Sears Craftsman 917.257720 - Manual (Page 13)

OPERATION
TO ADJUST GAUGE WHEELS (See Fig. 9)
• Adjust mower to desired cutting height.
• Lower mower with lift control. Remove rear retainer
spring and clevis pin which secure each gauge wheel.
• Lower gauge wheels to ground. Raise gauge wheels
slightly to align holes in bracket and gauge wheel bar
and insert clevis pins. Gauge wheels should be slightly
off the ground.
• Replace retainer springs into clevis pins.
TO OPERATE ON HILLS
TO OPERATE MOWER (See Figs. 7 and 8)
Your unit is equipped with an operator presence sensing
switch. Any attempt by the operator to leave the seat with
the engine running and the attachment clutch engaged will
shut off the engine.
• Select desired height of cut.
• Lower mower with attachment lift control.
• Start mower blades by engaging attachment clutch
control.
• TO STOP MOWER BLADES - disengage attachment
clutch control.
A
CAUTION: Do not operate the mower
without either the entire grass catcher,
on mowers so equipped, or the dis­
charge guard in place.
A
CAUTION: Do not drive up or down
hills with slopes greater than 15° and
do not drive across any slope.
Choose the slowest speed before starting up or down
hills.
Avoid stopping or changing speed on hills.
If slowing is necessary, move throttle control lever to
slower position.
If stopping is absolutely necessary, push clutch/brake
pedal quickly to brake position and engage parking
brake.
Move gearshift lever to 1st gear and range shift lever to
low (L) position. Besureyou have allowed room for unit
to roll slightly as you restart movement.
To restart movement, slowly release parking brake and
clutch/brake pedal.
Make all turns slowly.
TO TRANSPORT
Raise attachment lift to highest position with attach­
ment lift control.
When pushing or towing your tractor, be sure gearshift
lever is in neutral (N) position.
Do not push or tow tractor at more than five (5) MPH.
NOTE: To protect hood from damage when transporting
yourtractoronatruckoratrailer, be sure hood is closed and
secured to tractor. Use an appropriate means of tying hood
to tractor (rope, cord, etc.).
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL (See Fig. 11)
• The engine in your tractor has been shipped, from the
factory, already filled with summer weight oil.
• Check engine oil with tractor on level ground.
• Remove oil fill cap/dipstick and wipe clean, reinsert the
dipstick and push it ail the way down into the tube, wait
for a few seconds, remove and read oil level. If
necessary, add oil until “FULL” mark on dipstick is
reached. Do not overfill.
• For cold weather operation you should change oil for
easier starting (See “OIL VISCOSITY CHART” in the
Customer Responsibilities section of this manual).
• To change engine oil, see the Customer Responsibili­
ties section in this manual.
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