Craftsman 917.271110 User manual

Owner's Manual
cnnFTSn#+
16.5 HP
ELECTRIC START
42" MOWER
6 SPEED TRANSAXLE
LAWN TRACTOR
Model No.
917.271110
•Safety
•Assembly
•Operation
•Maintenance
•Repair Parts
CAUTION:
Read and follow all
Safety Rules and Instructions
before operating this equip-
ment.
For answers to your questions
about this product, Call:
1-800-659-5917
Sears Craftsman Help Line
5am -5 pm, Mon-Sat
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179

Warranty ................................................. 2
Safety Rules ........................................... 2
Assembly ................................................ 8
Operation.............................................. 12
Maintenance Schedule ......................... 19
Maintenance ......................................... 19
Product Specifications ........................... 5
Service and Adjustments ...................... 23
Storage ................................................. 29
Troubleshooting .................................... 30
Repair Parts ......................................... 34
Parts Ordering ....................... Back Cover
LIMITEDTWO YEAR WARRANTYONCRAFTSMAN RIDING EQUIPMENT
Fortwo(2) yearsfromthedateofpurchase,ifthisCraftsmanRidingEquipmentismain-
tained,lubricatedandtunedupaccordingtotheinstructionsin theowner'smanual,
Searswillrepairor replace,free ofcharge,anypartsfound tobe defectiveinmatedalor
workmanship.
ThisWarrantydoesnotcover:.
•Expendableitemswhichbecomewomduringnormaluse, suchas blades,spark
plugs,air cleaners,belts,etc.
•Tirereplacementorrepaircausedbypuncturesfrom outsideobjects,suchas nails,
thorns,stumps,orglass.
•Repairsnecessarybecauseofoperatorabuse,negligence,improperstorageor acci-
dentor thefailureto maintaintheequipmentaccordingtotheinstructionscontainedin
theowner'smanual.
•Ridingequipmentusedfor commercialorrentalpurposes.
LIMITED90 DAYWARRANTYON BATTERY
Forninety(90) daysfrom dateofpurchase,ifanybatteryincludedwiththisridingequip-
mentprovesdefectivein materialorworkmanshipand ourtestingdeterminesthe bat-
terywillnotholda charge,Searswillreplacethe batteryat nocharge. In-homewarranty
serviceonyourCraftsmanridingequipmentisavailableat no chargefor 30 daysfrom
thedateofpurchase.Pleasecontactyournearestservicecenter.After30 daysfromthe
dateofpurchase,warrantyserviceisavailablebytakingyourCraftsmanridingequip-
menttoyournearestSearsServiceCenter.(In-homewarrantyservicewillstillbe avail-
able after30 daysfrom thedateofpurchasebuta standardtripchargewillapply).This
warrantyappliesonlywhilethisproductisintheUnitedStates.ThisWarrantygivesyou
specificlegalrights, andyoumayalsohaveotherrightswhichmayvaryfrom stateto
state.
Sears, Roebuckand Co., D/817 WA,HoffmanEstates,IL 60179
GENERAL OPERATION
•Read, understand, and follow all instruc-
tions in the manual and on the machine
before starting.
•Only allow responsible adults, who are
familiar with the instructions, to operate
the machine.
•Clear the area of objects such as recks,
toys, wire, etc., which could be picked
up and thrown by the blade.
•Be sure the area is clear ofother people
befO_ mowing. Stop machine if anyone
enters the area.
•Nevercarrypassengers.
•Do notmowin reverseunlessabsolute-
lynecessary.Alwayslookdownand
behindbeforeand whilebacking.
•Beawareofthe mowerdischargedirec-
tionanddo notpointitat anyone.Do
notoperatethemowerwithouteither
theentiregrasscatcherortheguardin
place.
•Slowdownbeforetuming.
•Never leavea running machineunat-
tended.Alwaystumoffblades,set park-
ingbrake,stopengine,and remove
keysbeforedismounting.

