Toro 78218 User manual

Operator’s Manual
IMPORTANT: Read this manual carefully. It contains information about your
safety and the safety of others. Also become familiar with the controls and
their proper use before you operate the product.
FORM NO. 3319–776GB
Wheel Horse

38” Side Discharge
Mower
for
Lawn
& Garden T ractors
Model No. 78218 – 8900001 & Up

Printed in USA
Introduction
We want you to be completely satisfied with your
new product, so feel free to contact your local
Authorized Service Dealer for help with service,
genuine replacement parts, or other information you
may require.
Whenever you contact your Authorized Service
Dealer or the factory, always know the model and
serial numbers of your product. These numbers will
help the Service Dealer or Service Representative
provide exact information about your specific
product. You will find the model and serial number
plate located in a unique place on the product as
shown below .
1
1222
1. Model and Serial Number Plate
For your convenience, write the product model and
serial numbers in the space below.
Model No:
Serial No.
The warning system in this manual identifies
potential hazards and has special safety messages that
help you and others avoid personal injury, even death.
DANGER, WARNING and CAUTION are signal
words used to identify the level of hazard. However,
regardless of the hazard, be extremely careful.
DANGER signals an extreme hazard that will cause
serious injury or death if the recommended
precautions are not followed.
WARNING signals a hazard that may cause serious
injury or death if the recommended precautions are
not followed.
CAUTION signals a hazard that may cause minor or
moderate injury if the recommended precautions are
not followed.
Two other words are also used to highlight
information. “Important” calls attention to special
mechanical information and “Note” emphasizes
general information worthy of special attention.
The left and right side of the machine is determined
by sitting on the seat in the normal operator’s
position.

1
Contents
Page
Safety and Instruction Decals 2.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installation 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installing Discharge Chute and Tension Spring 3
Installing the Mower 4
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transport Height Adjustment 5 . . . . . . . . . . .
Side-to-Side Mower Leveling 6 . . . . . . . . . .
Front-to-Rear Blade Slope 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Removing the Mower 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operation 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating the Power Take Off (PTO) 10 . . . .
Attachment Lift Lever 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Attachment Power Lift 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjusting Dial-A-Height 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjusting Anti-Scalp Rollers 12 . . . . . . . . . . .
Tips for Mowing Grass 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Page
Maintenance 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Service Interval Chart 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cutting Blade 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Greasing and Lubrication 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Blade Drive Belt 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Washing Underside of Mower 18 . . . . . . . . . .
Storage 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Troubleshooting 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Safety
2
Safety and Instruction Decals
Safety decals and instructions are easily visible to the operator and are located near
any area of potential danger. Replace any decal that is damaged or lost.
ON GRASS DEFLECT OR
AND ON
MOWER RIGHT SIDE
(Part No. 93–7010)
UNDER GRASS DEFLECT OR
(Part No. 93–7009)
ON MOWER CENTER
(Part No. 93–6679)
ON MOWER LEFT SIDE
(Part No. 93–7319)

3
Installation
Installing Discharge Chute and
T ension Spring
1. Locate items show (Fig. 1).
2. Slide rod, non-rib end, through rear discharge
chute bracket.
3. Place spring, with end wires down, between
discharge chute brackets, and slide rod through
second dischar ge chute bracket.
4. Insert rod at front of discharge chute into short
stand-of on deck. Secure rear end of rod to deck
with long stand-off and nut (Fig. 1).
1
43
6
25
71228
Figure 1
1. Discharge chute
2. Bracket
3. Spring
4. Rod
5.
Short stand-of f
6.
Long stand-of f
7. Nut
IMPORTANT: Discharge chute must be
spring loaded in the down position. Lift chute
up to test that it snaps to the full down
position.
POTENTIAL HAZARD
•Without the grass deflector, discharge
cover, or complete grass catcher assembly
mounted in place, you and others are
exposed to blade contact and thrown
debris.
WHAT CAN HAPPEN
•Contact with rotating mower blade(s) and
thrown debris will cause injury or death.
HOW TO AV
OID THE HAZARD
• NEVER r emove the grass deflector from
the mower because the grass deflector
routes material down toward the turf. If the
grass deflector is ever damaged, replace it
immediately.
•Never put your hands or feet under the
mower.
•Never try to clear discharge area or mower
blades unless you move the power take off
(PTO) to “OFF” and rotate the ignition key
to “OFF.” Also remove the key and pull the
wire off the spark plug(s).
5. Install spring between idler arm and bolt at belt
cover (Fig. 2).
1645
1
2
3
Figure 2
1. Spring
2. Idler 3. Bolt

Installation
4
Installing the Mower
1. Park the machine on a level surface, disengage
the power take off (PTO), set the parking brake,
and turn the ignition key to “OFF” to stop the
engine. Remove the key.
2. Turn the front wheels fully to the left and raise
attachment lift lever all the way to the latched
position; refer to tractor Operator’
s Manual.
3. Slide the mower under the chassis from the right
side (Fig. 3) and align rear mounting bushings
with ends of lift arms.
1232
1
2
Figure 3
1. Lift arms
2. Mounting bushing
4. Straighten the front wheels, turn Dial-a-Height
knob counterclockwise, all the way, and lower
the attachment lift lever to the mounting
position; refer to tractor Operator’ s Manual.
5. Place rear guide bushings, first left side then
right, onto lift arms then slide deck left into
position (Fig. 4).
6. Secure deck to rear lift arms with washers and
hairpin cotters (Fig. 4).
7. Attach rear link to attachment lift with washer
and hairpin cotter (Fig. 4).
1
2
31234
4
Figure 4
1. Lift arm
2. Washer 3.
Hair pin cotter
4. Rear link
8. Install front adjustable link to front lift arm with
washer and hairpin cotter (Fig. 5).
9. Secure adjustable link to front lift arm with
washer and hairpin cotter (Fig. 5).
1242
12
Figure 5
1. Adjustable link 2. W asher and hairpin cotter

