Craftsman 917.28001 Operator's Manual page 21

DECK WASHOUT PORT
Yourridingmower's deckis equipped
witha washout p orton its surfaceas
partofitsdeckwashsystem. I t should
beutilized after
each use.
1. Drive the riding mower to a level,
clear spot on your lawn, near enough
to a water spigot for your garden
hose to reach.
IMPORTANT: Make certain the riding
mower's discharge chute is directed
AWAY from your house, garage, parked
cars, etc. Remove bagger chute or mulch
cover if attached.
2. Make sure the attachment clutch
control is in the "DISENGAGED"
position, set the parking brake, and
stop the engine.
3. Thread the nozzle adapter (pack-
aged with your riding mower's
Operator's Manual) onto the end
of your garden hose.
4. Pull backthe Iockcollar ofthe nozzle
adapter and push the adapter onto
the deck washout port at the left
end of the mower deck. Release
the lock collar to lock the adapter
on the nozzle.
Hose
Washout
/ ...............
IMPORTANT: Tug hose ensuring con-
nection is secure.
5. Turn the water on.
6. While sitting in the operator's posi-
tion on the riding mower, re-start the
engine and place the throttle lever
in the Fast ",t_" position.
IMPORTANT: Recheckthe area making
certain the area is clear.
7. Move the riding mower's attachment
clutch control to the "ENGAGED"
position. Remain in the opera=
tot's position with the cutting deck
engaged until the deck is cleaned.
8. Move the riding mower's attach-
ment clutch control to the "DISEN-
GAGED" position. Turn the ignition
key to the STOP position to turn the
tractor's engine off. Turn the water
off.
9. Pull backthe lock collar ofthe nozzle
adapter to disconnect the adapter
from the nozzle washout port.
10. Move the riding mower to a dry
area, preferably a concrete or paved
area. Place the attachment clutch
control in the "ENGAGED" position
to remove excess water and to help
dry before putting the riding mower
away.
_WARNING: A broken or missing
washout fitting could expose you or
otherstothrown objects from contact
with the blade.
• Replace broken or missing wash=
out fitting immediately, prior to
using mower again.
• Plug any holes in mower with bolts
and Iocknuts.
AiR FILTER
Your engine will not run properly using a
dirty air filter. Service air cleaner more often
under dusty conditions. See engine manual.
CLEAN AiR SCREEN
Air screen must be kept free of dirt and chaff
to prevent engine damage from overheating.
Clean with a wire brush or compressed air to
remove dirt and stubborn dried gum fibers.
CLEAN AiR INTAKE/COOLING AREAS
To ensure proper cooling, make sure the
grass screen, cooling fins, and other exter-
nal surfaces of the engine are kept clean
at all times.
Every 100 hours of operation (more often
under extremely dusty, dirty conditions),
remove the blower housing and other cooling
shrouds. Clean the cooling fins and external
surfaces as necessary. Ensure the cooling
shrouds are reinstalled.
NOTE: Operating the engine with a blocked
grass screen, dirty or plugged cooling fins,
and/or cooling shrouds removed wilt cause
engine damage due to overheating.
21