•Tum offbladeswhennotmowing.
•Stopenginebeforeremovinggrass
catcheror uncloggingchute.
•Mowonlyindaylightor goodartificial
light.
•Do notoperatethemachinewhileunder
theinfluenceof alcoholor drugs.
•Watchfortrafficwhenoperatingnear or
crossingroadways.
•Useextracarewhenloadingorunload-
ingthe machineintoa trailerortruck.
SLOPE OPERATION
Slopesare a majorfactor relatedtoloss-
of-controland tipoveraccidents,which
canresultinsevereinjuryor death.All
slopesrequireextracaution.Ifyoucannot
backuptheslopeor ifyoufeeluneasyon
it, donot mowit.
DO:
•Mow upand downslopes,notacross.
• Removeobstaclessuchas rocks,tree
limbs,etc.
•Watchforholes,ruts,orbumps.Uneven
terraincouldovertumthemachine.Tall
grasscanhideobstacles.
•Useslowspeed.Choosea lowgearso
thatyouwillnothavetostopor shift
whileon theslope.
•Followthemanufacturer'srecommen-
dationsfor wheelweightsorcounter-
weightstoimprovestability.
•Useextracare withgrasscatchersor
otherattachments.These canchange
the stabilityofthemachine.
•Keepall movementon theslopesslow
andgradual.Donot makesudden
changesinspeedordirection.
•Avoidstartingorstoppingona slope.If
tireslosetraction,disengagetheblades
andproceedslowlystraightdownthe
slope.
DO NOT:
•Do notturnonslopesunlessnecessary,
andthen,turnslowlyandgradually
downhill,ifpossible.
• Do notmowneardrop-offs,ditches,or
embankments.The mowercouldsud-
denlytumoverifa wheel isoverthe
edge ofaclifforditch,or ifanedge
cavesin.
•Doz_ow,Qn wet grass.Reduced
tractioncouldcausesliding.
•Do nottrytostabilizethemachineby
puttingyourfootontheground.
• Donotusegrasscatcheron steep
slopes.
CHILDREN
Tragicaccidentscan occuriftheoperator
is notalerttothepresenceofchildren.
Childrenare oftenattractedtothe
machineandthemowingactivity.Never
assumethatchildrenwillremainwhere
you lastsawthem.
• Keepchildrenout ofthe mowingarea
andunderthewatchfulcare ofanother
responsibleadult.
•Bealsrtandrummachineoffifchildren
enterthe area.
•Beforeand whenbacking,lookbehind
anddownforsmallchildren.
•Nevercarrychildren.They mayfall off
andbe seriouslyinjuredorinterferewith
safe machineoperation.
•Neverallowchildrentooperatethe
machine.
•Useextracarewhenapproachingblind
corners,shrubs,trees,or otherobjects
thatmayobscurevision.
SERVICE
•Useextracareinhandlinggasolineand
otherfuels.They areflammable and
vaporsare explosive.
Use onlyanapprovedcontainer.
- Never removegascapor addfuel
withtheenginerunning.Allowen-
ginetocoolbeforerefueling.Donot
smoke.
- Never refuelthemachineindoors.
- Neverstorethe machineorfuel
containerInsidewhere thereisan
openflame, suchas a waterheater.
• Neverrun a machineinsideaclosed
area.
•Keepnutsandbolts,especiallyblade
attachmentbolts,tightand keepequip-
mentingoodcondition.
•Nevertamperwithsafetydevices.
Checktheirproperoperation regularly.
•Keepmachinefree ofgrass,leaves,or
otherdebrisbuild-up.Clean oilorfuel
spillage.Allowmachinetocoolbefore
stodng.
•Stopand inspecttheequipmentifyou
strikean object.Repair,ifnecessary,

