Craftsman 917.259561 - Manual (Page 8)

ASSEMBLY
HOW TO SET UP YOUR TRACTOR
CONNECT BATTERY (See Fig. 2)
A
CAUTION; Do not short battery termi­
nals by allowing a wrench or any other
object to contact both terminals at the
same time. Before connecting battery,
remove
metal bracelets, wristwatch
bands, rings, etc.
Positive terminal must be connected
first to prevent sparking from acciden­
tal grounding.
• Lift hood to raised position.
• Open terminal access doors, remove terminal protec­
tive caps and discard.
• If this battery is put into service after month and year
indicated on label {label located between terminals)
charge battery for minimum of one hour at 6-10 amps.
• First connect RED battery cable to positive (+) battery
terminal with hex bolt, flat washer, lock washer and hex
nut as shown. Tighten securely.
• Connect BLACK grounding cable to negative (-) bat­
tery terminal with remaining hex bolt, flat washer, lock
washer and hex nut. Tighten securely.
• Close terminal access doors.
Use terminal access doors for;
•
Inspection for secure connections (to tighten hard­
ware).
• Inspection for corrosion.
• Testing battery.
• Jumping (if required).
• Periodic charging.
INSTALL SEAT (See Fig. 3)
Adjust seat before tightening adjustment bolt.
• Remove cardboard packing on seat pan.
Place seat on seat pan and assemble shoulder bolt.
• Assemble adjustment bolt, lockwasherandflatwasher
loosely. Do not tighten.
• Tighten shoulder bolt securely.
• Lower seat into operating position and sit on seat.
• Slide seat until a comfortable position is reached which
allows you to press clutch/brake pedal all the way
down.
• Get off seat without moving its adjusted position.
• Raise seat and tighten adjustment bolt securely.
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
The tires on your tractor were overinflated at the factory for
shipping purposes. Correct tire pressure is important for
best cutting peiiformance.
• Reduce tire pressure to PSI shown in “PRODUCT
SPECIFICATIONS” on page 3 of this manual.
CHECK DECK LEVELNESS
For best cutting results, mower housing should be properly
leveled.
See TO LEVEL MOWER HOUSING” in the
Service and Adjustments section of this manual.
CHECK FOR PROPER POSITION OF ALL
BELTS
See the figures that are shown for replacing motion and
mower blade drive belts in the Service and Adjustments
section of this manual. Verify that the belts are routed
correctly.
CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM
After you learn how to operate your tractor, check to see
that the brake is properly adjusted. See ‘TO ADJUST
BRAKE” in the Service and Adjustments section of this
manual.
ASSEMBLE GAUGE WHEELS TO MOWER
DECK (See Fig. 4)
The gauge wheels are designed to keep the mower deck in
proper position when operating mower. Be sure they are
properly adjusted to ensure optimum mower performance.
• Assemble gauge wheeis with tractor on a flat level
surface.
• Adjust mower to desired cutting height (See TO AD­
JUST MOWER CUTTING HEIGHT’ in the Operation
section of this manual).
• With mower in desired height of cut position, gauge
wheels should be assembled so they are slightly off the
ground. Install gauge wheel in appropriate hole with
shoulder bolt, 3/8 washer, and 3/8-16 locknut and
tighten securely.
• Repeat for opposite side installing gauge wheel in
same adjustment hole.
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