Craftsman 917.27317 owner manual Mulching Mowing Tips

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COLD WEATHER STARTING ( 50 ° F and

below)

6.When engine starts, leave throttle control in choke position until engine warms up and begins to run roughly. Once rough running begins, imme- diately move the throttle control to the

fast position. Engine warm-up may take from several seconds to several

minutes (the colder the temperature,

the longer the warm-up).

• The attachments can also be used dur-

ing the engine warm-up period.

NOTE: If at a high altitude (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).

MOWING TIPS

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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Always operate engine at full throttle

when mowing to assure better mowing performance and proper discharge of material. Regulate ground speed by selecting a low enough gear to give the mower cutting performance as welt as the quality of cut desired.

When operating attachments, select a ground speed that will suit the terrain and give best performance of the at- tachment being used.

MULCHING MOWING TIPS

IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep

mower housing free of built-up grass and trash. Clean after each use.

The special mulching blade will recut the grass clippings many times and reduce them in size so that as they fall onto the lawn they will disperse into the grass and not be noticed. Also, the mulched grass will biodegrade quickly to provide nutrients for the lawn. Always mulch with your highest engine (blade) speed as this will provide the best recut- ting action of the blades.

Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet. Wet grass tends to form clumps and interferes with the mulching action. The best time to mow your lawn is the early afternoon. At this time the grass has dried, the newly cut area will not be exposed to direct sunlight.

For best results, adjust the mower cutting height so that the mower cuts off only the top one-third of the grass blades. For extremely heavy grass, re- duce your width of cut on each pass and mow slowly.

MAX 1/3

l

If grass is extremely tall, it should be mowed twice to reduce load and pos- sible 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 undesirable clumps. Allow grass to dry before mowing.

Certain types of grass and grass conditions may require that an area be mulched a second time to completely hide the clippings. When doing a sec-

ond cut, mow across (perpendicular) to the first cut path.

Change your cutting pattern from week to week. Mow north to south one week

then change to east to west the next week. This will help prevent matting and graining of the lawn.

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Contents Jcriiftsmiinj Limited Warranty on Craftsman Riding Equipment Limited Warranty on BatterySlope Operation General OperationIV. Service Do notPage Sears Installation Service Customer Responsibilities11111 Tools Required for Assembly Assemble Extension Shaft and BootTo Remove Tractor from Carton Before Removing Tractor from Skid Attach Steering WheelCheck Battery Install Mulcher Plate Check for Proper Position of ALL BeltsDischarging Check Tire PressureProperty damage Know Your Tractor Attachment Clutch Lever UsedHOW to USE Your Tractor To USE Throttle ControlTo Adjust Gauge Wheels To Operate on HillsTo Operate Mower To TransportBefore Starting the Engine To Start EngineCheck Engine OIL Level ADD GasolineMowing Tips Mulching Mowing TipsGeneral Recommendations Maintenance ScheduleBefore Each USE Brake Operation TractorTo Sharpen Blade Belts LubricationTo Change Engine OIL Engine OIL FilterClean AIR Screen MufflerSpark Plugs AIR FilterTractor To Install MowerTo Remove Mower Belt Removal To Level Mower HousingTo Replace Mower Blade Drive Belt To Check and Adjust Brake To Adjust BrakeTo Check Brake To Replace Motion Drive BeltTransaxle Gear Shift Lever NEU Tral Adjustment To Removewheel for RepairsTo Start Engine with Aweak BAT TeryReplacing Battery To Replace Headlight BulbTo Replace Fuse To Remove Hood and Grill AS SemblyTo Adjust Throttle Control Cable To Adjust CarburetorEngine Acceleration TestBattery Fuel SystemEngine OIL CylindersTroubleshooting Chart ProblemCause Correction Start EngineProblem CAUSE3ORRECTION Cause Correction FastTractor - Model Number Schematic SEATSW,TON ITractor - Model Number ElectricalTractor - Model Number Electrical KEY Part DescriptionOo o Tractor - Model Number 917.273170 Chassis and EnclosuresTractor - Model Number 917.273170 Chassis and Enclosures Tractor - Model Number Ground Drive X .1845/1865 Tractor - Model Number 917.273170 Steering Assembly KEY Part NO. NO.DESCRIPTION Tractor - Model Number Engine Optional EquipmentTractor - Model Number Lift Assembly 3219Tractor - Model Number Seat Assembly DescriptionKEY Part KEY Part NO, NO,DESCRIPTIONTRACTOR-- Model Number Decals Wheels TiresTractor - Model Number Mower Deck Tractor - Model Number Mower Deck 42A 890 Ylinder HEAD, Valve and Breatherj Crankcase Cylinder HEAD/VALVE/BREATHERNot Illustrated \9\ AIR INTAKE/FILTRATION Part DescriptionStarting Systemj Engine Controls KEY Part Description Starting System KEY Part DescriptionOIL PAN/LUBRICATION KEY Part Description Fuel System NO. noNotillustrated Crankshaft Description KEY PartSuggested Guide for Sighting Slopes for Safe Operation Our Home