Craftsman 917.271840 - Manual (Page 14)

The operation of any tractor can result in foreign objects thrown into the
eyes, which can result in severe eye danrtage. Always wear safety
glasses or eye shielcts while operating your tractor or performing any
adjustments or repairs. We recommend a wide vision safety mask over
spectacies or standard safety glasses.
HOWTO USEYOURTRACTOR
TO SET PARKING BRAKE
Your tractor is equipped with an operator
presence sensing switch. When engine
is running, any attempt by the operator to
leave the seat without first setting the
parking brake wit! shut off the engine.
1. Depress clutch/brake pedal Into full
“BRAKE" position and hold.
2. Place parking brake lever in “EN­
GAGED” position and release
pressure from clutch/brake pedal.
Pedal should remain in “BRAKE”
position. Make sure parking brake will
hold tractor secure.
Attachment Clutch Lever
“Engaged" Position
Choke
/
Control, '"'“Av ^Ignition Key
“Disengaged"
Position Throttle
Control
Clutch/ ^
Brake Pedali^
Parking Brake
“Engaged”
Position
“Brake”
Position
Motion Control
Lever
“Disengaged”
Position
STOPPING
MOWER BLADES -
• To stop mower blades,move attach­
ment clutch lever to “DISENGAGED"
position.
GROUND DRIVE -
• To stop ground drive, depress clutch/
brake pedal into full “BRAKE” position.
• Move motion control lever to neutral (N)
position.
IMPORTANT: The motion control lever
does not return to neutral (N) position
when the clutch/brake pedal is de­
pressed.
ENGINE-
• Move throttle control to slow position.
NOTE: Failure to move throttle control to
slow position and allowing engine to idle
before stopping may cause engine to
“backfire”.
• Turn ignition key to “OFF’ position and
remove key. Always remove key when
leaving tractor to prevent unauthorized
use.
• Never use choke to stop engine.
IMPORTANT: Leaving the ignition switch
in any position other than “OFF" will
cause the battery to be discharged,
(dead).
NOTE: Under certain conditions when
tractor is standing idle with the engine
running, hot engine exhaust gases may
cause “browning" of grass. To eliminate
this possibility, always stop engine when
stopping tractor on grass areas.
A ca UTION: Always stop tractor
completely, as described above, before
leaving the operator's position; to empty
grass catcher, etc.
TO USE THROTTLE CONTROL
Always operate engine at full throttle.
• Operating engine at less than full
throttle reduces the battery charging
rate.
• Full throttle offers the best bagging and
mower performance.
TO USE CHOKE CONTROL
Use choke control whenever you are
starting a cold engine. Do not use to start
a warm engine.
• To engage choke control, pull knob out.
Slowly push knob in to disengage.
TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD
The direction and speed of movement is
controlled by the motion control lever.
1. Start tractor with motion control lever in
neutral (N) position.
2. Release parking brake and clutch/
brake pedal.
3. Slowly move motion control lever to
desired position.
TO ADJUST MOWER CUTTING HEIGHT
The position of the attachment lift lever
determines the cutting height.
• Grasp lift lever.
• Press plunger with thumb and move
lever to desired position.
The cutting height range is approxi­
mately 1-1/2 to 4". The heights are
measured from the ground to the blade
tip with the engine not mnning.
These heights are approximate and may
vaiy depending upon soil conditions,
height of grass and types of grass being
mowed.
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