III. MOWER OPERATION

1. BEFORE OPERATION

CAUTION:

• Before starting the mower operation, be sure to equip ISEKI standard grass collector. Never mow grass without the collector, or the lawn mower will scatter grass, stone and other flying debris, which is very dangerous.

• Become familiar with the operation of the lawn mower, and understand safety instructions by reading this manual carefully.

• Make sure that all safety covers and guards are installed in position.

• Make sure that the blade nuts are tightened securely.

• Make sure that the belt is tensioned evenly as specified.

• Before moving the lawn mower into the working site, check the whole area and get rid of all obstacles such as stones, wood, empty tins, bottles, wires, etc to assure safe operation.

• Make sure that the mower operation will not cause any injury to children, animals, bystanders, or damage to trees, buildings, etc.

• Check the place to mow beforehand for bumps, ditches, mounds, steps, slopes, inclination, softness, water pools and etc. in order to avoid accidents such as turnover, fall, side-sliding of the lawn mower.

2. CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT

b. Select one of the setting holes to get the required cutting height, insert the pin, and retain it with the spring clip pin. The label showing the relationships between the setting holes and cutting heights is stuck on the mower deck.

c. Also set the cutting height of the gauge wheels by re-setting the setting hole for the setting pin with the spring clip pin removed.

d. The right and left gauge wheels should be set to the same cutting height.

e. Move the lift lever forward ( ) to lower the mower deck.

CAUTION: Before operating the lift lever, be seated in the operator’s seat and make sure of the safety conditions when lowering the mower deck.

3. HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT DIAL

The use of height adjustment dial can reduce the mark of gauge wheel on ground when cutting grass on soft ground. (Refer to page 40)

• How to use the height adjustment dial a. Move the lift lever backward to raise the mower deck to the highest position. b. Turn the height adjustment dial to set the cutting height of the mower deck. c. Move the lift lever forward to lower the mower deck. When changing the cutting height of the mower deck, follow above procedure.

NOTE: • Turn the dial forward ( ), the cutting height would be low.

• Turn the dial backward ( ), the cutting height would be high.

IMPORTANT: In case of using the height adjustment dial only, cutting height would be uneven in the rough. Use the height adjustment dial with gauge wheel.

4. STARTING MOWING OPERATION

a. Start the engine and set the throttle lever (1) to the intermediate position between the low speed ( ) and high speed ( ) positions.

c. Release the parking brake (GE TYPE) or the parking lock (E TYPE).

d. Depress the HST forward travel pedal gradually to drive the lawn mower into the working site.

NOTE: Before starting the operation, be sure to set the rear gauge wheels to forward direction and lock it by inserting pin, to prevent from damaging the grass.

e. Release the HST pedal gradually to stop the lawn mower.

f. Move the lift lever (2) forward ( ) to lower the mower deck on the ground.

g. Move the PTO lever to the ON ( ) position.

IMPORTANT: When engaging the PTO clutch, slow down the engine speed sufficiently for safety.

IMPORTANT: When the lawn mower moves backward with engaging PTO, engine stops.

CAUTION: Whenever you encounter with any trouble of the mower, ask your dealer for repair immediately.

WARNING:

• As soon as the PTO lever is set to the ON ( ) position, the mower blades start rotating and eject cut grass or stones through the discharge opening. Consequently, before operating the PTO lever make sure that there is no people, animals, or properties like buildings, cars, etc. within a range where ejected grass or stones may reach.

(1) Throttle lever

b. Move the lift lever (2) backward ( ) to raise the mower deck from the ground.

• The mower blades should be turned only on turf or grassland and with the mower deck lowered.

h. Set the throttle lever to the high speed ( ) position to raise engine speed.

i. As the HST forward travel pedal is depressed gradually, the lawn mower starts to travel.

CAUTION: Be sure to start mowing at sufficiently low speeds and increase travelling speed gradually.

(2) Lift lever

IMPORTANT: The screens of the air-intake openings provided under the steering wheel, the upper net provided underside the engine hood and the radiator screen should be kept clean. Never keep on operating with clogged screens, or the engine may be overheated, which may result in engine seizure.

5. CLEANING A MOWER DECK AND CHUTE CLOGGED WITH GRASS

When mowed grass is not ejected from the mower deck or clogs the mower chute, stop operation immediately and remove clogged grass.

When the discharge opening inside chute (3) is clogged: a. Move the PTO lever to the OFF ( ) position and move the lift lever backward ( ) to raise the mower deck in the highest position. b. Move the collector lift lever (6) backward to lift the collector (SBC600X-3H), or move the collector dump lever backward to dump the collector (SBC550X-3L). c. Insert the lock pin (7) to right and left frame of collector to prevent the collector from falling (SBC600X-3H). d. Stop the engine. e. Pull up the cleaning lever (4) and remove the clogged grass (9) in the chute (3). f. When grass is clogged in the mower deck under plate (1) and discharge cover (2), remove it with the cleaning stick (8).

