warning - Scag Power Equipment

R Section44.4 STARTING THE ENGINE1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.CAUTIONDO NOT USE STARTING FLUIDS. Use of startingfluids in the air intake system may be potentiallyexplosive or cause a “runaway” engine conditionthat could result in engine damage and/orpersonal injury.Be sure the fuel shutoff valve, located behind theoperator's seat, is completely open. (See Section7.5.)Secure the ROPS in the upright and locked position.Sit in the operator’s seat, fasten seat belt and placethe steering control levers in the neutral position.Engage the parking brake.Place the PTO switch in the disengaged position.If the engine is cold, choke the engine as needed.Move the engine throttle control to about half enginespeed.Turn the ignition key to the START position andrelease the key as soon as the engine starts. Donot hold the key in the START position for morethan 15 seconds at a time. Allow at least 60seconds between each cranking attempt to preventoverheating of the starter motor. Prolonged crankingcan damage the starter motor and shorten batterylife.Allow engine to warm before operating the mower.4.5 GROUND TRAVEL AND STEERING- IMPORTANT -If you are not familiar with the operation of amachine with lever steering and/or hydrostatictransmissions, the steering and ground speedoperations should be learned and practiced inan open area, away from buildings, fences, orobstructions.Learn to feather the steering controls to obtain asmooth operating action.Practice operating the mower until you arecomfortable with the controls before proceedingto mow.Forward TravelTo travel forward with the mower, disengage the parkingbrake, pull levers inward out of the neutral lock positionand slowly push the steering control levers forward anequal distance. The further the steering control levers arepushed forward the greater the forward speed will be. Toincrease the speed, push the steering control levers furtherforward and to decrease the speed, pull the steering controllevers back.To stop the forward travel, pull the steering control leversback to the neutral position.To steer the mower left while traveling forward, pull the leftsteering lever back. The further the lever is pulled back, thequicker the mower will turn left.To steer the mower right while traveling forward, pull theright steering control lever back. The further the lever ispulled back, the quicker the mower will turn right.- NOTE -Smooth operation of the steering levers willproduce smooth mower operation. While learningthe operation of the steering controls, keep thetravel speed low.- IMPORTANT -Do not travel forward over a curb. The mower willhang up on the curb. Raise the deck and travelbackwards over the curb at a 45 degree angle.(See Figure 4-1 items 12-14 for cutter deck raisingdescription.)Learn the operation on flat ground before operatingon slopes.Start practicing with a slow engine speed and slowforward travel.14