Operating - Machine

Operate Safely

· Check brake action before you operate. Adjust
or service brakes as necessary.

· Inspect machine before you operate. Be sure hardware is tight. Repair or replace damaged, badly worn, or missing parts. Be sure guards and shields are in good condition and fastened in place. Make any necessary adjustments before you operate.

· Clear work area of objects that might be thrown. Keep people and pets out of the work area. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.

· If you hit an object, stop the machine and inspect it. Make repairs before you operate. Keep machine and attachments properly maintained and in good working order.

· DO NOT leave machine unattended when it is running.

· Only operate during daylight or with good artificial light.

· Be careful of traffic when operating near or crossing roadways.

· Do not wear radio or music headphones while operating the machine. Safe operation requires your full attention.

Park Safely

· Stop machine on a level surface, not on a slope.

· Disengage PTO.

· Lower attachments to the ground.

· Engage park brake.

· STOP engine.

· Remove key.

· Before you leave the operator's seat, wait for engine and all moving parts to STOP.

Rotating Blades are Dangerous - Protect Children and Prevent Accidents

PROTECT CHILDREN:

· Never assume that children will remain where you last saw them. Children are attracted to mowing activity, stay alert to the presence of children.

· Keep children in the house when you are operating the machine.

· Turn machine off if a child enters the mowing area.

· Use extra care when you come to blind corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may block your vision.

· DO NOT let children or an untrained person operate the machine.

· DO NOT carry or let children ride on machine or any attachment. DO NOT tow children in a cart or trailer.

HELP PREVENT SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENTS:

· Be alert at all times, drive forward carefully. People, especially children, can move quickly into the mowing area before you know it.

· Back carefully. Shut off PTO and look behind the machine carefully, especially for children, before you back up.

· DO NOT mow in reverse unless it is absolutely necessary.

· Shut off PTO when you are not mowing.

· DO NOT operate machine if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Avoid Tipping

· DO NOT drive where machine could slip or tip.

· Stay alert for holes and other hidden hazards in the terrain.

· Keep away from drop-offs.

· Slow down before you make a sharp turn or operate on a slope.

· When pulling loads or using heavy equipment, use only approved hitches, limit loads to those you can safely control, and use counterweights or wheel weights when required per this manual or your attachment manual.

· Drive up and down a hill - not across. Be careful when you change direction on a slope.

· DO NOT stop when going up hill or down hill. If machine stops going up hill, STOP PTO and back down slowly.

· DO NOT mow wet grass. Reduced traction could cause sliding.

· DO NOT try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot on the ground.

Keep Riders Off

· Only allow the operator on the machine. Keep riders off.

· Riders on the machine or attachment may be struck by foreign objects or thrown off the machine causing serious injury.

· Riders obstruct the operator's view resulting in the machine being operated in an unsafe manner.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

· Wear close fitting clothing and safety equipment appropriate for the job.

· Loud noise can cause impairment or loss of hearing, wear a suitable protective device such as earplugs.

Transport Safely

· Use safety lights and devices. Slow moving machines when driven on public roads are hard to see, especially at night. Avoid personal injury or death resulting from a collision with a vehicle.

· Whenever driving on public roads, use flashing warning lights and turn signals according to local regulations. Extra flashing warning lights may need to be installed.

Adjusting Seat

M74284

1. Lift seat.

2. Loosen knob(s) (A).

3. Slide seat forward or rearward as needed.

4. Tighten knob(s).

5. Lower seat.

Using Park Brake

M72622

To lock park brake:

· Depress brake pedal and hold.

· Move park brake lever (A) to bottom of slot.

· Release brake pedal.

To unlock park brake:

· Depress brake pedal and hold.

· Move park brake lever (A) to top of slot and then to the right.

· Release brake pedal.