DANGER:

• When removing the clogged grass with raised container, insert the lock pin (7) to right and left frame of collector to prevent the collector from falling (SBC600X-3H).

• Stop the engine before removing the clogged grass in chute and mower deck.

6. EMERGENCY STOP

• When any of the following abnormalities is encountered, stop the lawn mower and mower deck immediately.

- Abnormal noise

- Abnormal vibration

- Abnormal smell

- Blade hitting an obstacle

- The lawn mower hitting an obstacle

• The cause of trouble should be found and corrected immediately. If it is not solved by yourself, consult your dealer. Never attempt to keep on operating the lawn mower without finding and correcting the cause of trouble. After striking a foreign object, inspect the mower for damage and make repairs before restarting and operating mower.

• When the operator leaves the seat, the safety system automatically stops the engine. When leaving the lawn mower to remove obstacles such as twigs, pebbles, etc., the PTO lever must be moved to the OFF position ( ) and the parking brake (GE TYPE) or parking lock (E TYPE) must be applied.

7. STOPPING MOWING OPERATION

a. Release the HST travel pedal.

b. Set the throttle lever to the low speed position ( ) to reduce engine speeds.

d. Move the PTO lever to the STOP ( ) position.

e. Turn the starter switch to the OFF ( ) position to stop the engine.

IMPORTANT: • Never attempt to stop the engine abruptly when it is running at high speeds.

• Be sure to let the engine idle for about 5 minutes after long operation to cool down engine sufficiently and then stop the engine. Abrupt engine stopping may lead to overheating causing seizure.

f. Remove key from the starter switch without fail.

CAUTION: When you leave the lawn mower, be sure to stop the engine and remove key from the starter switch to prevent the lawn mower from being started unexpectedly by children or unauthorized people.

c. To apply the parking brake securely, pull up the parking brake lever. (GE TYPE)

To apply the parking lock securely, depress the master brake pedal first. While depressing the master brake pedal, move the foot to the parking lock and then depress the parking lock to lock the master brake pedal. (E TYPE)

CAUTION: Park the lawn mower on level, hard ground and make sure that the parking brake (GE TYPE) or the parking lock (E TYPE) are applied securely.

8. EFFICIENT MOWING

IMPORTANT: a. For mowing tall grass i. Mow grass twice. ii. When trying to finish in one pass, select a sufficiently slow travelling speed. It may also be required to set the cutting width to half or one-third of that for normal operation. b. For mowing highly moist grass or mowing on wet ground i. If the turf damage by the tires could result, wait until the grass and land have dried sufficiently. ii. Wet grass requires a higher grass cutting height setting than when mowing dry grass, as the cutting height is often lower than expected during operation. iii. Select a sufficiently slow travelling speed and avoid sudden starts, turns, and stops. If not, the turf may be damaged. c. For mowing low moisture content grass or when there is much dead grass i. Advance should be in a direction where the dust does not hit the operator by taking into consideration the direction of the wind. ii. When the air-intake screens are clogged, clean them at once.

• Be sure to mow at full throttle ( ).

• Choose an adequate travelling speed in accordance with the height or other conditions of grass to be cut.

• When the screens for the air-intake openings and radiator are clogged with dust, clean them at once. Never go on operating with clogged screens.

• Mowing is desirable when the grass is dew-free: in the afternoon or late afternoon, thus preventing the mower from heavy clogging.

• Always keep the mower deck clean.

• Check the blade ends for damage. (Refer to page 85 and 86.)

• Repeated mowing is recommended before the grass grows too high.

• Cutting grass too closely may damage the grass. To maintain a green lawn, never mow more than one-third of the height of the grass in one mowing.

• A slower travelling speed will result in improved mowing. Avoid selecting such a travelling speed that causes the lawn mower to bounce.

• Short or fast turns will damage turf. Slow down sufficiently when turning.

• Frequent sharpening of the mower blades results in beautiful finish and less load on equipment, which leads to economical operation.

First, mow the grass to a height low enough for the next finishing pass. Then finish to the desired grass height.

The second travelling pass should be shifted sideways by 20 cm (8 in.) or so, or travel perpendicular to the first passes, which will result in a beautiful even finish.

IMPORTANT: • When operating the lawn mower in dusty circumstances, keep on paying attention to the coolant temperature warning lamp.

• Never continue operating when screens are clogged, or engine breakdown may result.

9. HOW TO USE AIR INTAKE SCREEN

a. In the normal mowing condition, mow the grass with the air intake screen (1) closed.

b. When mowing at low cutting height, intake air from bottom of mower deck may become insufficient. In order to increase air circulation, loosen the knob nut (3) and rotate the air intake cover (2) to OPEN position.

After opening the air intake screen (1), tighten the knob nut (3) securely.

(The air intake screen when opening)