Stopping The Engine; Driving The Tractor; Driving On Slopes - Craftsman 247.25000 Operator's Manual

5. Turnthe ignitionkeyclockwiseto the STARTposition.After the
enginestarts,releasethe key.It will returnto the ON position.
IMPORTANT: D oNOT holdthe key in the STARTpositionfor longer
thanten secondsat a time. Doingso maycausedamageto your
engine'selectricstarter.
6. After theengine starts,deactivatethe chokecontrol byplacingthe
throttlecontrol intothe FASTposition.
NOTE: Do NOTleavethe chokecontrolon whileoperatingthetractor.
Doingso will resultin a "rich" fuelmixtureand causethe engineto run
poorly.
STOPPING THE ENGINE
If you strikea foreignobject, stopthe engine,disconnectthespark
plug wire(s) and groundagainsttheengine.Thoroughlyinspectthe
machineforany damage.Repairthe damagebeforerestartingand
operating.
If the bladesare engaged,placethe PTO (Blade Engage)
leverin the disengaged(OFF) position.
2. Turnthe ignitionkeycounterclockwise to the STOPposition.
3. Removethekey from the ignitionswitchto preventunintended
starting.
DRIVING THE TRACTOR
Avoidsuddenstarts,excessivespeedand suddenstops.
Do notleavethe seatof thetractorwithoutfirst placingthe PTO
(Blade Engage)leverin the disengaged(OFF) position,depressing
the brakepedal and engagingthe parkingbrake.If leavingthetractor
unattended,alsoturn the ignitionkey off and removethe key.
Alwayslookdownand behind beforeand whilebackingup to avoida
back-overaccident.
1. Depressthe brakepedaland movethe speedcontrolleverout of
the parkingbrakeposition,then let the pedal release.
2. Movethe throttleleverintothe FAST(rabbit) position.
3. Placethe shiftleverin eitherthe FORWARD or REVERSE
position.
IMPORTANT: DoNOT usethe shift leverto changethe direction
of travelwhenthe tractorisin motion.Alwaysuse thebrakepedal to
bring thetractorto a completestop beforeshifting.
4. Releasethe parkingbrakebydepressingthe clutch-brake pedal
and positioningthe speedcontrol leverindesiredposition.
IMPORTANT= First-timeoperatorsshouldusespeedpositions1 or
2. Becomecompletely familiarwith the tractor'soperationand controls
beforeoperatingthe tractorin higherspeedpositions.
5. Releaseclutch-brakepedal slowlyto put unit intomotion.
6. The lawntractorisbroughtto a stop by depressingtheclutch-
brakepedal.
NOTE=Whenoperatingthe unit initially, therewill be little difference
betweenthe highesttwo speedsuntilafter the belts haveseated
themselvesintothe pulleysduring the break-inperiod.
Beforeleavingthe operator'spositionfor any reason,disengagethe
blades,placethe shift leverin neutral,engagethe parkingbrake,
shut engineoff and removethe key.
IMPORTANT: Whenstoppingthe tractorforany reasonwhileon a
grass surface,always:
1. Placethe shift leverinneutral,
2. Engagethe parkingbrake,
3. Shutengineoff and removethe key.Doingso will minimizethe
possibilityof havingyour lawn"browned"by hot exhaustfrom
yourtractor'srunningengine.
If unit stallswith speedcontrolin high speed,or if unitwill not operate
with speedcontrolleverin a low speedposition,proceedasfollows:
1. Placeshift leverin NEUTRAL.
2. Restartengine.
3. Placespeedcontrolleverin highestspeedposition.
4. Releaseclutch-brake pedal fully.
5. Depressclutch-brakepedal.
6. Placespeedcontrolleverin desiredposition.
7. Placeshift leverin either FORWARD or REVERSE, a nd follow
normaloperatingprocedures.
DRIVING ON SLOPES
Referto the SLOPEGAUGEinthe SafetyInstructionssectionof the
manualto helpdetermineslopeswhereyou may operatethis tractor
safely.
Donot mowon inclines with a slopeinexcessof 12degrees(a rise
of approximately 2 feetevery 10feet).The tractorcouldoverturnand
cause seriousinjury.
• Mowup and down slopes,NEVERacross.
• Exerciseextremecautionwhenchangingdirectionon slopes.
• Watchfor holes,ruts,bumps,rocks,or otherhiddenobjects.
Uneventerraincouldoverturnthe machine.Tallgrass can hide
obstacles.
• Avoidturns whendrivingon a slope.If a turnmustbe made,turn
downthe slope.Turningup a slopegreatly increases t he chance
of a roll over.
• Avoidstoppingwhen drivingup a slope.If itis necessaryto stop
whiledrivingup a slope,start up smoothlyand carefullyto reduce
the possibilityof flippingthe tractoroverbackward.
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