4. The right-hand belt stop is
shown in figure 5. Make sure that the belt is routed
between belt stop fingers. Check routing of belt by
referring to figure 6.
Figure 4. Left-Hand Belt Stop
A. Belt Stop D. Mower Hitch Arm
B. Belt E. Tractor Hitch
C. PTO Pulley F. Spring Clip
7

Mower Installation & Removal
7 . Insert one end of the PTO rod (B, figure 7) in the mower
PTO arm (A) and the other end in the tractor PTO arm
(C) in hole marked “MOW”. The rod must be inserted
into the holes from the right-hand side as shown. Refer
to figure 7 to make sure the rod is correctly positioned.
Install the spring clips (D).
8. If installing mower for the first time, or if a new belt was
installed, perform the mower adjustments in the
Adjustments section.
9. Reverse the procedure to remove the mower.
A. Belt Stop B. PTO Pulley
8
Figure 6. Mower Belt Pattern - 36"
A. V-Pulley, Right Arbor
B. V-Pulley, Left Arbor
C. Engine PTO Pulley
D. Flat Idler Pulley
E. Belt
C. Belt