Troy-Bilt GT54 - Manual (Page 15)

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• To travel in REVERSE, check that the area behind
is clear then slowly depress the lower portion of the
drive pedal with the ball of your foot (NOT your
heel) until the desired speed is achieved. See
Figure 6.
IMPORTANT: Do NOT attempt to change the direction of
travel when the tractor is in motion. Always bring the
tractor to a complete stop before pivoting the drive
pedal from forward to reverse or vice versa.
Driving On Slopes
Refer to the SLOPE GAUGE on page 7 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 up and down slopes, NEVER across.
• 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.
• Avoid turns when driving on a slope. If a turn must
be made, turn down the slope. Turning up a slope
greatly increases the chance of a roll over.
• 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.
Setting The Cruise Control
NOTE: The cruise control feature should only be
utilized while traveling in the forward direction.
• Slowly depress the upper portion of the drive pedal
until the desired speed is achieved.
• Lightly depress the cruise control lever.
• While continuing to hold the cruise lever down, lift
your foot from the drive pedal (you should feel the
cruise latch engage).
• Once engaged, the cruise control lever and the
drive pedal will lock in the “down” position, and the
tractor will maintain the same forward speed.
NOTE: Cruise control can not be set at the tractor’s
fastest ground speed. If the operator should attempt to
do so, the tractor will automatically decelerate to the
fastest optimal mowing ground speed.
Disengage the cruise control using one of the following
methods:
• Depress the brake pedal to disengage the cruise
control and stop the tractor.
• Lightly depress the drive pedal.
To change the direction of travel to reverse when
operating with cruise control, depress the brake pedal
to disengage the cruise control and bring the tractor to a
complete stop. Then slowly depress the rear portion of
the drive pedal with the ball of your foot to travel in
reverse.
Using the Deck Lift Lever
To raise the cutting deck, move the deck lift lever to the
left, then place it in the notch best suited for your
application. Refer to Setting The Cutting Height earlier in
this section.
Operating the Headlights
The lamps are ON whenever the ignition key is moved
out of the STOP position.
The lamps turn OFF when the ignition key is moved to
the STOP position.
Moving The Tractor Manually
Your tractor’s transmission is equipped with a
hydrostatic relief valve for occasions when it is
necessary to move the tractor manually. Opening this
valve permits the fluid in the transmission to bypass its
normal route, allowing the rear tires to "freewheel." To
open the hydrostatic relief valve, proceed as follows:
• Locate the hydrostatic bypass rod in the rear of the
tractor. See Figure 7.
Figure 7
• Lift up then pull the hydrostatic bypass rod outward,
then up, to lock it in place.
NOTE: The transmission will NOT engage when the
hydrostatic bypass rod is pulled out. Return the rod to
its normal position prior to operating the tractor.
IMPORTANT: Never attempt to move the tractor
manually without first opening the hydrostatic relief
valve. Doing so will result in serious damage to the
tractor’s transmission.
Hydrostatic
Bypass Rod