Craftsman 247.28883 User manual

Operator's Manual
I:RRFTSMRN°
LAWN TRACTOR
7 Speed, Shift-on-the-Go
42" Deck
Model No. 247.28883
• Espanol, P. 58
This product has a low emission engine which operates differently
from previously built engines. Before you start the engine, read and
understand this Operator's Manual.
Before using this equipment,
read this manual and follow
all safety rules and operating
instructions.
For answers to your questions about
this product, Call:
1-800-659-5917
Craftsman Tractor HelpLine
7 am -7 pm CT, Mon. -Sun.
Sears Brands Management Corporation, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 U.S.A.
Visit our website: www.craftsman.com FormNo.769-06501
(November1,2010)

Warranty Statement .......................................................... 2
Safety Instructions ............................................................ 3
Slope Gauge ..................................................................... 8
Safety Labels ............. ....................................................... 9
Assembly ......................................................................... 10
Operation ........................................................................ 12
Service and Maintenance .............................................. 18
Off-Season Storage ........................................................ 27
Troubleshooting .............................................................. 28
Labels ............................................................................. 29
Parts List ......................................................................... 30
Espaffol............................................................................ 57
Service Numbers ............................................. Back Cover
CRAFTSMAN TWO YEAR FULL WARRANTY
FORTWO YEARSfromthedateofpurchase,ifanynon-expendablepartofthisridingequipmentfails duetoadefectinmaterial orworkman-
ship,visitwww;craftsman.comorcall1-800-659-5917 toarrangeforfreein-homerepair.
Theframeand front axlewillbe repairedfree of chargeforfive yearsfromthe dateof purchaseif defectiveinmatedal or workmanship.
Inattcases, if repairprovesimpossible,the ridingequipmentwillbereplacedfreeof chargewiththe sameor an equivalentmodel.
The battery willbereplacedfreeof chargefor 90 daysfrom lhedate ofpurchaseif defective in materialor workmanship(our testingprovesthat it
willnot hold a charge).
This warrantyisvoid ifthis productiseverusedwhileproviding commercialservicesor if rentedtoanother person.
This warranty coversONLYdefects in material and workmanship.Warrantycoverage does NOTinclude:
• Expendableitemsthat can wearout from normal use withinthe warrantyperiod,including butnot limitedto blades,spark plugs,air
cleaners,belts, andoil filters.
• Standardmaintenanceservicing,oil changes,or tune-ups.
• Tirereplacementor repaircausedbypuncturesfromoutside objects,such as nails,thorns; stumps,or glass.
• Tire orwheel replacementor repairresultingfrom normalwear,accident,or improperoperationor maintenance.
• Repairsnecessarybecause ofoperatorabuse, includingbut not limitedto damage causedby towingobjects beyondthe capabilityof
the ridingequipment,impacting objectsthat bendthe frame or crankshaft,or over-speedingthe engine.
•Repairsnecessarybecause ofoperatornegligence,includingbut notlimitedto, electricaland mechanicaldamagecausedbyimproper
Storage,failureto use thepropergradeand amountof engineoil, failureto keepthe deckclear offlammabledebris,or failureto
maintainthe ridingequipmentaccordingto the instructionscontainedin theoperator's manual.
•Engine(fuelsystem)cleaningor repairs caused byfuel determinedto becontaminatedor oxidized (stale).tngeneral,fuel shouldbe
usedwithin30 daysof its purchasedate.
•Normaldeteriorationand wearof the exteriorfinishes, or productlabelreplacement.
Thiswarrantygivesyouspecificlegalrights,andyoumayalsohaveotherrightswhichvaryfromstatetostate.
SearsBrandsManagementCorporation,HoffmanEstates,]L60179
EngineOil: SAE30
Fuel: UnleadedGasoline
Spark Plug: Champion®RC12YC
Engine: Briggs&StrattonI/C®
ModelNumber:
SerialNumber:
Dateof Purchase:
Recordthe model number,serial number,
and dateofpurchaseabove.
© KCDFRLLC 2

Thissymbolpointsoutimportantsafetyinstructionswhich,ifnot
followed,couldendangerthepersonalsafetyand/orpropertyof
yourselfandothers.Readandfollowallinstructionsinthismanual
beforeattemptingtooperatethismachine.Failuretocomplywith
theseinstructionsmayresultinpersonalinjury.Whenyouseethis
symbol,HEEDITSWARNING!
Thismachinewasbuilttobeoperatedaccordingtothesafeopera-
tionpracticesinthismanual.Aswithanytypeofpowerequipment,
carelessnessorerroronthepartoftheoperatorcanresultinserious
injury.Thismachineiscapableofamputatingfingers,hands,toes
andfeetandthrowingdebris.Failuretoobservethefollowingsafety
instructionscouldresultinseriousinjuryordeath.
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65
EngineExhaust,someofitsconstituenls,andcertainvehicle
componentscontainoremitchemicalsknowntoStateofCalifornia
tocausecancerandbirthdefectsorotherreproductiveharm.
Batteryposts,terminals,andrelatedaccessoriescontain]eadand
leadcompounds,chemicalsknowntotheStaleofCaliforniato
causecancerandreproductiveharm.Washhandsafterhandling.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIII II I
GENERAL OPERATION
,Read,understand,andfollowallinstructionsonthemachineand
inthemanual(s)beforeattemptingtoassembleandoperate.
Keepthismanualinasafeplaceforfutureandregularreference
andfororderingreplacementparts.
• Befamiliarwithall controlsandtheirproperoperation.Knowhow
tostopthemachineanddisengagethemquickly.
• Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsoldtooperatethismachine.
Children14yearsoldandovershouldreadandunderstandthe
operationinstructionsandsafetyrulesinthismanualandshould
betrainedandsupervisedbya parent.
• Neverallowadultstooperatethismachinewithoutproper
instruction.
•Tohelpavoidbladecontactora thrownobjectinjury,keep
bystanders,helpers,childrenandpetsatleast75feetfromthe
machinewhileitisinoperation.Stopmachineif anyoneenters
thearea.
Thoroughlyinspecttheareawheretheequipmentistobeused.
Removeallstones,sticks,wire,bones,toys,andotherforeign
objectswhichcouldbepickedupandthrownbytheblade(s).
Thrownobjectscancauseseriouspersonalinjury.
•Planyourmowingpatterntoavoiddischargeofmaterialtoward
roads,sidewalks,bystandersandthelike.Also,avoiddischarg-
ingmaterialagainstawallorobstructionwhichmaycause
dischargedmaterialtoricochetbacktowardtheoperator.
YourResponsibility--Restricttheuseofthispowermachineto
personswhoread,understandandfollowthewarningsandinstruc-
tionsinthismanualandonthemachine,
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
LI
•Alwayswearsafety glassesor safety gogglesduring operation
and while performingan adjustmentor repairto protect youreyes.
Thrownobjectswhich ricochetcan causeseriousinjury tothe
eyes.
, Wearsturdy,rough-soledworkshoes and close-fittingslacksand
shirts.Loosefitting clothesand jewelry can becaught in movable
parts.Never operatethismachineinbarefeet or sandals.
•Beawareofthe mowerand attachmentdischargedirectionand
donot pointit atanyone.Do not operatelhe mowerwithoutthe
dischargecoveror entire grass catcherin its proper place.
•Donot put handsor feet near rotatingpartsor underthe cutting
deck. Contactwith the blade(s) canamputatehandsandfeet.
• A missingor damageddischargecovercan causebladecontact
or thrownobject injuries.
• Stop the blade(s) whencrossing graveldrives,walks, or roads
and while not cuttinggrass.
•Watchfortraffic whenoperating nearor crossingroadways.This
machine isnot intendedfor use onany publicroadway.
•Do not operatethe machinewhile underthe influenceof alcohol
or drugs.
•Mowonly in daylightor goodartificiallight.
•Nevercarry passengers.
• Disengageblade(s) beforeshifting intoreverse.Backup slowly.
Always lookdown and behind beforeandwhile backingtoavoida
back-overaccident.
3

