Craftsman 917.273663 owner manual How To Use Your Tractor, To Move Forward And Backward

SAFETYGLASSES

The operation of any tractor can result in foreign objects thrown into the eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields while operating your tractor or performing any adjustments or repairs. We recommend standard safety glasses or a wide vision safety mask worn over spectacles.

HOW TO USE YOUR TRACTOR

TO SET PARKING BRAKE

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.

1.Depress clutch/brake pedal all the way down and hold.

2.Pull parking brake lever up and release pressure from clutch/brake pedal. Pedal should remain in brake position. Make sure parking brake will hold trac- tor secure.

Push-In to	Attachment	Clutch
"Disengaged"	Switch Pull	Out To

Throttle

Brake _oo

Pedal _---_Motion

"Drive" "Disengaged" Control Lever

Position Position Parking Brake

"Engaged" Position

STOPPING

MOWER BLADES -

•To stop mower blades, push attachment clutch switch in to disengaged position.

GROUND DRIVE -

•To stop ground drive, depress clutch/ brake pedal all the way down.

•Move motion control lever to neutral (N)

position.

IMPORTANT: The motion control lever

does not return to neutral (N) position when the clutch/brake pedal is depressed.

ENGINE -

• Move throttle control between half and

full speed (fast) position.

NOTE: Failure to move throttle control

between half and full speed (fast) posi-

tion, before stopping, may cause engine to "backfire".

• Turn ignition	key to "STOP"	position and
remove key.	Always remove	key when

NOTE: Under certain conditions when tractor is standing idle with the engine run- ning, hot engine exhaust gases may cause "browning" of grass. To eliminate this pos- sibility, always stop engine when stopping tractor on grass areas.

_IbCAUTION: Always stop tractor com- pletely, as described above, before leaving the operator's position.

THROTTLE CONTROL

Always operate engine at full throttle.

•Operating engine at less than full throttle reduces the battery charging rate.

•Full throttle offers the best bagging and mower performance.

TO USE CHOKE CONTROL

Use choke control whenever you are start- ing a cold engine. Do not use to start a warm engine.

•To engage choke control, pull knob out. Slowly push knob in to disengage.

TO MOVE FORWARD AND

BACKWARD

The direction and speed of movement is controlled by the motion control lever.

1.Start tractor with motion control lever in neutral (N) position.

2.Release parking brake.

3.Slowly move motion control lever to desired position.

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 approxi- mately 1-1/2 to 4". The heights are mea- sured 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.

• The average lawn should be cut to approxi- mately 2-1/2 inches during the cool season and to over 3 inches during hot months.

leaving tractor to prevent unauthorized

use.

•Never use choke to stop engine.

IMPORTANT: Leaving the ignition switch in any position other than "STOP" will cause the battery to discharge and go dead.

11

For healthier and better looking lawns, mow often and after moderate growth.

For best cutting performance, grass over 6 inches in height should be mowed twice. Make the first cut relatively high; the second to desired height.