Craftsman 247.28904 Mowing, Engaging the Blades, Mulching, Using the Deck Lift Lever, Headlights

Referto the SLOPEGAUGEin the SafetyInstructionssectionof the manualto helpdetermineslopeswhereyou mayoperatethis tractor safely.

Do notmowon inclineswitha slopein excessof 15degrees(a rise of approximately2-1/2feetevery10feet). Thetractorcouldoverturn andcauseseriousinjury.

•Mowupanddownslopes,NEVERacross. Exerciseextremecautionwhenchangingdirectionon slopes. Watchfor holes,ruts,bumps,rocks,or otherhiddenobjects.

Uneventerraincouldoverturnthemachine.Tallgrasscan hide obstacles.

Avoidturnswhendrivingona slope. Ifa turn mustbemade,turn downthe slope.Turningupa slopegreatlyincreasesthechance of a rollover.

Avoidstoppingwhendrivingupa slope. Ifit is necessaryto stop whiledrivingupa slope,start up smoothlyandcarefullyto reduce the possibilityof flippingthe tractoroverbackward.

ENGAGING THE BLADES

Engagingthe PTO(BladeEngage)transferspowerto the cuttingdeck orother (separatelyavailable)attachments.Toengagethe blades, proceedas follows:

1.Movethe throttle/chokecontrolleverto the FAST(rabbit)position.

2.Graspthe PTO(BladeEngage)leverandpivotit all the way forwardintothe engaged(ON)position.

3.Keepthe throttleleverinthe FAST(rabbit)positionforthe most efficientuseof thecuttingdeckor other(separatelyavailable) attachments.

NOTE: The enginewill automaticallyshutoff if the PTOis engaged withthe shiftleverin positionfor reversetravelwiththe ignitionkeyin the NORMALMOWINGposition.

MULCHING

A mulchkit is availableasan attachment.Mulchingis a processof recirculatinggrassclippingsrepeatedlybeneaththe cuttingdeck.The ultra-fineclippingsarethenforcedbackintothe lawnwheretheyact as a naturalfertilizer.

A mulchkit canbe purchasedthroughthe retaillocationinwhichyou

purchasedthistractor.For more information, simply contact Sears at 1-800-4-MY-HOME®.

USING THE DECK LIFT LEVER

Toraisethe cuttingdeck,movethe decklift levertothe left,then place it in the notchbestsuitedfor yourapplication.Referto SettingThe CuttingHeightearlierinthis section.

Tohelpavoidbladecontactora thrownobjectinjury,keepbystand- ers,helpers,childrenandpetsat least75feetfromthe machine while it is in operation.Stopmachineif anyoneentersthe area.

The followinginformationwill be helpfulwhenusingthe cuttingdeck withyourtractor:

Planyourmowingpatternto avoiddischargeof materialstoward roads,sidewalks,bystandersandthe like. Also,avoiddischarging materialagainstawall or obstructionwhichmaycausedischarged materialto ricochetbacktowardthe operator.

Donot mowat highgroundspeed,especiallyif a mulchkit or grasscollectoris installed.

•Forbestresultsit is recommendedthatthe first twolaps becut withthe dischargethrowntowardsthe center.Afterthe firsttwo laps,reversethedirectionto throwthe dischargeto theoutside

for the balanceof cutting.Thiswill givea betterappearanceto the lawn.

•Donot cutthe grasstoo short. Shortgrassinvitesweedgrowth andyellowsquicklyin dry weather.

•Mowingshouldalwaysbedonewiththe engineat full throttle.

•Underheavierconditionsit maybe necessaryto go backoverthe cut areaa secondtimeto get a cleancut.

•Do NOTattemptto mowheavybrushandweedsandextremely

tall grass.Yourtractoris designedto mowlawns,NOTclear brush.

•Keepthe bladessharpand replacethe bladeswhenworn. Refer to CuttingBladesinthe Servicesectionof thismanualfor proper bladesharpeninginstructions.

HEADLIGHTS

•The lampsare ONwheneverthe tractor'sengineis running.

•The lampsturn OFFwhenthe ignitionkeyis movedto the STOP position.