Craftsman 917.273201 Owner's Manual page 14

The operation of any tractor can result in foreign objects thrown into the I
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. I
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 pressure
from clutch/brake pedal. Pedal should
remain in "BRAKE" position. Make sure
parking brake will hold tractor secure.
Throttle Push-In to Attachment Clutch
Control "Disengage Switch Pull Out To
"Engage"
"Brake"
Lever
Brake
"Disengaged" "Engaged"
Pedal"Ddve" Position
Posi_on Posi_on
STOPPING
MOWER BLADES -
• To stop mower blades, move attach-
ment clutch switch 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 return to neutral (N) position
when the clutch/brake pedal is depressed.
ENGINE -
• Move throttle control to slow position.
NOTE: Failure to move throttle control to
slow position and allowing engine to idle
before stopping may cause engine to -
"backfire".
• Turn ignition key 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.
,_, CAUTION: Always stop tractor com-
pletely, as described above, before leaving
the operator's position; to empty grass
catcher, etc.
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 mower per-
forrnance.
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 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 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.
• Turn knob counterclockwise (,.3)to
lower cutting height.
The cutting height range is approximately
1-1/2" to 4-1/2". The heights are mea-
sured from the ground to the blade tip with
the engine not running. These heights are
approximate and may vary depending
upon soil conditions, height of grass and
types of grass being mowed.
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