The best magazine
- 1). Follow the instructions in the operator's manual for fueling and starting the mower. Typically the throttle setting is at "Start" and the parking brake is engaged. Steering levers must be pushed to the right and left in the neutral position. Power takeoff (PTO) must be disengaged and the operator must be in the seat. Safety devices prevent the machine from starting unless these requirements are met.
- 2). Set the throttle speed at midlevel for practice. Release the parking brake and bring the steering handles together in front of you. To go forward, move the handles forward simultaneously. Move them cautiously if you aren't familiar with the machine. The throttle position controls engine speed, but the position of the handles controls the speed of the machine. Pushing the handles all the way forward is the equivalent of pushing a car's accelerator to the floor.
- 3). Pull the steering handles slowly toward you to go backward. Each handle controls the direction of rotation and the speed of the corresponding wheel. Moving both handles together toward the operator or away from him causes the machine to move in a straight line, forward or backward.
- 4). Turn left while moving forward by pushing the right handle forward farther than the left handle. This spins the right wheel faster, and the machine follows a slow turn to the left. The farther forward the right handle goes, the faster that wheel turns and the sharper the turn becomes. Turn left while moving backward by pulling the right handle back farther than the left. Reverse the procedure for right-hand turns.
- 5). Turn 180 degrees counterclockwise from a stop by pushing the right steering lever forward and pulling the left steering lever back by an equal amount. One drive wheel rolls forward while the other rolls backward, and the machine spins in place. Stop the spin by centering the steering levers in the neutral position. Reverse the procedure to make a clockwise 180-degree turn.
Source: ...