Craftsman 247.290000 Operator's Manual page 18

WARNING
Avoid Serious Injury or Death
• Know location and function of all controls.
• Remove objects which could be thrown by the blades.
• Go up and down slopes, not across.
• Use extra caution on slopes. Do not mow slopes greater than 12 degrees.
Avoid sudden turns. Use low speed.
• Do not operate machine where it could tip or slip.
• If machine stops going uphill, stop blades and back down slowly.
• Before leaving operator's position, disengage blades, engage parking
brake, shut off and remove key.
• Be sure blades and engine are stopped before placing hands or feet near
blades.
• Keep safety devices (guards, shields, switches, etc.) in place and working.
• Keep bystanders away.
• Allow machine to cool before fueling or storing.
• Keep machine free of debris.
Read Operator's Manual
Engaging the Parking Brake
To engage the parking brake:
1. Fully depress the brake pedal and hold it down with your foot.
2. Move the parking brake lever down into the parking brake position.
3. Release the brake pedal to allow the parking brake to engage.
To release the parking brake:
1. Depress the brake pedal and move the speed control lever out of the parking
brake position.
Setting the Cutting Height
Select the height position of the cutting deck by placing the deck lift lever in any of
the different cutting height notches on the right side of the fender.
Keep hands and feet away from the discharge opening of the cutting deck.
WARNING
OPERATION
Starting the Engine
Do not operate the tractor if the interlock system is malfunctioning. This
system was designed for your safety and protection.
NOTE: Refer to the Assembly section of this manual for gasoline and oil fill-up
instructions.
1. Insert the tractor key into the ignition switch.
2. Place the PTO (Blade Engage) lever in the disengaged (OFF) position.
3. Engage the tractor's parking brake.
4. Activate the choke control.
5. Turn the ignition key clockwise to the START position. After the engine starts,
release the key. It will return to the ON position.
IMPORTANT: Do NOT hold the key in the START position for longer than ten
seconds at a time. Doing so may cause damage to your engine's electric
starter.
6. After the engine starts, deactivate the choke control by placing the throttle
control into the FAST position.
NOTE: Do NOT leave the choke control on while operating the tractor. Doing so will
result in a "rich" fuel mixture and cause the engine to run poorly.
Stopping the Engine
If you strike a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect the spark plug
wire(s) and ground against the engine. Thoroughly inspect the machine for
any damage. Repair the damage before restarting and operating.
1. If the blades are engaged, place the PTO (Blade Engage) lever in the
disengaged (OFF) position.
2. Turn the ignition key counterclockwise to the STOP position.
3. Remove the key from the ignition switch to prevent unintended starting.
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WARNING
WARNING
WARNING