Toro 78253 User manual

Operator’s Manual

English (GB)

Form No. 3326–461

Wheel Horse

52Mower

for Lawn and Garden Tractors

Model No. 78253 – 200000001 & Up

The Toro Company – 1997

Printed in USA

Introduction

We want you to be completely satisfied with your

new product, so feel free to contact your local

Authorized Service Dealer for help with service,

genuine replacement parts, or other information you

may require.

Whenever you contact your Authorized Service

Dealer or the factory, always know the model and

serial numbers of your product. These numbers will

help the Service Dealer or Service Representative

provide exact information about your specific

product. You will find the model and serial number

plate located in a unique place on the product as

shown below.

2371

1. Modeland Serial Number Plate

For your convenience, write the product model and

serial numbers in the space below.

Model No:

Serial No.

The warning system in this manual identifies

potential hazards and has special safety messages that

help you and others avoid personal injury, even death.

DANGER, WARNING and CAUTION are signal

words used to identify the level of hazard. However,

regardless of the hazard, be extremely careful.

DANGER signals an extreme hazard that will cause

serious injury or death if the recommended

precautions are not followed.

WARNING signals a hazard that may cause serious

injury or death if the recommended precautions are

not followed.

CAUTION signals a hazard that may cause minor or

moderate injury if the recommended precautions are

not followed.

Two other words are also used to highlight

information. “Important” calls attention to special

mechanical information and “Note” emphasizes

general information worthy of special attention.

The left and right side of the machine is determined

by sitting on the seat in the normal operator’s

position.

Contents

Page

Safety and Instruction Decals 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Installation 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Loose Parts 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mower Preparation 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tractor Preparation 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Installing the Mower 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Transport Height Adjustment 9. . . . . . . . . . .

Side-to-Side Mower Leveling 9. . . . . . . . . .

Front-to-Rear Blade Slope 10. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Removing the Mower 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Operation 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Side Discharge 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Operating the Power Take Off (PTO) 12. . . .

Attachment Lift Lever 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Page

Attachment Power Lift 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Adjusting Dial-A-Height 14. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Adjusting Anti-Scalp Wheels 14. . . . . . . . . . .

Tips for Mowing Grass 15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maintenance 16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Service Interval Chart 16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cutting Blade 17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Greasing and Lubrication 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Blade Drive Belt 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Power Take Off (PTO) Belt 20. . . . . . . . . . . .

Washing Underside of Mower 20. . . . . . . . . .

Storage 22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Troubleshooting 23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Safety

Safety and Instruction Decals

Safety decals and instructions are easily visible to the operator and are located near

any area of potential danger. Replace any decal that is damaged or lost.

ON GRASS DEFLECTOR

(Part No. 93–7317)

ON MOWER REAR CENTER

(Part No. 94–4937)

ON MOWER LEFT AND

DISCHARGE CHUTE

(Part No. 93–7316)

NEXT TO GAGE WHEELS

(Part No. 93–7282)

ON MOWER LEFT SIDE

(Part No. 94–2543)

UNDER GRASS DEFLECTOR

(Part No. 93–7009)

Installation

Loose Parts

Note: Use the chart below to identify parts used for assembly.

DESCRIPTION QTY. USE

Gage wheel

Shoulder bolt

Locknut 3/8–24 (with patch on threads)

2Install gage wheels

Rear link bracket

Washer 1/2” (13 mm)

Cotter pin 1” (26 mm)

2Install rear link bracket

Adjustable links

Washer

Cotter pin 1” (26 mm)

2Install front mount to mower

Grass deflector

Spring

Bolt 3/8– 24 x 3-1/2” (89 mm)

Locknut 3/8–24

Install grass deflector

Up stop 1Install mower up stop

Hairpin cotter 3-3/8” (85 mm)

Washer 3/4” (19 mm)

Link pin

Hairpin cotter2-9/16” (65 mm)

Washer

Install mower to tractor

Operator’s Manual

Warranty card

1Read before operating

IMPORTANT: If you have a 1999 or earlier

tractor and are installing a 2000 or later 52

in. deck, a kit will be needed to install the

deck. Obtain this kit from an Authorized

Service Dealer.

