Purge Transmission; Mowing Tips - Craftsman 917.270821 Owner's Manual

Before driving the unitin cold weather,.
the transmission should be warmed up
asrfollo_s:
• Be sure the tractor is on level ground.,
• Place the motion control lever in neu-
tral. Release the parking brake and
let the clutch/brake slowly return to
operating position.
• Allow one minute for transmission to
warm up. This can be done during the
engine warm up period.
• The attachments can be used during
the engine warm-up period after the
transmission has been warmed Up and
may require the choke control be pulled
_t slightly.
NOTE:_ A_h_igh_a!_it_u.de (above 3000 feet)
or in cold temperatures (below 32 F) the
carburetor fuel mixture may need to be
- adjusted for best engine performance.
See "TO ADJUST CARBURETOR" in the
Service and Adjustments section of this
manual.
,_RGE TRANSMISSION
CAUTION: Never engage or disen-
gage freewheel lever while the engine is
running_.........
To ensure proper operation and perfor-
mance, it is recommended that the trans-
mission be purged before operating tractor
for the first time. This procedure will
remove any trapped air inside the trans-
niission which may have developed during
shipping of your tractor.
IMPORTANT: Should your transmission
require removal for service or replace-
ment, it should be purged after reinstalla-
tion before operating the tractor.
• Place tractor safely on level surface with
engine off and parking brake set.
• Disengage transmission by placing free-
wheel control in freev_heeling position
(See "TO TRANSPORT" in this section
of manual).
_. Sitting in the tractor seat, start engine.
After the engine is running, move throt-
tle control to slow position. With motion
control lever in neutral (N) position,
slowly disengage clutch/brake pedal.
• Move motion control lever to full forward
position and hold for five (5) seconds.
Move lever to full reverse position and
.b_ five=(5) seconds. Repeat this
procedure three (3) times.
no movementof drive wheeLs.The air is
being removed from hydraulicdrive sys-
tem.
• Move m0tioncontrol lever to neutral (N)
position. Shut off engine and set parking
brake.
• Engage transmissionby placing free-
wheel control in drivingposition(See
"TO TRANSPORT" in this section of
manual).
• Sittingin the tractor seat, start engine.
After the engine is running,move throt-
tle controlto half (1/2) Speed. With
motion controllever in neutral (N) posi-
tion, slowly disengage clutch/brake
pedal.
• Slowly move motioncontrollever for-
ward; after the tractor moves approxi-
mately five (5) feet, slowly move motion
controllever to reverse position.After
the tractor moves approximatelyfive (5)
feet retum the motioncontrol lever to
the neutral (N) position. Repeat this pro-
cedure with the motion controllever
three (3) times.
• Your tractor is now purged and ready for
normal operation.
MOWING TIPS
• "13re chains cannot be used when the
mower housing is attachedto tractor.
• Mower shouldbe properlyleveled for
best mowing performance. See "TO
LEVEL MOWER HOUSING" in the
Service and Adjustmentssectionof this
manual.
• The left hand side of mower shouldbe
used for trimming.
• Drive so that clippingsare discharged
onto the area that has been cut. Have
the cut area to the rightof the tractor.
This will resultin a more even distribu-
tion of clippingsand more uniformcut-
ting.
• When mowing large areas, start by turn-
ing to the right so that clippingswill dis-
charge away from shrubs, fences, drive-
.... w ays, etc. After one ortwo rounds, mow
in the opposite directionmaking left
hand turns untilfinished.
• If grass is extremely tall, it shouldbe
mowed twice to reduceload and possi-
ble fire hazard from dried clippings.
Make first cut relativelyhigh; the second
to the desired heighL
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