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IMPORTANT - READ CAREFULLY The Dixon® ZTR® mower is both easy and fun to operate. However, any power mower must be operated properly to be safe. It is not a toy or a recreational vehicle. Before you start to use the mower, read this Operator’s Manual carefully.
TABLE OF CONTENTS SAFETY & WARNING...4-15 WARRANTY...16 SPECIFICATIONS...17 CONTROLS...18-21 OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS...22-32 CARE & MAINTENANCE...33-49 TROUBLESHOOTING...50-51 STANDARD SERVICE PARTS LIST...52 SilverTip™ Part Number 12881-106 Page...
SAFETY RIDING LAWN MOWERS, IF IMPROPERLY OPERATED CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH Pictured below are the most common causes of injury to the operator or bystander. Please read and understand this manual to prevent injuries. Blade Contact Tip Over Run Over Back Over...
SAFETY Safety Alert Symbol When you see this symbol, BE ALERT to the potential for injury. Follow the recommended safety precautions and safe operating practices. DANGER (highlighted in red) indicates an imminently hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.
WARNING Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death. GENERAL OPERATION: Read, understand, and follow all instructions in this manual and on the mower before starting. Only allow responsible adults, who are familiar with the instructions, to operate the mower.
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WARNING Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death. GENERAL OPERATION (continued): Never leave a running mower unattended. Always turn off blades, set parking brake, stop engine and remove key before dismounting. Turn off blades when not mowing. Injury could occur from contact with moving parts.
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WARNING Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death. GENERAL OPERATION (continued): Never dismount mower without applying parking brake or stopping engine. Protect your eyes. Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields when operating mower. Data indicates that operators, age 60 years and above, are involved in a large percentage of riding mower- related injuries.
All slopes require extra caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it! Mow across the slope with your Dixon® ZTR® -- never up or down. This will decrease the risk of tip-over.
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WARNING Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death. SLOPE OPERATION (continued): DO (continued): Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual. Do not make sudden changes in speed or direction. Use extreme caution when operating the mower with attachments to prevent tip-over or roll-over.
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WARNING Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death. SLOPE OPERATION (continued): DO NOT Do not turn on slopes unless necessary, and then, turn slowly and gradually downhill, if possible. Rapid uphill turns may cause tip-over. Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches, or embank- ments.
WARNING Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death. FIRE HAZARDS: Use extra care when handling gasoline and other fuels. They are flammable and vapors are explosive. Store all fuel in approved containers specifically designed for that purpose.
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WARNING Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death. FIRE HAZARDS (continued): To prevent fire or explosion, keep sparks and open flames away from battery. Keep electrical connections clean and tight. Inspect them often. Loose connections and corrosion increase fire risk. Before disconnecting the negative ground cable, make sure all switches are off.
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WARNING Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death. CHILDREN: Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence of children. Children are attracted to lawn mowers and the mowing activity. NEVER assume children will stay where they were last seen.
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Frequently check components. Replace with original equipment parts when necessary. (Grass catchers are not available for all Dixon® ZTR® mowers.) Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap blades or wear gloves, and use extra caution when servicing them.
First two years - 100% parts and labor subject to the conditions and limitations described herein with the exception of non-covered items specified below. Third year - limited to 100% parts cost as shown in the current Dixon® Parts Price List and subject to the conditions and limitations as described herein.
CONTROLS CONTROL LEVERS Note: For access to the seat, move control levers to neutral position and swing them outward. TO GO FORWARD •From neutral position, gently push control levers for- ward. •To increase speed, move levers further forward. TO GO BACKWARDS •From neutral position, gently pull control levers toward you.
CONTROLS PARKING BRAKE: A parking brake is located to the left of the seat. The engine will kill if control levers are not in the outboard position when the parking brake is engaged. To engage brake: To disengage brake: Note: The parking brake is not intended to be used as a service brake.
CONTROLS MOWER BLADE SWITCH: To engage blades: pull up on switch To disengage blades: push down IGNITION SWITCH: • Turn to start position to crank engine. Release when it starts. • For headlights - rotate switch one notch counter-clockwise from run. Note: Remove key when mower is not in use.