Slowdownbeforeturning.Operatethemachinesmoothly.Avoid
erraticoperationandexcessivespeed.
* Disengageblade(s),setparkingbrake,stopengineandwaituntil
theblade(s)cometoacompletestopbeforeremovinggrass
catcher,emptyinggrass,uncloggingchute,removinganygrassor
debris,or makinganyadjustments.
• Neverleavearunningmachineunattended.Alwaysturnoff
blade(s),setparkingbrake,stopengineandremovekeybefore
dismounting.
• Useextracarewhenloadingorunloadingthemachineintoa
trailerortruck.Thismachineshouldnotbedrivenupordown
ramp(s),becausethemachinecouldlip over,causingserious
personalinjury.Themachinemustbepushedmanuallyon
ramp(s)toloadorunloadproperly.
° Mufflerandenginebecomehotandcancausea burn.Donot
touch.
• Checkoverheadclearancescarefullybeforedrivingunderlow
hangingtreebranches,wires,dooropeningsetc.,wherethe
operatormaybestruckorpulledfromthemachine,whichcould
resultinseriousinjury.
, Disengageallattachmentclutchesanddepressthebrakepedal
completelybeforeattemptingtostartengine.
• Yourmachineisdesignedtocutnormalresidentialgrassofa
heightnomorethan10".Donotattempttomowthroughunusually
tall,drygrass(e.g.,pasture)orpilesofdryleaves.Drygrassor
leavesmaycontacttheengineexhaustand/orbuilduponthe
mowerdeckpresentinga potentialfirehazard.
• Useonlyaccessoriesandattachmentsapprovedforthismachine
bythemachinemanufacturer.Read,understandandfollowall
instructionsprovidedwiththeapprovedaccessoryorattachment.
Fora listofapprovedaccessoriesandattachments,call1-800-
659-5917.
• Dataindicatesthatoperators,age60yearsandabove,are
involvedinalargepercentageofridingmower-relatedinjuries.
TheseoperatorsshouJdevaluatetheirabilitytooperatetheriding
mowersafelyenoughtoprotectthemselvesandothersfrom
seriousinjury.
° Ifsituationsoccurwhicharenotcoveredinthismanual,usecare
andgoodjudgment.Contactt-800-659-5917forinformationand
assistance.
SLOPE OPERATION
Slopesareamajorfactorrelatedtolossofcontrolandtip-over
accidentswhichcanresultinsevereinjuryordeath.Allslopesrequire
extracaution,ifyoucannotbackuptheslopeorifyoufeeluneasyon
it,do notmowit.
Foryoursafety,usetheSlopeGuideincludedaspartofthismanual
tomeasureslopesbeforeoperatingthismachineonaslopedorhilly
area.Iftheslopeisgreaterthant5 degreesasshownontheSlope
Guide,donotoperatethismachineonthatareaorseriousinjurycould
result.
Do:
oMowup and downslopes, notacross.Exerciseextremecaution
whenchangingdirectionon slopes.
•Watchfor holes,ruts,bumps, rocks,or other hiddenobjects.
Uneventerraincouldoverturnthe machine.Tallgrasscanhide
obstacles.
* Useslowspeed. Choosealowenough speedsettingsothat
you willnothave tostop or shiftwhileon the slope. Tiresmay
lose tractionon slopeseventhoughthe brakesarefunctioning
properly.Alwayskeep machinein gear when goingdown slopes
to takeadvantageof enginebraking action.
• Followthe manufacturer'srecommendationsforwheelweights
or counterweightsto improvestability.For recommendations,call
1-800-659-5917.
• Use extracare withgrasscatchersor other attachments.These
canchange the stabilityofthe machine.
• Keepall movementonthe slopesslow and gradual. Donot make
suddenchanges in speedor direction.Rapidengagementor
brakingcould cause thefront ofthe machine tolift and rapidlyflip
over backwardswhich couldcauseseriousinjury.
* Avoid startingor stopping ona slope. Iftires losetraction,disen-
gage the blade(s) and proceedslowly straightdown the slope.
Do Not:
• Do not turn onslopes unlessnecessary;then,turn slowlyand
graduallydownhill,ifpossibEe,
•Do not mownear drop-offs,ditches or embankments.Themower
could suddenlyturn overffawheel isover the edgeof a cliff,
ditch, or if an edgecavesin.
•Do not try tostabilizethe machineby puttingyourfoot on the
ground.
•Do not usea grass catcheron steep slopes.
• Do not mowon wet grass.Reducedtraction couldcause sliding.
°Do not attemptto coast downhill.Over-speedingmaycausethe
operatorto lose controlofthemachine resultingin seriousinjury
or death.
•Do nottow heavypull behind attachments(e.g. leadeddumpcart,
lawnroller,etc.)onslopes greaterthan5 degrees.When going
downhill, the extraweighttendsto pushthe tractor and may
causeyouto loosecontrol(e.g.tractor mayspeed up,brakingand
steeringabilityare reduced,attachmentmayjack-knifeand cause
tractorto overturn).
4