Installation
5
10. Pull on idler pulley to relax belt tension and
install mower drive belt onto the top engine
drive pulley groove (Fig. 6).
Note: Make sure belt is properly located in
engine and deck pulleys and around
idler pulley.
IMPORTANT: If extreme low cut height is
used install mower drive belt in bottom
engine pulley groove.
1
2
Figure 6
T op V iew
1. Mower belt 2. Engine pulley
11. Check mower level; refer to Side-to-Side Mower
Leveling page 6, and Front-to-Rear Blade
Slope page 7.
12. Raise attachment lift lever all the way to the
latched position and adjust mower height-of-cut;
refer to page and transport height adjustment;
refer to page 5.
Transport Height Adjustment
Transport height is set at the factory and should not
need adjustment; however if the belt covers contact
the footrest in the raised position, adjustment is
required.
1. Adjust by turning transport height nut, (Fig. 7)
on lift mechanism, clockwise to raise or
counterclockwise to lower mower.
2. Adjust nut until there is 1/16–1/8 inch clearance
between belt cover and left footrest.
1223
1
Figure 7
1. Nut

Installation
6
Side-to-Side Mower Leveling
The mower blades must be level from side to side.
Check the side-to-side level any time you install the
mower or when you see an uneven cut on your lawn.
Before you level the mower, set the air pressure in the
front and rear tires to 12 psi (.85 kPa).
3” to 4” Height-of-Cut Range
When the mower height-of-cut is set to the 3” to 4”
range the mower is suspended from the tractor. There
is one side-to-side adjustment for this height range.
1. Park the machine on a level surface, disengage
the power take off (PTO), set the parking brake,
and turn the ignition key to “OFF” to stop the
engine. Remove the key.
2. Raise attachment lift lever all the way to the
latched position.
3. Carefully rotate blade(s) side to side (Fig. 8).
Measure between the outside cutting edges and
the flat surface (Fig. 8). If both measurements
are not within 3/16” (4.762mm), an adjustment
is required; refer to steps 4 and 6.
2
3
3
21
Figure 8
1. Blades side to side
2. Outside cutting edges
3. Measure here
4. Loosen adjustment bolt on one side and rotate
hanger bracket to raise or lower mower (Fig. 9).
5. After adjusting, tighten bolt and check
side-to-side level.
IMPORTANT: If hanger is rotated to the end
of adjustment on one side and mower is not
level, adjust the opposite side.
1
2
1224
Figure 9
1. Bolt 2. Hanger bracket
6. Now check the front-to-rear blade slope; refer to
Front-to-Rear Blade Slope, page 7.

Installation
7
3/4” to 3” Height-of-Cut Range
When the mower height-of-cut is set to the 3/4” to 3”
range the gage wheels contact the ground. There is a
second side-to-side adjustment for this height range.
1. Park the machine on a level surface, disengage
the power take off (PTO), set the parking brake,
and turn the ignition key to “OFF” to stop the
engine. Remove the key.
2. Set Dial-a-Height to the middle of the
height-of-cut range; refer to Setting
Height-of-Cut page .
3. Carefully rotate blade(s) side to side (Fig. 8).
Measure between the outside cutting edges and
the flat surface (Fig. 8). If both measurements
are not within 3/16” (4.762mm), an adjustment
is required.
4. Raise attachment lift lever to release pressure on
the gage wheels. Remove hairpin cotter and
washer from trunnion (Fig. 10).
5. Rotate trunnion to adjust side-to-side level
adjustment (Fig. 10).
1
2
1230
Figure 10
1. Trunnion 2. Hairpin cotter and washer
6. After adjusting, secure trunnion with washer and
hairpin cotter, lower attachment lift and check
side-to-side level.
Front-to-Rear Blade Slope
Check the front-to-rear blade slope any time you
install the mower. Before checking the slope, set air
pressure in the front and rear tires to 12 psi (.85 kPa).
If the front blade tip is not 0–1/8” (0–3.2 mm) lower
than the rear blade tip, adjust the blade slope using
the following instructions:
1. Park the machine on a level surface, disengage
the power take off (PTO), set the parking brake,
and turn the ignition key to “OFF” to stop the
engine. Remove the key.
2. Check and adjust side-to-side blade level if you
have not checked the setting; refer to
Side-to-Side Mower Leveling, page 6.
3. Adjust the Dial-A-Height knob so the
height-of-cut is in the middle of the range and
lower attachment lift.
4. Carefully rotate blades so they are facing front
and rear (Fig. 11).
5. Measure between the tip of the front blade
(Fig. 11). and the tip of the rear blade to the flat
surface. If the front blade tip is not 0–1/8”
(0–3.2 mm) lower than the rear blade tip adjust
front adjustment link.
1
2
1
3
Figure 1 1
1. Blade front to rear
2. Measure front blade tip
3. Measure rear blade tip

Installation
8
6. To adjust front-to rear blade level loosen jam nut
on front adjustable link. (Fig. 12).
7. Rotate the bolt on front adjustable link to change
front-to rear blade level (Fig. 12).
Note: To raise the front of the mower,
shorten the adjustable link by turning
bolt clockwise.
1
2
31227
Figure 12
1. Adjustable link
2. Jam nut
3. Bolt
8. When front-to-rear slope is correct, tighten jam
nut. Recheck side-to-side mower level; refer to
Side-to-Side Mower Leveling, page 6.
9. Push the wire onto the spark plug(s).