Installation

Mower Preparation

1. Attach gage wheels to the outside of arms on

rear carrier assembly. Grease fitting on wheel

must face in (Fig. 1).

2. Secure with shoulder bolt and 3/8” lock nut,

with internal locking patch on threads (Fig. 1).

Note: Grease wheels.

m-4760

Figure 1

1. Carrierarm

2. Wheel

3. Grease fitting in

4. Shoulder bolt

5. Lock nut 3/8” (with patch)

3. Install link bracket between mower bracket and

carrier lift arm (Fig. 2).

4. Secure with 1/2” washers and 1” (26 mm) cotter

pins (Fig. 2).

4m–4617

Figure 2

1. Link Bracket

2. Carrier lift arm 3. Washer 1/2”

4. Cotter pin 1” (26 mm)

5. Rotate adjustable links so bolt heads are up and

place between brackets, as shown, on front of the

mower (Fig. 3).

6. Secure to brackets with 1/2” washers and 1”

(26 mm) cotter pins (Fig. 3).

m–3285

Figure 3

1. Adjustablelink

2. Bracket 3. Washer 1/2”

4. Cotter pin 1” (26 mm)

Installation

7. Place springs into brackets on mower with

hooked ends over raised back (Fig. 4).

8. Align grass deflector with holes in brackets and

spring straight ends in space under hinge and

above deflector (Fig. 4).

9. Secure deflector to bracket with 3/8–3-1/2 (89

mm) bolts through grass deflector, springs and

brackets. Secure with 3/8” lock nuts (Fig. 4).

10. Lift grass deflector and check that it is spring

loaded and pivots freely to the full down

position.

IMPORTANT: Grass deflector must be

spring loaded in the down position. Lift

deflector up to test that it snaps to the full

down position.

1783

Figure 4

1. Bracket

2. Springhook end

3. space for spring

4. Grass deflector

5. Bolt 3/8–3-1/2” (89 mm)

6. Lock nut 3/8”

POTENTIAL HAZARD

•Without the grass deflector, discharge

cover, or complete grass catcher assembly

mounted in place, you and others are

exposed to blade contact and thrown

debris.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN

•Contact with rotating mower blade(s) and

thrown debris will cause injury or death.

HOW TO AVOID THE HAZARD

•NEVER remove the grass deflector from

the mower because the grass deflector

routes material down toward the turf. If the

grass deflector is ever damaged, replace it

immediately.

•Never put your hands or feet under the

mower.

•Never try to clear discharge area or mower

blades unless you move the power take off

(PTO) to “OFF” and rotate the ignition key

to “OFF.” Also remove the key and pull the

wire off the spark plug(s).

Installation

Tractor Preparation

1. Park the machine on a level surface and lower

attachment lift to the full “DOWN” position.

Refer to Operation: Attachment Lift page 13.

Note: Turn Dial-A-Height control to allow

lift to go to full “MOUNTING”

position.

2. Adjust air pressure in tires to recommended

pressure.

3. Adjust transport height nut until bottom of rear

lift arms are approximately 7-1/4” (188 mm)

from the level surface (Fig. 5).

m–2399

Figure 5

1. Transportheight nut

2. Rear lift arms 3. 7-1/4” (188 mm)

4. Raise attachment lift to the full “UP” position.

Refer to Operation: Attachment Lift page 13.

5. Remove E-ring, washer and lift link from front

lift arm (Fig. 6).

6. Hold front lift arm up until stop contacts frame

(Fig. 6).

7. Push back hard on lift rod, to raise linkage, and

check location of lift rod compared to mounting

hole location.

8. Adjust length of lift rod, by turning in\out of

trunnion, so end just slides into mounting hole in

front lift arm (Fig. 6).

9. Slide lift rod into hole and secure with

previously removed washer and E-ring (Fig. 6).