CHILDREN
Tragicaccidentscanoccurifthe operator is notalert tothe presence
of children. Childrenareoftenattractedto the machine andthe mowing
activity.They do not understandthe dangers. Neverassumethat
children will remainwhereyoulast saw them,
•Keepchildrenout ofthe mowingareaand in watchfulcareof a
responsibleadult other thanthe operator.
•Be alertandturn machineoff if achild entersthe area,
• Beforeand while backing,Fookbehind and downfor small
chUdren,
• Never carrychildren, evenwith the blade(s) shut off.They may
fail off and be seriouslyinjured or interferewith safe machine
operation.
•Use extremecarewhenapproaching blindcorners,doorways,
shrubs,trees or otherobjects thatmay blockyourvisionof a child
whomay runintothe machine.
•Toavoid back-overaccidents,alwaysdisengagethe cutting
SERVICE
Safe Handlingof Gasoline
Toavoid personalinjury or property damageuse extremecare in
handlinggasoline.Gasolineis extremelyflammable andthe vapors are
explosive.Serious personaliniurycan occurwhengasolineis spilled
onyourself or yourclotheswhich canignite. Washyourskin and
changeclothesimmediately.
•Useonly anapprovedgasolinecontainer.
•Neverfill containersinsidea vehicleor onatruck ortrailer bed
witha plasticliner.Alwaysplacecontainerson the groundaway
from yourvehicle beforefilling.
•When practical,removegas-poweredequipmentfromthe truck
or trailer and refuel iton the ground.If thisisnot possible,then
refuelsuch equipment ona trailer with a portablecontainer,rather
thanfrom a gasolinedispensernozzle.
,Keepthe nozzle in contactwiththe rim ofthe fueltank or
containeropeningatall times untilfueiingis complete.Do notuse
blade(s) beforeshifting into Reverse,Ifequipped,the "Reverse anozzle lock-opendevice.
............................. -Caoti-on-Mode_-(bla-d-e+s-_p-e-rate-whiJ_m+a_hin-e-tPde-s_n-t_v_ts-e)-....... +-- -E:<tih-g_|_h-all-cig_t_ttes_-cig_T-pip_-8._-d_th_u_e_ f
should notbe used whenchildrenor others are around.
•Keepchildren awayfrom hot or runningengines.They cansuffer
burnsfrom ahot muffler.
•Removekeywhen machineisunattendedto preventunauthorized
operation.
Neverallow childrenunder 14yearsof ageto operatethis machine.
Children _4and overshould readand understandthe instructionsand
safe operation practicesin this manual andon themachine and should
be trainedand supervisedbyan adult.
TOWING
• Towonlywitha machinethathasa hitchdesignedfortowing. Do
not attachtowed equipmentexceptatthe hitch point.
•Followthe manufacturersrecommendationfor weightlimits for
towedequipmentand towingon stopes.Forrecommendations,
call 1-800-659-5917.
•Neverallow childrenor others in or ontowed equipment.
•Onslopes,the weightofthetowed equipment maycause loss of
tractionand loss of control
• Alwaysuse extracautionwhentowing with amachine capableof
makingtightturns (e.g."zero-turn"ride-onmower). Makewide
turns to avoidjack-knifing.
• Travelslowlyand allow extradistanceto stop.
• Do notcoast downhill.
ignition.
•Neverfuel machine indoors.
, Neverremovegas capor add fueI whilethe engineis hotor run-
ning.Allow engine tocoolat least two minutesbeforerefueling.
o Neveroverfillfuel tank. Filltank tono morethan _/2inchbelow
bottomof filler neckto allowspace for fuel expansion.
°Replacegasolinecap andtightensecurely.
•Ifgasolineisspilled,wipe it off the engineand equipment.Move
machine toanother area.Wait 5 minutes beforestarting the
engine.
•Toreducefire hazards,keepmachinefree ofgrass, leaves,or
other debrisbuild-up.Clean upoil or fuel spillageand removeany
fuel soakeddebris.
° Neverstorethe machine orfuel containerinsidewherethere is an
openflame, sparkor pilotlightas ona waterheater,space heater,
furnace,clothes dryer or othergas appliances.
• Allowa machineto coolat leastfiveminutes beforestoring.

GeneralService
• Neverrunanengineindoorsorina poorlyventilatedarea.Engine
exhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,anodorless,anddeadlygas.
,Beforecleaning,repairing,orinspecting,makecertainthe
blade(s)andallmovingpartshavestopped.Disconnectthespark
plugwireandgroundagainsttheenginetopreventunintended
starting.
• Periodicallychecktomakesurethebladescometocomplete
stopwithinapproximately(5)fivesecondsafteroperatingthe
bladedisengagementcontrol.Ifthebladesdonotstopwithinthe
thistimeframe,yourmachineshouldbeservicedprofessionally
bya Searsorotherqualifiedservicedealer
, Checkbrakeoperationfrequentlyasitissubjectedtowearduring
normaloperation.Adjustandserviceasrequired.
• Checktheblade(s)andenginemountingboltsatfrequent
intervalsforpropertightness.Also,visuallyinspectblade(s)
fordamage(e.g.,excessivewear,bent,cracked).Replacethe
blade(s)withtheoriginalequipmentmanufacturer's(O.E.M.)
blade(s)only,listedinthismanual.Useofpartswhichdonot
meettheoriginalequipmentspecificationsmayleadtoimproper
performanceandcompromisesafety]
• Mowerbladesaresharp.Wrapthebladeorweargloves,anduse
extracautionwhenservicingthem.
•Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstighttobesuretheequipmentis
insafeworkingcondition.
• Nevertamperwiththesafetyinterlocksystemorothersafety
devices.Checktheirproperoperationregularly.
•Afterstrikingaforeignobject,stoptheengine,disconnectthe
sparkplugwire(s)andgroundagainsttheengine.Thoroughly
inspectthemachineforanydamageRepairthedamagebefore
startingandoperating.
• Neverattempttomakeadjustmentsorrepairstothemachine
whiletheengineisrunning.
• Grasscatchercomponentsandthedischargecoveraresubject
towearanddamagewhichcouldexposemovingpartsor allow
objectstobethrown.Forsafetyprotection,frequentlycheck
componentsandreplaceimmediatelywithoriginalequipment
manufacturer's(O.E.M.)partsonly,listedinthismanua].Useof
partswhichdonotmeettheoriginalequipmentspecificationsmay
leadtoimproperperformanceandcompromisesafety!
• Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingsorover-speedthe
engine.Thegovernorcontrolsthemaximumsafeoperatingspeed
oftheengine.
° Maintainorreplacesafetyandinstructionlabels,asnecessary.
°Observeproperdisposallawsandregulationsforgas,oil,etc.to
protecttheenvironment.
o AccordingtotheConsumerProductsSafetyCommission(CPSC)
andtheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA),thisproduct
hasanAverageUsefulLifeofseven(7)years,or270hours
ofoperation.AttheendoftheAverageUsefulLife,buya new
machineorhavethemachineinspectedannuallybya Searsor
otherqualifiedservicedealertoensurethatallmechanicaland
safetysystemsareworkingproperlyandnotwornexcessively,
Failuretodosocanresultinaccidents,injuriesordeath.
DO NOT MODIFY ENGINE
Toavoidseriousinjuryordeath,donotmodifyengineinanyway.
Tamperingwiththegovernorsettingcanleadtoa runawayengineand
causeitto operateatunsafespeeds.Nevertamperwithfactorysetting
ofenginegovernor.
NOTICE REGARDING EMISSIONS
EngineswhicharecertifiedtocomplywithCaliforniaandfederal
EPAemissionregulationsforSORE(SmallOffRoadEquipment)are
certifiedtooperateonregularunleadedgasoline,andmayinclude
thefollowingemissioncontrolsystems:EngineModification(EM)and
ThreeWayCatalyst(TWC)ifsoequipped.
SPARK ARRESTOR
.....Ir;
This machineisequippedwith an internalcombustionengineand
shouldnot beused on or near any unimprovedforest-covered,
brushcoveredor grass-coveredland unlessthe engine'sexhaust
systemisequippedwith a sparkarrestormeetingapplicablelocal or
statelaws(if any).
If a spark arrestoris used, it should be maintainedin effectiveworking
orderbythe operator.Inthe Stateof Californiathe aboveis required
bylaw (Section4442 ofthe CaliforniaPublic ResourcesCode).Other
statesmay havesimilar laws. Federaltawsapply onfederal lands.
A sparkarrestorforthe muffleris availablethroughyournearestSears
PartsandRepairServiceCenter.
6

