To Operate Mower; To Transport; Towing Carts And Other Attachment; Check Engine Oil Level - Craftsman 917.270654 Owner's Manual

• The average lawn should be cut to
approximately 2-1/2 inches during the
cool season and to over 3 inches
during hot months. For healthier and
better looking lawns, mow often and
after moderate growth.
• For best cutting performance, grass
over 6 inches in height should be
mowed twice. Make the first cut
relatively high; the second to desired
height.
TO OPERATE MOWER
Your tractor is equipped with an operator
presence sensing switch. Any attempt by
the operator to leave the seat with the
engine running and the attachment
clutch engaged will shut off the engine.
• Select desired height of cut.
• Start mower blades by engaging
attachment clutch control.
• TO STOP MOWER BLADES - disen-
gage attachment clutch control.
CAUTION: Do not operate the
mower without either the entire grass
catcher, on mowers so equipped, or
the deflector shield in place.
Attachment
Clutch Lever Attachernnt
=Engaged""
Position Position
Low
Position
Position
Deflector
Shield
TO OPERATE ON HILLS
CAUTION: Do not drive up or down
hills with slopes greater than 15 ° and do
not drive across any slope.
• 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 gearshift lever to 1st gear. Be
sure you have allowed room for tractor
to roll slightly as you restart movement.
• To restart movement, slowly release
parking brake and clutch/brake pedal.
• Make all turns slowly.
TO TRANSPORT
• Raise attachment lift to highest
position with attachment lift control.
• When pushing or towing your tractor,
be sure gearshift lever is in neutral (N)
position.
• Do not push or tow tractor at more than
five (5) MPH.
NOTE: To protect hoed from damage
when transporting your tractor on a truck
or a trailer, be sure hood is closed and
secured to tractor. Use an appropriate
means of tying hood to tractor (rope,
cord, etc.).
TOWING CARTS AND OTHER
ATTACHMENTS
Tow only the attachments that are
recommended by and comply with
specifications of the manufacturer of your
tractor. Use common sense when towing.
Too heavy of a load, while on a slope, is
dangerous. Tires can lose traction with
the ground and cause you to lose control
of your tractor.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL
• 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 neces-
sary, 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 Mainte-
nance section of this manual).
• To change engine oil, see the Mainte-
nance section in this manual.
"_,_,._') _ OilFill C ap/
_/,_ Dipstick
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