Craftsman 917.270822 - Manual (Page 14)

• The average lawn should be cut to ap­
proximately 2-1/2 inches during the
cool season and to over 3 inches dur­
ing hot months. For healthier and bet­
ter looking lawns, mow often and after
moderate growth.
• For best cutting performance, grass
over 6 inches in height shouid be
mowed twice. Make the first cut rela­
tively high; the second to desired
height.
TO ADJUST GAUGE WHEELS
Gauge wheels are properly adjusted
when they are slightly off the ground
when mower is at the desired cutting
height in operating position. Gauge
wheels then keep the deck in proper po­
sition to help prevent scalping in most ter­
rain conditions.
• Adjust gauge wheels with tractor on a
fiat level surface.
• Adjust mower to desired cutting height
(See ‘TO ADJUST MOWER CUTTING
HEIGHT” in the Operation section of
this manual).
• With mower in desired height of cut po­
sition, gauge wheels should be as­
sembled so they are slightly off the
ground. Install gauge wheel in appro­
priate hole with shoulder bolt, 3/8
washer, and 3/8-16 locknut and tighten
securely.
• Repeat for opposite side installing
gauge wheel in same adjustment hole.
3/8-16
Locknu
Gauge Wheel
Mounting
Bracket—
3/8 Washer
TO OPERATE ON HILLS
■CAUTION: Do not drive up or down
iHs with slopes greater than 15° and do
not drive across any slope. Use the slope
guide provided at the back of this manual.
• Choose the slowest speed before
starting up or down hills.
• Avoid stopping or changing speed on
hills.
• If slowing is necessary, move throttle
control lever to slower position.
• If stopping is absolutely necessary,
3ush clutch/brake pedal quickly to
Drake position and engage parking
Drake.
• 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 de­
pressed.
• To restart movement, slowly release
parking brake and clutch/brake pedal.
• Slowly move motion control lever to
slowest setting.
• Make all turns slowly.
Attachment Clutch
Lever “Engage^
Position '
“Disengaged”
Position
Attachment Lift
Lever High Position
Low
Gauge Wheel
TO OPERATE MOWER
Your tractor is equipped with an operator
presence sensing switch. Any attempt by
the operator to leave the seat with the en­
gine running and the attachment clutch
engaged will shut off the engine.
• Select desired height of cut.
• Lower mower with attachment lift con­
trol.
• Start mower blades by engaging attach­
ment clutch control.
• TO STOP MOWER BLADES - disen­
gage attachment clutch control.
i^CAUTION: Do not operate the mower
without either the entire grass catcher, on
mowers so equipped, or the discharge
guard in place.
Position
Discharge
Guard
TOTRANSPOFTT
When pushing or towing your tractor, be
sure to disengage transmission by plac­
ing freewheel control in freewheeling po­
sition. Freewheel control is located at the
rear drawbar of tractor.
• Raise attachment lift to highest position
with attachment lift control.
• Pull freewheel control out and down
into the slot and release so it is held in
the disengaged position.
• Do not push or tow tractor at more than
two (2) MPH.
• To reengage transmission, reverse
above procedure.
NOTE: To protect hood from damage
when transporting your tractor on a truck
or a trailer, be sure hood is closed and se­
cured to tractor. Use an appropriate
means of tying hood to tractor (rope, cord,
etc.).
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