Operator’s Manual Series 1500 Hydrostatic Lawn Tractor Model 1529 IMPORTANT: READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY Warning: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brush-covered or grass-covered land unless the engine’s exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting applicable local or state laws (if any). If a spark arrester is used, it should be maintained in effective working order by the operator.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Page Important Safe Operation Practices ............................................................................... 3 Slope Gauge .................................................................................................................. 7 Tractor Set-up ................................................................................................................ 8 Know Your Lawn Tractor ................................................................................
SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES WARNING: This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed, could endanger the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all instructions in this manual before attempting to operate this machine. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in personal injury. When you see this symbol—heed its warning.
. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for wheel weights or counterweights to improve stability. 5. Use extra care with grass catchers or other attachments. These can change the stability of the machine. 6. Keep all movement on the slopes slow and gradual. Do not make sudden changes in speed or direction. Rapid engagement or braking could cause the front of the machine to lift and rapidly flip over backwards which could cause serious injury. 7. Avoid starting or stopping on a slope.
e. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition. f. Never fuel machine indoors. g. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine is hot or running. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling. h. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more than three inches below the top of the filler neck to allow space for fuel expansion. i. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely. j. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine and equipment. Move unit to another area.
13. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas, oil, etc. to protect the environment. 14. Grass catcher components and the discharge cover are subject to wear and damage which could expose moving parts or allow objects to be thrown. For safety protection, frequently check components and replace immediately with original equipment manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only, listed in this manual.
SECTION 2: SLOPE GAUGE FOL D REP R E S ENT ING A 1 5 ° SL OPE OR A FENCE POST A CORNER OF A BUILDING A POWER POLE SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE ON D OTT E D LINE , 15° 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). A riding mower could overturn and cause serious injury.
SECTION 3: TRACTOR SET-UP Attaching the Battery Cables IMPORTANT: Your tractor is shipped with oil in the engine. However, you MUST check the oil level before operating. Refer to Checking the Oil Level on page 19 for detailed instructions. Be careful not to overfill. The positive battery terminal is marked Pos. (+). The negative battery terminal is marked Neg. (–). • • • The positive cable (heavy red wire) is secured to the positive battery terminal (+) with a hex bolt and hex nut at the factory.
SECTION 4: KNOW YOUR LAWN TRACTOR A B G H C BRAKE I J D K L E F M NOTE: Steering Wheel not shown for clarity.
Throttle Control Lever Ignition Switch The throttle control lever is located on the left side of the tractor’s dash panel. This lever controls the speed of the engine. When set in a given position, the throttle will maintain a uniform engine speed. See Figure 4. WARNING: Never leave a running machine unattended. Always disengage the PTO, set parking brake, stop engine and remove key to prevent unintended starting.
Hour Meter Electric PTO (Power Take-off) Knob Located in the center of the tractor’s console, the hour meter operates whenever the engine is running and records the actual hours of tractor operation. See Figure 6. To engage the power to the cutting deck or other (separately available) attachments, pull outward on the PTO knob. Push the PTO knob inward to disengage the power to the cutting deck.
Seat Adjustment Lever Deck Lift Lever To adjust the seat forward or backward, slide the seat adjustment lever to the left and reposition the seat to the desired position. Once a comfortable position is found, release the seat adjustment lever to lock the seat in place. Refer to Seat Adjustment on page 17 of this manual for more detailed instructions. Found on your tractor’s right fender, the deck lift lever is used to change the height of the cutting deck.
• • Lock Nut Shoulder Screws Pull the choke control outward. Turn the ignition key clockwise to the START position. After the engine starts, release the key. It will return to the ON position. IMPORTANT: Do NOT hold the key in the START position for longer than five seconds at a time. Doing so may cause damage to your engine’s electric starter. If the engine does not start right away, wait 15 seconds and try again. • After the engine starts, deactivate the choke control.
Driving The Tractor WARNING: Avoid sudden starts, excessive speed and sudden stops. • 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.
Operating The Headlights Engaging the PTO To turn the tractor’s headlights on: Engaging the PTO transfers power to the cutting deck or other (separately available) attachments. To engage the PTO, proceed as follows: • • Start the engine following the instructions earlier in this section. Turn the key one notch counterclockwise into the On/Lights position of the ignition switch. Refer to Figure 5.
