Grass-cutting tractor with improved operating features

In a grass-cutting tractor having cutting blades, an internal combustion engine and an apparatus which changes engine speed, the engine including a throttle, crankshaft connectable to the cutting blades, the improvement wherein:

• the apparatus includes a user-manipulated mechanism having first, second, third and fourth operating positions;
• an electronic controller having a microprocessor coupled to the throttle, to the user-manipulated mechanism and to the engine for monitoring the engine speed;
• the first, second, third and fourth operating positions select first, second, third and fourth inputs, respectively, to the microprocessor;
• the engine speed substantially corresponds to a predetermined speed represented by the input selected;
• a generator including a drive shaft that is connectable to the engine, the generator generating electrical power having a magnitude and a frequency;
• the first operating position is identified by an engine-related mnemonic relating to engine speed;
• the second and third operating positions are each identified by a different grass-related mnemonic relating to the height of the grass to be cut;
• and
• the fourth operating position being identified by a mnemonic relating to operation of the generator;
• wherein the electronic controller selectively couples the crankshaft of the engine to the drive shaft of the generator in response to receipt of the fourth input by the microprocessor from the user manipulated mechanism in the fourth operating position.