Starting The Engine; Stopping The Engine; Driving The Tractor; Driving On Slopes - Craftsman 247.28905 Operator's Manual

STARTING THE ENGINE
Do notoperatethe tractorifthe interlock s ystemis malfunctioning.
This systemwasdesignedfor your safetyand protection.
NOTE: Referto the Gasolineand Oil fill-upinstructionsearlier in this
section.
1. Insertthe tractorkey intothe ignitionswitch.
2. Placethe PTO(BladeEngage)leverin the disengaged(OFF)
position.
3. Engagethe tractor'sparkingbrake.
4. Activatethe chokecontrol by movingthe throttle/chokeleverall
theway up intothe chokeposition.
5. Turnthe ignitionkey clockwiseto the STARTposition.After the
enginestarts,releasethe key.It will returnto the ON (or Normal
Mowing)position.
DO NOT holdthe key in the STARTpositionfor longerthanten
secondsat a time.Doingso maycause damageto yourengine's
electricstarter.
6. Afterthe engine starts,deactivatethe chokecontroland placethe
throttlecontrolin the FASTposition.
NOTE: Do NOTleavethechokecontrol on whileoperatingthe tractor.
Doingso will resultin a "rich" fuel mixtureand causethe engineto run
poorly.
STOPPING THE ENGINE
If youstrikea foreignobject,stop the engine,disconnectthe spark
plug wire(s)and groundagainstthe engine.Thoroughlyinspectthe
machinefor anydamage.Repairthe damagebeforerestartingand
operating
1. If the bladesare engaged,placethe PTO(Blade Engage)leverin
thedisengaged(OFF) position.
2. Turnthe ignitionkey counterclockwise to the STOPposition.
3. Removethe keyfrom the ignitionswitchto preventunintended
starting.
DRIVING THE TRACTOR
Avoidsuddenstarts,excessivespeedand suddenstops.
Do notleavethe seat of thetractorwithoutfirstplacingthe PTO
(Blade Engage)leverin the disengaged(OFF) position,depressing
I the brakepedal and engagingthe parkingbrake.If leavingthe tractor
unattended,alsoturn the ignitionkey off and removethe key.
Alwayslookdownand behindbeforeand whilebackingup to avoida
back-overaccident.
1. Movethethrottleleverintothe FAST(rabbit)position.
NOTE: Alwaysoperatethe tractorwith thethrottle/chokecontrol lever
in the FAST(rabbit)positionfor the mostefficientuseof the cutting
deck or other(separatelyavailable)attachments.
2. Releasethe parkingbrakeby depressing the brakepedal
3. Positionthe speedcontrolleverin desiredposition.Thefurther
forwardor rearwardthat the leverismoved,thefasterthe tractor
will travel.
DoNOTattemptto changethe directionof travel whenthe tractor
is in motion.Alwaysbringthe tractorto a completestop before
movingthe speedcontrol leverfromforwardto reverseor vice versa.
Failureto do so couldresult in seriousdamageto yourtractor's
transmission.
iMPORTANT: First-timeoperatorsshoulduseslowerspeeds.
Becomecompletelyfamiliarwith thetractor'soperationand controls
beforeoperatingthetractorin at higherspeed.
4. The lawntractorisbroughtto a stop by depressingthe brake
pedal.
5. Set the parkingbrakeby fully depressing the brakepedal and
keepingitdepressedwhileplacingthe parkingbrakeleverinthe
ON position.Releasethe brakepedal to allowthe parkingbrake
to engage.
Beforeleavingthe operator'spositionfor any reason,disengagethe
blades,placethe speedcontrolleverin neutral,engagethe parking
brake,shut engineoff and removethe key.
• Mowup and down slopes,NEVERacross.
• Exerciseextremecautionwhenchangingdirectionon slopes.
• Watchfor holes,ruts,bumps,rocks,or other hiddenobjects.
Uneventerraincouldoverturnthe machine.Tallgrass can hide
obstacles.
• Avoidturns whendrivingon a slope.If a turnmustbe made,turn
downthe slope.Turningup a slopegreatly increases t he chance
iMPORTANT: Whenstoppingthe tractorforany reasonwhile on a
grass surface,always:
1. Placethe speedcontrolleverin N (neutral),
2. Engagethe parkingbrake,
3. Shutengine off and removethe key.
Doingso will minimizethe possibilityof havingyour lawn"browned"by
hot exhaustfrom yourtractor'srunningengine.
DRIVING ON SLOPES
Referto the SLOPEGAUGEin the ImportantSafeOperationPractices
sectionof the manualto help determineslopeswhereyou mayoperate
the tractorsafely.
Donot mowon inclineswith a slopein excessof 15degrees(a rise
of approximately 2-1/2feetevery 10 feet).The tractorcouldoverturn
and cause seriousinjury.