SAFETY SYMBOLS
Thispagedepictsanddescribessafetysymbolsthatmayappearonthisproduct.Read,understand,andfollowatlinstructionsonthemachine
beforeattemptingtoassembleandoperate.
O
READTHE OPERATOR'SMANUAL(S)
Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the manual(s) before attempting to assemble and
operate
DANGER-- ROTATINGBLADES
Never carry passengers. Never carry children, even with the blades off,
Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or under the cutting deck. Contact with the blade(s)
can amputate hands and feet.
,,, ,,,
WARNING--THROWN OBJECTS
This machine may pick up and throw and objects which can cause serious personal injury.
WARNING--THROWN OBJECTS
This machine may pick up and throw and objects which can cause serious personal injury.
_, DANGER-- ROTATINGBLADES
Always look down and behind before and while backing to avoid a back-over accident.
WARNING-- ROTATING BLADES
BYSTANDERS
Keep bystanders, helpers, children and pets at least 7.5feet from the machine while it is in
operation.
WARNING-- SLOPEOPERATION
Do not operate this machine on a slope greater than 15 degrees.
WARNING-- HOTSURFACE
Engine parts, especia]Iythe muffler, become extremely hot during operation. Allow engine and
muffler to cool before touching.
&,
DANGER-- ROTATINGBLADES
To reduce the risk of injury, keep hands and feet away. Do not operate unless discharge cover or grass
catcher isin its proper place. If damaged, replace immediately.
7

oo
Sightandholdthislevalwitha _rtica] tree...
oracomerofabuilding...
50
orafencepost
o
m
m
Usethispageas a guidetodetermineslopeswhereyoumaynotoperatesafely.
mowercouldoverturn and causeserious injury.Operateriding mowersupand down slopes, neveracross the face ofslopes.

ROTATING BLADES CAUSE i
SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH I
DONOTMOWWHENCH]InRENOROTHERSAREI
Mou_ I •
NEVEHCARRYCHDRENEVEHWiTHBLeaE(S)OFF,I
LOOKDOWNNil) BEHINDBEFOREANDWHILE |
_c_,G. I
MOWINGfli REVERSEIS NOTRECOMMENDED.J WARNING
This symbol points outimportantsafety instructions
which, if not followed, could endanger the personal
safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and
follow all instructionsin this manual before attempting
to operate this machine. Failureto comply with these
instructions may result in personal injury. When you see
this symbol HEED ITS WARNING!
Your Responsibility
Restrictthe use of thispower machine to persons who
read, understand, and follow the warnings and instruc-
tions inthis manual and on the machine.

IMPORTANT:Yourtractorisshippedwithmotoroilintheengine.
However,youMUSTchecktheoillevelbeforeoperating.Refertothe
Service& Maintenancesectionforinstructionsoncheckingtheoil
level.
Attaching the Battery Cables
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65
Batteryposts,terminals,andrelatedaccessoriescontainleadand
leadcompounds,chemicalsknowntotheStateofCaliforniato
causecancerandreproductiveharm.Washhandsafterhandling.
Shipping Brace Removal
Makesuretheridingmower'sengineisoff,removetheignitionkey,
andsettheparkingbrakebeforeremovingtheshippingbrace.Refer
totheOperationsectionforinstructionsonhowtosettheparking
brake.
•Locatetheshippingbrace,ifpresent,andaccompanyingwarning
tagfoundontherightsideofthemower,betweenthedischarge
chutedeflectorandthecuttingdeck.SeeFig.2.
Forshippingreasons,bothbatterycablesonyourequipmentmay
havebeenleftdisconnectedfromtheterminalsatthefactory.To
connectthebatterycables,proceedasfollows:
NOTE:ThepositivebatteryterminalismarkedPos.(+).Thenegative
batteryterminalismarkedNeg.(-).
1. Removetheplasticcover,ifpresent,fromthepositivebattery
terminalandattachtheredcabletothepositivebatteryterminal
(+)withtheboltandhexnut.SeeFigure1.
2. Removetheplasticcover,ifpresent,fromthenegativebattery
terminalandattachtheblackcabletothenegativebattery
terminal(-) withtheboltandhexnut.SeeFigure1.
f
3. Figure1
Positiontheredrubberbootoverthepositivebatteryterminaltohelp
protectitfrom corrosion.
NOTE:Ifthe battery is put intoserviceafter the dateshownon top of
battery,chargethe batteryas instructedin the Service & Maintenance
sectionof thismanual priorto operatingthetractor.
_,,, J
Figure2
•Placethedeckliftleverinthehighestcuttingposition.Referto
SettingtheCuttingHeightintheOperationsectionofthismanual.
• Whilepushingthedischargechutedeflectortowardsthemachinewith
yourlefthand,removetheshippingbracew_ yourrighthandbygrasp-
ingitbetweenyourthumbandindexfingerandrotatingitclockwise.
Theshippingbrace,used for packagingpurposesonly,mustbe
removedanddiscardedbeforeoperating yourridingmower.
Attaching The Steering Wheel
Ifthe steering wheelforyour tractordidnotcomeattached,the
hardwarefor attachingithas beenpackedwithin the steeringwheel,
beneaththe steeringwheelcap. Carefullypry off the steeringwheel
cap and removethe hardware.
1. Withthe wheels ofthe tractorpointing straightforward,placethe
steeringwheel overthe steeringshaft.
2. Ptacethe washer(with the cuppedside down)overthe steering
wheelandsecurewith the hex bolt. See Fig,3-3.
10

Figure3
3. Placethe steering wheelcap overthe centerof the steeringwheeI
and push downwarduntilit "clicks"into place.
Attaching The Seat
Ifthe seatfor your tractorwas notattached atthefactory, referto the
following steps.
NOTE: Forshippingreasons,sealsareeither fastenedtothe tractor
seat's pivotbracketwith a plastictie,or mounted backwardto the pivot
bracket,Ineither case, freethe seatfrom itsshipping positionand
removethe adjustmentknob fromthe bottomof seat beforeproceed-
ingwiththe instructionsbelow.
1. Position the shoulder screws(found on the base of the seat)
inside the slotopenings inthe seat pivot bracket.
Fig.4.
2. Slide the seat slightly rearward in the seat pivot bracket,lining
up the center rear slot inthe pivotbracket withthe remaininghole
in the sears base.
\
1
Figure4
3. Selectdesired positionfortheseat, andsecurewiththeadjustment
knob removedeadier.
4, Toadjustthe positionofthe seat,loosenthe adjustmentknobonthe
bottomofthe seat. Slidethe seatforwardor backwardas desired.
Fletightenthe adjustmentknob.
Tire Pressure
pressureshouldbe maintainedatall times.Neverexceedthe
maximuminflationpressure shownonthe sidewallofthe tire.
The recommendedoperatingtire pressureis:
Approximately10psi for the reartires
Approximately14psi for the fronttires
IMPORTANT: Referto thetire sidewall forexacttire manufacturer's
recommendedor maximumpsi. Donot overinflate.Uneventire pres-
surecould cause the cuttingdeck tomowunevenly.
11