beforerestarting.
•Nevermake adjustmentsorrepairswith
theenginerunning.
•Grasscatchercomponentsare subject
towear, damage,and deterioration,
whichcouldexposemovingpartsor
allowobjectstobethrown.Frequently
checkcomponentsand replacewith
manufacturer'srecommendedparis,
when necessary.
Mowerbladesaresharpandcancut.
Wraptheblade(s)orweargloves,and
useextracautionwhenservicing them.
Checkbrakeoperationfrequently.
Adjustand serviceas required.
•Besurethearea isclearofotherpeople
beforemowing.Stopmachineifanyone
entersthearea.
•Nevercarrypassengers.
•Donot mowin reverseunlessabsolute-
lynecessary.Alwayslookdownand
behindbeforeand whilebacking.
•Nevercarrychildren.They mayfall off
and be seriouslyinjuredor interferewith
safe machineoperation.
•Keepchildrenoutofthemowingarea
and underthewatchfulcareofanother
responsibleadult.
•Bealertandturnmachineoffifchildren
enterthearea.
•Beforeandwhenbacking,lookbehind
and downfor smallchildren.
•Mow upanddownslopes(15" Max), not
across.
•Removeobstaclessuchas rooks,tree
limbs,etc.
• Watchfor holes,ruts,orbumps.Uneven
terraincouldovertumthemachine.Tall
grasscanhideobstacles.
•Useslowspeed.Choosea lowgearso
thatyou willnothavetostopor shift
whileontheslope.
•Avoidstartingor stoppingon a slope.If
tireslosetraction,disengagetheblades
and proceedslowlystraightdownthe
slope.
•Do notturnonslopesunlessnecessary,
andthen,turnslowlyand gradually
downhill,ifpossible.
,_Look for thissymbolto pointoutimpor-
tantsafetyprecautions.ItmeansCAU-
TION!!!BECOMEAWARE!!!YOUR SAFE-
TY IS INVOLVED. _.,÷
,_CAUTION: In ordertopreventacciden-
talstartingwhensettingup,transporting,
adjustingormakingrepairsalwaysdiscon-
nectsparkplugwireandplacewirewhere
itcannot contactsparkplug.
_WARNING: The engineexhaustfrom
thisproductcontainschemicalsknownto
theStateofCalifomiatocausecancer,
birthdefects,or.otherreproductiveharm.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
GASOLINE 1.25 GALLONS
CAPACITY
AND TYPE: UNLEADED
REGULAR
OIL TYPE SAE 30
(API-SF/SG/SH): (above 32°F)
SAE 10W-30
(below 32°F)
OIL CAPACITY: W/RLTER: 4.0PINTS
WK_FILTER:3.5PINTS
SPARK PLUG: Champion J19LM
GAP: .030") STD361458-
GROUND SPEED FORWARD:
(MPH): 1sr 1.1
2ND 1.4
3RD 2.3
4TM 3.5
5TM 4.5
6TM 6.0
REVERSE: 1.7
TIRE PRESSURE: FRONT: 14 PSI
REAR: 10 PSI
CHARGING 3AMPS BATTERY
SYSTEM: 5AMPS HEADLIGHTS
BATTERY: AMP/HR: 20
MIN. CCA:240
CASE SIZE: UIR
BLADE BOLT 27-35 FT. LBS.
TORQUE:
CONGRATULATIONSonyourpurchase
ofa Craftsman Tractor. Ithasbeen
designed,engineeredandmanufactured
to giveyouthebestpossibledependability
and performance.
Shouldyouexperienceanyproblemyou
cannoteasilyremedy,pleasecontactyour
nearestSearsAuthorizedServiceCenter.
We havecompetent,well-trainedtechni-
ciansand thepropertoolstoserviceor
repairthistractor.
Pleasereadand retainthismanual.The
instructionswillenableyoutoassemble
and maintainyourtractorproperly.Always
observethe "SAFETY RULES".
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT
ASearsMaintenanceAgreementisavail-
able onthisproduct.Contactyournearest
Searsstorefor details.
CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES
•Read and observe the safety rules.
•Follow a regular schedule in maintain-
ing, caring for and using your tractor.
•Follow the instructions under =Mainte-
nance" and =Storage" sections of this
owner's manual.
,AWARNING: This tractor is equipped
with an internal combustion engine and
should not be used on or near any unim-
proved forest-covered, brush-covered or
grass-covered land unless the engine's
exhaust system is equipped with aspark
arrester meeting applicable local or state
laws (if any). If a spark arrester is used, it
should be maintained in effective working
order by the operator.
In the state of California the above is
required by law (Section 4442 of the
California Public Resources Code). Other
states may have similar laws. Federal
laws apply on federal lands. A spark
arrester for the muffler is available through
your nearest Sears Authorized Service
Center (See REPAIR PARTS section of
this manual).

Parts Bag contentsshownfullsize
©
(1) Large Rat Washer
(1) Hex Bolt 5/16-18 x 1-1/4
(1) Hex Bolt
3/8-16 x I
(1) Lockwasher 3/8
Q
(1) Locknut 5/16-18
(1) Knol_
(1) Washer
17/32 x 1-3/16 x 12 Gauge
(1) Shoulder
Bolt 5/16-18
_. (2) Weld _.
Nuts #10
(2) Washers
3/16 x3/4 x 16 Gauge
liltlliillllliillllillll
(2) Screws #10 x 5/8
(2) Lock
Washers #10
(2) Hex Bolts 114-20x3/4
@(2) Hex
(2) Lock Nuts
Washers 1/4 1/4-20

