Craftsman 486.248531 owner manual Raising and Lowering, Removing Snow, Operating Tips, Lubrication

RAISING AND LOWERING

•To raise, push down on the lift handle until the snow thrower locks in the raised transport position.

•To lower, push down slightly on the lift handle and pull the trigger. With the trigger pulled, slowly lower the snow thrower until it reaches the ground.

CAUTION: Do not operate the snow thrower without the rear weight attached to the tractor to provide extra traction and stability.

REMOVING SNOW

Snow removal conditions vary greatly from light fluffy snowfall to wet heavy snow. Operating instructions must be flexible to fit the conditions encountered. The

operator must adapt the lawn tractor and snow thrower to depth of snow, wind direction, temperature and surface conditions.

•Before beginning operation, thoroughly inspect the area of operation and remove all door mats, sleds, boards, wires and other foreign objects.

•The spiral auger speed is directly related to engine speed. For maximum snow removal and discharge, maintain high engine r.p.m. (full throttle). It is advisable to operate the lawn tractor at a slow ground speed (1 st gear) for safe and efficient snow removal.

•In deep, drifted or banked snow it will be necessary to use full throttle and a slow ground speed (1st gear). Drive forward into the snow, depress the tractor'sclutch-brake pedal and allow the spiral auger to clear the snow. Repeat this method until a path is cleared. On the second pass, overlap the first enough to allow the snow thrower to handle the snow without repeated stopping and starting of forward motion.

•In extremely deep snow, raise the snow thrower from the ground to remove the top layer and drive forward only until the tractors front tires reach the uncleared bottom layer of snow. Depress the tractor's clutch-brake pedal and allow the spiral auger to clear the snow. Reverse the tractor and lower the snow thrower to the ground. Drive the tractor forward until the snow again becomes too deep. Repeating this process into and out of drifts will eventually clear even the deepest of snow piles.

•If the snow thrower becomes clogged with snow or jammed with a foreign object, disengage the snow thrower immediately and shut off the tractor engine. Unclog the snow thrower before resuming opera- tion.

DANGER: Shut off engine and disengage snow thrower before unclogging discharge chute. Unclog using a wooden stick, not your hands.

OPERATING TIPS

•Discharge snow down wind whenever possible.

•To help prevent snow from sticking to the snow thrower, allow the snow thrower to reach outdoor temperature before using it. A light coat of wax may also be applied to the inside surface of the snow thrower housing and discharge chute.

•Use tire chains to improve traction.

•Use rear wheel weights to improve traction.

•Before the first snowfall, remove all stones, sticks

and other objects which could become hidden by the snow. Permanent obstacles should be marked

for visibility.

•Overlap each pass slightly to assure complete snow removal.

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

•Read and follow the maintenance schedule and the maintenance procedures listed in this section.

Fill in dates as you
complete regular service.	/_° _Z_	7
Check for loosefasteners	X
Check scraper and shoes for wear	X	X
Cleaning		X
LubricationSection		X

LUBRICATION

•Oil all pivot points on the snow thrower.

•Oil the pivot points of the two idler arms on the clutch/idler assembly.

•Apply penetrating oil to the control cables of the discharge chute.

•Apply a good grade of spray lubricant to the trigger assembly and the chute tilt control assembly.

Service Dates

CHECK SCRAPER AND SHOES FOR WEAR

(Refer to figures 29 and 30 on page 17.)

•The scraper plate and skid shoes on the bottom of the snow thrower are subject to wear. To prevent damage to the spiral auger housing, replace plate and shoes before wear is excessive.

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