Craftsman 917.27103 - Manual (Page 14)

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 white operating your tractor or performing any adjustments or
repairs. We recommend a wide vision safety mask over the 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
0
Depress clutch/brake pedal into fu!l
"BRAKE” position and hold,
9 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
Throttle/Choke
Control
Clutch/Brake
Pedal “Drive”
Position
“Disengaged”
Position
Motion
Control
Lever
STOPPING
MOWER BUDES -
<■ Move attachment clutch lever to “DIS­
ENGAGED” position.
GROUND DRIVE -
“ Depress dutch/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 aflowing engine to idle
before stopping may cause engine to
“backfire".
• Turn ignition key to “OFF” position and
14
remove key. Always remove key when
leaving tractor to prevent unauthorized
Use.
« Never use choke to stop engine.
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
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.
a 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 wifi shorten the useful life
of your transaxle.
TO ADJUST MOWER CUTTING HEIGHT
The cutting height is controlled by turning
the height adjustment knob in desired
direction.
« Turn knob clockwise (6) to raise cutting
height
» Turn knob counterclockwise P) to
lower cutting height.
The cutting height range is approximately
1 -1/2" to 4". The heights are measured
from the ground to the blade tip with the
engine not running. These heights are ap­
proximate and may vary depending upon
soil conditions, height of grass and types
of grass being mowed.
The average lawn should be cut to