Craftsman 917.258911 HOW to USE Your Tractor, To SET Parking Brake See Fig, Stopping See Fig

OPERATION

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The operation of any tractor can result in foreign objects thrown into the eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields while operating your tractor or performing any adjustments or repairs. We recommend a wide vision safety mask over the spectacles or standard safety glasses.

HOW TO USE YOUR TRACTOR

TO SET PARKING BRAKE (See Fig. 7)

Your tractor isequipped with an operator presence sensing switch. When engine is running, any attempt by the operator to leave the seat without first setting the parking brake will shut off the engine,

°Depress clutch/brake pedal intofull "BRAKE" position and hold,,

. Place parking brake lever in "ENGAGED" position and release pressure from clutch/brake pedal. Pedal should remain in "BRAKE" position. Make sure parking brake will hold tractor secure.

PUSH IN TO ATTACHMENT CLUTCH

THROTTLE "DISENGAGE" SWITCH PULL OUT TO

CONTROL LEVER

CHOKE

CONTROL_

CLUTCH/BRAKE

IPEDAL"BRAKE"

POSITION

	IGNITION
		MOTION
		CONTROL
		LEVER
	HEIGHT	\.
"DRIVE"	ADJUSTMENT	PARKING
POSITION	KNOB	BRAKE
	"DISENGAGED"
		"ENGAGED"
	POSITION	POSITION

FIG. 7

STOPPING (See Fig. 7)

MOWER BLADES -

•Move attachment clutch switch to "DISENGAGED"

position

GROUND DRIVE-

•Depress clutch/brake pedal intofull "BRAKE" position.

•Move motion control lever to neutral (N) position.

IMPORTANT: THE MOTION CONTROL LEVER DOES

NOT RETURN TO NEUTRAL (N) POSITION WHEN THE CLUTCH!BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

ENGINE -

o Move throttle control to slow position,,

NOTE: Failure to move throttle control to slow position and allowing engine to idle before stopping may cause engine to "backfire".

-Turn ignition key to "OFF" position and remove key.

Always remove key when leaving tractor to prevent unauthorized use,

o Never use choke to stop engine,

NOTE: Under certain conditions when unit is standing idle with the engine running, hot engine exhaust gases may cause "browning" of grass,. To eliminate this possibility, always stop engine when stopping tractor on grass areas°

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pletely, as described above, before leav- CAUTION:ing the operator'sAlways position;stop tractor emptycom- grass catcher, etc.

TO USE CHOKE CONTROL (See Fig. 7)

Use choke control whenever you are starting a cold engine, Do not use to start a warm engine.,

•To engage choke control, pull knob out, Slowly push knob in to disengage,,

TO USE THROTTLE CONTROL (See Fig. 7) Always operate engine at full throttle,.

. Operating engine at less than full throttle reduces the battery charging rate,,

•Full throttle offers the best mower performance,

TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD

(See Fig. 7)

The direction and speed of movement is controlled by the motion control lever_

•Start tractor with motion control lever in neutral (N) position.

°Release parking brake and clutch/brake pedal.

•Slowly move motion control lever to desired position.

TO ADJUST MOWER CUTTING HEIGHT (See Fig. 7)

The cutting height is controlled by turning the height adjust- ment knob in desired direction°

-Turn knob clockwise ((-_) to raise cutting height,

•Turn knob counterclockwise ()r--_) to lower cutting height_

The cutting height range is approximately 1-1/4" to 4-1/2"o

The heights are measured from the ground to the blade tip with the engine not running, These heights are approxi- mate and may vary depending upon soil conditions, height of grass and types of grass being mowed.

•The average lawn should becut to approximately 2-1/2 inches during the cool season and to over 3 inches during hot months° For healthier and better looking lawns, mow often and after moderate growth,.

=For best cutting performance, grass over 6 inches in height should be mowed twice., Make the first cut relatively high; the second to desired height.

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