How To Set Up Your Tractor - Craftsman 917.259566 Owner's Manual

ASSEMBLY
HOW TO SET UP YOUR TRACTOR
CONNECT BA'rrERY (See Fig. 2)
CAUTION: Do not short battery termi-
nals by allowing a wrench or any other
object to contact both terminals at the
same time. Before connecting battery
remove meta bracelets, wristwatch
bands, rings, etc.
Positive terminal must be connected
first to prevent sparking from acciden-
tal grounding.
Lift hood to raised position.
Open terminal access doors, remove terminal protec-
tive caps and discard.
If this battery is put into service after month and year
indicated on label (label located between terminals)
charge battery for minimum of one hour at 6-10 amps.
• First connect RED battery cable to positive (+) battery
terminal with hex bolt, flat washer, lock washer and hex
nut as shown. Tighten securely.
Connect BLACK grounding cable to negative (-) bat-
tery terminal with remaining hex bolt, flat washer, lock
washer and hex nut. Tighten securely.
Close terminal access doors.
Use terminal access doors for:
• Inspection for secure connections (to tighten hard-
ware).
• Inspection for corrosion.
• Testing battery.
• Jumping (if required).
• Pedodic charging.
DISCARD TERMINAL
PROTECTIVE CAPS HEX NUT
ACCESS
DOOR
LOCK FLAT
WASHER WASHER
PosmvE
(RED)
CABLE
NEGATIVE
(BLAC_
CABLE
FIG. 2
INSTALL SEAT (See Fig. 3)
Adjust seat before tighteningadjustment bolt.
• Remove cardboard packing on seat pan.
• Place seat on seat pan and assemble shoulder bolt.
Tighten shoulder bolt securely.
• Assembleedjustment bolt, lock washer and flat washer
loosely. Do not tighten.
Lower seat into operating position and sit on seat.
Slide seat until acomfortable position is reached which
allows you to press clutch/brake pedal all the way
down.
Get off seat without moving its adjusted position.
• Raise seat and tighten adjustment bolt securely.
SEAT
SEAT PAN
SHOULDER
BOLT
r WASHER
ADJUSTMENT
BOLT LOCK WASNER
FIG. 3
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
The tires on your tractorwere overinflatedat the factoryfor
shippingpurposes. Correct tire pressure is importantfor
best cutting performance.
Reduce tire pressure to PSI shown in "PRODUCT
SPECIFICATIONS" on page 3 of this manual.
CHECK DECK LEVELNESS
For best cuttingresults,mower housingshouldbe propedy
leveled, See "TO LEVEL MOWER HOUSING" in the
Service and Adjustmentssection of this manual.
CHECK FOR PROPER POSITION OF ALL
BELTS
See the figures that are shown for replacing motion and
mower blade ddve belts in the Service and Adjustments
section of this manual. Verify that the belts are routed
correctly.
CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM
After you learn how to operate your tractor, check to see
that the brake is properly adjusted. See "TO ADJUST
BRAKE" in the Service and Adjustmentssection of this
manual,
ASSEMBLE GAUGE WHEELS TO MOWER
DECK (See Fig. 4)
The gauge wheels are designed to keep the mower deck in
proper positionwhen operating mower. Be sure they are
properlyadjustedto ensure optimummower performance.
• Assemble gauge wheels with tractor on a flat level
surface.
Adjust mower to desired cuttingheight (See "TO AD-
JUST MOWER CU'I-]'ING HEIGHT" in the Operation
section of this manual).
With mower in desired height of cut position gauge
whee s shouldbeassembledso theyare slightlyoffthe
ground. Install gauge wheel in appropriate hole with
shoulder bolt, 3/8 washer, and 3/8-16 lecknut and
tighten securely.
Repeat for opposite side installing gauge wheel in
same adjustment hole.