Stopping The Engine; Driving The Tractor; Driving On Slopes; Engaging The Blades - Craftsman 247.288812 Operator's Manual

STOPPING THE ENGINE
If you strikea foreignobject,stop the engine,disconnectthe spark
plugwire(s) and groundagainstthe engine.Thoroughlyinspect t he
machinefor anydamage.Repairthe damagebeforerestartingand
operating
If the bladesare engaged,placethe PTO(Blade Engage)leverin
the disengaged(OFF)position.
2. Turnthe ignitionkeycounterclockwise to the STOPposition.
3. Removethekey from the ignitionswitchto preventunintended
starting.
DRIVING THE TRACTOR
Avoidsuddenstarts,excessivespeedand suddenstops.
Do notleavethe seatof thetractorwithoutfirst placingthe PTO
(Blade Engage)leverin the disengaged(OFF) position,depressing
the brakepedal and engagingthe parkingbrake.If leavingthetractor
unattended,alsoturn the ignitionkey off and removethe key.
Alwayslookdownand behind beforeand whilebackingup to avoida
back-overaccident.
1. Depressthe clutch-brake pedal to releasethe parkingbrakeand
thenlet the pedal up.
2. Movethe throttleleverintothe FAST(rabbit) position.
3. Placethe shiftleverin eitherthe FORWARD or REVERSE
position.
IMPORTANT: DoNOT usethe shift leverto changethe directionof
travelwhenthe tractoris in motion.Alwaysusethe clutch-brakepedal
to bringthe tractorto a completestop beforeshifting.
4. Releasethe parkingbrakebydepressingthe clutch-brake pedal
and positioningthe speedcontrol leverin the desiredposition.
IMPORTANT: First-timeoperatorsshouldusespeedpositions1 or
2. Becomecompletely familiarwith the tractor'soperationand controls
beforeoperatingthe tractorin higherspeedpositions.
5. Releaseclutch-brakepedal slowlyto put unit intomotion.
6. Thelawntractorisbroughtto a stop bydepressingthe clutch-
brakepedal.
NOTE: Whenoperatingthe unitinitially, therewill be little difference
betweenthe highesttwo speedsuntilafter the beltshaveseated
themselvesintothe pulleysduringthe break-inperiod.
WARNING!Beforeleavingthe operator'spositionfor any reason,
disengagethe blades,placethe shift leverin neutral,engagethe
parkingbrake,shut engineoff and removethe key.
1. Placethe shift leverin neutral,
2. Engagethe parkingbrake,
3. Shutengineoff and removethe key.Doingso will minimizethe
possibilityof havingyour lawn"browned"by hot exhaustfrom
yourtractor'srunningengine.
If unit stallswith speedcontrolin high speed,or if unitwill not operate
with speedcontrolleverin a low speedposition,proceedasfollows:
1. Placeshift leverin NEUTRAL.
2. Restartengine.
3. Placespeedcontrolleverin highestspeedposition.
4. Releaseclutch-brake pedal fully.
5. Depressclutch-brakepedal.
6. Placespeedcontrolleverin desiredposition.
7. Placeshift leverin either FORWARD or REVERSE, a nd follow
normaloperatingprocedures.
DRIVING ON SLOPES
Referto the SLOPEGAUGEinthe SafetyInstructionssectionof the
manualto helpdetermineslopeswhereyou may operatethis tractor
safely.
Donot mowon inclines with a slopeinexcessof 15degrees(a rise
of approximately 2-1/2feet every 10feet).The tractorcouldoverturn
and cause seriousinjury.
• Mowup and down slopes,NEVERacross.
• Exerciseextremecautionwhenchangingdirectionon slopes.
Watchfor holes,ruts,bumps,rocks,or otherhiddenobjects.
Uneventerraincouldoverturnthe machine.Tallgrass can hide
obstacles.
• Avoidturns whendrivingon a slope.If a turnmustbe made,turn
downthe slope.Turningup a slopegreatly increases t he chance
of a roll over.
• Avoidstoppingwhen drivingup a slope.If itis necessaryto stop
whiledrivingup a slope,start up smoothlyand carefullyto reduce
the possibilityof flippingthe tractoroverbackward.
ENGAGING THE BLADES
Engaging the PTO(Blade Engage)transferspowerto the cuttingdeck
or other(separatelyavailable)attachments. T oengagethe blades,
proceedas follows:
1. Movethe throttle/chokecontrolleverto the FAST(rabbit)position.
2. Graspthe PTO(Blade Engage)leverand pivot it all the way
forwardinto theengaged(ON) position.
3. Keepthethrottleleverin the FAST(rabbit)positionfor the most
efficient useof the cuttingdeckor other(separatelyavailable)
attachments.
NOTE: Theenginewill automaticallyshutoff if the PTO(Blade
Engage)leveris movedintothe engaged(ON)positionwith the shift
leverin Reverse.
IMPORTANT: Whenstoppingthe tractorfor any reasonwhileon a
grasssurface,always:
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