How To Use Your Tractor; To Set Parking Brake; Stopping; Throttle Control - Craftsman 917.273012 Owner's Manual

The operation of any tractor can result in foreign objects thrown into the
eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses
or eye shields while operating your tractor or performing any adjustments or
repairs. We recommend a wide vision safety mask over spectacles, or stan-
dard safety glasses.
HOW TO USE YOUR TRACTOR
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
perking brake will shut off the engine.
TO SET PARKING BRAKE
• Depress dutch/brake pedal into full
=BRAKE" position and hold.
• 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,
Thro_e Push-In to Attachment Clutch
Control "Disengaged" Switch Pull Out To
Position i!_J'f __'_
"_.J_--_,_ Position
,C
Clutch/E :e _bisengaged '_ Lever
Pedal =Ddve" Position
Position
STOPPING
MOWER BLADES -
• To stop mower blades, move attach-
ment clutch switch to "DISENGAGED"
position.
GROUND DRIVE -
• To stop ground ddve, depress
clutch/brake pedal into full =BRAKE" po-
sition.
• Move gearshift lever to neutral (N) posi-
tion.
ENGINE -
• Move throttle control to slow position.
NOTE: Failure to move throttle control to
slow position and allowing engine to idle
befq_s stopping may cause engine to
=backfire'.
•Tum ignitionkey 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 run-
ning, hot engine exhaust gases may
cause =browning" of grass. To eliminate
this possibility, always stop engine when
stopping tractor on grass areas.
A CAUTION: Always stop tractor com-
pletely, as described above, before leaving
the operator's position; to empty grass
THROTTLE CONTROL
Always operate engine at full throttle.
• Operating engine at less than full throt-
tle reduces the battery charging rate,
• Full throttle offers the best bagging and
mower performance.
CHOKE CONTROL
Use choke control whenever you are start-
ing 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 gearshift lever.
• Start tractor with clutch/brake pedal
depressed and gearshift lever in neutral
(N) position.
• Move gearshift and range shift levers to
desired position.
• Slowly release clutch/brake pedal to
start movement.
IMPORTANT: Bring tractor to a complete
stop before shifting or changing gears.
Failure to do so will shorten the useful life
of your transaxle.
TO ADJUST MOWER CUTTING HEIGHT
The cutting height is controlled by turn-
ing the height adjustment knob in
desired direction.
• Turn knob clockwise (G) to raise cutting
height..
•/um knoe counterclockwise (0) to
lower cutting height.
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