Usingthe Mower Deck; Checking The Safety Interlock Circuits - Craftsman 247,204110 Operator's Manual

Usingthe Mower Deck
Makecertain the areato be mowedisfree of debris, sticks, s tones, w ire or
other objectsthat canbethrown bythe rotatingblades.
flOTE: D onot engage the mowerdeckwhen loweredingrass. P remature wearand
possible failureof the 'V" belt andPTO clutchwill result.Fullyraisethe deckor move
to anon-grassy a reabeforeengaging the mowerdeck.
1. Mowacross s lopes, n ot up anddown.Ifmowinga slope, s tart at bottomand
workupwardto ensureturnsaremadeuphill.
2. Onthe first passpicka pointonthe opposite sideof the areato bemowed.
3. Engage the PTO clutchusingthe PTO switchandmovethethrottle/choke
control t o the FAST _ position.
4. Lower the mowerdeck to thedesiredheightsettingusingthe lift handle.
5. Slowlyandevenlypushthe RHandLHdrivecontrol l eversforwardto move
the ridingmowerforward,andkeepthe ridingmowerheaded directly
towardthe alignmentpoint.
flOTL:: T he speed of the ridingmowerwill affectthe qualityof the mower
cut.Mowingat full speed will adversely a ffectthe cut quality.Control t he
groundspeed with thecontrollevers.
6. Whenapproaching t he otherendofthe strip,slowdownor stopbefore
turning.AU-turnisrecommended u nless azeroturn isrequired.
7. Alignthe mowerwith anedgeof the mowed strip andoverlap
approximately 3".
8. Directthe ridingmoweroneachsubsequent strip to alignwith apreviously
cutstrip.
9. Toprevent r uttingor groovingofthe turf, ifpossible, c hange the direction
thatthe stripsaremowedbyapproximately 45 °for the nextandeach
subsequent mowing.
Checkingthe SafetyInterlockCircuits
Periodically c heck the safetyinterlock circuitsto ensure they areworkingproperly.If
asafetycircuitisnot workingasdesigned, c ontactyouCub Cadet d ealerto havethe
tractorinspected. D O NOT operatethe tractorif anysafetycircuitisnot functioning
properly. T ocheck the safetycircuits,proceed asfollows:
1. Pullthe PTO switchupwardto the engaged position.Momentarily turn the
ignitionswitchto the start_ position; t he engineshouldnot crank.
2. Movebothcontrol l eversfully inwardinthe neutralposition;thenlift
upwardfromthe operator's seat.Theengineshouldstop.
3. With bothcontrollevers fully outwardinthe neutral/parking brakeengaged
position,engage the PTO. Lift upwardfrom the operator's seat;the engine
shouldstop.
4. Startthe tractorandmovethe controlleversinwardto the neutraloperating
position.Engage the PTO andmovebothcontrolleverslowlyintothe slow
reverse position; t he PTO shoulddisengage a ndthe mowerdeckshouldstop.
Becareful when crossinggrave[pathsor driveways.Disengage the PTO and
raisethe deckto the highestposition before crossing.
flOTL:: W henstoppingthe ridingmowerforanyreason whileonagrass
surface, a lways:
Place the controlleversinneutral(parkingbrakeon),
Shut e ngineoffand remove the key.
Doing sowii[ minimizethe possibility of havingyourlawn
"browned"byhotexhaust f rom yourridingmower'srunning
engine.
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