First things first. 10 important things to know before using your ride-on mower or tractor
1. Read the Manual: It might not be macho or seem self-reliant but a huge number of calls to our customer care team could be sorted out quickly and easily by a brief butchers at the manual or included instructions. This could save our customers money and a lot of time.
2. Control Panel: Make sure you are familiar with the controls of your machine, on the dashboard or control panel. (See fig 1 below) These vary widely in terms of specific controls so heck your manual for specific details
Lawn Tractor Steering Wheel & Control Panel (fig 1)
3. Other Hand Controls: Not all the controls will be on the panel. Controls like height adjustment, gears and the lever for emptying the collector will be situated within reach around the driving area, or cockpit. (See fig 2 below) Again, check your manual for specifics.
Other Hand Controls on a Lawn Tractor (fig 2)
4. Foot Pedals: Also make sure you familiarise yourself with your foot pedals. The best time to discover where the brake is situated is not when you are hurtling towards your greenhouse. (See fig 3 below) again, check your manual for specifics.
Foot Pedals on a Lawn Tractor (fig 3)
5. Oil & Fuel A: Under normal circumstances Ride-on mowers and tractors are NOT delivered with petrol/diesel in the tanks. This is for safety purposes. Subsequently you will need to fill up before you start.
6. Oil & Fuel B: Only ever use fresh unleaded petrol in your machine. When it comes to oil, check the manual for instructions but our usual recommendation is to use SAE 30. Always check oil levels before you start!
7. Grass Collector: If you have bought a rear discharge and collect ride-on, make sure your grass collector is firmly attached.
8. Weight & Sensor: All ride-on mowers and lawn tractors are fitted with sensors under the seat. This is a safety measure, so the mower can’t be started by, let’s say, a child. Subsequently you must make sure you are sitting firmly on the seat or your ride-on may not start. NB: It has been known very occasionally, for a ride-on to stop when a bump has bounced someone out of their seat. Do not worry if this happens. Just sit ands start again. It is worth noting that many manufacturers recommend a minimum operator weight of just under 8st (50kg) and a maximum of 22st (kg) for safety.
9. Check The Tyres: They should be ready to go but it is always worth checking the pressure in the same way you would before setting off in a car.
10. Seat Position: Make sure your seat is in the optimum position for comfort and back support. This may not seem essential but after a few hours in the saddle in the wrong position, you would soon change your mind. This also goes for steering column adjustment where available.