Parts packedseparately in.carton
Manual
(2) Shoulder
Seat
Plate
Video
Cassette
Steering
Boot
I
Parts Bag Steering
Wheel
Bolts
_(2) Center-
lockNuts
(2) Washers 3/8
x 7/8 x 14 Gauge
Parts Bag contentsnotshownfull size
(2) Front LinkAssemblies
in
Steering Wheel
Adapter
/_ _St_ri_g Insert
_).._ I 1 (2) Keys
I
(2) LatchHook
Assemblys

Yournewtractorhasbeenassembledat thefactorywithexceptionofthosepartsleft
unassembledforshippingpurposes.Toensuresafeand properoperationofyourtractor
allpartsandhardwareyouassemblemustbe tightenedsecurely.Usethe correcttools
as necessarytoinsurepropertightness.Reviewthevideocassettebeforeyoubegin.
TOOLS REQUIRED FOR
ASSEMBLY
Asocketwrenchsetwillmakeassembly
easier.Standardwrenchsizesyouneed
arelistedbelow.
(1) 9/16"wrench (1) 3/4"Socketw/
(2) 7/16"wrenches driverachet
(2) 1/2"wrench (1) PhillipsScrew-
(1) 3/4"wrench driver
(1) Utilityknife (1) Tirepressure
(1)Pliers gauge
Whenrightorlefthandismentionedin
thismanual,itmeans,from yourpointo!
view,whenyouare intheoperatingposi-
tion(seatedbehindthesteeringwheel).
TO REMOVE TRACTOR FROM
CARTON
UNPACK CARTON
• Remove all accessible loose parts and
parts boxes from shipping carton (See
page 6).
• Cut, from top to bottom, along lines on
all four comers ofshipping carton, and
lay panels flat.
•Remove mower and package materials.
•Check for any additional loose parts or
boxes and remove.
BEFORE ROLLING TRACTOR OFF
SKID
ATTACH STEERING WHEEL
ASSEMBLEEXTENSION SHAFTAND
BOOT - --
•Slideextensionshaftontolowersteer-
ingshaft.Alignmountingholesinexten-
sionand lowershaftsand install5/16
hexboltandIocknut."13ghtensecurely.
IMPORTANT:Tightenboltand nutsecure-
lyto 18-22 ft. Ibs.torque.
•Placetabsofsteeringbootovertab
slotsindashandpushdowntosecure.
INSTALLSTEERING WHEEL
•Positionfrontwheelsofthetractorso
theyare pointingstraightforward.
•Slide_eedng wheeladapterontosteer-
ing'sh_aftextension.
•Positionsteeringwheel socrossbars
are horizontal(leftto dght)and slide
insidebootand ontoadapter.
•Assemblelargeflat washer,3/8 lock
washer,3/8hexboltand tightensecurely.
•Snapsteeringwheelinsertintocenter
ofsteeringwheel.
•Removeprotectivematerialsfromtrac-
tor hoodandgrill.
IMPORTANT:Checkforand removeany
staplesinskidthatmaypuncturetires
wheretractoristo rolloffskid.
Insert
Wheel
Extension Adapter
ha.
5/16Locknut.___
LowerSteering...._ _" :_"---,
Sh . ,"--'-5" "","
\,_/ ,, t
"--._ .,-.
".._..:. ,,"
TO ROLLTRACTOR OFF SKID (See
Operation sectionfor location and
function of controls)
• Pressliftleverplungerand raiseattach-
mentliftleverto itshighestposition.
•Releaseparkingbrakebydepressing
clutch/brakepedal.
•Placefreewheelcontrolin freewheeling
position todisengagetransmission(See
"TOTRANSPORT"intheOperation
sectionofthismanual).
•Rolltractorbackwardsoffskid.
• Removebandingholdingdischarge
guardupagainsttractor.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR TRACTOR
CONNECT BATTERY
ACAUTION: Do not short battery termi-
nals by allowing a wrench or any other
object to contact both terminals at the
same time. Before connecting battery, re-
move metal bracelets, wristwatch bands,
rings, etc. Positive terminal must be con-
nected first to prevent sparking from acci-
clental grounding.
•Remove cardboard packing from seat
pan and lift seat pan to raised position.
•Open battery box door and remove pro-
tective plastic.
• Remove terminal protective caps and
discard.
•If this battery is put into service after
month and year indicated on label (label
located between terminals) charge bat-
tery for minimum of one hour at 6-10
amps.
•First connect RED battery cable to posi-
tive (+) terminal with hex bolt, flat wash-
er, lock washer and hex nut as shown.
Tighten securely.
•Connect BLACK grounding cable to
negative (-) terminal with remaining hex
bolt, flat washer, lock washer and hex
nut. Tighten securely.
Discard Terminal
.i_ Proctec_ve Caps
Lock Washer Flat
Washer
. Hex Hex
Positive =Negative
(Red) Cable (Black)Cable
•Close batteryboxdoor.Open battery
box doorfor:.
• inspection forsecureconnections
(totightenhardware).
•Inspectionfor corrosion.
•Testingbattery.
•Jumping(ifrequired).
•Periodiccharging.
Seat Pan
Battery
Box Door
INSTALL SEAT
Adjust seat before tightening adjustment
knob.
•Remove cardboard packing on seat pan.
•Place seat on seat pan and assemble
shoulder bolt. Tighten shoulder bolt
securely.
•Assemble adjustment knob and flat
washer loosely. Do nottighten.
•Lower seat intooperating position and
sit on seat.
•Slide seat until a comfortable position is
reached which allows you to press
clutch/brake pedal all the way down.
•Get off seat without moving its adjusted
position.
•Raise seat and tighten adjustment knob
securely.
Seat
Seat Pan
Shoulder
Bolt _._..
Adjustment Knob
Flat Washer
9