Starting Engine

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Engine exhaust fumes can cause sickness or death. · If it is necessary to run an engine in an enclosed area, remove the exhaust fumes from the area with an exhaust pipe extension. · If you do not have an exhaust pipe extension, open the doors and get outside air into the area.

M74277

1. Turn fuel shut-off valve (A) so pointer is in line with fuel line and in the OPEN position.

M72622

2. Sit on operator's seat.

3. LOCK park brake (B).

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4. Pull PTO lever (C) completely rearward to OFF (p) position.

5. Put shift lever (D) in N (NEUTRAL) position.

M88498

6. COLD ENGINE: Push throttle lever (E) to left and completely forward to CHOKE (k) position (F).

WARM ENGINE: Put throttle lever in SLOW (t) position:

· Turn key to RUN position.

· Wait 1-2 seconds.

NOTE: If engine does not start, check:

· Shift lever must be in N (NEUTRAL) position.

· PTO lever must be completely rearward.

88495

7. Turn key (G) to START position.

8. Release key when engine starts.

M88499

9. Pull throttle lever (E) back to HALFWAY position. If engine stalls, move throttle to CHOKE (k) position, then back to HALF THROTTLE position.

10. Repeat until engine runs smoothly.

11. Run engine at HALF-SPEED for 2-3 minutes.

Cold Weather Starting

1. Push throttle lever forward to CHOKE (k) position.

2. Turn key to START position to crank engine:

· Crank engine 15 seconds.

· If engine does not start, wait 45 seconds.

· Crank engine 15 seconds.

· Repeat procedure as necessary.

3. When engine starts, release key to RUN position.

4. Slowly move throttle lever to HALF-SPEED position.

Stopping Engine

M88496

1. Move throttle lever (A) completely rearward to SLOW (t) position.

2. Let engine idle 15-30 seconds.

M88495

3. Turn key (B) to OFF position.

4. Remove key.

Emergency Stopping (GX85)

M86466

1. Push in brake pedal (A) and clutch pedal (B).

2. Put shift lever in N (Neutral) position.

3. Pull PTO lever completely rearward to OFF (p) position.

M72622

4. LOCK the park brake (C).

5. Turn the key to OFF.

6. Remove the key.

Emergency Stopping (SX85)

M86457

1. Take foot off accelerator pedal (A).

2. Push in brake pedal (B) and come to a complete stop.

3. Put shift lever in N (NEUTRAL) position.

4. Pull PTO lever completely rearward.

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5. LOCK park brake (C).

6. Turn key to OFF.

7. Remove key.

Traveling Forward or in Reverse (GX85)

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! To help prevent injury to bystanders: · Disengage mower before you back up. · Look behind you before you back up.

NOTE: Practice using shift lever, clutch pedal and brake pedal in an open area.

M86470

1. Start engine.

2. Put throttle lever at the HALFWAY position.

3. Push down clutch pedal (A).

86462

4. Move shift lever (B) to R (REVERSE) position or to the desired FORWARD speed.

5. Slowly release clutch pedal.

6. Change the forward speed by pushing clutch pedal down and moving shift lever to the desired speed setting (1-5).

7. Slowly release clutch pedal.

Traveling Forward or in Reverse (SX85)

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! To help prevent injury to bystanders: · Disengage mower before you back up. · Look behind you before you back up.

M88495

1. Start engine. (See Starting Engine in this section.)

2. Put throttle lever at HALFWAY position.

3. Push shift lever (A) FORWARD (w) to move in forward direction.

4. Pull shift lever (A) REARWARD (W) to move in reverse direction.

86457

5. Slowly push down accelerator pedal (B).

NOTE: Removing foot from accelerator decreases speed of riding mower.

6. To shift from FORWARD (w) to REVERSE (W) position:

· Take foot off accelerator (B) and push in brake pedal (C) to come to a complete stop.

· Move shift lever to REVERSE (W) position.

· Release brake pedal.

· Slowly push down accelerator pedal.

