How to Disengage a Troy-Bilt Cut in Reverse Cut Off

While riding mowers that cut in reverse are not standard, certain Troy-Bilt riding mowers have this ability included in their design. Troy-Bilt mowers are equipped with safety measures, and the mowing in reverse feature is not automatic. You must manually engage it.

If your lawn mower has reverse mowing capability but you find that the riding mower stalls when put in reverse, it is likely because you did not engage the reverse mowing capability. This reverse mowing capability needs to be engaged due to a safety measure put in place in 2004 by the American National Standards Institute.

Riding mowers do not automatically mow the lawn when put in reverse to avoid injury or damage to the surrounding area. By default, riding mowers cease mowing when the gear is shifted to reverse and will resume mowing once shifted back into forward. However, there are certain occasions where mowing in reverse can be advantageous, such as when mowing around landscaping.

The process needed to engage reverse mowing capabilities varies by brand and model. Referred to as acknowledgment controls, these preventative measures are put in place to ensure the operator is aware of what is being enacted and ultimately puts the responsibility on the operator rather than the machine.

When operating a mower, wearing eye protection, such as safety glasses or goggles, is often recommended. This protection will keep debris and other irritants that get kicked up from the mowing out of your eyes. Whenever you are driving a riding mower in reverse, whether you have engaged the reverse mowing feature or not, you must always check behind you to ensure no children, pets or objects are nearby.

It is also essential to proceed with caution when driving over slopes, especially when in reverse and even when reverse mowing capability is disengaged. Always proceed slowly, avoid mowing slopes greater than 15 degrees and never mow across the face of a slope or else the mower can tip over.

Always keep all safety devices, such as the discharge chute, safety interlocks and belt guards, in place when operating the mower. Avoid mowing with the discharge chutes near a wall or obstruction or else discharged materials can ricochet.

If you are operating a Troy-Bilt riding mower, you can engage the reverse-mowing capability with a simple two-step process involving the safety switches on a Troy-Bilt riding mower. While the procedure may vary depending on the model, the user manual should describe the reverse mowing procedures.

First, to engage cutting in reverse, ensure the area behind you is free of children, pets and objects obstructing the mower's pathways. Once you're sure the coast is clear, turn your attention to the on/off switch on the mower. While details may vary depending on your model, there should be a red "off" section, a yellow "reverse" section and a green "forward" section. While the engine is running, turn the knob to the left, stopping at the yellow "reverse" section.

Once you set the knob in place, press the yellow triangle button above the knob, which should resemble a caution sign. This triangle button is the button that will engage the mowing in reverse capability. When you press the button, a light located in the opposite corner of the panel should turn on, indicating the feature is enabled. Turn the knob to the "off" section to turn off the feature.