Safe Operation Practices • Set-Up • Operation • Maintenance • Service • Troubleshooting • Warranty Operator’s Manual Zero Turn Riding Mower — Model i1050 WARNING READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS MACHINE. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY. CUB CADET LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019 Printed In USA Form No.
1 To The Owner Thank You Thank you for purchasing a Cub Cadet Lawn Tractor. It was carefully engineered to provide excellent performance when properly operated and maintained. Please read this entire manual prior to operating the equipment. It instructs you how to safely and easily set up, operate and maintain your machine. Please be sure that you, and any other persons who will operate the machine, carefully follow the recommended safety practices at all times.
Important Safe Operation Practices 2 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.
12. A missing or damaged discharge cover can cause blade contact or thrown object injuries. 13. Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads and while not cutting grass. 14. Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing roadways. This machine is not intended for use on any public roadway. Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and tip-over accidents which can result in severe injury or death. All slopes require extra caution.
Service Children 1. Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert to the presence of children. Children are often attracted to the machine and the mowing activity. They do not understand the dangers. Never assume that children will remain where you last saw them. a. Keep children out of the mowing area and in watchful care of a responsible adult other than the operator. b. Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters the area. c.
Periodically check to make sure the blades come to complete stop within approximately (5) five seconds after operating the blade disengagement control. If the blades do not stop within the this time frame, your machine should be serviced professionally by an authorized MTD Service Dealer. Do not modify engine 4. Check brake operation frequently as it is subjected to wear during normal operation. Adjust and service as required. Notice Regarding Emissions 5.
Safety Symbols This page depicts and describes safety symbols that may appear on this product. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine before attempting to assemble and operate. Symbol Description READ THE OPERATOR’S MANUAL(S) Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the manual(s) before attempting to assemble and operate DANGER— ROTATING BLADES Never carry passengers. Never carry children, even with the blades off.
Section 2 — Important Safe Operation Practices d line (repr esent s a 15 ° slop e) WARNING! Do not operate your lawn mower on such slopes. 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. Operate riding mowers up and down slopes, never across the face of slopes. Use this page as a guide to determine slopes where you may not operate safely.
3 Assembly & Set-Up Contents of Crate • • One Lawn Tractor • One Oil Drain Tube • One iSeries Tractor Operator’s Manual • One Kohler Engine Operator’s Manual Moving the Tractor Manually Connecting the Battery Cables California Proposition 65 Warning! If for any reason the tractor will not drive or you wish to move the tractor, engage the two hydro transmission bypass rods to manually move the tractor short distances.
Gasoline Fill-up WARNING! Use extreme care when handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive. Never fuel machine indoors or while the engine is hot or running. Extinguish cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and other sources of ignition. NOTE: Purchase gasoline in small quantities. Do not use gasoline left over from the previous season, to minimize gum deposits in the fuel system. • This engine is certified to operate on unleaded gasoline.
4 Controls & Features Systems Indicator Monitor/Hour Meter Hood Lift Notch Throttle Control Key Switch Module Choke Control Knob PTO (Blade Engage) Control Switch Brake Pedal Forward Control Pedal 12V Power Outlet Reverse Control Pedal Cargo Net Parking Brake Lever Cup Holder Deck Lift Lever Seat Adjustment Lever Fuel Level Window Fuel Fill Cap Hydro Transmission Bypass Rods Figure 4-1 NOTE: Any reference in this manual to the RIGHT or LEFT side of The system indicator monitor features are as
Battery Indicator Light Illuminates when the ignition switch it turned to an ON position and the engine is not started. Illuminates to indicate the battery voltage has dropped below 11.5 (+0.5/-1.0) DC volts (the battery voltage is also displayed on the hour meter). If this indicator and display come on during operation, check the battery and charging system for possible causes and/or contact your Cub Cadet dealer. Oil Pressure Indicator Light This warning lamp indicates low engine oil pressure.
Forward Control Pedal Fuel Fill Cap and Fuel Level Window The forward control pedal is located on the right side of the tractor, at the front of the right running board. Depress the forward control pedal to cause the tractor to travel in the forward direction. The forward ground speed of the tractor is directly affected by the distance the pedal is depressed. The further the pedal is depressed, the faster the tractor will travel.