fB
H
G
F
A
E
D
Figure5
A Speed Control Lever/Parking BrakeLever
B Throttle/choke controllever
C IgnitionSwitch
D Deck Lift Lever
E PTOLever(Blade Engage)
F ,,,Cup,,,Holder
G Shift Lever
H Clutch-Brake Pedal
NOTE-AnyreferenceinthismanualtotheRIGHTor LEFTsideofthetractorisobservedfromoperator'sseat
positionfacingforwardtowardsthefrontoftractor.
Meets ANS! Safety Standards
CraftsmanTractorsconformtothe safetystandard ofthe AmericanNationalStandardsInstitute (ANSI).
12

SPEEDCONTROLLEVER
The speedcontrol lever,locatedonlhe leftside ofthe
tractor's dash console,allows youtoregulatethe ground
speed ofthe lawntractor.Touse, depressthe clutch-
brake pedaland movethe leverout of the parkingbrake
notchand forward to increasethe tractor's groundspeed.
Whena desired speedhas beenreached,releasethe
leverintoan appropriatenotchto maintainthat speed.
To slow the tractor's groundspeed,depressthe clutch-
brakepedal and movethe speed controllever rearward
and release it intoa notch.
PARKING BRAKE
Tosettheparkingbrake,fullydepresstheclutch-brake
pedal.Movethespeedcontrolleverallthewaydownand
intotheparkingbrakeposition.Releasetheclutch-brake
pedaltoallowtheparkingbraketoengage.
I
i
((!b)
P/iRK
Toreleasethe parkingbrake,depress theclutch-brakepedaland
movethe speed controllever out ofthe notchestothe desiredposition.
Release the speedcontrol leverand theclutch-brakepedal.
NOTE: The parkingbrakemust beset if the operatorleavesthe seat
withthe engine runningor theenginewill automaticallyshut off.
THROTTLE/CHOKE CONTROL LEVER
Thethrottle/choke controllever islocatedonthe rightsideof the trac-
tor's dashpanel.This levercontrols thespeed ofthe engineand when
pushed all the wayforward,the choke controlalso.When setin a given
position,the throttlewill maintain a uniformengine speed.
IMPORTANT: Whenoperatingthetractorwiththecuttingdeck
engaged,thethrottle/choke control levermust alwaysbe in the FAST
(rabbit)position.
IGNITION SWITCH
The key switch module isused to
start andstop the engine. Insert
key intothe key switch module
and turnclockwise to the START
position.Releasethe keyintothe
normalmowingpositiononceen-
gine has started.The headlights
will beactivatedautomatically.
Tostopthe engine,turnthe
ignitionkey counterclockwiseto
the STOPposition.
IMPORTANT:Priortooperatingthetractor,referto boththe "Safety
InterlockSystem"and "StartingThe Engine"laterin this section of this
manualfor detailed instructionsregardingthe IgnitionSwitch Module.
,_ !_liVlv/_,!it Iill [l,
Neverleavearunningmachineunattended,AlwaysdisengagePTO
(BladeEngageLever),moveshift leverintoneutralposition,set park-
ng brake,stopeng neandremovekeyto preventunintendedstarting.
SHIFT LEVER
Theshift leveris locatedontheleft
sideofthe fenderand has three
positions,FORWARD,NEUTRAL
andREVERSE,The clutch-brake
pedalmustbedepressedand the
tractor mustnot be in motionwhen
the movingshift lever,
IMPORTANT: Neverforce the
shift lever.Doingso mayresultin
seriousdamageto the tractor's
transmission.
DECK LIFT LEVER
Foundonyourtractor'srightfender,thedeckliftleverisused
tochangetheheightofthecuttingdeck.Touse,movethe
levertotheleft,thenplaceinthenotchbestsuitedforyour
application.
PTO (BLADE ENGAGE) LEVER
Foundonthetractor'srightfender,thePTO(bladeengage)
leverisusedtoengagepowertothecuttingdeckor other
(separatelyavailable)attachments.Tooperate,movethe
leverallthewayforward.Movingtheleveralltheway
rearwardintothePTOOFFpositiondisengagespowertothe
cuttingdeck/attachment.
NOTE:ThePTO(bladeengage)levermustbeinthe
disengaged(Pro OFF)positionwhenstartingtheengine.
CUP HOLDER
Thetractor's cup holderis locatedon thefendertothe leftof
the seat.
SEAT ADJUSTMENT KNOB
The seatadjustmentknobis locatedonthe bottom sideofthe seat.
Use thisknob toadjust the seat forwardor rearwardto a comfortable
operatingpositionby looseningthe knob,posilioningthe seatto the
desired preference,then retighteningthe knob.
CLUTCH-BRAKE PEDAL
Theclutch-brakepedalislocated ontheleft sideof thelawntractor,
alongthe runningboard.Depressthe clutch-brakepedal part way
downwhen slowingthetractor by changingspeeds(Referto Speed
ControlLever).Depressthe pedalallthe waydown toengagethe disc
brakeand bringthe tractorto a completestop.
NOTE: The pedal mustbedepressed tostart the engine. Referto
Safely InterlockSwitcheslater in thissection of lhis manual.
13

