Craftsman 917.20381 Operator's Manual page 15

TO START ENGINE
When starting the engine for the first time or
if the engine has run out of fuel, it will take
extra cranking time to move fuel from the
tank to the engine.
1. Ensure freewheel control is in the trans-
mission engaged position.
2. Sit on seat in operating position, depress
clutch!brake pedal and set parking brake.
:3. Place motion control lever in neutral
position.
4. Move attachment clutch to disengaged
position.
5. Move throttle control to choke position.
NOTE: Before starting, read the warm and
cold starting procedures below.
6. Insert key into ignition and turn key
clockwise to start position and release
key as soon as engine starts. Do not run
starter continuously for more than fifteen
seconds per minute, If the engine does
not start after several attempts, move
throttle control to fast position, wait a
few minutes and try again. If engine still
does not start, move the throttle control
back to the choke position and retry.
WARM WEATHER STARTING
(50°F (10°C) and above)
7. When engine starts, move the throttle
control to the fast position.
• The attachments and ground drive
can now be used. If the engine does
not accept the load, restart the engine
and allow it to warm up for one minute
using the choke as described above.
COLD WEATHER STARTING
(50°F (10°C) and below)
7. When enginestarts, leavethrottle control
in choke position until engine warms up
and begins to run roughly. Once rough •
running begins, immediately move the
ithrottle control tothefastposition. Engine
warm-up maytake from several seconds
to several minutes (the colder the tern- .
perature, the longer the warm-up).
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WARM UP
Before driving the unit in cold weather, the
transmission should be warmed up as fol-
lows:
1. Ensure the tractor is on level ground. °
2. Place the motion control lever in neutral.
Release the parking brake and let the
clutch/brake slowly return to operating
position.
15
3. Allow one minute for transmission to
warm up. This can be done during the
engine warm up period.
• The attachments can also be used dur-
ing the engine warm-up period after the
transmission has been warmed up.
MOWING TIPS
• DO NOT use tire chains when the mower
housing is attached to tractor.
• Mower should be properly leveled for best
mowing performance. See "TO LEVEL
MOWER HOUSING" in the Service and
Adjustments section of this manual.
• The left hand side of mower should be
used for trimming.
- Drive sothat clippings are discharged onto
the area that has already been cut. Have
the cut area to the right of the tractor. This
will result in a more even distribution of
clippings and more uniform cutting.
• When mowing targe areas, start byturning
to the right so that clippings will discharge
away from shrubs, fences, driveways,
etc. After one or two rounds, mow in the
opposite direction making left hand turns
until finished.
if grass is extremely tall, it should be
mowed twice to reduce load and possible
fire hazard from dried clippings, Make
first cut relatively high; the second to the
desired height.
Do not mow grass when it is wet. Wet
grass will plug mower and leave undesir-
able clumps. Allow grass to dry before
mowing.
Always operate engine at full throttle
when mowing to assure better mow-
ing performance and proper discharge
of material. Regulate ground speed by
selecting a low enough gear to give the
mower cutting performance aswelt as the
quality of cut desired.
When operating attachments, select a
ground speed that will suit the terrain and
give best performance of the attachment
being used.