Mowing Tips - Craftsman 917.288526 Operator's Manual

PURGE TRANSMISSIO N
_kCAUTION: Never engage or disengage
freewheel lever while the engine isrunning.
Toensure properoperation and performance,
it is recommended that the transmission be
purged before operating tractor for the first
time.This procedurewill remove anytrapped
air inside the transmission which may have
developed during shipping of your tractor.
IMPORTANT: Should your transmission
require removal for service or replacement,
it should be purged after reinstallation before
operating the tractor.
1. Place tractor safely on a level surface -
that is clear of objects and open - with
engine off and parking brake set.
2. Disengage transmission by placing
freewheel control indisengaged position
(See "TO TRANSPORT" in this section
of manual).
3. Sitting in the tractor seat, start engine,
After the engine is running, movethrottle
control to slow position. With motion
control lever in neutral position, slowly
disengage clutch/brake pedal.
_I_CAUTtON: At any time, during step 4,
there may be movement of the drive wheels.
4. Move motion control lever to full forward
position and hold for five (5) seconds.
Move lever to full reverse position and
hold for five (5) seconds. Repeat this
procedure three (3) times.
5. Move motion control leverto neutral posi-
tion. Shutoifengine andset parkingbrake.
6. Engage transmission by placing free-
wheel control in engaged position (See
"TO TRANSPORT" in this section of
manual).
7, Sitting in the tractor seat, start engine.
After the engine is running, movethrottle
control to haft (1/2) speed. With motion
control lever in neutral position, slowly
disengage clutch/brake pedal.
8, Slowly move motion control leverforward,
after the tractor moves approximately
five (5) feet (1,5 m), slowly move motion
control lever to reverse position. After
the tractor moves approximately five
(5) feet (1,5 m) return the motion control
lever to the neutral position. Repeat this
procedure with the motion control lever
three (3) times.
Your transmission is now purged and now
ready for normal operation,
MOWING TIPS
. DO NOT use tire chains when the mower
housing is attached to tractor.
• Mowershould be properly leveled for best
mowing performance. See "TO LEVEL
MOWER HOUSING" in the Service and
Adjustments section of this manual,
- The left hand side of mower should be
used for trimming.
• Drive sothat clippings are discharged onto
the area that has already been cut, Have
the cut areato the right of the tractor. This
will result in a more even distribution of
clippings and more uniform cutting.
o When mowing large areas, start byturning
to the right so that clippings will discharge
away from shrubs, fences, driveways,
etc, After one ortwo rounds, mow in the
opposite direction making left hand turns
untilfinished.
f
• If grass is extremely tall, it should be
mowed twice to reduce load and possible
fire hazard from dried clippings. Make
first cut relatively high; the second to the
desired height.
. Do not mow grass when it is wet. Wet
grass will plug mower and leave undesir-
able clumps. Allow grass to dry before
mowing.
• Always operate engine at full throttle
when mowing to assure better mow-
ing performance and proper discharge
of material. Regulate ground speed by
selecting a low enough gear to give the
mower cutting performance as wel! as the
quality of cut desired.
- When operating attachments, select a
ground speed that will suit the terrain and
give best performance of the attachment
being used.
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