Safety Interlock System; Engaging The Parking Brake; Setting The Cutting Height; Starting The Engine - Craftsman 247.203791 Operator's Manual

Safety InterlockSystem
Thesafetyinterlocksystemisdesigned forsafeoperationof the tractor.If this
system shouldevermalfunction, d o notoperatethe tractor,immediately contact
1-888-331-4569 to have the systemserviced.
Thesafetyinterlocksystemprevents the enginefromstartingunless
the parkingbrakeisengaged andthe PTO (BladeEngage) leverisinthe
disengaged (OFF) p osition.
Thesafetyinterlocksystemwill automatically shutoffthe engineif the
operator leaves the seatbeforeengaging the parkingbrake.
Thesafetyinterlocksystemwill automatically shutoff the engineif the
operator leaves the tractor'sseatwith the PTO (Blade Engage) l everengaged,
regardless o f whetherthe parkingbrakeisengaged.
Withthe ignitionkeyinthe NORMAL M OWING p osition, t he electricPTO
(BladeEngage) clutchwill automatically shutoff if the PTO (BladeEngage)
knobis moved into the engaged (ON) p ositionwiththe drivepedalin
positionfor reverse travel.
J
Figure8
Donot operate the tractor if the interlock systemismalfunctioning. This
systemwasdesignedfor yoursafety andprotection.
Engagingthe ParkingBrake
Toengage the parkingbrake:
1. Fullydepress t he parkingparkingbrakepedalandholdit downwith your
foot.
2. Movethe parkingbrakeleverall the waydown andinto the parkingbrake
(ON) p osition.
3. Release t he parkingparkingbrakepedalto allowthe parkingbrake to
engage.
Toreleasethe parkingbrake:
1. Depress t he parkingparkingbrakepedal a ndmovethe parkingbrakelever
out of the parkingbrake(ON)positionandintothe OFF position.
Setting the CuttingHeight
1. Select t he heightpositionof the cuttingdeckbyplacingthe decklift leverin
anyof the sixdifferentcuttingheightnotches on the right side of the fender.
2. Adjustthe deckwheelssothatthey arebetween1g-inch and1/2-inch a bove
the groundwhenthe tractorisonasmooth, f lat surface such asa driveway.
Toadjust DeckWheels:
1. Adjustthe deckwheelsbyremoving the flangelocknut andshoulder b olt
thatsecures eachwheelandmovingit into oneof the holes that allows
the wheels to be between1g-inch and1/2-inch above the groundwhen the
tractorisonasmooth, f lat surface such asa driveway. S eeFigure 8.
2. Once theoptimumpositionislocated, r esecure the wheelto thedeckby
reinstalling the shoulder bolt previously removed, andsecure with the
flangelocknut previously removed. R eferto Figure 8.
Keep hands andfeetaway from the discharge o peningof the cuttingdeck.
flOTE: T hedeckwheels areananti-scalp featureof the deckandarenot designed
to supportthe weightof the cuttingdeck.Referto Leveling inthe Service a nd
Maintenance s ectionof thismanual f ormoredetailedinstructionsregarding various
deckadjustments.
Starting the Engine
Donot operatethe tractorif the interlock systemis malfunctioning. T hissystem
wasdesigned foryoursafetyandprotection.
flOTE:Refer t o the Gasoline andOilfill-up instructions earlierinthissection.
1. Insertthe tractorkeyintothe ignitionswitch.
2. Place the PTO (Blade Engage) l everinthe disengaged (OFF) position.
3. Engage the tractor'sparkingbrake.
4. Activatethe chokecontrolbymovingthe throttle/chokeleverall the wayup
intothe chokeposition.
5. Turnthe ignitionkeyclockwise to the START p osition. A fterthe enginestarts,
release the key.It will returnto the ON(orNormal M owing)position. S ee
Figure 9.
DoNOT holdthe keyinthe START positionforlongerthantenseconds atatime.
Doing somaycause damage to yourengine's electricstarter.
6. Afterthe enginestarts,deactivate the chokecontrolandplacethethrottle
controlinthe FAST position.
flOTE:DoNOT leavethe chokecontrol o nwhileoperatingthe tractor.Doing sowill
resultina"rich"fuel mixtureandcause the engineto run poorly.
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