Craftsman 917.270741 Owner's Manual page 13

• 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 ADJUST GAUGE WHEELS
Gauge wheels are properly adjusted
when they are slightly off the ground
when mower is at the desired cutting
height in operating position. Gauge
wheels then keep the deck in proper
position to help prevent scalping in most
terrain conditions.
• Adjust gauge wheels with tractor on a
flat level surface.
• Adjust mower to desired cutting height
(See "TO ADJUST MOWER CUTTING
HEIGHT" in the Operation section of
this manual).
• With mower in desired height of cut
position, gauge wheels should be
assembled so they are slightly off the
ground. Install gauge wheel in
appropriate hole with shoulder bolt, 3/
8 washer, and 3/8-16 Iocknut and
tighten securely.
• Repeat for opposite side installing
gauge wheel in same adjustment hole.
Gauge Wheel
Mounting
Bracket
3/8 Washer- Shoulder
Gauge Wheel
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.
ACAUTION: Do not operate the mower
without either the entire grass catcher, on
mowers so equipped, or the deflector
shield in place.
Attachment Attachernnt
Clutch Lift Lever
"Engaged" High
Position ? Position
Position
"Disengaged_.
Position
Deflector
TO OPERATE ON HILLS
_I,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 motion control lever to neutral
(N) position.
IMPORTANT: The motion control lever
does not return to neutral (N) position
when the clutch/brake pedal is de-
pressed.
• To restart movement, slowly release
parking brake and clutch/brake pedal.
• Slowly move motion control lever to
slowest setting.
• Make all turns slowly.
TOTRANSPORT
When pushing or towing your tractor, be
sure to disengage transmission by
placing freewheel control in freewheel-
ing position. Free wheel control is
located at the rear drawbar of tractor.
• Raise attachment lift to highest
position with attachment lift control.
• Pull freewheel control out and down
into the slot and release so it is held in
the disengaged position.
• Do not push or tow tractor at more
than two (2) MPH.
• To reengage transmission, reverse
above procedure.
13