Cub Cadet Z Force S 54 Z-Force S 48 Operator's Manual - Page 18

Driving On Slopes Refer to the SLOPE GAUGE on page 8 to help determine slopes where you may operate the tractor safely. WARNING! Do not mow on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degrees (a rise of approximately 2-1⁄2 feet every 10 feet). The tractor could overturn and cause serious injury. • Mow across slopes, not up and down. • Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes. • Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden objects. Uneven terrain could overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide obstacles. • Do not turn on slopes unless necessary; then turn slowly uphill and use extra care while turning. Turning up a slope greatly increases the chance of a rollover. • Avoid stopping when driving up a slope. If it is necessary to stop while driving up a slope, start up smoothly and carefully to reduce the possibility of flipping the tractor over backward. Mowing WARNING! To help avoid blade contact or a thrown object injury, keep bystanders, helpers, children and pets at least 75 feet from the machine while it is in operation. Stop machine if anyone enters the area. The following information will be helpful when using the cutting deck with your tractor. WARNING! Plan your mowing pattern to avoid discharge of materials toward roads, sidewalks, bystanders and the like. Also, avoid discharging material against a wall or obstruction which may cause discharged material to ricochet back toward the operator. • Do not mow at high ground speed, especially if a mulch kit or grass collector is installed. • Do not cut the grass too short. Short grass is prone to weed growth and yellows quickly in dry weather. • Always operate the tractor with the throttle lever in the FAST (rabbit) position while mowing. • For best results it is recommended that the first two laps be cut with the discharge thrown towards the center. After the first two laps, reverse the direction to throw the discharge to the outside for the balance of cutting. This will give a better appearance to the lawn. • Do NOT attempt to mow heavy brush and weeds or extremely tall grass. Your tractor is designed to mow lawns, NOT clear brush. • Keep the blades sharp and replace the blades when worn. Using the Deck Lift Pedal Push the pedal forward until it locks into the transport position, locking behind the notch on the front of the index plate. Remove and replace the lock pin into the desired height index hole, then press down on the lift pedal and slowly allow the pedal to move back until it reaches the lock pin. Engaging the PTO Engaging the PTO transfers power to the cutting deck or other (separately available) attachments. To engage the PTO: 1. Move the throttle control lever to the FAST (rabbit) position. 2. Pull the PTO/Blade Engage knob outward into the engaged (ON) position. See Figure 5-4. OFF ON Figure 5-4 NOTE: Always operate the tractor with the throttle lever in the FAST (rabbit) position for the most efficient use of the cutting deck or other (separately available) attachments. 18 Section 5- Operation