5 Operation WARNING! To Avoid serious injury or death: — Go up and down slopes, not across. — Avoid sudden turns. — Do not operate the tractor where it could slip or tip. — If the machine stops going uphill, stop blade(s) and back downhill slowly. — Do not mow when children or others are around. — Never carry children, even with the blades off. — Look down and behind before and while backing. — Keep safety devices (guards, shields, and switches) in place and working.
6. After resuming forward motion, return the key to the Normal Mowing position. 7. The Reverse Caution Mode will remain activated until: a. The key is placed in either the Normal Mowing position or STOP position. b. The operator leaves the seat. Follow the previous instructions to re-activate. Driving The Tractor WARNING! Avoid sudden starts, excessive speed and sudden stops. 1. Briefly depress the brake pedal to release the parking brake. Move the throttle lever into the FAST (rabbit) position.
• Increasing the turn of the steering wheel (beyond 10°15º) results in increasingly tighter turns. As the steering mechanism turns the front wheels, it also changes the position of the transmission drive control linkage to slow down the inner rear wheel in the turn, and adjust the speed of the outer wheel as necessary to complete the desired turn. Turn the steering wheel back to the center position as the turn is completed. NOTE: It is not necessary to release the drive pedal when making a turn.
Mulching The i1000 series tractor decks are equipped with a mulching kit. The mulch kit which incorporates special blades, already on your tractor, in a process of recirculating grass clippings repeatedly beneath the cutting deck. The ultra-fine clippings are then forced back into the lawn where they act as a natural fertilizer. Observe the following points for best results when mulching: • Never attempt to mulch if the lawn is damp.
6 Maintenance & Adjustments Maintenance Schedule Before Each use Check Air Filter for Dirty, Loose or Damaged Parts Every 25 Hours Every 50 Hours Every 100 Hours P Clean Hood/Dash Louvers Check Engine Oil Level Every 10 Hours P P P P Clean and Re-oil Air Filter’s Foam Precleaner P P Replace Air Filter Element Change Engine Oil and Replace Oil Filter Clean Battery Terminals P P P P P Lube Mid Steering Arms, Pivot Shafts, and Axles Lube Front Wheel Bearings Clean Engine Cooling Fins Lube Front
3. Pop open the protective cap on the end of the oil drain valve to expose the drain port. Refer to Fig. 6-1. Remove the oil fill cap/dipstick from the oil fill tube. Dipstick Oil Fill Cap Hydrostatic Transmission The zero turn tractor is equipped with dual integrated hydrostatic pumps/transaxles that are sealed and are maintenance-free. Fluid levels cannot be checked and fluid cannot be added or changed.
Lubricate the deck spindles and idler bracket with Cub Cadet 251H EP grease after every 10 hours of operation. 4. The deck spindle lube fittings are in the spindle housings, and can only be accessed from the underside of the deck. Lubricate the idler bracket through the lube fitting in the top of the shoulder bolt. Use a pressure grease gun to lubricate the spindles and idler bracket.
4. Adjusting the Seat WARNING! After adjusting the seat or before driving the tractor, make sure that the seat adjustment lever is engaged in the seat index plate and that the seat will not move. Do not adjust the seat while the tractor is being driven. Adjusting the seat while the tractor is moving could cause the operator to lose control of the tractor. 1. Working from the left side of the tractor, loosen, but do not remove, the hex cap screw in the left deck adjustment bracket. See Fig. 6-5.
3. Working at the front of the tractor, loosen the two hex lock nuts at the front of the deck hanger rod. Thread the lock nuts away from the hex nuts behind them. Refer to Fig. 6-6. 3. Remove the flange lock nut and shoulder bolt securing one of the front ball wheels to the front index bracket. Reposition the ball wheel to align with the one of five index holes that places the wheel 1⁄4” to 1⁄2” above the ground. Secure the ball wheel to the index bracket with the shoulder bolt and flange lock nut.
Deck Rear Roller Adjustment The rear rollers on the mower deck are not designed to carry the weight of the deck. The rear rollers should be adjusted to approximately 1⁄4” to 1⁄2” above the ground when the deck is moved to the desired cutting height. Place the tractor on a smooth, flat surface, move the deck to the desired cutting height, and check the height of the rear rollers.
7 Service Pivot Bar Adjustment CAUTION: If removing the battery for any reason, disconnect the NEGATIVE (Black) wire from it’s terminal first, followed by the POSITIVE (Red) wire. When re-installing the battery, always connect the POSITIVE (Red) wire its terminal first, followed by the NEGATIVE (Black) wire. Be certain that the wires are connected to the correct terminals; reversing them could change the polarity and result in damage to your engine’s alternating system.