CHECKTIREPRESSURE
Thetiresonyourtractorwereovednflated
atthefactoryforshippingpurposes.
Correcttirepressureisimportantforbest
cuttingperformance.
• ReducetirepressuretoPSIshownin
"PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS" on
page 5 of this manual.
CHECK DECK LEVELNESS
For best cutting results, mower housing
should be properly leveled. See "TO
LEVEL MOWER HOUSING" in the
Service and Adjustments section of this
manual.
CHECK FOR PROPER POSITION OF
ALL BELTS
See thefiguresthatareshownfor replac-
ingmotionandmowerbladedrivebeltsin
theServiceandAdjustmentssectoinof
thismanual.Verifythatthebeltsare mut-
edcorrectly.
CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM
Afteryou learnhowto operateyourtrac-
tor,checktoseethatthebrakeisproperly
adjusted.See "TOADJUST BRAKE"in
theServiceandAdjustmentssectionof
thismanual.
INSTALLMULCHER PLATE
•Installtwolatchhookstomulcherplate
usingscrew,washer,lockwasher,and
weldnutas shown.
NOTE: Pre-assembleweldnutto latch
hookbyinsertingweldnutfromthetop
withhookpointingdown.
• Tightenhardwaresecurely.
•Raiseandholddeflectorshieldin up-
rightposition.
•Placefront ofmulcherplateoverfrontof
mowerdeckopeningandslideinto
place,asshown.
•Hookfront latchinto-holeonfront of
mowerdeck.
•Hookrearlatchintoholeon backof
mowerdeck.
Weld NutFrom
The Top
Lock
Weld Washer
Nut
Latch
HookPoints
Down
Latch
Hook
Washer
Mulcher
Plate
Deflector
Shield
Lock Washer
Washer
Screw
Latch
Hooks
_CAUTION: Donotremovedischarge
guardfrom mower.Raiseand holdguard
whenattachingmulcherplate andallowit
to restonplatewhileinoperation.
TO CONVERT TO BAGGING OR
DISCHARGING
Simplyremovemulcherplate andstorein
a safeplace.Yourmowerisnowreadyfor
dischargingor installationofoptional
grasscatcheraccessory.
NOTE: It isnotnecessarytochange
blades.The mulcherbladesare designed
for dischargingandbaggingalso.
10

