Poulan PO12538LT manual

OPERA T OR'S MANU AL MODEL: PO12538L T LA WN TRA CT OR AL W A YS WEAR EYE PR O TECTION DURING OPERA TION Visit our website: www .poulan.com W ARNING: Read this Man u al and follo w all Warnings and Saf ety Instructions. F ail ure to do so can re sult in serious in ju ry . IMPOR T ANT MANU AL Do Not Thr ow A wa y 401164 11.15.05 TR Printed in U[...]

2 I. GENERAL OPERA TION • Read, understand, and f ollow all instructions on the machine and in the manual bef ore star ting. • Do not put hands or f eet near rotating par ts or under the machine. K eep clear of the discharge opening at all times. • Only allow responsible adults, who are f amiliar with the in struc tions , to operate the machi[...]

3 • Be sure the area is clear of bystanders bef ore operat- ing. Stop machine if anyone enters the area. • Ne v er carr y passengers. • Do not mow in rev erse unless absolutely necessar y . Al w a ys look down and behind bef ore and while back- ing. • Ne v er carry children, ev en with the b lades shut off . They ma y f all off and be serio[...]

4 T ABLE OF CONTENTS SAFETY RULES ......................................................... 2-3 PRODUCT SPECIFICA TIONS ....................................... 4 CUST OMER RESPONSIBILITIES ................................. 4 ASSEMBL Y ................................................................. 6-8 OPERA TION ..................................[...]

5 CONTENTS OF HARD W ARE P A CK Steering Wheel Steering Wheel Insert (1) Large Flat Washer Steering Boot Steering Wheel Adapter Seat (2) Keys Slope Sheet Key (1) Oil Drain Tube (1) Hex Bolt 5/16-18 x 4 (1) 5/16 Lock Washer Steering Extension Shaft (1) Bolt (1) Washer 17/32 x 1-3/16 x 12 Gauge (1) Lock Washer 1/2[...]

6 ASSEMBL Y T OOLS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBL Y A sock et wrench set will mak e assemb ly easier . Stan dard wrench sizes are listed. (1) 1/2" wrench Utility knif e (1) 3/4" wrench Tire pres sure gauge Pliers When right or left hand is mentioned in this man ual, it means when you are in the oper ating po si tion (seated be hind the steer ing wh[...]

7 ASSEMBL Y FIG. 2 T O ROLL TRA CT OR OFF SKID (See Op- er a tion section for location and func tion of con trols) • Press lift lev er plunger and r aise attachment lift le v er to its highest po si tion. • Release parking br ak e b y depressing clutch/br ake ped al. • Place gearshift le v er in neutral (N) po si tion. • Roll tractor f orw [...]

8 ASSEMBL Y CHECK TIRE PRESSURE The tires on your tr actor were o v erinfl ated at the f actory f or shipping pur poses. Correct tire pressure is impor tant f or best cutting perf ormance. • Reduce tire pressure to PSI shown on tires . CHECK DECK LEVELNESS F or best cutting results, mo wer housing should be properly le v eled. See “T O LEVEL M[...]

9 OPERA TION These symbols ma y appear on your tr actor or in literature supplied with the product. Lear n and understand their mean- ing. DANGER, KEEP HANDS AND FEET AWAY FREE WHEEL (Automatic Models only) KEEP AREA CLEAR SLOPE HAZARDS 15 15 (SEE SAFETY RULES SECTION) BATTERY REVERSE FORWARD FAST SLOW ENGINE ON ENGINE OFF FUEL CHOKE MOWER HEIGHT P[...]

10 02829 OPERA TION KNO W Y OUR TRA CT OR READ THIS O WNER'S MANU AL AND SAFETY R ULES BEFORE OPERA TING Y OUR TRA CT OR Compare the illustrations with y our tractor to f amiliarize y ourself with the locations of v arious controls and ad just ments. Sav e this man ual f or future ref erence . A TT A CHMENT CLUTCH LEVER - Used to engage the mo[...]

11 NO TE: Under cer tain conditions when tractor is standing idle with the engine running, hot engine exhaust gases ma y cause “brown ing” of g rass . T o eliminate this possibility , al- wa ys stop engine when stopping tr actor on grass areas . CA UTION: Al wa ys stop tractor com- plete ly , as described abo ve, bef ore leav- ing the operator&[...]

12 T O OPERA TE ON HILLS W ARNING: Do not drive up or down hills with slopes great er than 15° and do not drive across an y slope. • Choose the slo west speed bef ore starting up or down hills. • A v oid stopping or changing speed on hills . • If stopping is absolutely necessary , push clutch/brak e pedal quickly to br ake position and engag[...]

13 OPERA TION T O ST ART ENGINE (See Fig. 5) When star ting the engine for the fi rst time or if the engine has run out of fuel, it will take e xtra cr anking time to mov e fuel from the tank to the engine. • Sit on seat in operating position, depress clutch/brake pedal and set parking brake . • Place gear shift le v er in neutral (N) position[...]

14 MO WING TIPS • Mower should be properly le v eled f or best mo wing per- for mance. See "TO LEVEL MO WER HOUSING" in the Ser vice and Adjustments section of this manual. • The left hand side of mower should be used f or trim- ming. • Drive so that clippings are discharged onto the area that has been cut. Hav e the cut area to the[...]

15 MAINTENANCE LUBRICA TION CHART d SPINDLE ZERK d FRONT WHEEL BEARING ZERK c SAE 30 OR 10W30 MO T OR OIL d GENERAL PURPOSE GREASE e REFER T O MAINTENANCE “ENGINE” SECTION IMPORT ANT: DO NO T OIL OR GREASE THE PIVO T POINTS WHICH HA VE SPECIAL NYLON BEARINGS. VISCOUS LU BRI CANTS WILL A TTRACT DUST AND DIR T THA T WILL SHOR T EN THE LIFE OF THE[...]

