Ignition Switch; Engaging The Parking Brake; Setting The Cutting Height; Starting The Engine - Craftsman 247.288843 Operator's Manual

Theenginewill automatically s hut off if the PTO (Blade Engage) l everis
movedintothe engaged (ON)positionwith the shift leverinReverse.
Ignition Switch
Theignition switchis activated to startthe engine.Insertkeyinto the ignition
switchandturn clockwise to the START p osition.Release the keyintothe ON
positiononceenginehasfired. SeeFigure 8.
Tostopthe engine,turn the ignitionkeycounterclockwise to the OFF position.
Neverleavea running machineunattended.AlwaysdisengagePTO, m ove
shift leverinto neutral position, set parkingbrake,stop engineand remove
keyto prevent unintended starting.
f
Setting the Cutting Height
1. Select t he heightpositionof the cuttingdeckbyplacingthe decklift leverin
anyof thedifferentcutting heightnotches on the rightsideof the fender.
2. Adjustthe deckwheelssothatthey arebetweenl_-inchand1/2-inch a bove
the groundwhenthe tractorison asmooth, f lat surface suchasadriveway.
To adjust Deck Wheels:
1. Remove t he flangelocknut on the shoulder b olt securing the deckwheel.
2. Position the wheelto the desiredheightaslistedabove. S eeFigure 9.
3. Secure theshoulder bolt with the flangelocknut.
Keephandsandfeet awayfrom the dischargeopening of the cutting
deck.
off
On
Start
Figure 8
Engaging the Parking Brake
To engage the parking brake:
1. Fullydepress t he brakepedal a ndholdit downwith yourfoot.
2. Movethe speed controlleverall the waydown andinto the parkingbrake
position.
3. Release t he brakepedalto allowthe parkingbrake to engage.
Toreleasethe parkingbrake:
1. Depress t he brakepedal a ndmovethe speed controlleverout of the parking
brakepositionandinto adesired speed.
NOTE: Thedeckwheels areananti-scalp featureof the deckandarenot designed
to supportthe weightof the cuttingdeck.Referto Leveling inthe Maintenance a nd
Service sectionof thismanual f ormoredetailedinstructions regarding various deck
adjustments.
Starting the Engine
Figure9
J
Donot operatethe tractor if the interlock systemismalfunctioning. This
systemwasdesigned for your safetyand protection.
NOTE: R efer t o the Gasoline andOilfill-up instructions earlierinthissection.
1. Insertthe tractorkeyintothe ignitionswitch.
2. Place the PTO (Blade Engage) l everinthe disengaged (OFF) position.
3. Engage the tractor'sparkingbrake.
4. Activatethechokecontrol bymoving thethrotNe/chokeleverall thewayupinto
the chokeposition.
5. Turnthe ignitionkeyclockwise to the START p osition. A fterthe enginestarts,
release the key.It will returnto the ON(orNormal M owing)position.
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