10. Check that stop is 0”–1/8” (0–3 mm) away frame

when fully assembled and lift in the full “UP”

position.

2m–3398

Figure 6

1. E-ring

2. Washer

3. Stop on lift arm

4. Lift link

5. Trunnion

Installation

11. Unplug clutch wire terminal from tractor wire

harness and remove retainer clip (Fig 8).

Remove center retaining bolt and washer then

slide double pulley clutch off shaft (Fig. 7).

Note: Center bolt is installed with thread

locking compound, impact wrench

may be required to remove.

Note: Save hardware for use when installing

single pulley clutch.

12. Position clutch so wire points toward right front

of tractor and point of triangle is in captured

up-stop. Align key in clutch with keyway and

slide single pulley clutch onto shaft (Fig. 7).

Secure with thread locking compound on threads

of previously removed hardware.

13. Torque bolt to 55 ft-lbs. (75 N.m)

m-4828

Figure 7

1. SinglePulley Clutch –

Included with deck

2. Engine

3. Bolt

4. Washer

5. Clutch Plug–in

6. Upstop

14. Install retainer clip and clutch plug–in to right

side of frame as shown in figure 8. Make sure

there is no slack in plug–in wire between clutch

and retainer clip.

m–4633

Figure 8

1. Clutch Plug–in

2. Right side of frame 3. Retainer Clip

4. Right Front Tire

15. Plug clutch plug–in into terminal of tractor wire

harness (Fig.7).

16. Remove bolts securing existing up-stop to

tractor frame (Fig. 9).

17. Place J-clip, holding drain hose, against frame

and mount new, long, up-stop to frame with

previously removed hardware (Fig. 9).

m–4622

Figure 9

1. Up-stop (long)

2. J-clip

3. Existing bolts

4. Ensure this tab is in slot in

clutch

Installation

Installing the Mower

1. Park the machine on a level surface, disengage

the power take off (PTO), set the parking brake,

and turn the ignition key to “OFF” to stop the

engine. Remove the key.

2. Turn the front wheels straight ahead and raise

attachment lift lever all the way to the latched

position; refer to tractor Operator’s Manual.

3. Slide the mower under tractor from right side,

turning front wheels as necessary. Align rear

mounting bushings with ends of lift arms.

4. Turn Dial-a-Height knob counterclockwise, all

the way, and lower attachment lift lever to the

mounting position; refer to Operation page 14.

5. Place rear guide bushings, first left side then

right, onto lift arms then slide deck left into

position (Fig. 10).

6. Secure deck to rear lift arms with 3/4” washers

and large hairpin cotters (Fig. 10).

7. Install front adjustable links to front lift arms

with 1/2” washer and small hairpin cotter

(Fig. 10).

M–3644

Figure 10

1. Lift arm

2. Washer 3/4”

3. Hair pin cotter–large

4. Attachment lift

5. Washer 1/2”

6. Hair pin cotter–small

7. Link pin

8. Carrier Lift Arm

POTENTIAL HAZARD

•Movement of powerlift can injure a person

when aligning deck with lift arms.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN

•Contact between carrier lift arm and

attachment lift can cause serious injury.

HOW TO AVOID THE HAZARD

•Do not place hands between carrier lift arm

and attachment lift while powerlift is on.

•Turn key off and remove, after carrier lift

arm and attachment lift are aligned.

8. Attach rear link to attachment lift with link pin,

1/2” washer and small hairpin cotter (Fig. 10).

Note: Use powerlift to align carrier lift arm

with attachment lift. Insert link when

holes are aligned.

9. Pull on drive belt and rotate onto engine pulley

to install (Fig. 11).

Note: Make sure belt is properly located in

engine and deck pulleys and around

idler pulley.

10. Adjust belt guide so distance between belt and

guide is 1/8” (4 mm) (Fig. 11).

322418

Figure 11

Top View

1. Idler pulley

2. Drive belt 3. Engine pulley

4. 1/8” (4 mm)

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