• • • Under heavier conditions it may be necessary to raise the deck to cut the area; then re-cut the area a second time at the lower deck setting to get a clean cut. Do NOT attempt to mow heavy brush and weeds and extremely tall grass. Your tractor is designed to mow lawns, NOT clear brush. Keep the blades sharp and replace the blades when worn. Refer to Cutting Blades on page 24 of this manual for proper blade sharpening instructions.
Leveling the Deck NOTE: Check the tractor’s tire pressure before performing any deck leveling adjustments. Refer to Tires on page 24 for information regarding tire pressure. • With the tractor parked on a firm, level surface, place the deck lift lever in the top notch (highest position) and rotate both blades so that they are perpendicular with the tractor. • Measure the distance from the outside left blade tip to the ground and the distance from the outside right blade tip to the ground.
• Looking at the transmission from the right side of the tractor, locate the compression spring and brake disc. See Figure 14. Hex Nut and Lock Washer Brake Rod Pivot Bar Axle Crown Nut Brake Disc Jam Nut Ball Joint Figure 15 NOTE: View shown from beneath tractor. NOTE: Threading the ball joints too far onto the drag links will cause the front tires to "toe-in" too far. Proper toe-in is between 1/16" and 5/16".
SECTION 7: MAINTAINING YOUR LAWN TRACTOR NOTE: Refer to Maintenance Chart on page 29 for a • reference of recommended maintenance intervals. WARNING: Before performing any maintenance or repairs, disengage PTO, set parking brake, stop engine and remove key to prevent unintended starting. • • Engine Maintenance, repair, or replacement of the emission control devices and systems, which are being done at the customer’s expense, may be performed by any engine repair establishment or individual.
• • Fill the crankcase until the oil level reaches the full (F) mark on the dipstick. Refer to Figure 16. Refer to the viscosity oil chart earlier in this section for information regarding the proper type of oil to add to the crankcase. • Grasp the side panel just behind the grille and pull outward to release the side panel from the tapered bushings on the grille. Slide the side panel forward and out of the groove in the dash panel. IMPORTANT: The oil capacity (with oil filter) is 1.8 U.S.
• • • • • Air Filter Before removing the old oil filter, clean around its base to prevent debris from entering the crankcase. Grasp the oil filter and remove it from the engine by turning it counterclockwise. Use an oil filter wrench, if necessary. Place a new replacement filter in a shallow pan with the open end up and pour new oil of the proper type (see chart on page 19), in through the threaded center hole.
Service Paper Element NOTE: Do not clean the spark plug in a machine using abrasive grit. Some grit could remain in the spark plug and enter the engine causing extensive wear and damage. NOTE: Refer to the Attachments & Accessories table found on page 32 of this manual for the proper air filter. The paper element should be replaced at least every 100 hours of operation. Replace more frequently if the tractor is operated under extremely dusty conditions.
Cleaning the Engine And Deck Grease Fitting Any fuel or oil spilled on the machine should be wiped off promptly. Do NOT allow debris to accumulate around the engine air intake screen and cooling fins. Every 100 hours of operation, check and clean the cooling fins and inside of engine shrouds to remove grass, chaff of dirt clogging the cooling system. Remove the fan housing and intake screen to clean the engine.
SECTION 8: SERVICE Head Lamp WARNING: If the engine has been recently The recommended operating tire pressure is: approximately 10 psi for the rear tires and approximately 14 psi for the front tires. run, the engine, muffler and surrounding metal surfaces will be hot and can cause burns to the skin. Allow the tractor to cool and use caution when changing the lamp bulbs. Refer to the tire sidewall for exact tire manufacturer’s recommended or maximum psi. Do not overinflate.
• Use a 1-1/8" wrench to remove the hex flange nut that secures the blade to the spindle assembly. See Figure 24. To properly sharpen the cutting blades, remove equal amounts of metal from both ends of the blades along the cutting edges, parallel to the trailing edge, at a 25° to 30° angle. IMPORTANT: If removing the battery for any reason, disconnect the NEGATIVE (Black) wire from it’s terminal first, followed by the POSITIVE (Red) wire.
