Craftsman 917.258532 Owner's Manual page 13

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OPERATION
TO OPERATE MOWER (See Fig, 10)
Your tractor is equipped with an operator presence sens-
ing switch. Any attempt by the operator to leave the seat
with the engine running and the attachment clutch engaged
will shut off the engine
o Select desired height of cut.
- Lower mower with attachment lift control.
• Start mower blades by engaging attachment clutch
control
• TO STOP MOWER BLADES- disengage attachment
clutch control.
CAUTION: Do not operate the mower
without either the entire grass catcher,
on mowers so equipped, or the dis-
charge guard in place.
ATTACHMENT CLUTCH LEVER
"DISENGAGED" POSITION
\
"ENGAGED"
POSITION
ATTACHMENT
LEVER
HIGH POSITION
DISCHARGE
GUARD
FIG. 10
TO OPERATE ON HILLS
o
°
°
&
Choose the slowest speed before starting up or down
hills°
Avoid stopping or changing speed on hills_
If slowing is necessary, move throttle control lever to
slower position°
If stopping is absolutely necessary, push clutch/brake
pedal quickly to brake position and engage parking
brake°
Move motion control lever to neutral (N) position_
IMPORTANT: THE MOTION CONTROL LEVER DOES
NOT RETURN TO NEUTRAL (N) POSITION WHEN THE
CLUTCH/BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED
" To restart movement, slowly release parking brake and
clutch/brake pedal
• Slowly move motion control lever to slowest setting.
• Make all turns slowty
TO TRANSPORT (See Figs. 8 and 11)
When pushing or towing your tractor, be sure to disengage
transmission by placing freewheel control in freewheeling
position, Free wheel control is located at the rear drawbar
of tractor_
•
Raise attachment lift to highest position with attach-
ment lift control.
. Put! freewheel control knob out and hold in position by
inserting retainer spring into forward hoJeof controt rod
• Do not push or tow tractor at more than two (2) MPH
° To reengage transmission, reverse above procedure°
NOTE: To protect hood from damage when transporting
your tractor on a truck or a traiier, be sure hood is closed
and secured to tractor. Use an appropriate means of tying
hood to tractor (rope, cord, etc)
FIG. 11
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL (See Fig. '17)
• The engine in your tractor has been shipped, from the
factory, already filled with summer weight oil.
• Check engine oil with tractor on level ground_
• Remove oil fill cap/dipstick and wipe clean, reinsert the
dipstick and screw cap tight, wait for a few seconds,
remove and read oil level. If necessary, add oil until
"FULL" mark on dipstick is reached_ Do not overfill°
• For cold weather operation you should change oil for
easier starting (See "OIL VISCOSITY CHART" in the
Customer Responsibilities section of this manual)
• To change engine oil see the Customer Responsibili-
ties section in this manual
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