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I just bought a golf course mower Toro Out Front Z model 78478. I'm trying to do some maintenance and I'm stuck.
I'm hoping someone here can point me in the right direction. I think, based on my serial number, it was built in 1990.

Is this the right forum to talk to people about it?

Yes it is. I’ll start by attaching a copy of the operator’s manual, which should come in handy. When I was working in the shop I know there was a service manual for that unit, but can’t find it online. I’ll keep looking but it you need more help include the units serial number as the was a model break the last year it was produced, 1989. https://www.toro.com/getpub/12696

Thanks! It's serial number 390174.

I'm working on a couple of issues with it.
1. The prior owner had ruptured hydraulic lines and replaced one of the drives with a drive from a donor mower. That drive seems sluggish and weak compared to the other one. He suggested I add more hydraulic fluid. He also suggested I may need to bleed the lines. He recommended 20w50 for hydraulic fluid but it looks like that is not what Toro recommends.

2. Also, the mower wants to cut off when the parking brake is released. Using the mower with the brake on seems... not good.
He said he thought something needed to be adjusted, but I have not even begun to look at that. I was hoping for a service manual for the "traction unit" but there were hundreds of pages of results on that keyword. I actually reached out to the myturf people and they could not find service info for me. I was finally able to learn the correct (I think) drive belt for the blades.

Any ideas where I should start to look?

Do you have a suggestion about the kind of hydraulic fluid I should use in this? I don't see it in the parts list.

Check the operators manual. https://www.toro.com/getpub/16409

You are THE MAN! The website said under the seat, but the operator's manual pointed me to the place!

Looks like model 74180 and Serial number 790131

And the operator's manual is SUPER helpful Thank you!

Now I feel like I have a reasonable place to start, not just trying to figure it out by looking at it.

Seeing the parts and the way things are supposed to be connected definitely gets me moving in the right direction.

I am getting excited about having this operational and also not having to wonder or hope about why it's working or not working. Thank you.

Now that you have given us the right unit numbers here are the correct parts and service manuals. Delete the orthers I posted so you don’t get confused.

That’s amazing. Thank you for helping me get started on this journey.

Yes, this is definitely a good forum to discuss maintenance and issues related to your Toro Out Front Z model 78478. There are many knowledgeable users who can offer advice and share their experiences. For maintenance, you might want to check for the owner’s manual or service guides specific to your model, which can often be found online or through Toro’s official website. Feel free to ask specific questions about the maintenance tasks you're tackling, and the community will likely have helpful tips and guidance to assist you.