Changing Transmission Drive Belt 9. The PTO belt is captured inside the PTO pulley on the bottom of the engine by a belt keeper. From beneath the front/left side of the tractor, locate the hex tapping screw securing the left side of the belt keeper to the bottom of the tractor frame. After first noting the frame hole into which right side of the belt keeper is inserted, remove the hex tapping screw and belt keeper. Slide the PTO belt off the tractor’s PTO pulley. 10.
5. 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. Changing the Deck Belt WARNING! Be sure to shut the engine off, remove ignition key, disconnect the spark plug wire(s) to prevent unintended starting before removing the belt(s).
5. NOTE: References to left and right are from the front of the tractor in the following instructions. Route the deck belt around the spindle pulleys and idler pulleys as shown in Fig. 7-5. 7. Pull the right side of the belt forward and place the narrow V side of the belt into the PTO pulley. 8. While holding the belt and pulley together, rotate the pulley to the left. Continue holding and rotating the pulley and belt until the belt is fully rolled into the PTO pulley. See Fig. 7-6.
2. If emptying the fuel system: a. Do not drain fuel when the engine is hot. Allow the engine adequate time to cool. Drain fuel into an approved container outdoors, away from open flame. b. Drain any large volume of fuel from the tank by disconnecting the fuel line from the in-line fuel filter near the engine. c. 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. d.
8 Troubleshooting Problem Engine fails to start Cause Remedy 1. PTO/Blade Engage knob engaged. 1. Place knob in disengaged (OFF) position. 2. Parking brake not engaged. 2. Engage parking brake. 3. Spark plug wire(s) disconnected. 3. Connect wire(s) to spark plug(s). 4. Throttle control lever not in correct starting position. 4. Place throttle lever to FAST position. 5. Choke not activated 5. Pull the CHOKE control outward. 6. Fuel tank empty, or stale fuel. 6.
9 Replacement Parts Component Part Number and Description 759-3336 Spark Plug OCC-32-083-03 Air Filter and Pre-Cleaner KH-52-050-02-S Oil Filter OCC-25-050-22 Fuel Filter 30 954-04077 Drive Belt 942-04053C 2-in-1 Deck Blade 918-04126A Deck Spindle Phone (800) 800-7310 to order replacement parts or a complete Parts Manual (have your full model number and serial number ready). Parts Manual downloads are also available free of charge at www.mtdproducts.com.
Component Part Number and Description 734-04155 Deck Wheel 925-1707D Battery 751-11817 Gas Cap 746-04120 Choke Control Cable 746-1100 Throttle Control Cable 925-2054A Ignition Key 631-04070A Discharge Chute Assembly Phone (800) 965-4CUB to order replacement parts or a complete Parts Manual (have your full model number and serial number ready). Parts Manual downloads are also available free of charge at www.cubcadet.
10 Attachments & Accessories The following attachments and accessories are compatible for Cub Cadet i1050. See your Cub Cadet dealer or the retailer from which you purchased your tractor for information regarding price and availability.
Notes 11 33
FEDERAL and/or CALIFORNIA EMISSION CONTROL WARRANTY STATEMENT YOUR WARRANTY RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS MTD Consumer Group Inc, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and, for those products certified for sale in the state of California, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) are pleased to explain the emission (evaporative and/or exhaust) control system (ECS) warranty on your outdoor 2006 and later small off-road spark-ignited engine and equipment (outdoor equipment engine) In California, n
WARRANTED PARTS: The repair or replacement of any warranted part otherwise eligible for warranty coverage may be excluded from such warranty coverage if MTD Consumer Group Inc demonstrates that the outdoor equipment engine has been abused, neglected, or improperly maintained, and that such abuse, neglect, or improper maintenance was the direct cause of the need for repair or replacement of the part.
CUB CADET LLC MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR SERIES 1000 & SERIES 1500 TRACTORS IMPORTANT: To obtain warranty coverage owner must present an original proof of purchase and applicable maintenance records to the servicing dealer. Please see the operator’s manual for information on required maintenance and service intervals. In the U.S.A.: Check your Yellow Pages, or contact Cub Cadet LLC at P.O. Box 361131, Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019, call 1-877-282- 8684 or log on to our website at www.cubcadet.com.
