Craftsman 247.28902 Mowing, Engaging the Blades, Mulching, Using the Deck Lift Lever, Headlights

DRiViNG ON SLOPES MOWING

Referto the SLOPEGAUGEin the ImportantSafeOperationPractices sectionof themanualto helpdetermineslopeswhereyoumayoperate the tractorsafely.

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 PTO(Blade Engage)is engagedwiththe shift leverinpositionfor reversetravel withthe ignitionkeyin the NORMALMOWINGposition.

MULCHING

A mulchkit isavailableasanattachment. Mulching isa processof recirculating grass clippings repeatedly beneaththe cutting deck. Theultra-fineclippings are then forced backinto the lawn where they act asa naturalfertilizer.

A mulchkit canbe purchasedthroughthe retaillocationinwhichyou

purchasedthistractor.For more information,simply contactSears 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 Operationsection.

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.

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