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS The safe and successful operation of the SilverTip™ will depend upon the operator having the correct knowledge of all controls used on the mower and making good judgements about the terrain to be mowed. NEVER allow anyone to operate the mower without complete knowledge of all controls and their functions.
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS TOWING TRAILERS AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS: Towing a trailer or other attachment that is too heavy could damage the drive or cause the mower to become unstable. Limit loads to 500 pounds or less with this mower. TO FREE WHEEL MACHINE (UNLOCK TRANSMISSION): Always turn off engine before engaging or disengaging the hydro release (free wheel) valves.
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS STARTING INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Operator must be seated in normal operating position. 2. Set parking brake. 3. Move control levers to outboard position. 4. Assure blade clutch is off. 5. Push throttle control lever to 1/2 setting. 6. Push choke control lever forward. *If engine is warm, turn choke off immediately after engine starts.
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS MOWING INSTRUCTIONS: CAUTION Be sure that deflector is properly installed on the discharge chute. 1. Start engine and set throttle at full speed. 2. Set desired cut height. 3. Release park brake. CAUTION Check the area to assure there is no one near.
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OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS TESTING OF SAFETY INTERLOCK SYSTEMS: Do not operate mower if safety switches are not operating properly. Your Zero Turning Radius Mower is equipped with control interlocks for your safety. The engine will not start if the mower blades are engaged. The engine will not start unless the steering control levers are neutral “OUT”...
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ENGINE SHOULD STOP! 4. With engine running, set parking brake and move levers inboard. ENGINE SHOULD STOP! If any safety check fails, do not operate the mower until the system has been checked and repaired by an authorized Dixon® ZTR® dealer.
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS MOWING WITH A MULCHING ATTACHMENT: Mulching or recycling the grass clippings requires a totally different mowing approach than would be normal when side discharging or bagging the grass. There may be instances or conditions where it is not possible to hide all the recycled or mulched clippings.
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OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS MOWING WITH A MULCHING ATTACHMENT (continued): 7. Keep the underside of the mower deck clean. Remove all grass and dirt build-up from the under- side of the pan, the baffles and deflectors after each use. Never, under any circumstances, should you place hands or feet under the mower deck or in the chute while blades or impeller are still turning.
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS SIDE DISCHARGE OF THE CLIPPINGS: In order to achieve optimum performance when side discharging the grass clippings, please read and follow the tips listed below. Additional information can be found in the Troubleshooting guide. CAUTION To avoid personal injury, be sure that the deflector is properly installed on the discharge chute.
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OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS GRASS HEIGHT & CUTTING SUGGESTIONS: Do not attempt to cut grass when it is wet. If the grass is tall, place the mower deck cut height lever in the top or second notch. “Initially” overlap cutting swaths instead of a full swath with each pass. Some applications may require a second cutting.
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS TO LIFT SEAT: To lift the seat, move the control levers to the neutral “OUT” position. Release the seat latch and rotate the counterbalanced seat support frame upward and forward. To return the seat to the operating position, push the counterbalance seat frame support rearward and down until it rests firmly on the tractor frame.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE WARNING Failure to observe the following instructions may result in personal injury. Before performing any maintenance, turn off engine, allow to cool & remove key. Use extreme care when working on machinery. Do not wear watch or jewelry. Do not wear loose fitting clothes, and observe all common safety practices with tools.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE CAUTION Stop engine and remove ignition key for safety. Wear heavy, thick gloves when holding onto cutter blade, avoid the sharp edge of the blade. MOWER BLADES: Check sharpness of mower blades after every 10 hours of operation. To sharpen blades, proceed as follows. 1.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE ENGINE: For complete maintenance and operating information of the engine, please refer to the maintenance instructions furnished by the engine manufacturer and included in your Zero Turn Radius mower information packet. Note: Air intake screen must be kept clean. If plugged, engine may be seriously damaged by overheating.
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CARE AND MAINTENANCE LUBRICATION: ENGINE: Follow engine manufacturer’s recommendation. DECK SPINDLES: Lubricate with 3 “shots” only, every 100 hours. MOWER CHASSIS: Lubricate with 3 “shots” only, every 50 hours (see zerk locations below).
