Toro 78268 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. 3319–721GB
Wheel Horse

48” Side Discharge
Mower
for
Lawn
& Garden T ractors
Model No. 78268 – 7900001 & 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
m–1275
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Loose Parts 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mower Preparation 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installing the Mower 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transport Height Adjustment 7 . . . . . . . . . . .
Side-to-Side Mower Leveling 8 . . . . . . . . . .
Front-to-Rear Blade Slope 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Removing the Mower 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operation 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Side Discharge 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating the Power Take Off (PTO) 11 . . . .
Attachment Lift Lever 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Page
Attachment Power Lift 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjusting Dial-A-Height 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjusting Anti-Scalp Rollers 13 . . . . . . . . . . .
Adjusting Gage Wheels 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tips for Mowing Grass 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Maintenance 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Service Interval Chart 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cutting Blade 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Greasing and Lubrication 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Blade Drive Belt 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Washing Underside of Mower 20 . . . . . . . . . .
Storage 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Troubleshooting 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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
(Part No. 93–7317)
ON MOWER REAR CENTER
(Part No. 93–7325)
ON GRASS DEFLECT OR
(Part No. 93–7316)
NEXT T O GAGE WHEELS
(Part No. 93–7282)

3
Installation
Loose Parts
Note: Use the chart below to identify parts used for assembly.
DESCRIPTION QTY. USE
Grass deflector
Spring
Washer 1/2” (13 mm)
Cotter pin
Plastic washer
Rubber bushing
Lock nut 3/8”
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
Install grass deflector
Rear link
Washer
Cotter pin
1
1
1
Install rear link
Adjustable links
Washer 1/2” (13 mm)
Cotter pin 1” (26 mm)
2
2
2
Install front mount to mower
Hairpin cotter–large
Washer 3/4” (19 mm)
Hairpin cotter–small
Washer 1/2” (13 mm)
2
2
3
3
Install mower to tractor
Operator’ s Manual 1 Read before operating

Installation
4
Mower Preparation
1. Place spring short end into small hole in the
grass deflector (Fig. 1).
2. Position spring and grass deflector over post on
rear of deck and secure with cotter pin (Fig. 1).
3. Slide rubber bushing and plastic washer over
stud at front of mower.
4. Place grass deflector over stud and secure with
second plastic washer and lock nut (Fig. 1).
1
3
2
5
4
6

7
Figure 1
1. Grass deflector
2. Spring
3.
Cotter pin
4. Rubber bushing
5. Plastic washer
6. Lock nut
7. Washer
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).

Installation
5
5. Place rear link on mower rear bracket and secure
with 1/2” (13 mm) washer and cotter pin
(Fig. 2).
1
3
2
4
mĆ2438
Figure 2
1. Rear link
2. Bracket 3. W
asher 1/2” (13 mm)
4. Cotter pin
6. Place adjustable links on mower brackets and
secure with 1/2” (13 mm) washers and cotter
pins (Fig. 3).
1
3
2
4
mĆ2437
2
1
34
Figure 3
1. Adjustable link
2. Bracket 3. W
asher 1/2” (13 mm)
4. Cotter pin

Installation
6
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. 4) and align rear mounting bushings
with ends of lift arms.
4. Turn Dial-a-Height knob counterclockwise, all
the way, and lower the attachment lift lever to
the mounting position; refer to Operation page .
5. Place rear guide bushings, first left side then
right, onto lift arms then slide deck left into
position. Secure with 3/4” (19 mm) washers and
large hairpin cotters (Fig. 4).
6. Attach rear link to attachment lift with 1/2”
(13 mm) washer and small hairpin cotter
(Fig. 4).
m-2445
1
3
2
5
4
76
Figure 4
1. Lift arms
2. W asher 3/4” (19 mm)
3. Hairpin cotter-large
4. Attachment lift
5. Rear link
6. W asher 1/2” (13 mm)
7. Hairpin cotter-small
7. Install front adjustable links to front lift arms
with washers and small hairpin cotters (Fig. 5).
m-2430
23
2
1
Figure 5
1. Adjustable link
2. Front lift arm
3. W asher 1/2” (13 mm)
4. Hairpin cotter-small

Installation
7
8. Pull on idler pulley to relax belt tension and
install mower drive belt into 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.
21
Figure 6
T op V iew
1. Mower belt 2. Engine pulley
9. Check mower level; refer to Side-to-Side Mower
Leveling page 8, and Front-to-Rear Blade
Leveling page 9.
10. Raise attachment lift lever all the way to the
latched position and adjust mower height-of-cut;
and transport height adjustment; refer to page 7.
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” (2–5 mm)
clearance between belt cover and left footrest.
m–1223
1
Figure 7
1. Nut

Installation
8
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).
2-3/4”–4” (70–102 mm) Height-of-Cut
Range
When the mower height-of-cut is set to the 2-3/4”–4”
(70–102 mm) range the mower is suspended from the
tractor.
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” (5 mm), an adjustment is
required; refer to steps 4 and 6.
Front
m–1078
1
2
3
3
2
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
m–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 9.
3/4”–2-3/4” (19–70 mm) Height-of-Cut
Range
When the mower height-of-cut is set to the
3/4”–2-3/4” (19–70 mm) range the rear gage wheels
contact the ground. There is no side-to-side
adjustment for this height range, see Front-to-Rear
Blade Slope.