Sears 917.258552 owner manual Before Startwng the Engine, To Operate on Hills, ADD Gasoline

OPERATION

TO OPERATE MOWER (See Fig. 10)

Your tractor isequipped with an operator presence sensing switch. Any attempt by the operator to leave the seat with the engine running and the attachmer_t clutch engaged will shut off the engine_

•Select desired height of cut.

°Lower mower with attachment lift control

Start mower blades by _n__t,,g,'_. attachment clutch control.

,TO STOP MOWER BLADES - disengage attachment clutch control.

CAUTION: Do not operate the mower without either the entire grass catcher, on mowers so equipped, or the .dis- charge guard in place.

=,1 uu, i i	......
ATTACHMENT	"ENGAGED"	ATTACHMENT
CLUTCHLEVER	POSmON	LIFT LEVER
POSiTiON		HUGH POSITION

DSCHARGEi

GUARD

FiG. 10

TO OPERATE ON HILLS

eupQrdow,,hill

_ I wPh_an !5 °and donot I

Ill _ I drive across any slope,

Choose the slowest speed before starting up or down Mils.

-Avoid stopping or changing speed on hills.

*If slowing is necessary, move throttle control lever to slower position,

,If stopping is absolutely necessary, push clutch/brake

pedal quickly to brake position and engage parking brake.

=Move motion controt lever to neutral (N) position. iMPORTANT: THE MOTION CONTROL LEVER DOES

NOT RETURN TO NEUTRAL (N) POSITION WHEN THE CLUTCH/BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED,

-To restart movement, slowly release parking brake and clutch/brake pedal

. Slowly move motion control lever to slowest setting.

. Make all turns slowly.

TO TRANSPORT (See Figs. 8 and 11)

When pushing	or towing your tractor, be sure to disengage
transmission by p_acing freewheel controt in freewheeling
position. Free	wheel control is located at the rear drawbar
of tractor.	t3

Raise attachmer_t lift to highest position with attach- ment lift control

*Puli freewheel co[ltrol knob out and hold in position by inserting retainer spring into forward hete of controt rod.

Do not push or tow tractor at more than two (2} MPH.

,To reengage tr_r_smissien, reverse above procedure.

NOTE: To protect hood from damage when transporting your tractor on atruck or a trailer, be sure hood is ciosed and secured to tractor. Use an appropriate means of tying hood to tractor (rope, cord, etc.).

FtGo 11

• BEFORE STARTWNG THE ENGINE

CHECK ENGENE OiL LEVEL (See Fig, 16)

•The engine in your tractor has been shipped, from the factory, already fitted with summer weight oil.

°Check engine oil with tractor on level ground Unthread and remove el! fill cap/dipstick; wipe oil off. Reinsert the dipstick into the tube and rest oil fill cap on the tube. Do not thread the cap onto the tube. Remove and read oil level. If necessary, add oil until "FULL" mark on dipstick is reached. Do not overfill.

For cold weather operation you should change oil for easier starting (See'OIL VISCOSt TY CHAR T" 'n the

Customer Responsibilities section of this manual).

- Tochange engine oil, see the Customer Responsibili- ties section in this manual.

ADD GASOLINE

•Fill fue! tank. Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum of 87 octane, (Use of leaded gasoline will increase carbon and lead oxide deposits and reduce valve tile). Do not mix oil with gasoline. Purchase fuel in quantities that can be used within 30 days to assure fuel freshness.

IMPORTANT: WHEN OPERATING IN TEMPERATURES

BELOW32_F(0°C), USE FRESH, CLEAN WINTER GRADE GASOLINE TO HELP INSURE GOOD OOLD WEATHER

STARTING.

WARNING: Experience indicates that alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture which leads to separation and formation of

acids during storage. Acidic gas can damage the fue! system of an engine while in storage_ To avoid engine problems, the fuel system should be emptied before stor-. age of 30 days or longer. Drain the gas tank, start the engine and Jet it run untit the fue! lines and carburetor are empty, Use fresh fue! next season. See Storage Instruc- tions for additional information. Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur.