Toro 13AX61RH848 User manual

Model No. 13AX61RH848
Register your product at www.Toro.com 769-04673 (3.3.09)
Operator’s Manual
Form No. 3362-165 Rev A
LX427 Lawn Tractor

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
FINDING MODEL NUMBER
This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new lawn tractor. It will help you assemble, prepare and maintain
the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.
Before you start assembling your new equipment
equipment and copy the information from it in the space provided below. A sample model plate is
also illustrated below. You can locate the model plate by looking at the underside of the tractor’s seat.
This information will be necessary to use the manufacturer’s web site and/or help from a Toro Service
Dealer.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Please do NOT return the unit to the retailer without first contacting Customer Support.
maintenance of this unit, you can seek help from the experts. Choose from the options below:
Content Page
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Safety Labels 7
Slope Gauge 9
Tractor Set-Up 10
Know Your Lawn Tractor 13
Operating Your Lawn Mower 16
Making Adjustments 20
Maintaining Your Lawn Tractor 21
Service 23
Off-Season Storage 27
Maintenance Chart 27
Troubleshooting 28
Specifications 29
Electrical Diagram 30
Manufacturers Limited Warranty 31
Emissions Control Warranty Statement 32
K
MODEL NUMBER SERIAL NUMBER DOM
THE TORO COMPANY
8111 LYNDALE AVE. SOUTH
BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA 55420-1196
TOLL FREE PHONE NUMBER: 1-888-384-9942 USA
TOLL FREE PHONE NUMBER: 1-888-848-4073 Canada
Copy the model number here:
Copy the serial number here:
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SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES
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.
DANGER: This machine was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this man-
ual. 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.
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.
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.
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 oper-
ate 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.
4. Never allow adults to operate this machine without
proper instruction.
5. 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.
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.
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.
8. Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles dur-
ing operation and while performing an adjustment
or repair to protect your eyes. Thrown objects
which ricochet can cause serious injury to the eyes.
9. 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.
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.
12. A missing or damaged discharge cover can cause
blade contact or thrown object injuries.
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.
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.
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.
19. Slow down before turning. Operate the machine
smoothly. Avoid erratic operation and excessive
speed.
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.

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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.
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.
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.
25. Disengage all attachment clutches, depress the
brake pedal completely and shift into neutral before
attempting to start engine.
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.
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.
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.
29. If situations occur which are not covered in this
manual, use care and good judgment. Contact your
customer service representative for assistance.
Slope Operation
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.
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.
Do:
1. Mow up and down slopes, not across. Exercise
extreme caution when changing direction on
slopes.
2. Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other
hidden objects. Uneven terrain could overturn the
machine. Tall grass can hide obstacles.
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.
4. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for
wheel weights or counterweights to improve
stability.
5. Use extra care with grass catchers or other
attachments. These can change the stability of the
machine.
6. 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.
7. Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. If tires lose
traction, disengage the blade(s) and proceed
slowly straight down the slope.
Do Not:
1. Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then, turn
slowly and gradually downhill, if possible.
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. Do not use a grass catcher on steep slopes.
5. Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced traction could
cause sliding.
6. 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.
7. 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).
Children
1. Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not
alert to the 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.
a. Keep children out of the mowing area and in
watchful care of a responsible adult other than
the operator.

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b. Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters
the area.
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.
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.
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.
g. Keep children away from hot or running
engines. They can suffer burns from a hot
muffler.
h. Remove key when machine is unattended to
prevent unauthorized operation.
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.
Towing
1. Tow only with a machine that has a hitch designed
for towing. Do not attach towed equipment except
at the hitch point.
2. Follow the manufacturers recommendation for
weight limits for towed equipment and towing on
slopes.
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.
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.
6. Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop.
7. Do not shift to neutral and coast downhill.
Service
Safe Handling of Gasoline:
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. Use only an approved gasoline container.
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. 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.
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.
e. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other
sources of ignition.
f. Never fuel machine indoors.
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. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more
than ½ inch below bottom of filler neck to allow
space for fuel expansion.
i. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
j. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and
equipment. Move machine to another area.
Wait 5 minutes before starting the engine.
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.
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.
m. Allow a machine to cool at least five minutes
before storing.
General Service
1. Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly
ventilated area. Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide, an odorless, and deadly gas.
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.
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 Service Dealer.
4. Check brake operation frequently as it is subjected
to wear during normal operation. Adjust and service
as required.