16 MAINTENANCE FIG. 8 TRA CT OR Alwa ys observe saf ety rules when per fo r m ing any main- te nance. BRAKE OPERA TION If tractor requires more than fi v e (5) f eet to stop at highest speed in high est gear on a lev el, dry concrete or pav ed surf ace, then br ake m ust be chec ked and ad just ed. (See “T O ADJUST BRAKE” in the Ser vice and A[...]

17 FIG. 9 B A TTER Y Y our tractor has a batter y charging system which is suf fi cient f or normal use. Howe v er , per iodic charging of the batter y with an automotiv e charger will e xtend its lif e. • K eep battery and ter minals clean. • K eep battery bolts tight. • K eep small v ent holes open. • Recharge at 6-10 amperes f or 1 hour[...]

18 MAINTENANCE CLEANING • Clean engine, batter y , seat, fi nish, etc. of all f oreign matter . • K eep fi nished surfaces and wheels free of all gasoline, oil, etc. • Protect painted surf aces with automotiv e type wax. W e do not recommend using a garden hose or pressure washer to clean y our tractor unless the engine and trans- mission a[...]

19 SER VICE AND ADJUSTMENTS W ARNING: T O A V OID SE RI OUS IN JU R Y , BEFORE PERFORMING ANY SER VICE OR ADJUST - MENTS: • Depress clutc h/brake pedal fully and set parking brake. • Place gearshift lever in neutral (N) position. • Place attachment c lutch in “DISENGA GED” position. • T urn ignition key to “ST OP” and remove key . ?[...]

20 SER VICE AND ADJUSTMENTS FRONT -T O-BA CK ADJUSTMENT (See Figs . 16 and 17) IMPORT ANT : DECK MUST BE LEVEL SIDE-T O-SIDE. IF THE FOLLO WING FRONT -TO-BA CK ADJUSTMENT IS NECESSAR Y , BE SURE T O AD JUST BO TH FRONT LINKS EQU AL LY S O MO WER WILL ST A Y LEVEL SIDE-T O-SIDE. T o obtain the best cutting results, the mower housing should be adjust[...]

21 SER VICE AND ADJUSTMENTS FIG. 18 FIG. 20 T O REPLACE MO TION DRIVE BEL T (See Fig. 20) P ark the tractor on le v el surf ace . En gage parking brak e. Fo r a s sis tance , there is a belt installation guide decal on bottom side of left f ootrest. BEL T REMO V AL - • Remov e mower (See “TO RE MO VE MOWER” in this section of manual). NO TE: [...]

22 ADJUSTMENT BOL T NEUTRAL LOCK GA TE GEARSHIFT LEVER FIG. 21 SER VICE AND ADJUSTMENTS T O ADJUST STEERING WHEEL ALIGN- MENT If steering wheel crossbars are not hor izontal (left to right) when wheels are positioned straight f orw ard, remov e steer- ing wheel and reassemb le per instructions in the Assembly section of this manual. FRONT WHEEL T O[...]

23 REPLA CING BA TTER Y (See Figs. 24 and 25) W ARNING: Do not short batter y ter mi nals by allowing a wrenc h or an y other object to contact both terminals at the same time. Bef ore connect- ing battery , remo ve metal bracelets, wristwatch bands, rings, etc. P ositive terminal m ust be connected fi rst to pre vent sparking from ac ci - den tal[...]

24 ST ORA GE Immediately prepare your tr actor f or storage at the end of the season or if the tractor will not be used f or 30 da ys or more. W ARNING: Never store the trac tor with gas o line in the tank inside a building where fumes may reac h an open fl ame or spark. Allo w the engine to cool before storing in any en cl o sure. TRA CT OR Remov[...]

25 TR OUBLESHOO TING POINTS Will not start 1. Out of fuel. 1. Fill fuel tank. 2. Engine not “CHOKED” properly . 2. See “T O ST ART ENGINE” in Operation section. 3. Engine fl ooded. 3. W ait sever al minutes bef ore attempting to star t. 4. Bad spark plug. 4. Replace spark plug. 5. Dirty air fi lter . 5. Clean/replace air fi lter . 6. Dir[...]

26 TR OUBLESHOO TING POINTS PROBLEM CA USE CORRECTION Engine dies when 1. Rev erse oper ation system 1. T ur n ignition key to tractor is shifted (ROS) is not "ON" while ROS "ON" position. into reverse mower or other attachment See Operation section. is engaged. Engine continues to run 1. F aulty operator-saf ety presence contro[...]

27 LIMITED W ARRANTY The Manuf acturer warr ants to the original consumer purchaser that this product as manufactured is free from def ects in materi- als and work man ship. For a period of two (2) y ears from date of purchase by the original consumer purchaser , we will repair or replace, at our option, without charge f or parts or labor incurred [...]

28 SER VICE NO TES[...]

29 15 DEGREES MAX. FOLD ALONG DO TTED LINE THIS IS A 15 DEGREE SLOPE ONLY RIDE UP AND DOWN HILL, NOT ACROSS HILL SUGGESTED GUIDE FOR SIGHTING SLOPES FOR SAFE OPERATION WARNING: To avoid serious injury, operate your tractor up and down the face of slopes, never across the face. Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees. Make turns gradually to preve[...]

This product has been exper tly en gi neered and carefully manu fac tured to r igid quality stan dards. As with all mechanical products, some adjustments or par t replacement ma y be necessar y during the life of y our unit. F or P arts and ser vice, contact our author ized distributor: call 1-800-849-1297 • F or replacement par ts, hav e availab[...]