Craftsman 917.270920 Owner's Manual page 13

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 standard safety glasses.
HOW TO USE YOUR TRACTOR
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 will Shut off the engine.
• Depress clutch/brake pedal into full
=BRAKE" position and hold.
• Place parking brake lever in "EN-
GAGED" position and release pres-
sure from clutch/brake pedal. Pedal
should remain in =BRAKE" position.
Make sure parking brake will hold
tractor secure. Attachment Clutch Lever
Choke =Engaged" Position
Control __ =Disengaged"
___.__ Position
Park, ng
Control---,L "_'_ \ ,,_-'_\\_ Brake ,
------_'_ _', \V/I Engaged
Clutch/ "_,"_ '_\'_ _-S_ -_ _- -j.1--'_ Position
Brake_
. _ _ Motion
Dis.e.n a g ged". =.._1____. Control
Position "Brake . Lever
STOPPING Position
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 retum to neutral (N) position
when the clutch/brake pedal is de-
pressed.
ENGINE -
• Move throttle control to s!ow position.
NOTE: Failure to move throttle control to
slow position and allowing engine to idle
before stopping may cause engine to
=backfire".
•Tum ignition key to =OFF" position and
remove key. Always remove key when
leaving tractor to prevent unauthorized
use. 13
• Never use choke to stop engine.
IMPORTANT: Leaving the ignition
switch in any posdion 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.
CAUTION: Always stop tractor
completely, as described above, before
leaving the operator's position; to empty
grass catcher, etc.
TO USE THROI'FLE 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 disen-
gage.
TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACK-
WARD
The direction and speed of movement is
controlled by the motion control lever.
• Start tractor with motion control lever in
neutral (N) position.
• Release parking brake and clutch/
brake pedal.
• Slowly move motion control lever to
desired position.
TO ADJUST MOWER CUTFING
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 running.