CARE AND MAINTENANCE BELTS: Check belts every 50 hours. Replace any belts found to be in poor condition. BELT TENSION: Mower Deck Serpentine Belt P/N 9758 (60”) 12033 (72”) Manual adjustment. Refer to illustrationfor adjustment procedure. Idler Weldment Engine to Mower Deck Belt 12807 (60”...
CARE AND MAINTENANCE HOT oil may cause burns. Allow CAUTION engine to cool before draining oil. CHANGING THE ENGINE OIL: 1. The “Dapco” oil drain valve is located on either side of the engine crankcase (depending on the type of engine installed on your ZTR®).
NOTE: Engine oil changes on the SilverTip™ will require replacement of the oil filter. These filters may be available from your local Dixon® Dealer. OIL FILTERS: 1. Replace filter each time the oil is changed. 2. Oil Filters can be obtained from your authorized engine dealer.
Normal Operating Temperatures - 20W50 ENGINE OIL Cold climate usage - 10W40 ENGINE OIL Use engine oil with an API classification of SG/CD. Dixon Blue™ 15W-50 Synthetic Hydrostatic Fluid is specifically formulated to provide excellent all-climate performance and extended time between...
500 hours after that. Remove the filter and be sure all fluid has drained from the reservoir. Replace with a new OEM filter (P/N 18045) and Dixon Blue™ 15W-50 Synthetic Hydrostatic Fluid. CAUTION: Dixon Blue™ is only compatible with standard 20W-50 motor oil or similar synthetic motor oils.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE HYDROSTATIC PUMPS: Before each use, check to be sure that the cooling fins of the hydrostatic pumps are clean. Excessive accumulation of oil, dirt, or trash may cause the pumps to overheat. NEVER WASH ACROSS TOP OF RESERVOIR WITH WATER OR STEAM.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE PARKING BRAKE ADJUSTMENT Raise rear of machine. Remove tire and wheel assembly. Adjust the 3/8” adjustment nut clockwise to increase and counter-clockwise to decrease brake holding power. As the brake holding power is increased, the force required on the handle to engage the brake increases.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE HEADLIGHT ADJUSTMENT 1. Loosen the 1/2” retaining nut underneath the headlight and slide the headlight forward out of the recessed area of the fuel tank. 2. Loosen the 1/2” nut on the “U” shaped holding bracket and swivel the headlight vertically to adjust the height of the beam.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE STEERING CONTROL ADJUSTMENTS: To adjust neutral: 1. Lift seat. 2. Block up the unit so that the drive wheels are off the ground. 3. Loosen ball joint jam nuts on control rod. Note: The front jam nuts are left hand threads. 4.
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CARE AND MAINTENANCE STEERING CONTROL ADJUSTMENTS (continued): To adjust steering control levers: 1. Loosen the front and rear bolts retaining the bellows hold down plate and slide the bellows and plate up the steering lever to expose the steering control mechanism. 2.
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CARE AND MAINTENANCE STEERING CONTROL ADJUSTMENTS (continued): To adjust “In” position of the steering controls 1. Move the levers inboard to the operating position. 2. Adjust the steering lever stops until the steering levers have the desired clearance. To adjust for straight forward tracking. 1.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE LEVELING THE DECK: 1. Set the tire pressure on all four tires. 2. Front casters must be rotated in the direction of forward travel. 3. Move the tractor to a hard level surface. 4. Put the mower deck in the number 3 deck height position.
SERIAL NUMBERS: The serial number is located on the rear left of the frame at rear of engine. WARRANTY: Refer to warranty information (page 16). PARTS/SERVICE: See your Dixon® dealer for replacement parts, warranty or service.
Protect your engine investment, use only original equip- ment filters. Ask your Dixon® Dealer for assistance. IMPORTANT: Some applications, extreme dirt conditions, or the use of a grass catcher may require that the engine used on the SilverTip™...
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OWNER’S INFORMATION Date of Purchase Mower Model Number Mower Serial Number Purchased From Name Address DATE OIL CHANGED Dixon Industries, Inc.~P.O. Box 1569~Coffeyville, Ks~620-251-2000~Fax 620-251-4117 DATE ENGINE TUNED...
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Dixon® and ZTR® are registered trademarks of Dixon Industries, Inc. The engine exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause WARNING: cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. DIXON INDUSTRIES, INC. P.O. Box 1569...