Craftsman 247.204201 Operator's Manual page 20

Executing a"Y"Maneuver
Forlowtractionconditions, f ollowtheseprocedures f orzeroturns(the
"Y-maneuver"):
Toturn clockwise (frontof machine movestowardRIG HT) w hen traveling
FORWARD:
1. Come to astop,
2. Thenslowlymovebothlapbarsrearward(nomorethan1/2 maximum
reverse speed) t o initiateREVERSE travel,
3. Then slowly move the LEFT l apbarforward whilemaintaining t he RIGHT lapbarin
therearward travel p osition.
4. Tostoptheturnandre-initiate FORWARD travel, s lowlymovethe RIGHT lapbar
fromthe REVERSE travelposition to a FORWARD travelposition equaltothatof
the LEFT l apbar.
5. Forcounterclockwise turns,reverse the above procedure.
Stopping the Tractor
1. Movebothdrivecontrolleversto the neutralpositionto stopthe motionof
the tractor.
2.
3.
Push the PTO knobdownward to thedisengaged p osition.
Use thedeck lift handle toraise thedeck to itshighest p osition bydepressing t he
buttonattheendofthehandle andpullingupwards. Make surethelatch engages
onthepin.See Figure 20.
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Figure 20
4. If dismounting the tractor,movethe drivecontrolhandles fullyoutwardin
the neutralpositionengaging the parkingbrake,movethe throttle control
leverto the mid-throttleor SLOW _ position, t urn the ignitionswitchto
STOP _ andremove the keyfrom the switch.
Donotleavethe seatof the tractorwithout disengagingthe PTO, moving
drivecontrol leversfully outwardin the neutral positionengagingthe
parkingbrake.If leavingthe tractorunattended,turnthe ignition keyoff
andremove key.
Driving On Slopes
Refer t o the slopegaugeinthe SafeOperation Section to helpdetermineslopes
whereyoumaynot operatesafely.
Donot operate on inclineswith a slopein excess of 15degrees(a riseof
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approximately2-V2 feet every 10feet). Thetractor could overturn and
causeseriousinjury.
1. Alwaysdriveacross s lopes,never u p anddown.Control t he speed and
directionofthe tractorusingprimarilythe controlleveron thedownhill side
of the tractor,with the uphillcontrolleverremaining essentially i n afixed
position.
2. Avoidturningdownhillif possible. S tartat the bottomofa slope andwork
upward. A lways slowdownbeforeturning.
3. Use extracareandgoslowlywhen turningdownhill.
Operating The PTO
Operate the PTO clutchasfollows:
NOTE: D uringyourunits initial b reak-in period,inorderto engage the PTO and
avoidengine stall,allowthe engine to warmbeforeengaging the PTO. Break-ln
periodvariesdepending onyourengine.
1. Movethe throttlecontrolleverto the FAST,/_r p osition.
2. Pullthe PTO knobupwardto the ENGAGED position.
3. Theoperatormustremaininthe tractorseatatall times.Ifthe operator
shouldleave the seatwithoutdisengaging the PTO, the tractor'senginewill
shutoff.
ThePTO clutchcannotbeoperatedwhenthe tractorisdrivinginthe reverse
direction.ThePTO will disengage w hen bothdrivecontrollevers aremoved
to the reverse positionandwill re-engage whenone(or both)control
lever(s) i smovedtothe neutral o r forwardposition.
Mowing
2O
Makecertain the areato bemowed is free of debris,sticks,stones,wire or
otherobjectsthat canbe thrown by the rotatingblades.
NOTE: D onot engage the mowerdeckwhenloweredingrass. P remature wearand
possible failureofthe 'V" belt andPTO clutchwill result.Fullyraisethe deckor move
to a nongrassy areabefore engaging the mowerdeck.
1. Mowacross s lopes, notupanddown.Ifmowingaslope, startat bottomandwork
upward to ensure turns aremade uphill.
2. On the first pass pickapointonthe oppositesideof theareato bemowed.
3. Engage the PTO andmovethe throttle control t o the FAST _ position.
4. Lower the mowerdeckto the desired heightsettingusingthe decklift
handle.
Slowly andevenlypushthe RHandLHdrivecontrolleversforwardto
movethe tractorforward,andkeepthe tractorheaded directlytowardthe
alignmentpoint.
NOTE: Thespeed of thetractorwill affectthe qualityof themowercut.Mowing
at fullspeed will adversely a ffectthe cutquality.Control thegroundspeed
with thecontrol l evers.