Craftsman 917.275900 - Manual (Page 13)

TO OPERATE ON HILLS
AWARNING:
Do not drive up or down
hills 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 start­
ing 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,
push clutch/brake pedal quickly to brake
position and engage parking brake.
* 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.
* 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
When pushing or towing your tractor, be
sure to disengage transmission by placing
freewheel control in freewheeling position.
Freewheel control is located at the rear
drawbar of tractor.
1. Raise attachment lift to highest posi­
tion with attachment lift control.
2. Puli 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 re-engage transmission, reverse
above procedure.
Transmission Engaged
Transmission Disengaged
NOTE: To protect hood from damage
when transporting your tractor on a truck
or a trailer, be sure hood is closed and
secured to tractor. Use an appropriate
means of tying hood to tractor (rope, cord,
etc.).
13
TOWING CARTS AND OTHER ATTACH­
MENTS
Tow only the attachments that are recom­
mended by and comply with specifications
of the manufacturer of your tractor. Use
common sense when towing. Too heavy
of a load, while on a slope, is dangerous.
Tires can lose traction with the ground and
cause you to lose control of your tractor.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL
The engine in your tractor has been
shipped, from the factory, already filled
with summer weight oil.
1. Check engine oil with tractor on level
ground.
2. Unthread and remove oil fill cap/
dipstick; wipe oil off. Reinsert the dip­
stick 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 the
oil viscosity chart in the Maintenance
section of this manual).
* To change engine oil, see the Mainte­
nance section in this manual.
ADD GASOLINE
* Fill fuel tank to bottom of tank filler neck.
Do not overfill. 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 life). Do not mix oil
with gasoline. Purchase fuel in quanti­
ties that can be used within 30 days to
assure fuel freshness.
ACAUTION: Wipe off any spilled oil or
fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline
near an open flame.
IMPORTANT: When operating in tempera­
tures below 32°F(0°C), use fresh, clean
winter grade gasoline to help insure good
cold weather starting.
CAUTION: Alcohol blended fuels (called
gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can
attract moisture which leads to separa­
tion and formation of acids during storage.
Acidic gas can damage the fuel system of
an engine while in storage.
To avoid engine problems, the fuel system
should be emptied before storage of 30
days or longer. Drain the gas tank, start
the engine and let it run until the fuel lines
and carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel
next season. See Storage Instructions for
additional information.