Craftsman 917.272020 Owner's Manual page 16

o Donotpush ortowtractor atmore than
Tbreengage transmission, reverse
above p rocedure.
NOTE: T0protect hood from damage when
transporting your t ractor onatruck ora
trailer, besure hood isclosed a nd secured
totractor. Use anappropriate means o f
tying hood totractor (rope, cord, e tco).
TOWING
CARTS AND OTHER
ATTACHMENTS
Tow onty the attachments that are recom-
mended by and comply with specifications
of the manufacturer of your tractor. Use
common sense when towing° Too heavy of
a foad, whiJe on a slope, is dangerous
Tires can lose traction with the ground and
cause you to lose control of your tractor.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGmNE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL
, The engine in your tractor has been
shipped, from the factory, already filled
with summer weight oil.
Check engine oi! with tractor on level
ground.
Unthread and remove oil fill cap/dip-
stick; wipe oil off. Reinsert the dipstick
into the tube and rest oit fir1cap on the
tube. Do not thread the cap onto the
tube° Remove and read oJJlevel. If nec-
essary, add oil until "FULL" mark on
dipstick is reached. Do not overfi{L
o For cold weather operation you should
change oil for easier starting (See "OIL
VISCOS_TY CHART" in the Customer
Responsibilities section of this manual).
To change engine oiJ, see the Customer
Responsib_Jities section in this manual
ADD GASOLINE
, FHJfuel tank. Use fresh, c_ean, regular
unleaded gasoline with a minimum of 87
octane (Use of _eaded gasoline will
increase carbon and _ead oxide
deposits and reduce valve Jife). Do not
mix oil with gasoline. Purchase fuel in
quantities that can be used within 30
days to assure fuel freshness
mMPORTANT: When operating in tempera°
tures below 32°F(0°C), use fresh, dean
winter grade gasoline to hetp insure good
cotd weather starting
_WARNtNG: Experience indicates that
alcohol blended fuels (called gasoho[ or
using ethanol or methanol) can attract
moisture which leads to separation and
formation of acids during storage Acidic
gas can damage the fuel system of an
engine while in storage TO avoid engine
proMems, the fue_ system should be emp...
tied before storage of 30 days or _onger.
n_;_, _h..... _"_" start _'^ engine and ,_^"
it run until the fuemlines and carburetor are
empty° Use fresh fuel next season. See
Storage Instructions for additionaJ informa-
tiono Never use engine or carburetor
cleaner products in the fuel tank or perma-
n,ent damage may occur.
ACAUT!ON: Fill to bottom of gas tank
filler neck. Do not overfill. Wipe off any
spilled oil or fuel Do not store, spill or use
gasoline near an open flame.
TO START ENGINE
When starting the engine for the first time
or if the engine has run out of fue!, it will
take extra cranking time to move fuel from
the tank to the engine.
Be sure freewheel control is in the
transmission engaged position.
Sit on seat in operating position,
depress clutch/brake pedal and set
parking brake.
, Place motion control lever in neutral (N)
position.
Move attachment dutch to "DlSEN o
GAGED ° position.
® Move throttle controt to choke position.
NOTE: Before starting, read the warm and
cold starting procedures below.
Insert key into ignition and turn key
clockwise to "STAR_ position and
retease key as soon as engine starts.
Do not run starter continuously for more
than fifteen seconds per minute° ff the
engine does not start after several
attempts, move throttJe controt to fast
position, wait a few min_es and try
again° If engine stiti does not start,
move the throttle control back to the
choke position and retry.
WARM WEATHER STARTING (50 ° F and
above)
16