Gas and Oil Fill-up
Oil
IMPORTANT:Yourtractorisshippedwithmotoroilintheengine.
However,youMUSTchecktheoillevelbeforeoperating.Becareful
nottooverfil!.
Forinstructionsonhowtochecktheengineoil,refertoCheckingThe
EngineOilintheServiceandMaintenancesectionofthismanual.
Gasoline
Thegasolinetankislocatedunderthehood.Donotoverfill.
NOTE:Purchasegasolineinsmallquantities.Donotusegasolineleft
overfromthepreviousseason,tominimizegumdepositsinthefuel
system.
,Thisengineiscertifiedtooperateonunleadedgasoline.Forbest
results,fillthefueltankwithonlyclean,fresh,unleadedgasoline
witha pumpstickeroctaneratingof87orhigher.
•Gasohol(upto10%ethylalcohol,90%unleadedgasofineby
volume)isanapprovedfuel.Othergasofine/alcoholblends,such
asE85,arenotapproved.
,MethylTertiaryButylEther(MTBE)andunleadedgasofineblends
(uptoa maximumof15%MTBEbyvolume)areapprovedfuels.
Othergasoline/etherblendsarenotapproved.
•Fillfueltankoutdoorsorinwell-ventilatedarea.
•Donotoverfillfueltank.Filltankto nomorethan1/2inchbelow
bottomoffillernecktoallowspaceforfuelexpansion.
•Neverremovegascaporaddfuelwhiletheengineishotorrun-
ning.Allowenginetocoolatleasttwominutesbeforerefueling.
• Ifgasolineisspilled,wipeitofftheengineandequipment.Move
machinetoanotherarea.Wait5 minutesbeforestartingthe
engine.
TO Add Gasoline
F: " FLI"tR11'
1. Turnthe engine offand letenginecool atleast2 minutesbefore
removingthe fuel cap. Thegasolinetank is locatedunderthe
hood. Removethe fuel cap byturningit counterclockwise.
2. Fillthe fueltankwith gasoline.Useonlyclean,fresh(no morethan
30daysold),unleadedgasoline.Filltankto nomorethan1/2 inch
belowbottomoffillerneckto allowspacefor fuelexpansion.
3. Reinstallthe fuel cap.
IMPORTANT: Do notoverfill thetank. Fill tankto no morethan 1/2
inch belowbottomoffillerneck toallowspacefor fuel expansion.See
Fig.6.
Figure6
SAFETY INTERLOCK SYSTEM
The safety interlocksystemis designedfor safe operationofthe trac-
tor. Ifthis systemshouldevermalfunction,do not operatethe tractor.
Immediatelycontact 1-800-4-MY-HOMEto havethe systemserviced,
• The safety interlocksystem preventsthe enginefrom starting
unless the parkingbrake isengagedand the PTO (Blade Engage)
lever is in the disengaged(OFF) position.
• The safety interlocksystemwillautomaticallyshut offthe engine if
the operatorleavesthe seat beforeengagingthe parkingbrake.
• Thesafetyinterlocksystemwillautomaticallyshut offthe engineif
theoperatorleavesthe tractor'sseatwiththe PTO(BladeEngage)
leverengaged,regardlessofwhethertheparkingbrakeis engaged.
•Theengine willautomaticallyshut offif the PTO(Blade Engage)
leveris movedinto the engaged(ON) positionwith the shift lever
in Reverse.
14
Avoid Serious Injury or Death
• Go UPanddown slopes, notacross.
Avoidsudden turns.
Do not operatetheunit whereit couldslip or tip.
If machinestopsgoing uphill,stopbladesand backdownhill
slowly.
Do not mowwhen childrenor othersare around.
Nevercarry children, evenwith blades off.
Look downand behind beforeand while backing.
Keepsafetydevices(guards,shields, and switches)inplace
andworking.
Removeobjects that could bethrown by the blades,
Knowlocationand functionof allcontrols.
Besurebladesand engineam stoppedbefore placinghandsor
feet nearblades.
•Beforeleavingoperator'sposition,stoptractor,disengage
blades,engageparkingbrake,shut engineoff, and removekey.
Read Operator's Manual

IGNITION SWITCH
Theignitionswitchisactivatedtostarttheengine,insertkeyintothe
ignitionswitchandturnclockwisetotheSTARTposition.Releasethe
keyintotheONposition onceenginehasfired.SeeFig.7.
Tostoptheengine,turntheignitionkeycounterclockwisetotheOFF
position.SeeFig.7.
SETTING THE CUTTING HEIGHT
1. Selecttheheightpositionofthecuttingdeckbyplacingthedeck
liftleverinanyofthesixdifferentcuttingheightnotchesonthe
rightsideofthefender.
NEVERleavea runningmachineunattended.Alwaysdisengage
PTO,moveshiftleverintoneutralposition,setparkingbrake,stop
engineandremovekeytopreventunintendedstarting.
On
Start
off
Figure 7
IMPORTANT:Priortooperatingthetractor,refertobothSafety
interlockSystemandStartingTheEngineintheOperationsectionof
thismanualforfurtherdetailedinstructions.
ENGAGING THE PARKING BRAKE
To engage the parking brake:
1. Fuflydepresstheclutch-brakepedalandholditdownwithyourfoot.
2. Movethespeedcontrolleverallthewaydownandintotheparking
brakeposition.
3. Releasetheclutch-brakepedaltoallowtheparkingbraketoengage.
To release the parking brake:
1. Depresstheclutch+brakepedalandmovethespeedcontrollever
outoftheparkingbrakepositionandintoadesiredspeed.
STARTING THE ENGINE
NOTE:RefertotheGasolineandOiJfill-upinstructionsearlierinthis
section.
1. Insertthetractorkeyintotheignitionswitch.
2. PlacethePTO(BladeEngage)leverinthedisengaged(OFF)
position.
3. Engagethetractor'sparkingbrake.
4. Activatethechokecontrolbymovingthethrottletchokeleverall
thewayupintothechokeposition.
5. TurntheignitionkeyclockwisetotheSTARTposition.Aftertheengine
starts,releasethekey.It willreturntotheON(orNormalMowing)
position.
DO NOT holdthe keyin theSTARTpositionfor longerthanten
secondsata time.Doingso maycausedamagetoyourengine's
electricstarter.
6. Aftertheengine starts, deactivatethechoke controland placethe
throttlecontrol inthe FASTposition.
NOTE: Do NOTleave the chokecontrolonwhileoperatingthe tractor.
Doingso willresultin a "rich"fuel mixtureand cause the engineto run
poorly.
15

