Operation, Before starting the engine – Poulan 184518 User Manual
Page 12

12
TO OPERATE ON HILLS
WARNING: Do not drive up or down 
hills with slopes great er than 15° and 
do not drive across any slope.
• Choose the slowest speed before starting up or down
hills.
• Avoid stopping or changing speed on hills.
• If slowing is necessary, move throttle control lever to 
slower position.
• If stopping is absolutely necessary, push clutch/brake
pedal quickly to brake position and engage parking 
brake.
• Move gearshift lever to 1st gear. Be sure you have
allowed room for tractor to roll slightly as you restart 
movement.
• To restart movement, slowly release parking brake and
clutch/brake pedal.
• Make all turns slowly.
OPERATION
AT TACH MENT 
CLUTCH LEVER
"DISENGAGED" 
PO SI TION
ATTACHMENT
LIFT LEVER
HIGH PO SI TION
"ENGAGED" POSITION
LOW
POSITION
FIG. 7
DEFLECTOR 
SHIELD
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL
• The engine in your tractor has been shipped, from the
factory, already fi lled with sum mer weight oil.
• Check engine oil with tractor on level ground. 
• Remove oil fi ll cap/dipstick and wipe clean, reinsert the 
dipstick and screw cap tight, wait for a few seconds, 
remove and read oil level. If necessary, add oil until 
“FULL” mark on dipstick is reached. Do not overfi ll.
• For cold weather operation you should change oil for
easier starting (See “OIL VISCOSITY CHART” in the 
Maintenance sec tion of this manual). 
• To change engine oil, see the Maintenance section in
this manual.
TO TRANSPORT
• Raise attachment lift to highest position with at tach ment
lift control.
• When pushing or towing your tractor, be sure gearshift
lever is in neutral (N) position.
• Do not push or tow tractor at more than fi ve (5) MPH.
NOTE: To protect hood from damage when transporting 
your tractor on a truck or a trailer, be sure hood is closed 
and secured to tractor. Use an appropriate means of tying 
hood to tractor (rope, cord, etc.).
TOWING CARTS AND OTHER AT
TACH -
MENTS
Tow only the attachments that are recommended by and 
comply with specifi cations of the manufacturer of your trac-
tor. Use common sense when towing. Too heavy of a load, 
while on a slope, is dangerous. Tires can lose traction with 
the ground and cause you to lose control of your tractor.
TO OPERATE MOWER (See Fig. 7)
Your tractor is equipped with an operator presence sensing 
switch. Any attempt by the operator to leave the seat with 
the engine running and the attachment clutch engaged will 
shut off the engine.
• Select desired height of cut.
• Start mower blades by engaging attachment clutch 
control.
• TO STOP MOWER BLADES - disengage attachment
clutch con trol.
CAUTION: Do not operate the mower 
without either the en tire grass catcher, 
on mowers so equipped, or the defl ector 
shield in place.
3/8 WASH ER
3/8-16 
LOCKNUT 
GAUGE WHEEL 
MOUNTING
BRACKET
SHOULDER 
BOLT
GAUGE WHEEL
FIG. 6
NOTE:Adjust gauge wheels with tractor on a fl at level 
surface.
• Adjust mower to desired cutting height (See “TO AD-
 JUST MOWER CUT TING HEIGHT” in the Operation 
sec tion of this manual).
• With mower in desired height of cut po si tion, gauge
wheels should be assembled so they are slightly off 
the ground. In stall gauge wheel in appropriate hole 
with shoulder bolt, 3/8 washer, and 3/8-16 locknut and 
tighten se cure ly.
• Repeat for opposite side installing gauge wheel in same
adjustment hole.
