Craftsman 917.20386 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. Sit on seat in operating position, depress
clutch/brake pedal and set parking brake.
2. Place gear shift lever in neutral position.
3. Move attachment clutch to dis en gaged
po si tion.
4. Move throttle control to choke po si tion.
NOTE: Before starting, read the warm and
cold starting procedures below.
5. 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
sec onds per minute. If the engine does
not start after several attempts, move
throt tle 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)
6. When engine starts, move the throt tle
control to the fast position.
• The attachments and ground drive
can now be used. If the engine does
not accept the load, restart the en gine
and allow it to warm up for one minute
using the choke as de scribed above.
COLD WEATHER STARTING
(50°F (10°C) and below)
6. When engine starts, leave throttle control
in choke position until engine warms up
and begins to run roughly. Once rough
running begins, im me di ate ly move the
throttle control to the fast position. Engine
warm-up may take from several seconds
to several minutes (the colder the tem-
per a ture, the longer the warm-up).
• The attachments can also be used
during the engine warm-up period.
MOWING TIPS
• DO NOT use tire chains when the mower
hous ing 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 trim ming.
• Drive so that clippings are dis charged 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 dis tri bu tion of
clippings and more uniform cutting.
• When mowing large areas, start by turning
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 clip pings. 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 throt tle
when mowing to assure better mow-
ing performance and prop er dis charge
of material. Reg u late ground speed by
se lect ing a low enough gear to give the
mower cut ting per for mance as well as the
quality of cut desired.
• When operating attachments, se lect a
ground speed that will suit the terrain and
give best performance of the at tach ment
being used.
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