Basic Driving; Smooth Travel; Zero Turn Driving Practice - Craftsman ZTS 7000 Operator's Manual

Zero Turn
Driving
Practice
The ground speed levers of the zero turn rider are
responsive, and learning to gain a smooth and efficient
control of the rider's forward, reverse, and turning move-
ments will take some practice.
Spending some time going through the maneuvers shown
and becoming familiar with how the unit accelerates, trav-
els, and steers -- before you begin mowing -- is abso-
lutely essential to getting the most out of the zero turn
rider.
Locate a smooth, flat area of your lawn -- one with
plenty of room to maneuver. (Clear the area of objects,
people and animals before you begin.) Operate the
unit at mid-engine speed during this practice session
(ALWAYS operate at full engine speed when mowing),
and turn slowly to prevent tire slippage and damage to
your lawn.
We suggest you begin with the Smooth Travel proce-
dure to the right, and then advance through the forward,
reverse, and turning maneuvers.
Smooth Travel
The ground speed levers
of the zero turn rider are
responsive.
The BEST method of
handling the ground
speed levers is in three
steps -- as shown in
Figure 3.
FIRST place your hands
onto the levers as
shown.
SECOND, to go forward
gradually push the levers
forward with your palms.
THIRD, to speed up,
move the levers farther
forward. To slow down
smoothly, slowly move
the levers toward neu-
tral.
\
\
Figure 3. Move Ground
Speed Levers Gradually
Basic Driving
Forward Travel Practice
Gradually move both ground speed levers -- evenly
FORWARD from neutral. Slow down and repeat.
Straight forward travel takes practice. If necessary, top
speed can be balance-adjusted -- see Speed Balancing
Adjustment section.
Forward
Travel
Figure 4. Forward Travel
Reverse Travel Practice
LOOK DOWN & BEHIND, then gradually move both
ground speed levers evenly BACK from neutral. Slow
down and repeat.
Practice backing up for several minutes before attempt-
ing to do so near objects. The rider turns as sharply in
reverse as when going forward, and backing up straight
takes practice.
Reverse
Travel
Figure 5. Reverse Travel
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