STOPPING THE ENGINE
Ifyoustrikeaforeignobject,stoptheengine,disconnectthespark
plugwire(s)andgroundagainsttheengine.Thoroughlyinspectthe
machineforanydamage.Repairthedamagebeforerestartingand
operating
1. ifthebladesareengaged,placethePTO(BladeEngage)leverin
thedisengaged(OFF)position.
2. TurntheignitionkeycounterclockwisetotheSTOPposition.
3. Removethekeyfromtheignitionswitchtopreventunintended
starting.
DRIVING THE TRACTOR
Avoidsudden starts, excessivespeedand suddenstops.
Do not leavethe seat ofthe tractorwithoutfirst placingthe PTO
(Blade Engage) leverin the disengaged(OFF) position,depressing
the brakepedaland engagingthe parking brake. Ifleavingthe tractor
unattended,alsoturn the ignitionkeyoff and removethe key.
1. Depressthe clutch-brakepedalto releasethe parking brakeand
thenletthe pedal up.
2. Movethe throttle leverintothe FAST(rabbit) position.
3. Placethe shift leverin eitherthe FORWARDor REVERSE
position.
IMPORTANT: Do NOTusethe shift leverto changethe directionof
travelwhenthe tractoris in motion.Always usethe clutch-brakepedat
to bringthe tractor toacompletestop beforeshifting.
4. Releasethe parking brakeby depressingtheclutch-brakepedal
and positioningthe speedcontrollever in the desiredposition.
IMPORTANT: First-timeoperatorsshoulduse speedpositions1or
2. Becomecompletelyfamiliarwiththe tractor'soperationandcontrols
beforeoperatingthetractorin higherspeed positions.
5. Releaseclutch-brakepedalslowlyto put unitinto motion.
6. The lawntractor isbroughtto a stop bydepressingthe clutch-
brakepedal.
NOTE: Whenoperating the unitinitially,therewillbe little difference
betweenthe highesttwo speedsuntilafter the belts haveseated
themselvesinto the pulleysduringthe break-inperiod.
rP1 [.el
WARNING! Beforeleavingthe operator'spositionfor any reason,
disengagethe blades,place the shiftlever in neutral,engagethe
parkingbrake,shut engine offand removethe key.
IMPORTANT;Whenstoppingthetractorforanyreasonwhileona
grasssurface,always:
1. Placetheshiftleverinneutral,
2. Engagetheparkingbrake,
3. Shutengineoffandremovethekey.Doingsowillminimizethe
possibilityofhavingyourlawn"browned"byhotexhaustfrom
yourtractor'srunningengine.
Ifunitstallswithspeedcontrolinhighspeed,or ifunitwillnotoperate
withspeedcontrolleverina lowspeedposition,proceedasfollows:
1+ PlaceshiftleverinNEUTRAL.
2. Restartengine.
3. Placespeedcontrolleverinhighestspeedposition.
4. Releaseclutch-brakepedalfully.
5+ Depressclutch-brakepedal.
6. Placespeedcontrolleverindesiredposition.
7. PlaceshiftleverineitherFORWARDor REVERSE,andfollow
normaloperatingprocedures.
DRIVING ON SLOPES
RefertotheSLOPEGAUGEintheSafetyInstructionssectionofthe
manualtohelpdetermineslopeswhereyoumayoperatethistractor
safely.
Do not mowon inclineswitha slopein excessof 15degrees(a rise
ofapproximately2-1/2feet every10feet). Thetractorcouldoverturn
andcause seriousinjury.
• Mow upanddown slopes, NEVERacross.
•Exerciseextremecautionwhenchangingdirection onslopes.
•Watchfor holes,ruts,bumps, rocks,or other hiddenobjects.
Uneventerraincould overturnthe machine.Tallgrasscan hide
obstacles.
, Avoidturns whendrivingon aSlope.Ifaturn must be made,turn
downthe slope. Turningup a slopegreatly increasesthe chance
ofa rollover.
•Avoidstoppingwhendrivingupa slope. Ifit is necessaryto stop
whiledriving upa slope,start up smoothlyandcarefullyto reduce
thepossibilityofflipping the tractorover backward.
ENGAGING THE BLADES
Engagingthe PTO(Blade Engage)transfers powerto thecutting deck
or other(separatelyavailable)attachments.Toengagethe blades,
proceedasfollows:
1. Movethe throtUeichokecontrolleverto the FAST(rabbit) position.
2. Graspthe PTO(Blade Engage)leverand pivot itall theway
forwardinto theengaged(ON) position.
3. Keepthe throttle leverin the FAST(rabbit) positionfor the most
efficientuse ofthe cutting deckor other (separatelyavailable)
attachments.
NOTE: Theengine will automaticallyshut offifthePTO(Blade
Engage)lever is movedintothe engaged(ON) positionwith the shift
leverin Reverse.
16

MULCHING
A mulch kit isavailable asan attachment, Mulching isa processof
recirculating grassclippings repeatedly beneath the cutting deck,
The ultra-fine clippings arethen forced backinto the lawn where
. they act asa naturalfertilizer.
A mulch kitcan be purchased.See the ReplacementParts& Attach-
mentssection of this manualfor more information.
USING THE DECK LIFT LEVER
Toraisethe cuttingdeck,movethedeck lift leverto the left, thenplace
it in the notch bestsuited for yourapplication. Referto SettingThe
Cutting Height earlierin this Operationsection.
MOWING
I_he machine
while it is in operation.Stopmachineif anyone entersthe area.
The followinginformationwill behelpful when using the cuttingdeck
withyourtractor:
HEADLIGHTS
, The lamps areON wheneverthe tractor's engineis running.
,The lamps turnOFF whenthe ignition keyis movedtothe STOP
position.
Planyourmowingpatterntoavoiddischargeofmaterialstoward
roads,sidewalks,bystandersandthelike.Also,avoiddischarging
materialagainstawallorobstructionwhichmaycausedischarged
materialtoricochetbacktowardtheoperator.
• Do notmowat high groundspeed, especiallyifamulch kitor
grasscollector isinstalled.
• Forbest results it is recommendedthat the first two laps becut
with the dischargethrowntowardsthe center.After the firsttwo
laps, reversethe direction tothrowthe dischargetothe outside
for the balance ofcutting.This willgivea betterappearancetothe
lawn.
•Do not cutthe grasstoo short. Short grassinvitesweedgrowth
and yellowsquickly indry weather.
•Mowingshouldalwaysbe donewith the engine atfull throttle.
•Underheavier conditionsitmaybe necessarytogo back overthe
cut areaa secondtimeto geta cleancut.
• Do NOT attemptto mowheavy brushand weedsandextremely
tall grass.Yourtractor is designedto mowlawns,NOT clear
brush.
• Keepthe bladessharpand replacethe bladeswhenworn. Refer
toCutting Bladesin the-Servicesection ofthis manualfor proper
bladesharpeninginstructions.
17

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
Beforeperforminganytypeofmaintanance/ser_ce,disengageall 1
controlsandstoptheengine.Waituntilallmovingpartshavecometo t
acompletestop.Disconnectsparkplugwireandgrounditagainstthe t
enginetopreventunintendedstarting.AlwayswearsafetyglassesduringI
operationorwhileperforminganyadjustmentsorrepairs, i
Followthemaintenanceschedulegivenbelow.Thischartdescribes
serviceguidelinesonly.UsetheServiceLogcolumntokeeptrack
ofcompletedmaintenancetasks.TolocatethenearestParts&
RepairServiceCenterortoscheduleservice,simplycontact
1-800-4-MY-HOME®.
I_ _[_l_j
BeforeEachUse
Inthe FirstFiveHours
Ever),10Hours
Every25 hours
4. Check
5. Clean
6. Clean
8. Change
12. Clean
13. Clean
14. Lubricate
20. Clean
2I. Clean
22. Lubricate
1. Engineoi!level
2. Mufflerarea and controls
3. Fingerguard
7. EngineOil
9. Hood/Dash air vents
10. Batteryterminals
11. Deck spindlesand idler
bracket
15. Air filter'sprecieaner*
16. Airfilter*
17. Midsteering arms, pivot
shafts,andaxles
18. Frontwheelbearings
19. Frontdeckwheels
25. Engineoil/Oil fitter
26. Muffler
29. Air filter
30. Air filter'spre-cfeaner
31. Sparkplug
32. Air coolingsystem*
33. Fuelfilter
34. SteeringGears
35. RearWheels
43. Hood/Dash air vents
44. Batteryterminals
45. Mid steeringarms, pivot
shafts,andaxles
46. Frontwheelbearings
47. Frontdeckwheels
48. Deck spindlesand idler
bracket
49. Pedalpivot points
Every50 hours
Annually
BeforeStorage
23.
24.
27.
28.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
50.
51.
52.
Lubricate
Lubricate
Change! Replace
Check
Replace
Replace
Replace
Clean
Replace
Clean
Removeand greaseaxles
Clean
Clean
Lubricate
53. Lubricate
54. Lubricate
55. Lubricate
56. Lubricate
*Service merefrequently underdustyconditions.
Beforeperforming anymaintenanceor repairs,disengagethe PTO
(Blade EngageLever),engagethe parkingbrake,stop the engine
and removethe keyto preventunintendedstarting.
Ifthe engine hasbeenrecently run,theengine,muffler andsur-
roundingmetalsurfaceswill be hot and cancause burnsto the skin.
Exercisecautionto avoid burns.
18

