Warming Up The Engine; Tractor Operation; Attachment Lift Adjustment; Stopping Your Tractor - Craftsman 917.253724 Owner's Manual

WARMUNG UP THE ENGINE
Move Throttle Control to "SLOW" position. Push Choke in
as engine warms up. NOTE: ALLOW ENGINE TO WARM UP
FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE OPERATING.
When restartinq a warm engine move Throttle Control mid-
way between SLOW and FAST position,, Choke may not
have to be used.
TRACTOR OPERATION
I With engine running and warm place Throttle Control mid-
t II fl I_ * ,
way between SLOW and FAST post on.
2o Push Clutch-Brake Pedal down flrmly to disengage Parking
Brake and hold Clutch-Brake Pedal in Brake position (Fig,
9)
3. Move Gear Shift Control Lever to desired gear (Fig. 10).
4, Release Clutch-Brake Pedal SLOWLY to start forward
or rearward movement
5. Move Varidrive Control Lever to desired speed (Fig. 11)
If ground travel is too slow advance Throttle Lever.
NOTE: ALWAYS SELECT A GROUND TRAVEL SPEED
THAT WILL SUIT THE TERRAIN AND THE ATTACH-
MENT BE{NG USED.
2o Move Shift Control Lever to "NEUTRAL" position.
3 Place Parking Brake in "ENGAGED" position:
CLUTCH-BRAKE PEDAL SHOULD RE-
MAIN COMPLETELY DEPRESSED WHEN
FOOT PRESSURE IS RELEASED.
DO NOT OPERATE VARIDRIVE CON-
TROL UNLESS ENGINE IS RUNNING.
DAMAGE MAY OCCUR TO VARIDRIVE
SYSTEM.
BRING TRACTOR TO COMPLETE STOP
BEFORE SHIFTING GEARS°
NEVER PLACE YOUR HANDS OR FEET
tN OR UNDER ANY POWERED ATTACH-
MENT OR NEAR ANY MOVING PART
WHILE TRACTOR OR ANY POWERED
ATTACHMENT IS RUNNING.
DO NOT OPERATE THE MOWER WITH-
OUT EITHER THE ENTIRE GRASS CAT-
CHER, ON MOWERS SO EQUIPPED, OR
THE DEFLECTOR SHIELD IN PLACE.
NOTE: ALWAYS OPERATE ENGINE AT FULL ENGINE
RPM WHEN MOWING TO ASSURE BETTER MOWING PER-
FORMANCE, LONG ENGINE LIFE AND PROPER DIS-
CHARGE OF CUT MATERIAL.
4, Place Attachment Clutch Lever in "DISENGAGED" posi-
tion and Iower attachment to the ground.
It rl
5. Move Throttle Control to SLOW position.
• I| I1 , ,
6. Move Var_drlve Control Lever to SLOW post ono
7o Turn Ignition Key to "OFF" position.
REMOVE KEY WHEN LEAVING TRAC- i
TOR TO PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED
USE.
TRANSPORTnNO YOUR TRACTOR
TOWING IS NOT RECOMMENDED Internal transexle
damage can result°
TRACTOR OPERATION ON HILLS
1 Choose one of the lowest gears BEFORE starting up or
down hills.
ATTACHMENT LIFT ADJUSTMENT
Due to different weights of Attachments, the Attachment
Lift Spring may require adjustment, The Adjustment Bolt
is located on rear of tractor top ieft side (Fig° 12),
1. Holding Spring Bushing with Wrench, loosen Jam Nut.
2 Turn Adjustment Bolt clockwise ((_) to extend Spring and
reduce lift effort (for heavier Attachments),
3, Turn Adjustment Bolt counterclockwise ( f-_ ) (for Hghter
Attachments),
4, Retighten Jam Nut against Spring Bushing
DO NOT ADJUST FOR MAXIMUM
SPRING EXTENSION WHEN USING LIGHT ATTACHMENTS, SUCH AS
MOWER.
ADJUST LIFT SPRING TO AID tN LIFT-
ING ATTACHMENT, DON'T OVER
POWER SPRING.
STOPPIINO YOUR TRACTOR
1. Push Clutch-Brake Pedal completely into "BRAKE t' posi-
tion.
DO NOT DRIVE UP OR DOWN HILLS
WITH SLOPES GREATER THAN 15°,
AND DO NOT DRIVE ACROSS ANY
SLOPE.
2. AVOID STOPPING OR SHIFTING ON HILLS,,
a, If slowing is necessary, move Varidrive Control Lever
to slower position.
LEAVE ENOUGH ROOM WHEN STOP-
PING AND STARTING TO ALLOW
SLIGHT TRACTOR ROLL DOWNHILL AS
CLUTCH-BRAKE PEDAL MOVES
THROUGH CLUTCH POSITION.
b, If stopping is absolutely necessary, push Clutch-Brake
Pedal quickly to brake position and lock Parking Brake,
c, To restart your tractor, make sure tractor is in 1st
year and that you have allowed room to roll slightty
downhill,, Unlock Parking Brake and retease Clutch-
Brake Pedal SLOWLY to start tractor forward move-
ment, then move Varidrive Control Lever to desired
speed,
3 Make all turns gradually
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