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Operator’s Manual
Hydrostatic Lawn Tractor
MODELS 790
791
792
795
IMPORTANT: Read safety rules and instructions carefully before operating equipment.
Warning: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brush-
covered or grass-covered land unless the engine’s exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting applicable local or state laws (if
any). If a spark arrester is used, it should be maintained in effecti
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Page Content Page Customer Support 2 Maintenance 22 Important Safe Operation Practices 3 Service 24 Tractor Set-up 8 Off-season Storage 28 Controls 11 Attachments & Accessories 28 Operation 14 Warranty Back Cover 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,
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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 operati
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23. Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a 4. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for burn. Do not touch. wheel weights or counterweights to improve stability. 24. Check overhead clearances carefully before driving under low hanging tree branches, wires, door 5. Use extra care with grass catchers or other openings etc., where the operator may be struck or attachments. These can change the stability of the pulled from the unit, which could result in serious machine. injury. 6. K
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e. Use extreme care when approaching blind lock-open device. corners, doorways, shrubs, trees or other e. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and objects that may block your vision of a child other sources of ignition. who may run into the machine. f. Never fuel machine indoors. f. To avoid back-over accidents, always g. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the disengage the cutting blade(s) before engine is hot or running. Allow engine to cool shifting into reverse. The “Reverse
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8. Never tamper with the safety interlock system or For safety protection, frequently check components other safety devices. Check their proper operation and replace immediately with original equipment regularly. manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only, listed in this 9. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, manual. “Use of parts which do not meet the disconnect the spark plug wire(s) and ground original equipment specifications may lead to against the engine. Thoroughly inspect the
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SECTION 2: SLOPE GAUGE 7
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SECTION 3: TRACTOR SET-UP IMPORTANT: Your tractor is shipped with motor oil in the engine. However, you MUST check the oil level before starting the engine and operating the tractor. Refer to the separate engine manufacturer’s Operator/Owner Manual packed with your tractor. Read instructions carefully. Loose Parts Shipping Brace Removal Packaged with this Operator’s Manual you’ll find: WARNING: Make sure the riding mower’s One Small Clamp (726-0354) engine is off, remove the ignition key, a
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Attaching the Battery Cables Gas and Oil Fill-up The gasoline tank is located under the hood and has a NOTE: Some models are shipped with the battery capacity of 1-1/2 gallons. Do not overfill. cables already connected. WARNING: Use extreme care when IMPORTANT: The positive battery terminal is marked handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely Pos. (+). The negative battery terminal is marked flammable and the vapors are explosive. Neg. (–). Never fuel machine indoors or while the The positiv
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Attaching The Seat Standard Adjustment Seat styles vary by tractor model and there are three different styles available: Hex Screws Standard Adjustment Quick Adjustment & Knob Adjustment Shoulder Refer to Figure 4, Figure 5 and Figure 6 to identify your Screws tractor’s seat style and follow applicable instructions below. Opening in Slot NOTE: For shipping reasons, seats are either fastened to the tractor seat’s pivot bracket with a plastic tie, or mounted backward to the pivot bracket
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SECTION 4: KNOW YOUR LAWN TRACTOR E F A CHOKE FAST OFF SLOW P PARK BRAKE ON B C G D H Figure 7 A Parking Brake Lever E Throttle Control Lever B brake Pedal F Ignition Switch Module C Speed Control Lever G Deck Lift Lever D Choke Control (on models so equipped) H PTO (Blade Engage) Lever NOTE: Any reference in this manual to the RIGHT or LEFT side of the tractor is observed from operator’s position. 11
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PTO ON PTO / BLADE ENGAGE PTO OFF Throttle Control Lever Parking Brake Lever OFF The throttle control lever is located on the right side of To set the parking brake, fully the tractor’s dash panel. This lever controls the speed depress the brake pedal. Move the of the engine and, on most models, when pushed all the parking brake lever all the way down way forward, the choke control also. When set in a and into the ON position. Release the given position, the throttle will maintain a uniform
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Speed Control Lever Ignition Switch The speed control lever, located on the left fender, The ignition switch is activated to start the engine. allows you to regulate the travel direction and ground Insert key into the ignition switch and turn clockwise to speed of the lawn tractor. To use, release the parking the START position. Release the key into the ON brake and move the speed control lever forward (to position once engine has fired. See Figure 9A. travel forward) or rearward (to travel
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SECTION 5: OPERATING YOUR LAWN TRACTOR The REVERSE CAUTION MODE position of the key Safety Interlock Switches switch module allows the tractor to be operated in This tractor is equipped with a safety interlock system reverse with the blades (PTO) engaged. for the protection of the operator. If the interlock system IMPORTANT: Mowing in reverse is not recommended. should ever malfunction, do not operate the tractor. Contact an authorized MTD service dealer. To use the REVERSE CAUTION MODE:
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NOTE: Do NOT leave the throttle control in the Engaging the Parking Brake CHOKE position while operating the tractor. Doing so To engage the parking brake: will result in a "rich" fuel mixture and cause the engine Fully depress the brake pedal and hold it down with to run poorly. your foot. Move the parking brake lever all the way down and WARNING into the ON position. Release the brake pedal to allow the parking brake AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH to engage. To release the parking br
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Release the parking brake by depressing the brake Avoid stopping when driving up a slope. If it is pedal. necessary to stop while driving up a slope, start up Position the speed control lever in desired position. smoothly and carefully to reduce the possibility of The further forward or rearward that the lever is flipping the tractor over backward. moved, the faster the tractor will travel. . Using the Deck Lift Lever IMPORTANT: Do NOT attempt to change the direction of travel when the
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Do not cut the grass too short. Short grass invites weed growth and yellows quickly in dry weather. Carriage Screw Mowing should always be done with the throttle control lever to the FAST (rabbit) position. Under heavier conditions it may be necessary to go back over the area a second time to get a clean cut. Do NOT attempt to mow heavy brush and weeds and extremely tall grass. Your tractor is designed to mow lawns, NOT clear brush. Keep the blades sharp and replace the blades
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IMPORTANT: Never attempt to move the tractor On all models, the lamps turn OFF when the ignition manually without first engaging the hydrostatic relief key is moved to the STOP position. valve. Doing so will result in serious damage to the tractor’s transmission. Headlights On some models, the lamps are ON whenever the tractor’s engine is running. On other models, the lamps are ON whenever the ignition key is moved out of the STOP position. SECTION 6: MAKING ADJUSTMENTS Determine the appro
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. Leveling the Deck (con’t.) Side to Side If the cutting deck appears to be mowing unevenly, a side to side adjustment can be performed. Adjust if necessary as follows: With the tractor parked on a firm, level surface, place the deck lift lever in the top notch (highest position) and rotate both blades so that they are perpendicular with the tractor. Measure the distance from the outside of the left blade tip to the ground and the distance from the outside of the right blade tip to th
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Standard Adjustment Seat To adjust the position of the seat, loosen the two hex Hex Screws screws on the bottom of the seat. See Figure 15. Slide the seat forward or backward as desired. Retighten the two screws. Quick Adjustment Seat (if so equipped) To adjust the position of the seat, move the seat adjustment lever (located under the seat) to the left and slide the seat forward or backwards. See Figure 17. Make sure seat is locked into one of the six adjustment positions before operati