ENGINE MAINTENANCE
Checking the Engine Oil
OnlyusehighqualitydetergentoilratedwithAPIserviceclassification
SF,SG,SH,orSJ.Selecttheoil'sSAEviscositygradeaccordingto
theexpectedoperatingtemperature.Followthechartbelow.
Althoughmulti-viscosityoils(5W20,10W30,etc.)improvestarting
incoldweather,theywillresultinincreasedoilconsumptionwhen
usedabove32°1:.Checkyourengineoillevelmorefrequentlytoavoid
possibleenginedamagefromrunninglowonoil.
/CColder_ 32°F _Warmer_
SAE30
Oil Viscosity Chart j
Tocheckthe engine oil, proceedasfollows:
•Ensurethatthe tractorisona levelsurface.
• Cleanthe oil fill areaof anydebris.
1. Removethedipstick and wipewitha cleancloth.
2, Insertand tightendipstick.
3. Removethedipstick andcheckthe oil level.It shouldbeat the
Fullmark onthe dipstick. See Figure 9.
Dipstick__
OilDrain
Sleeve
OilDrain
Valve
Figure9
4. If low,add oil slowlyintothe engineoilfill. Do notoverfill.After
addingoil, wait one minuteand thenrecheckthe oil level.
5. Replaceand tightendipstick.
Changing Engine Oil
Theengineoilshouldbechangedinthefirst5 hoursandthenevery50
hoursor oncea season.Tochangethe engineoil,proceedas follows:
1. WithengineOFFbutstillwarm,disconnectsparkplugwireand
keepit awayfromsparkplug.
2. Removethe oilfill capldipstickfromthe oilfill tube.SeeFigure9.
3. Turnthe steeringwheelall lhewaytothe rightto betterexposethe
drain plug.
4. Clipthe oil drainsleeve(packedwith thismanual)ontotheoil drain
port. Routetheoppositeendofthe sleeveintoanappropriateoil
collectioncontainerwithacapacitygreatenoughtocollectthe used
oil,
5. Removethe oildrainplug,Theoilwill begintodrain outofthe
engine.
6. Afterthe oilhasfinisheddraining,replacethe oil drainplugand
tighten.Becarefulnottoovertighten.
7. Removethe oitdrainsleeveand storefor lateruse.
8. Refillthe enginewithnewmotoroil untilthe oillevelon thedipstick
readsFULL,Replacetheoil fillcap/dipstick.
It'_ist of safedisposal!
recyclingfacilities.
Changing the Oil Filter
"L Drainthe oilfromthe engineas describedabove.
2. Removethe oilfilterand disposeofproperly.See Figure10.
-Oil Filter
J
Figure10
3. Beforeyou installthenewoilfilter,lightlylubricatethe oil filter
gasketwith fresh,cleanoil.
4. Installthe oilfilterby handuntilthegasketcontactsthe oilfilter
adapter,thentightentheoilfilter I/2 to 3/4turns,
5. Add oilas describedabove.
6. Startand runthe engine.As theenginewarmsup,checkfor oil
leaks.
7. Stoptheengineand check the oillevel.It shouldbeatthe FULL
markon the dipstick.
19

Fuel Filter Air Cleaner
Gasolineanditsvaporsareextremelyflammableandexplosive.Fire
orexplosioncancausesevereburnsordeath.
, Keepgasolineawayfrom sparks,openflames, pilotlights,heat,
and other ignitionsources,
• Checkfuel lines,tank, cap,and fittings frequentlyfor cracks or
leaks. Replaceif necessary.
• Beforereplacingthe fuelfilter,drain the fueltank as perthe
instructionsbelow.
• Do not drainfuel whenthe engine is hot.Allow the engine
adequatetimeto cool. Drainfuel into an approvedcontainer
outdoors,awayfrom openflame.
,, Drain anylarge volumeof fuelfrom the tank by disconnectingthe
fuel linefromthein-linefuel filternear theengine.
•Removethefuel linefromthe In-lineside (side towardsthefuel
tank)of the fuelfilter.
,Replacementpartsmustbethe sameand installedin the same
positionasthe originalparts.
•Iffuelspills, waituntilitevaporatesbeforestarting engine.
• Beforereplacingthefuelfilter, drainthe fuel tank.Otherwise,fuel
can leak out andcause afire or explosion.
To Drainthe fuel:
I. Locatethefuelfilter,whichisroutedon the leftsideof theengine
betweenthe fueltank andthe carburetor,andmaybeattachedto
the enginewith atiestrap.Cutthe tie strap,if present,thenpinch
the in-lineclampon thefuelfilterwith a pairof pliers,slidethe
clamp upthefuel line.Pullthe fuellinefree fromthefilterand place
the openendofthe lineintoan approvedcontainerto drainthe fuel.
Tochange the fuel filter:
1. Usepliersto squeezethetabs on the other clamp (the out-line
sideof the fuelfilter), then slidethe clampawayfrom the fuelfilter,
Twistandpullthe fuelline off ofthe fuel filter.See Figure11.
2. Checkthe fuel linesfor cracks or leaks.Replace if necessary.
3. Replacethe fuel filterwithan originalequipmentreplacement
filter.Call 1-800-4-MY-HOME@topurchasetheoriginalequip-
mentreplacementfilter.
4. Securethe fuel lineswiththe clamps.
Clamp
Fuel
Line
Tab
Iffilters,orcoversarenotinstalledcorrectlysedousinjuryordeath
couldresultfrombackfire.Donotattempttostarttheenginewith
themremoved.
Donotusepressurizedairorsolventstocleantheaircleaner
cartridge.
Theairfiltersystemusesa cylindricalcartridge.Thismodelalso
includesapre-cleanerthatcanbewashedandreused.
1. Removethefasteners(A)andtheairfiltercover(B),SeeFigure12.
2. Toremovethefilter(C),lifttheendofthefilterandthenpullthefilter
offtheintake(D).
3. Removethepre-cleaner(E),ifequipped,fromthefilter.
4. Toloosendebris,gentlytapthefilterona hardsurface,ifthefilter
isexcessivelydirty,replacewithanewfilter.
A
Figure12 J
5. Wash the pre-cleanerin liquiddetergentandwater.Thenallow it
to thoroughlyair dry. Do not oilthe pre-cleaner.
6. Assemblethe dry pre-cleanerto thefilter.
7. Installthefilterontheintake.Pushthe endofthefilterintothe baseas
shown. Makesurefilter fits securely inthe base.
8. Installair filter cover andsecurewith fasteners.
Figure11 .... J
2O