• It can be found under the hood mounted behind the top of the dash panel on the support bar. Pull the fuse out and inspect it to determine if it is good or blown. • IMPORTANT: Always use a fuse with the same amperage capacity for replacement. WARNING: Before servicing, repairing, or inspecting, always disengage PTO, set parking brake, stop engine and remove key to prevent unintended starting.
Electric PTO Clutch PTO Idler Pulley/Bracket (mounted on tractor) Deck belt (Bottom) PTO belt (Top) Deck Idler Pulley Right Hand Double Pulley (beneath belt guard) Left Hand Double Pulley Center Pulley NOTE: Left hand belt cover not shown for clarity. Figure 27 • • • • Route the new belt around the three spindle pulleys. Pull the deck idler pulley toward the left side of the deck and position it against the backside of the belt as shown in Figure 27.
• • Hydrostatic Transmission Install the new belt routing it EXACTLY as the old one was routed. Refer to Figure 28. Install all tractor components by reversing the previous instructions and following in the reverse order. The hydrostatic transmission is sealed at the factory and is maintenance free. The fluid level cannot be checked nor can the oil be changed. Keep the area around the transmission cooling fan free of grass and debris at all times.
SECTION 9: OFF-SEASON STORAGE Clean and lubricate the tractor as instructed in Section 7: MAINTAINING YOUR LAWN TRACTOR before storing for an extended period. Reconnect the fuel line and run the engine until it starts to falter, then use the choke to keep the engine running until all fuel in the carburetor has been exhausted. Engine • Clean the exterior surfaces of the engine.
SECTION 11: TROUBLESHOOTING Trouble Possible Cause(s) Corrective Action Engine fails to start PTO knob engaged. Parking brake not engaged. Spark plug wire(s) disconnected. Throttle control lever not in correct starting position. Choke not activated Fuel tank empty, or stale fuel. Blocked fuel line. Faulty spark plug. Engine flooded. Unit running with CHOKE applied. Spark plug wire loose. Blocked fuel line or stale fuel. Place knob in disengaged (OFF) position. Engage parking brake.
SECTION 12: SPECIFICATIONS 1529 Capacities Fuel Tank ......................................................... Crankcase (approximately) .............................. Transmission Case (approximately) ................. 3 gallons (11.4 liters) 1.8 quarts / 57.6 oz. (1.7 liters) 4.9 pints / 78.8 oz. (2.3 liters) Hydrostatic Transmission Make and Model ............................................... Hydro-Gear 311-0710 Gear Ratio ........................................................ 22.
SECTION 13: ATTACHMENTS & ACCESSORIES The following attachments and accessories are compatible with Model 1529. See your Cub Cadet dealer or the retailer from which you purchased your tractor for information regarding price and availability. NOTE: Cub Cadet lawn tractor model 1529 is NOT designed for use with any type of ground-engaging attachments (e.g. tiller or mulboard plow). Use of this type of equipment WILL void the tractor’s warranty.
KAWASAKI LIMITED WARRANTY CALIFORNIA AND FEDERAL EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEMS SMALL OFF-ROAD ENGINES The California Air Resources Board, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (hereinafter “Kawasaki”) are pleased to explain the Emission Control Systems Warranty on your Kawasaki small off-road engine. In California and other states, new small off-road engines must be designed, built and equipped to meet the stringent anti-smog standards.
3. LIMITED LIABILITY. (a) The liability of Kawasaki under this Emission Control Systems Warranty is limited solely to the remedying of defects in materials or workmanship by any authorized Kawasaki small off-road engine dealer at its place of business during customary business hours. This warranty does not cover inconvenience or loss of use of the small off-road engine or transportation of the small off-road engine to or from the Kawasaki dealer.
CUB CADET LLC MANUFACTURER’S ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY (COMMERCIAL USE) The limited warranty set forth below is given by CUB CADET LLC (“CUB CADET”) with respect to new merchandise purchased and used in the United States, its possessions and territories.
CUB CADET LLC MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY (RESIDENTIAL USE) The limited warranty set forth below is given by CUB CADET LLC (“CUB CADET”) with respect to new merchandise purchased and used in the United States, its possessions and territories.
