Craftsman 917.270840 - Manual (Page 14)

The operation of any tractor can result in foreign objecte 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 a wide vision safety mask over spectacles, or stan­
dard 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 №e 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 “EN­
GAGED” position and release pressure
from clutch/brake pedal. Pedal should
remain in “BRAKE” position. Make sure
parking brake will hold tractor secure.
Attachment Clutch
Lever “Engaged”
Position
“Disengaged”
'Position
Parking Brake
“Engaged"
Position
Choke
Control
Throttle
Control
“Brake”
Position
Clutch/Brak^ / " Motion
Pedal “Drive” “Disengaged” Control
Position Position Lever
STOPPING
MOWER BLADES-
• To stop mower blades, move attach­
ment clutch lever to “DISENGAGED”
position.
GROUND DRIVE-
• To stop ground drive, depress
clutchAjrake pedal into full “BRAKP
position.
• 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 to slow position.
14
NOTE: Failure to move throttle control to
slow position and allowing engine to idle
before stopping may cause engine to
“backfire”.
• Turn ignition key to “OFP position and
remove key. Always remove key when
leaving tractor to prevent unauthorized
use.
• Never use choke to stop engine.
IMPORTANT: Leaving the ignition switch
in any position other than “OFP will cause
the battery to be discharged, (dead).
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 possibility, always stop engine when
stopping tractor on grass areas.
A CAUTION: Always stop tractor com­
pletely, as described above, before leaving
the operator's position; to empty grass
catcher, etc.
THROTTLE CONTROL
Always operate engine at full throttle.
• Operating engine at less than full throt-
tie reduces the battery charging rate.
• Full throttle offers ttie best bagging and
mower performance.
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
Stowiy push knob in to disengage.
TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD
The direction and speed of movement is
controlled by the motion control lever.
• Start tractor with motion control lever in
neutral (N) position.
• Release parking brake and clutch/brake
. pedal.
• Slowly move motion control lever to
desired position.
NOTE: The effort to move the motion con­
trol lever vrill reduce after the first few
hours of use. This is normal.
TO ADJUST MOWER CUTTING HEIGHT
The cutting height is controlled by turning
the height adjustment knob in desired
direction. i