Stopping The Engine; Driving The Tractor; Driving On Slopes; Engaging The Blades - Craftsman 247.288820 Operator's Manual

Stopping the Engine
If you strike a foreign object,stop the engine,disconnectthe sparkplug
wire(s) andground againstthe engine.Thoroughlyinspectthe machinefor
anydamage. Repairthe damagebeforerestarting and operating
1. If the blades areengaged, p lace the PTO (Blade Engage) l everinthe
disengaged (OFF) position.
2. Turnthe ignitionkeycounterclockwise to the STOP p osition.
3. Remove t he keyfrom the ignitionswitchto prevent u nintended starting.
Driving The Tractor
Avoidsuddenstarts, excessive speedandsuddenstops.
Donot leavethe seat of the tractor without first placingthe PTO(Blade
Engage)leverinthe disengaged(OFF) p osition, depressingthe brake pedal
andengagingthe parking brake.If leavingthe tractor unattended,also
turn the ignition keyoff andremovethe key.
Alwayslook down andbehind beforeandwhile backingup to avoid aback-
overaccident.
1. Depress t he clutch-brake pedalto release the parkingbrakeandthenlet the
pedalup.
2. Movethe throttle leverintothe FAST ( rabbit)position.
3. Place the shift leverineitherthe FORWARD or REVERSE position.
IMPORTANT: DoNOT usethe shift leverto change the directionof travelwhen
the tractorisinmotion.Alwaysusethe clutch-brake pedal t o bringthe tractorto a
complete stopbeforeshifting.
4. Release t he parkingbrakebydepressing t he clutch-brake pedaland
positioning the speed controlleverinthe desired position.
IMPORTANT: First-time operators shouldusespeed positions1or 2. Become
completely familiarwith the tractor'soperationandcontrolsbefore operatingthe
tractorinhigherspeed positions.
5. Release c lutch-brake pedal s lowlyto put unit into motion.
6. Thelawntractorisbroughtto astopbydepressing theclutch-brake pedal.
NOTE:Whenoperating the unit initially, there will be little difference
between the highest two speeds until after the belts have seated
themselves into the pulleys during the break-in period.
Before leaving the operator's position for any reason, disengage the
blades, place the shift lever in neutral, engage the parking brake,
shut engine off and remove the key.
2. Engage the parkingbrake.
3. Shutengineoff andremove the key.Doing sowill minimizethe possibility
of havingyourlawn"browned"byhot exhaust f romyourtractor'srunning
engine.
Ifunit stallswith speed control i n highspeed, o r if unit will not operate with speed
controlleverinalow speed position,proceed asfollows:
1. Place shift leverinNEUTRAL
2. Restart e ngine.
3. Place speed controlleverin highestspeed position.
4. Release clutch-brake pedalfully.
5. Depress c lutch-brake pedal.
6. Place speed controlleverin desired position.
7. Place shift leverineitherFORWARD or REVERSE, andfollow normal o perating
procedures.
Driving On Slopes
Refer t o the SLOPE G AUGE in the Safety Instructions sectionof the manual t o help
determineslopes whereyoumayoperate thistractorsafely.
Donot mow on inclineswith aslope in excess of 15degrees(a rise of
approximately 2-I12feet every10feet). Thetractor could overturnand
cause seriousinjury.
Mow upanddownslopes, N EVER a cross.
Exercise e xtreme cautionwhenchangingdirectiononslopes.
Watchforholes,ruts,bumps,rocks, o r otherhiddenobjects.Uneven terrain
couldoverturnthe machine. T allgrasscanhide obstacles.
Avoidturnswhendrivingonaslope.Ifa turn mustbemade,turndown the
slope.Turningupaslopegreatlyincreases t hechance of a rollover.
Avoidstoppingwhendrivingupa slope.If it isnecessary t o stopwhile
drivingupa slope, s tart upsmoothlyandcarefully to reduce the possibility
of flippingthe tractoroverbackward.
Engagingthe Blades
Engaging t he PTO (BladeEngage) transfers powerto the cuttingdeckor other
(separately a vailable) a ttachments. T oengage the blades, p roceed asfollows:
1. Movethe throttle/choke controlleverto the FAST (rabbit)position.
2. Grasp the PTO (BladeEngage) leverandpivot itall the wayforwardinto the
engaged (ON)position.
3. Keep the throttle leverinthe FAST ( rabbit)positionforthe mostefficientuse
of the cuttingdeckor other(separately a vailable) a ttachments.
NOTE: Theenginewill automatically shutoff if the PTO (Blade Engage) l everis
moved intothe engaged (ON) p ositionwiththe shift leverin Reverse.
IMPORTANT: Whenstoppingthe tractorforanyreason whileon agrass
surface, a lways:
1. Place the shift leverin neutral.
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