NOTE: Practice using shift lever, brake pedal and accelerator in an open area.

Driving (SX85) Riding Mower

Use accelerator pedal to change speed of riding mower.

When driving uphill, your riding mower will slow down:

· Push accelerator pedal forward to increase your speed.

When driving downhill, your riding mower will speed up:

· Slowly take foot off accelerator and then depress brake, if necessary; to slow down.

Using Clutch Pedal and Shift Lever (GX85)

M86470

When changing shift lever position:

· Push in clutch pedal (A).

· Move shift lever (B) to the desired speed setting.

· Slowly release clutch pedal.

When driving riding mower, remember:

· ALWAYS push in clutch pedal when shifting to different speed settings.

M72626

· When shifting from FORWARD to REVERSE (REVERSE TO FORWARD), come to a complete stop. Use brake if necessary.

Parking Riding Mower

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! To help prevent injury: · DO NOT park riding mower on a slope. · Put shift lever in N (NEUTRAL) position before you STOP engine.

M86466

1. Put shift lever in N (NEUTRAL) position.

2. Put PTO lever completely rearward to OFF (p) position.

3. Push in brake pedal (A).

4. LOCK park brake (B).

M88497

5. Put throttle lever completely rearward to SLOW (t) position.

6. Let engine idle 15-30 seconds.

7. Turn key to OFF.

8. Remove key.

9. Turn fuel shut-off valve (C) to CLOSED position.

DAILY OPERATING CHECKLIST

TESTING SAFETY SYSTEMS

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Engine exhaust fumes can cause sickness or death. · If it is necessary to run an engine in an enclosed area, remove the exhaust fumes from the area with an exhaust pipe extension. · If you do not have an exhaust pipe extension, open the doors and get outside air into the area.

Use the following checkout procedure to check for normal operation of riding mower.

If there is a malfunction during one of these procedures, DO NOT operate machine. (See your John Deere dealer for service.)

Perform these tests in a clear open area. Keep bystanders away.

Test 1

Test transmission switch:

1. Lock park brake.

2. Shift unit into gear.

3. Turn key to start.

4. Engine must not crank.

Test 2

Test PTO switch:

1. Depress brake pedal, or lock park brake.

2. Push PTO lever forward to the ON (P) position.

3. Turn key to START position.

4. Engine must not crank.

Test 3

Test seat switch:

1. First part of test:

M34512

· Start engine. Run engine at MAXIMUM (r) engine speed.

· Put PTO lever in ON (P) position.

· Raise up off seat. DO NOT get off riding mower.

· Engine should die and mower blade should STOP.

M34512

2. Second part of test:

· Disengage PTO.

· Start engine.

· Lock park brake.

· Put shift lever in gear.

· Raise up off seat. DO NOT get off riding mower.

· Engine should STOP.

Avoid Damage to Plastic and Painted Surfaces

· Insect repellent spray may damage plastic and painted surfaces. Do not spray insect repellent near machine.

· Be careful not to spill fuel on machine. Fuel may damage surface. Wipe up spilled fuel immediately.

Ballast Recommendation

One Front Weight Kit is recommended when bagging attachment is used.

See your John Deere dealer for Front Weight Kit and follow instructions included with kit.

Transporting Machine

Use a heavy-duty trailer to transport your machine.

Drive machine forward onto a trailer. Lower any attachments to trailer deck.

Lock park brake.

Close fuel shut-off valve before transporting machine.

Fasten machine to trailer with heavy-duty straps, chains, or cables. Both front and rear straps must be directed down and outward from machine.

Towing Loads

M40283

Limit load to those you can safely control.

Do not turn sharply with load.

Be careful when you back load. Look
for bystanders, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, before you back.

If you tow heavy loads, mount front weight on your riding mower.

Tow loads in lower gears only. Riding mower is designed for optimum traction without accessories.

Belt slippage in 4th and 5th gear can be expected when towing heavy loads.