Before Operating Your Riding Mower; Starting The Engine; Safety Interlock System - Craftsman 247.25002 Operator's Manual

BEFORE OPERATING YOUR RiDiNG
MOWER
• Beforeyou operatethe ridingmower,studythis manualcarefully
to familiarizeyourselfwith the operationof all the instruments and
controls.It has been preparedto help youoperateand maintain
yourriding mowerefficiently.
• Thisengineiscertifiedtooperateonlyon clean,fresh,unleaded regu-
largasoline. F orbestresults, f ill thefueltankwithonlyclean,fresh,
unleaded gasolinewitha pumpstickeroctaneratingof87 or higher.
• Unleadedgasolineis recommended becauseit leavesless
combustionchamberdepositsand reducesharmfulexhaust
emissions.Leadedgasolineis not recommended and mustnotbe
usedwhereexhaustemissionsare regulated.
NOTE:Purchase gasolineinsmallquantities. D onotusegasoline leftover
fromthe previous season,tominimize gumdeposits in thefuelsystem.
• Gasohol(up to 10%ethylalcohol,90% unleadedgasolineby
volume)is an approvedfuel. Othergasoline/alcohol b lendsare
not approved.
• MethylTertiaryButyl Ether(MTBE)and unleadedgasolineblends
(up to a maximumof 15%MTBEby volume)areapprovedfuels.
Othergasoline/etherblendsare notapproved.
• Checktheengineoil level.
• Cleantheair cleanerelementif necessary.
• Checkthetire inflationpressures.
• Adjustthe seat foroperator'smaximumcomfort,visibility and for
maintaining completecontrolof the ridingmower.
SAFETY iNTERLOCK SYSTEM
This ridingmowerisequippedwith a safetyinterlocksystemfor the
protectionofthe operator.If the interlocksystemshouldevermalfunc-
tion, do not operatethe riding mower.Call 1-800-659-5917 to schedule
servicefrom SearsParts& Repair.
• Thesafety interlock s ystempreventsthe engine fromcranking
or startingunlessthe RHand LHdrivecontrol leversare moved
fully outwardto each sidein the neutralposition,the parking
brakeisengaged,and the PTOis disengaged.
• Toavoidsuddenmovement w hendisengagingthe parkingbrake,
the safetyinterlock s ystemwill shut off the engineif the RH and/
or LHdrivecontrolleversare movedto a positionotherthan
the fully out inthe neutralpositionwhenthe parkingbrakeis
engaged.
• Thesafety interlocksystemwill shut off the engineifthe operator
leavesthe seatbeforeengagingthe parkingbrake.
• Thesafety interlocksystemwill shut off the engineifthe operator
leavesthe seatwith the PTOengaged,regardlessof whetherthe
parkingbrakeis engaged.
NOTE:The PTOswitchmustbe movedto the "OFF"positionto restart
the engine.
• Thesafety interlock s ystemwill shut off the PTOand the mower
bladeswillstop if bothdrivecontrolleversare movedintothe
reverseposition.The PTOwill re-engagewhenone or bothof the
leversare movedback toeither the neutralor forward position.
STARTING THE ENGINE
This riding moweris equippedwith a safetyinterlocksystemdesignee
for the protectionof the operator.Donotoperatethe ridingmowerif
any partof the interlock s ystemis malfunctioning. P eriodically check
the functionsof the interlock s ystemfor properoperation.
Forpersonalsafety,theoperatormustbe sitting inthe ridingmower
seat whenstartingtheengine.
16
1. Operatormust be sittinginthe ridingmowerseat with bothdrive
control leversoutwardto each sidein the neutral/startposition.
2. Engagethe parkingbrakeO. Referto Figure12.
LHControl Lever RHControl Lever
Out in I_eutral Out in Neutral
Parking Break
-- Engaged
Throttle Control / ( PTOSwitchin Down
FullyForwardto / __ (Disengaged)Position
CHOKE Position
Figure12
3. Makecertainthe PTOswitchis in the disengaged(down)posi-
tion. Referto Figure12.
4. Move thethrottle/choke control l everfullyforward intotheCHOKE t"°,1
position.
NOTE: If the engineiswarmedup,it maynot be necessaryto place
the throttle/chokecontrolin the CHOKE!'_1position.
5. Turnthe ignition keyclockwiseto the START_ positionand
releaseit as soonas the enginestarts; however, d o not crank
the enginecontinuously for morethan 5 secondsat a time.If the
enginedoes not startwithinthis time,turnthe key to STOP
and wait at least 15secondsto allowthe engine'sstartermotor
to cool. Try againafter waiting.If after a few attemptsthe engine
fails to start, do not keeptrying to start it with the chokeclosedas
this will causefloodingand makestartingmoredifficult.
6. Astheengine warmsup,gradually pullthethrottle/choke control l ever
rearward pastthechoke detent p osition. D onotusethechokeposition
toenrichthefuelmixture, e xcept a s necessary t ostarttheengine.
7. Allowthe engineto runfor a few minutesat mid throttlebefore
puttingtheengine underload.
8. Observethe hour meter/ indicatorpanel.If the batteryindicator
lightor oil pressurelightcomeon, immediately stop the engine.
Call1-800-659-5917 to scheduleridingmowerinspectionservice
from SearsParts & Repair.