Mowing Tips; Operating The Tractor On Hills; Flip-Up Discharge Guard - Craftsman 917.254220 Owner's Manual

4. Mowing Tips
NOTE: TIRE CHAINS CANNOT BE USED WITH THE
MOWER ATTACHED.
READ THE "SAFETY RULES" CAREFULLY
BEFORE OPERATING YOUR MOWER.
REFER TO PAGE 2.
a. Use the runner on the R.H. side as a guide; the blade
cuts approximately an inch outside the runner (Fig.
17).
b,
Drive so that clippings are discharged onto the area
that has been cut, Have the cut area to the right of
the machine, This will result in a more even, distribu-
tion of clippings and more uniform cutting.
C.
When mowing large areas (Fig. 18), start by turning
to the right so that the clippings will discharge away
from shrubs, fences, driveways, etc. After two or
three rounds, mow in the opposite direction making
left hand turns until finished.
d. if grass is extremely tall, it should be mowed twice.
The first time relatively high. The second time to the
desired height.
e. The left hand side of mower should be used for
trimming.
5, Operating The Tractor On Hills
a. Move gear shift lever to '" 1ST" gear before starting
up or down hills.
b. AVOID STOPPING OR SHIFTING ON HILLS.
c, If slowing is necessary, move throttle control lever
to slower position.
LEAVE ENOUGH ROOM WHEN STOP-
PING AND STARTING TO ALLOW SLIGHT
TRACTOR ROLL DOWNHILL AS CLUTCH-
BRAKE PEDAL MOVES THROUGH CLUTCH
POSITION.
d. If stopping is absolutely necessary, push clutch-brake
pedal quickly to brake position and engage parking
brake.
e. To restart tractor movement, make sure tractor is in
the lowest speed range (" 1ST'" Gear) and that you
have allowed room to roll slightly downhil!. Depress
clutch-brake fully. Disengaged parking brake and
release clutch-brake pedal SLOWLY to start tractor
movement.
f. Make all turns gradually.
HEIGHT
ADJUSTMENT
KNOB
OPERA TION
ATTACHMENT CLUTCH
LEVER "DISENGAGED"
POSITION
ATTACHMENT CLUTCH
LEVER "ENGAGED"
POSITION
LIFT LEVER
LIFT
LEVER
RUNNER
GUARD
FIGURE 17
.
ii illl
FIGURE 18
6. Flip-Up Discharge Guard,
Your mower has a flip-up discharge guard (Fig. 17) for
door or gate clearance when held in raised position.
15
MAKE SURE ATTACHMENT CLUTCH
LEVER IS 1N "DISENGAGED" POSITION
AND BLADES HAVE STOPPED BEFORE
RAISING DISCHARGE GUARD (DEFLEC-
TOR). NEVER OPERATE MOWER
WITHOUT DISCHARGE GUARD IN
OpERATiNG POSITION,