Mowing Tips; Operating The Tractor Hills; Transporting Your Tractor - Craftsman 917.254520 Owner's Manual

.... OPERATION
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Tf
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FIGURE 9
SPEED SELECTION GUIDE
FUNCTION
Normal
Mowing
Heavy Mowing
Snow Blowing
Snow Blade
Transport
GEARSHIFT
2or3
1 or2
2
4-5
THROTTLE
FAST
SLOW-
FAST
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
CAUTION:
Slowly release clutch/brake pedal and proceed to
the mowing area.
Stop the unit, then select a mowing speed. (See
Speed Selection Guide, above).
Move throttle lever to half throttle and slowly move
attachment clutch lever to engaged position, Fig. 8.
Slowly release clutch/brake pedal.
Move throttle lever to fast position.
Observe height of cut and readjust as desired (see
page 9).
BEFORE YOU MOVE THE GEARSHIFT
LEVER, COME TO A COMPLETE STOP.
FAILURE TO DO SO CAN RESULT IN GEAR
BOX DAMAGE.
5. Mowing Tips
NOTE: TiRE CHAINS CANNOT BE USED WITH THE
MOWER ATTACHED.
a. Mower should be adjusted properly front to back
and side to side for good mowing performance. Re-
fer to REPAIR AND ADJUSTMENT section (page
22).
b. Use the runner on the R.H. side as a guide; the
blade cuts approximately an inch (2.54 cm) outside
the runner (Fig. 8).
c. Drive so that clippings are discharged onto the area
that has been cut. Have the cut area to the right of
the machine. This will result in a more even distribu-
tion of clippings and more uniform cutting.
d. When mowing large areas (Fig. 9), start by turning
to the right so that the clippings will discharge away
from shrubs, fences, driveways, etc. After two or
three rounds, mow in the opposite direction making
left hand turns until finished.
e. If grass is extremely tall, it should be mowed twice.
The first time cut relatively high; the second time to
the desired height.
f. The left hand side of mower should be used for trim-
ming.
g, See Speed Selection Guide.
h. Do not mow tall, dry (brown) grass over 6 inches
(15.24 cm) tall. It is a fire hazard.
6. Operating the Tractor on Hills
DO NOT DRIVE UP OR DOWN HILLS
WiTH SLOPES GREATER THAN 15 °
AND DO NOT DRIVE ACROSS ANY
SLOPE. REFER TO PAGE 47.
a. Move gearshift lever to "lst" gear before starting up
or down hills.
b: AVOID STOPPING OR SHIFTING ON HILLS.
c. if slowing is necessary, move throttle 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.
d. If stopping is absolutely necessary, push clutch/
brake pedal quickly to brake position.
e. To restart tractor movement, make sure tractor is in
the lowest speed range ("1st" Gear) and release
clutch/brake pedal SLOWLY.
f. Make allturns gradually.
7. Transporting Your Tractor
For pushing or towing your tractor, place gearshift lever
in "N" position. Do not tow or push at more than 6 MPH
(9.7 KPH).
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