Craftsman 917.276221 Owner's Manual page 14

SAFETY GLASSES
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 standard safety glasses or a
wide vision safety mask worn over spectacles.
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.
1. Depress brake pedal all the way down
and hold.
2. Pull parking brake lever up and release
pressure from brake pedal. Pedal
should remain in brake position. Make
sure parking brake will hold tractor
secu re.
Choke Push-In to Attachment Clutch
"Disengaged" Switch Pull Out To
Throttle
Control
"Brake
Position
\
Brake Pedal Motion
"Drive" Position gaged" X Control
Position \ Lever
Height Adjustment Parking Brake
Knob "Engaged" Position
STOPPING
MOWER BLADES -
• To stop mower blades, push attachment
clutch switch in to disengaged position.
GROUND DRIVE -
• To stop ground drive, depress brake
pedal all the way down.
IMPORTANT: The motion control lever
returns to neutral (N) position when the
brake pedal is fully depressed.
ENGINE -
• Move throttle control between half and
full speed (fast) position.
NOTE: Failure to move throttle control
between half and full speed (fast) posi-
tion, before stopping, may cause engine to
"backfire".
• Turn ignition key to "STOP" 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 "STOP" will
cause the battery to discharge and go
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 com-
pletely, as described above, before leaving
the operator's position.
TO USE THROTTLE CONTROL
Always operate engine at full throttle.
• Operating engine at less than full
throttle reduces the battery charging
rate.
• Full throttle offers the best mower perfor-
mance.
TO USE 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
CAUTION: Do not attempt to operate motion
control lever when the parking brake is set or
when the brake pedal is depressed. Doing so
may result in misadjustment to the drive control
system.
The direction and speed of movement is con-
trolled by the motion control lever.
1. Start tractor with motion control lever in
neutral (N) position.
2. Release parking brake.
3. 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 (f_) to raise cutting
height.
• Turn knob counterclockwise (_-_) to
lower cutting height.
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