STARTING THE ENGINE

Do notoperatethe tractorifthe interlocksystemis malfunctioning. Thissystemwasdesignedfor your safetyandprotection.

NOTE: Referto the Gasolineand Oilfill-upinstructionsearlierinthis section.

1.Insertthe tractorkeyintothe ignitionswitch.

2.Placethe PTO(BladeEngage)leverinthe disengaged(OFF) position.

3.Engagethe tractor'sparkingbrake.

4.Activatethe chokecontrolby movingthe throttle/chokeleverall thewayup intothe chokeposition.

5.Turnthe ignitionkeyclockwiseto the STARTposition.Afterthe enginestarts,releasethe key.It will returnto the ON (orNormal Mowing)position.

Do NOTholdthe keyinthe STARTpositionfor longerthanten

secondsat a time.Doingso maycausedamageto yourengine's electricstarter.

6.Afterthe enginestarts,deactivatethe chokecontroland placethe throttlecontrolinthe FASTposition.

NOTE: Do NOTleavethechokecontrolonwhileoperatingthe tractor. Doingso will resultina "rich" fuel mixtureandcausethe engineto run poorly.

STOPPING THE ENGINE

If youstrikea foreignobject,stopthe engine,disconnectthe spark plugwire(s)andgroundagainstthe engine.Thoroughlyinspectthe machinefor anydamage.Repairthe damagebeforerestartingand operating

1.Ifthe bladesareengaged,placethe PTO(BladeEngage)leverin thedisengaged(OFF)position.

2.Turnthe ignitionkeycounterclockwiseto the STOPposition.

3.Removethe keyfromthe ignitionswitchto preventunintended starting.

DRIVING THE TRACTOR

Avoidsuddenstarts,excessivespeedandsuddenstops.

Do notleavethe seatof thetractorwithoutfirstplacingthe PTO (BladeEngage)leverinthe disengaged(OFF)position,depressing I the brakepedalandengagingthe parkingbrake.Ifleavingthe tractor unattended,alsoturn the ignitionkeyoffand removethe key.

pedalup.

2.Movethethrottleleverintothe FAST(rabbit)position.

3.Placethe shift leverineitherthe FORWARDor REVERSE position.

IMPORTANT: Do NOTuse the shiftleverto changethedirection of travelwhenthe tractoris in motion.Alwaysusethe brakepedalto bringthe tractorto acompletestopbeforeshifting.

4.Releasethe parkingbrakeby depressingthe clutch-brakepedal and positioningthe speedcontrolleverin desiredposition.

IMPORTANT: First-timeoperatorsshouldusespeedpositions1 or

2.Becomecompletelyfamiliarwiththetractor'soperationandcontrols beforeoperatingthetractorin higherspeedpositions.

5.Releaseclutch-brakepedalslowlyto put unitinto motion.

6.The lawntractorisbroughtto a stopby depressingtheclutch- brakepedal.

NOTE: Whenoperatingthe unitinitially,therewill belittledifference betweenthe highesttwospeedsuntilafterthe beltshaveseated themselvesintothe pulleysduringthe break-inperiod.

Beforeleavingthe operator'spositionfor any reason,disengagethe blades,placethe shift leverinneutral,engagethe parkingbrake, shutengineoff andremovethe key.

IMPORTANT: Whenstoppingthe tractorforany reasonwhile ona grasssurface,always:

1.Placethe shift leverinneutral,

2.Engagethe parkingbrake,

3.Shutengineoffand removethe key.Doingso will minimizethe possibilityof havingyour lawn"browned"byhot exhaustfrom yourtractor'srunningengine.

Ifunit stallswithspeedcontrolin highspeed,orif unitwill not operate withspeedcontrolleverin a lowspeedposition,proceedas follows:

1.Placeshift leverin NEUTRAL.

2.Restartengine.

3.Placespeedcontrolleverin highestspeedposition.

4.Releaseclutch-brakepedalfully.

5.Depressclutch-brakepedal.

6.Placespeedcontrolleverin desiredposition.

7.Placeshift lever ineither FORWARDor REVERSE,andfollow normal operatingprocedures.

Alwayslookdownandbehindbeforeandwhilebackingupto avoida back-overaccident.

1.Depressthe brakepedalto releasethe parkingbrakeand letthe

16

Page 16
Image 16
Craftsman 247.28902 manual Starting the Engine, Stopping the Engine, Driving the Tractor