Z248F return to neutral question

[ADKer]

I bought a slightly used Z248F and am finding it a potential widowmaker. I’m certain that‘s why it went up for sale to begin with. Just a slight push forward on the handles and it takes off like a scared rabbit! Releasing the handles altogether does not stop the forward motion. It just lunges ahead. Reverse works fine. Release the handles from the reverse position and the handles return to neutral position and the machine stops. It does not creep with the handles held in neutral position, so I’m thinking that adjustment is OK.
Mowing with this situation requires a lot of finesse and a very light touch on the control handles. How can I adjust the sensitivity of the forward motion? Is there a replacement damper available for the control handles that will provide return to neutral position? Right now this machine is an accident waiting to happen. I need to fix this!

 

[Rivets]

This manual may help, it tells you how to adjust the handles. https://www.powerequipmentdirect.co...K_T7-r9eT8dBsP21co76Idbg5LBwXKuKRhOwRZ72FojQM

 

[ADKer]

Thanks for that link. It appears that the mechanical adjustment of the control handles is right on. So unfortunately my issues with this machine are not with the adjustment of the physical positions of the control handles, but with the linkages and dampers connected to the bottom ends of the control handles. These connect directly to the hydro drive units.
Before I attempt any adjustments to these, I should verify that the issues I’ve described are not characteristic of this model, are they? If they are I stand corrected and will get rid of the machine before something bad happens. If not, can someone verify that their Z248F control handles do indeed return to neutral when they are released and that they are not overly sensitive in the forward drive position? Thanks for bearing with me on this issue. I appreciate all of your responses.

 

[Auto Doc's]

Handle steer zero turns do take some getting used to, they do respond super quick to the hand controls.

This is an entry level commercial unit, and they are not typically meant to operate slowly. You can throttle down a little and that would help with the hyper speed reaction.

I have 2 zero turn mowers; one has a steering wheel and the other has the control handles. They operate totally different.