How To Use Your Tractor; To Set Parking Brake; Stopping; To Use Throttle Control - Craftsman 917.28701 Operator's Manual

The operation of any tractor can result in foreign objectsthrown into
the eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety
glasses or eye shields while operatingyour tractor or performingany
adjustments or repairs. We recommenda wide vision safety mask over
spectacles or standard safety glasses.
HOW TO USE YOUR TRACTOR
TO SET PARKING BRAKE
Your tractor is equipped with an operator
presence sensing switch. When engine
is running, any attempt by the operator
to leave the seat without first setting the
parking brake will shut off the engine.
1. Depress clutch/brake pedal all the way
down and hold.
2. Pull parking brake lever up and release
pressure from clutch/brake pedal.
Pedal should remain in brake position.
Make sure parking brake will hold trac-
tor secure.
Throttle/
Choke
Control X
"Brake"
Position
Attachment Clutch Lever
"Engaged" Position
Ignition Key
,"Disengaged"
Position
Parking Brake
"Engaged"
Position
Gearshift
Clutch/Brake "Disengaged" Lever
Peda! Position
STOPPING
MOWER BLADES -
• To stop mower blades, move attachment
clutch lever to disengaged position.
GROUND DRIVE-
• To stop ground drive, depress clutch/
brake pedal all the way down.
• Move gearshift lever to neutral position.
ENGINE -
• Move throttle control between half and
full speed (fast) position.
NOTE: Failure to move throttle control
between half and full speed (fast) posi-
tion, before stopping, may cause engine to
"backfire".
• Turn ignition key to "STOP" position and
remove key. Always remove key when
leaving tractor to prevent unauthorized
use.
• Never use choke to stop engine.
IMPORTANT: Leaving the ignition switch in
any position other than "STOP" will cause
the battery to discharge and go dead.
NOTE: Under certain conditions when tractor
is standing idle with the engine running, hot
engine exhaust gases may cause "brown-
ing" of grass. To eliminate this possibility,
always stop engine when stopping tractor
on grass areas.
_bOAUTION: Always stop tractor com-
pletely, as described above, before leaving
the operator's position.
TO USE THROTTLE CONTROL
Always operate engine at full speed (fast).
• Operating engine at less than full speed
(fast) reduces engine's operating ef-
ficiency.
• Full speed (fast) offers the best mower
performance.
TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD
The direction and speed of movement is
controlled by the gearshift lever.
1. Start tractor with clutch/brake pedal de-
pressed and gearshift lever in neutral
position.
2. Move gearshift lever to desired posi-
tion.
3. Slowly release clutch/brake pedal to
start movement.
IMPORTANT: Bring tractor to a complete
stop before shifting or changing gears.
Failure to do so will shorten the useful life
of your transaxle.
TO ADJUST MOWER cu'n'ING HEIGHT
The position of the attachment lift lever
determines the cutting height.
• Grasp lift lever.
• Press plunger with thumb and move
lever to desired position.
The cutting height range is approximate-
ly 1-1/2 to 4". The heights are measured
from the ground to the blade tip with the
engine not running. These heights are ap-
proximate and may vary depending upon
soil conditions, height of grass and types
of grass being mowed.
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