Mowing Tips - Craftsman 917.98644 Operator's Manual

PURGE TRANSMiSSiON
_CAUTION: Never engage or disengage
freewheel lever while the engine is running.
Toensure proper operation and performance,
it is recommended that the transmission be
purged before operating tractor for the first
time. This procedure will remove any trapped
air inside the transmission which may have
developed during shipping of your tractor.
IIVlPORTANT: 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 in disengaged position
(See "TO TRANSPORT" in this section
of manual).
3. Sitting in the tractor seat, start engine.
After the engine is running, move throttle
control to slow position. Disengage park-
ing brake.
_,CAUTION: At any time, during step 4,
there may be movement of the drive wheels.
4. Depress forward drive pedal to full for-
ward position and hold for five (5) seconds
and release pedal. Depress reverse drive
pedal to full reverse position and hold
for five (5) seconds and release pedal.
Repeat this procedure three (3) times.
5. Shutoff engine and set parking brake.
6. Engagetransmission byplacingfreewheel
control in engaged position (See "TO
TRANSPORT" inthis section of manual).
7. Sitting in the tractor seat, start engine.
After the engine is running, move throttle
control to half (1/2) speed. Disengage
parking brake.
8. Drive tractor forward for approximately
five (5) feet (1,5 m) then backwards for
five (5) feet (1,5 m). Repeat this driving
procedure three 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.
• Mower should 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 so that clippings are discharged onto
the area that has already been cut. Have
the cut area to the right of the tractor. This
will result in a more even distribution of
clippings and more uniform cutting.
• When mowing large areas, start by turning
to the right so that clippings will discharge
away from shrubs, fences, driveways,
etc. After one or two rounds, mow in the
opposite direction making left hand turns
until finished.
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* 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 well 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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