Craftsman 917.270512 owner manual How To Use Your Tractor

The operation of any tractor can result in foreign objects thrown into the eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glass-

es or eye shields while operating your tractor or perfor_m._g.an_just- ments or repairs. We recommend a wide vision safety _ask'b_-"_-rthe

spectacles, or standard safety glasses.

HOW TO USE YOUR TRACTOR

Your tractor is equipped 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.

TO SET PARKING BRAKE

•Depress clutch/brake pedal into full =BRAKE" position and hold.

•Place parking brake lever in "ENGAGED" position and release pres- sure from clutch/brake pedal. Pedal should remain in =BRAKE" position.

Make sure parking brake will hold trac- tor secure.

AttachmentClutchLever

ThrotUe/Choke _ 'Engaged"Position

Controllever" _

_ _ "Disengaged-

Pedal "Ddve"	_ _._	Parking
Clutch/B
Posi	._	/'Engaged-
t_	__osi_on	Brake
	\ _2._._
		_ Gearshift

"Disengaged" " _Lever

Position"Brake"_osition

STOPPING

MOWER BLADES -

•To stop mower blades, move attach- ment clutch lever to =DISENGAGED"

position.

GROUND DRIVE -

•To stop ground ddve, depress clutch/brake pedal into full =BRAKE" position.

•Move gearshift lever to neutral (N) posi- tion.

ENGINE -

•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".

•Tum ignition key to =OFF" position and remove key. Always remove key when

leaving tractor to prevent unauthorized use.

•Never use choke to stop engine.

IMPORTANT: Leaving the ignitionswitch in any positionother than =OFF" will cause

the battery to be discharged (dead). NOTE: Under certain conditionswhen

tractoris standingidle withthe engine run- ning, hot engine exhaust gases may cause =browning" of grass. To eliminate this possibility,always stop engine when _l_pping tractoron grass areas.

CAUTION: Always stoptractorcom- pletely,as describedabove, before leaving- the operator'sposition;to empty grass catcher, etc.

THROTTLE CONTROL

Always operate engine at full throttle.

•Operating engine at less than full throt- tle reduces the battery charging rate.

•Full throttle offers the best bagging and mower performance.

TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD The direction and speed of movement is controlled by the gearshift lever.

•Start tractor with clutch/brake pedal depressed and gearshift lever in neutral

(N)position.

•Move gearshift lever to desired posi- tion.

•Slowly release clutch/brake pedal to start movement.

IMPORTANT: Bring tractor to a complete

stop before shifting or changing gears. Failure to do so will shorten the useful life

of your transaxle .............

TO ADJUST MOWER CUTTING HEIGHT

The position of the attachment lift lever determines the cutting height.

•Grasp lift lever.

•Press plunger with thumb and move lever to desired position.

The cutting height range is approximate- ly 1-1/2 to 4". The heights are measured from the ground to the blade tip with the engine not running. These heights are approximate and may vary depending upon soil conditions, height of grass and types of grass being mowed.

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