Craftsman 917.28746 - Manual (Page 10)

4. Move throttle control to fast position
5. Pull choke control out for a cold engine
.start attempt. For a warm engine start
attempt the choke control may not be
needed.
NOTE: Before starting, read the warm
and cold starting procedures below.
6. Insert key into ignition and tum key
clockwise to start position and release
key as soon as engine starts. Do
not run starter continuously
for more
than fifteen seconds per minute. If the
engine does not start after several
attempts, push choke control in, wait
a few minutes and try again. If engine
still does not start, pull the choke con-
trol out and retry.
WARM WEATHER STARTING (50
0
F and
above)
7. When engine starts, slowly push
choke control in until the engine
begins to run smoothly. If the engine
starts to run roughly, pull the choke
control out slightly for a few seconds
and then continue to push the control
in slowly.
The attachments and ground drive can
now be used. If the engine does not
accept the load, restart the engine and
allow it to warm up for one minute using
the choke as described above.
COLD WEATHER STARTING (50
0
F and
below)
7. When engine starts, slowly push
choke control in until the engine
begins to run smoothly. Continue to
push the choke control in small steps
allowing the engine to accept small
changes in speed and load, until the
choke control is fully in. If the engine
starts to run roughly, pull the choke
control out slightly for a few seconds
and then continue to push the control
in slowly. This may require an engine
warm-up period from several seconds
to several minutes, depending on the
temperature.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WARM UP
Before driving the unit in cold weather,
the transmission should be warmed up as
follows:
1. Be sure the tractor is on level ground.
2. Release the parking brake and let the
brake slowly return to operating posi-
tion.
3. Allow one minute for transmission to
warm up. This can be done during the
engine warm Lip period.
The attachments can be used during
the engine warm-up period after the
transmission
has been warmed up and
may require the choke control be pulled
out slightly.
NOTE: If at a high altitude (above 3000
feet) or in cold temperatures (below 32 F)
the carburetor fuel mixture may need to
be adjusted for best engine performance
(see "TO ADJUST CARBURETOR" in the
Service and Adjustments sectiqn of this
manual).
PURGE TRANSMISSION
ACAUTION: Never engage or dis-
engage freewheelleverwhile the engine
is running.
To ensure proper operation and per-
formance, it is recommehdedthat the
transmission be purged before operating
tractor for the first time. This procedure will
remove any trapped air inside the trans-
mission which may have developed during
shipping of your tractor.
IMPORTANT: Should your transmission
require rernoval for service or replace-
ment, it should be purged after reinstall-
ation before operating the tractor.
1. Place tractor safely on a level surface
- that is clear of objects and open - with
engine off and parking brake set.
2. Disengage transmission by placing
freewheel control in disengaged posi-
tion (See "TO TRANSPORT"
in this
section of manual).
3. Sitting in the tractor seat, start engine.
After the engine is running, move
throttle control to slow position. Disen-
1\. gage parking brake.
•• CAUTION: At any time, during step
4, there may be movement of the drive
wheels.
4.
Depress forward drive pedal to full
forward position and hold for five (5)
seconds and release pedal. Depress
reverse drive pedal to full reverse posi-
tion and hold for five (5) seconds and
release pedal. Repeat this procedure
three (3) times.
5. Shutoff engine and set parking brake.
6.
Engage transmission by placing free-
wheel control in engaged position (See
"TO TRANSPORT"
in this section of
manual).
18 I
j
. 7. Sitting in the tractor seat, start engine.
After the engine is running, move
throttle control to half (1/2) speed.
Disengage parking brake.
8. Drive tractor forward for approximately
five feet then backwards for five feet.
Repeat this driving procedure three
times.
Your transmission is new purged and now
ready for normal operation.
MOWING TIPS
• Tire chains cannot be used when the
mower housing is attached to tractor.
• Mower should be properly leveled for
best mowing performance. See "TO
LEVEL MOWER HOUSING" in the
.Service and Adjustments section of this
manual.
The left hand side of mower should be
used for trimming.
• Drive SO that clippings are discharged
onto the area that has already been
cut. Have the cut area to the right of
the tractor. This will result in a more
even distribution of clippings and more
uniform cutting.
• When mowing large areas, start by
turning to the right so that clippings will
discharge away from shrubs, fences,
driveways, etc. After one or two rounds,
mow in the opposite direction making
left hand turns until finished.
19
• If grass is extremely tall, it should be
mowed twice to reduce load and pos-
. sible fire hazard from dried clippings.
Make first cut relatively high; the second
to the desired height.
• Do not mow grass when it is wet. Wet
grass will plug mower and leave undesir-
able clumps.
Allow grass to dry before
mowing.
Always operate engine at full throttle
when mowing to assure better mow-
ing performance
and proper discharge
of material. Regulate ground speed by
selecting a low enough speed to give the
mower cutting performance as well as
the quality of cut desired.
When operating attachments, select a
ground speed that will suit the terrain
and give best performance of the at-
tachment being used.