Operator's Manual

18
Controls
Become familiar with all the controls (Fig. 16) before you
start the engine and operate the machine.
m–5907
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Figure 16
1. Throttle control
2. Operator Presence
Control (OPC) lever (2)
3. Gear shift lever
4. Drive lever (2)
5. Neutral/parking brake
lock (2)
6. Handle
7. Blade control (PTO) lever
8. Control panel
9. Throttle cable
10. Ignition switch
11. Choke
12. Left side
Throttle control—The throttle control has two positions:
Fast and Slow.
Operator presence control (OPC) levers—When you
squeeze the OPC levers against the handles, the OPC
system senses that the operator is in the normal operating
position. When you release the OPC levers, the OPC
system senses that the operator has left the normal
operating position, and the system will stop the engine if
either the gear shift lever is not in the Neutral position or
the blade control (PTO) lever is engaged.
Gear shift lever—The transmission has five forward
speeds, neutral and reverse, and has an in-line shift pattern.
Do not shift the lever while the mower is moving to
prevent transmission damage.
Drive levers—The drive levers control the wheel traction.
Release the drive levers to engage the wheel traction, or
squeeze them to disengage the traction. Fully squeezing the
drive levers engages the parking brakes. Gradually
squeezing the left or right drive lever disengages the
traction on that side, causing the left or right wheel to slow
down. This causes the mower to turn left or right,
respectively. The sharpness of the turn depends on how
much you squeeze the drive lever. To move the mower
straight forward (or backward), smoothly release both drive
levers simultaneously.
Neutral/parking brake locks—Squeeze the drive levers
back and move the locks rearward to activate the neutral
lock. Squeeze the drive levers back and move the locks
forward to activate the parking brake locks.
Choke—Use the choke to start a cold engine.
Blade control (PTO) lever—The blade control (PTO)
lever engages and disengages power to the mower blades.
Move the PTO lever forward to engage the blades. Pull the
lever rearward to stop driving the mower blades.
Ignition switch—The ignition switch is used in
conjunction with the recoil starter. The switch has two
positions: Run and Off.
Recoil starter (On the engine)—Pull the recoil starter
handle to start the engine.
Fuel shut-off valve (In the fuel line)—Close the fuel
shut-off valve when transporting or storing the mower.
Operating the Parking Brake
and Neutral Locks
Always set the parking brakes when you stop the machine
or leave it unattended.
Setting the Parking Brakes
1. Squeeze the drive levers back (Fig. 17).
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m-5386
Figure 17
1. Handle
2. Neutral/parking brake lock
3. Park position
4. Neutral position
5. Drive lever
6. Full speed forward
2. Place your thumbs on the upper part of the locks and
move them forward in into the Park position (Fig. 17).
3. Release the drive levers.
Releasing the Parking Brakes
1. Squeeze the drive levers back (Fig. 17).