How To Use Your Tractor; To Set Parking Brake; Stopping; To Use Throttle Control - Craftsman 917.258492 Owner's Manual

OPERATION
The operation of any tractor can result in foreign objects thrown into the eyes, which
can result in severe eye damage_ Always wear safety glasses or eye shields while
operating your tractor or performing any adjustments or repairs, We recommend wide
vision safety mask for over the spectacles or standard safety glasses, available at Sears
Retail or Catalog stores_
HOW TO USE YOUR TRACTOR
TO SET PARKING BRAKE (See Fig. 8)
Depress clutch/brake pedal into full "BRAKE" position
and hold.
Place parking brake lever in "ENGAGED"position and
release pressurefrom clutch/brake pedal Pedal should
remain in "BRAKE" positiom Make sure parking brake
will hold vehicle secure.
STOPPING (See Fig. 8)
MOWER BLADES -
Move attachment clutch lever to "DISENGAGED" po-
sition.
GROUND DRIVE-
Depress clutch/brake pedal into full "BRAKE" positiom
Move gearshift lever to "NEUTRAL" position.
ENGINE -
Move throttle control to "SLOW" position,
NOTE: Failure to move throttle control to "SLOW" position
and allowing engine to idle before stopping may cause
engine to "backfire".
Turn ignition Key to "OFF" position and remove key.
Always remove key when leaving vehicle to prevent
unauthorized use.
Never use choke to stop engine.
NOTE: Under certain conditions when unit is standing idle
with the engine running, hot engine exhaust gases may
cause "browning" of grass, To eliminate this possibility,
always stop engine when stopping unit on grass areas.
CAUTION: Always stop unit completely, i
as described above, before leaving the
operator's poeltlon; to empty grass
catcher, etc.
TO USE THROTTLE CONTROL (See Fig. 8)
Always operate engine at full throttle.
Operating engine at less than full throttle reduces the
battery charging rate.
Full throttle offers the best bagging and mower per-
formance.
TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD
(See Fig. 7)
The direction and speed of movement is controlled by the
gearshift lever,
Start tractor with clutch/brake pedal depressed and
gearshift lever in "NEUTRAL" position.
Move gearshift lever to desired position.
Slowly release clutch/brake pedal to start movement. 1 1
IMPORTANT: BRING TRACTOR TO A COMPLETE STOP
BEFORE SHIFTING OR CHANGING GEARS. FAILURE
TO DO SO WILL SHORTEN THE USEFUL LIFE OF YOUR
TRANSAXLE,
ATTACHMENT
CLUTCH LEVER
THROTTLE "ENGAGED"
POSITION
IGNITION KEY
CHOKE
"BRAKE"
POSITION
CLUTCH/BRAKE
PEDAL"DRIVE
POSITION
GEAR SHIFT
LEVER
FIG. 8
TO ADJUST MOWER CUTTING HEIGHT
(See Fig. 9)
The cutting height is controlled by turning the height adjust-
ment knob in desired direction.
Turn knob clockwise to raise cutting height
Turn knob counterclockwise to lower cutting height
Thecutting height rangeis approximately 1-1/2to 4" The
heights are measured from the ground to the blade tip with
the engine not running, These heights ere approximate
and may vary depending upon soil conditions, height of
grass and types of grass being mowed.
The average lawn should be cut approximately 2-1/2
inches during the cool season and 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,
RAISE
HEIGHT
ADJUSTMENT
KNOB
)-
_, LOWER
FIG, 9