Craftsman 917.272240 - Manual (Page 17)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WARM UP
Before driving the unit in coid weather,
the transmission should be warmed up as
follows:
1. Be sure the tractor is on level ground.
2. Release the parking brake and iet the
brake slowly return to operating
position.
3. Allow one minute for transmission to
warm up. This can be done during the
engine warm up period.
• The attachments can be used during
the engine warm-up period after the
transmission has been warmed up and
may require the choke control be
pulled out slightly.
NOTE: If at a high altitude (above 3000
feet) or in cold temperatures (below 32 F)
the carburetor fuel mixture may need to
be adjusted for best engine performance.
See “TO ADJUST CARBURETOR' in the
Service and Adjustments section of this
manual.
PURGETRANSMISStON
ACAUTION ; Never engage or disengage
freewheel lever while the engine is
running.
To ensure proper operation arxl perfor­
mance, it is recommended that the
transmission be purged before operating
tractor for the first time. This procedure Virill
remove any trapped air inside the trans­
mission which may have developed during
shippim of TOur tractor.
IMPOFfrANT: Should your transmission
require removal for service or replacement,
it ^uld be purged after reinstallation
before operating the tractor.
1. Place tractor safely on level surface
with engine off and parking brake set.
2. Disengage transmission by placing
freewheel control in freewheeling
position (See “TO TRANSPORT" in
this section of manual).
3. Sitting in the tractor seat, start engine.
After the engine is running, move
throttle control to slow position.
Disengage parkirvg brake.
4. Depress forward drive pedal to full
forward position and hold for five (5)
seconds and release pedal. Depress
reverse drive pedal to full reverse
position and hold for five (5) seconds
and release pedal. Repeat this
procedure three (3) times.
NOTE: During this procedure there \ m II be
no movement of drive wheels. The air is
being removed from hydraulic drive
system.
5. Shut- off engine and set parking
brake.
6. Engage transmission by placing
freewheel control in driving position
(See ‘TO TRANSPORT" in this section
of manual).
7. Sitting in the tractor seat, start engine.
After the engine is running, move
throttle control to half (1/2) speed.
Disengage parking brake.
8. Drive tractor forward for approximately
five feet then backwards for five feet.
Repeat this driving procedure three
times.
Your tractor is now purged and now ready
for normal opreration.
MOWING TIPS
• Mower should be properly leveled for
best mowing performance. See “TO
LEVEL MOWER HOUSING" in the
Service and Adjustments section of this
manual.
• The left hand side of mower should be
used for trimming.
• Drive so that dippings are discharged
onto the area that has been cut. Have
the cut area to the right of the tractor.
This will result in a more even distribu­
tion of dippings and more uniform
cutting.
• When mowing large areas, start by
turning to the right so that clippings will
discharge away from shrubs, fences,
driveways, etc. After one or two
rounds, mow in the opposite direction
making left hand turns until finished.
• If grass is extremely tall, it should be
mowed twice to reduce load and
possible fire hazard from dried dip­
pings. Make first cut relatively high; the
second to the desired height,
• Do not mow grass when it is wet. Wet
grass will plug mower and leave
undesirable clumps. Allow grass to dry
before mowing.
• Always operate engine at full throttle
when mowing to assure better mowing
performance and proper discharge of
material. Regulate ground speed by
selecting a low enough gear to give the
mower cutting performance as well as
the quality of cut desired.
• When operating attachments, seled a
ground speed that will suit the temain
and give best performance of the
attachment being used.