ASSEMBLE GAUGE WHEELS TO
MOWER DECK
The gauge wheels are designed to keep
the mower deck in proper position when
operating mower. Be sure they are proper-
ly adjusted to ensure optimum mower per-
formance.
• Assemble gauge wheels with tractor on
a flat level surface.
•-Adjust mower to desired cutting height
(See "TO ADJUST MOWER CUTTING
HEIGHT" in the Operation section of this
manual).
• With mower in desired height of cut po-
sition, gauge wheels should be assem-
bled so they are slightly off the ground.
Install gauge wheel in appropriate hole
with shoulder bolt, 3/8 washer, and 3/8-
16 Iocknut and tighten securely.
•Repeat for opposite side installing
gauge wheel in same adjustment hole.
Gauge Wheel
Mounting_ racke_ _
3/8-16 Washer Ga_-_ge_Wheel t
V' CHECKLIST
PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING•
CHECKLIST:
V' All assembly instructionshave been
completed.
v' No remaining loose parts in carton.
v' Battery is properly prepared and
charged. (Minimum 1 hour at 6 amps).
v' Seat isadjusted comfortably and
tightened securely.
v' All tires are properly inflated. (For
shipping purposes, the tires were
overinflated at the factory).
v' Be sure mower deck is propedy leveled
side-to-side/front-to-rear for best cutting
results. (Tires must be properly inflated
for leveling).
v' Check mower and ddve belts. Be sure
they are routed properly around pulleys
and inside all belt keepers.
v' Check widng. See that all connections
are still secure and wires are propedy
clamped.
v' Before driving tractor, be sure free-
wheel control is in ddve position.
WHILE LEARNING HOW TO USE YOUR
TRACTOR, PAY EXTRA ATTENTION TO
THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT ITEMS:
,/ Engine oil is at proper level.
/Fuel tank is filled with fresh, clean,
regular unleaded gasoline.
/Become familiar with all controls -their
cation and function. Operate them
before you start the engine.
/Be sure brake system is in safe operat-
ing condition.
/It is important to purge the transmission
before operating your tractor for the first
time. Follow proper starting and
transmission purging instructions (See
"TO START ENGINE" and "PURGE
TRANSMISSION" in the Operation
section of this manual).
11

These symbolsmayappearon yourtractororin literaturesuppliedwiththeproduct.
Learnandunderstandtheirmeaning.
BATTERY CAUTION OR REVERSE FORWARD FAST SLOW
WARNING
ENGINE ON ENGINE OFF OIL PRESSURE UGHTS ON OVER TEMP
LIGHT
FUEL CHOKE MOWER HEIGHT PARKING BRAKE UNLOCKED
LOCKED
!
MOWER LIFT
_'l R N H L (®)_1
ATrACHMENT REVERSE NEUTRAL HIGH LOW PARKING BRAKE
CLUTCH ENGAGED
_(_) ATTACHMENT KEEP AREA CLEAR SLOPE HAZARDS
IGNITION CLUTCH DISENGAGED (SEE SAFETY RULES SECTION)
DANGER, KEEP HANDS AND FEET AWAY HYDROSTATIC FREE WHEEL
(Hydro Mode_ onDy)
12

KNOWYOURTRACTOR
READTHISOWNER'SMANUALANDSAFETYRULESBEFOREOPERATINGYOUR
TRACTOR
Comparetheillustrationswithyourtractortofamiliarizeyourselfwiththelocationsof
variouscontrolsandadjustments.Savethismanualforfuturereference.
Attachment Ignition
Clutch Lever Switch
LightSwitch
Position
Throttle/Choke
Control _LiftLever
Plunger
Clutch/Brake
Control
Height
Adjustment
Indicator
Attachment
Lift Lever
ParkingBrake
Gearshift
Lever
Our tractors conform to the safety standards of the American
National Standards Institute.
ATTACHMENTCLUTCH.LEVER:Usedto
engagethe mowerblades,or otherattach-
mentsmountedtoyourtractor.
LIGHT SWITCH:Tums theheadlightson
andoff.
THROTTLE/CHOKE CONTROL: Usedto
controlenginespeed.
CLUTCH/BRAKE PEDAL: Usedfor
declutchingandbrakingthetractorand
startingthe engine.
HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT KNOB: Usedto
adjustthemowercuttingheight.
GEARSHIFT LEVER:Selectsthespeed
anddirectionofthetractor.
ATTACHMENTLIFT LEVER: Usedto
raiseandlowerthe mowerdeckor other
attachmentsmountedtoyourtractor.
LIFT LEVER PLUNGER:Usedto release
attachmentliftleverwhenchangingits
position.
IGNITION SWITCH:Usedfor starting and
stoppingtheengine.
AMMETER: Indicatesbatterycharging(+)
ordischarging(-).
PARKINGBRAKE: Locksclutch/brake
intothe brakeposition.
13

The operationofanytractorcanresultinforeignobjectsthrownintothe I
eyes,whichcanresultin severeeye damage.Alwayswearsafetyglasses I
oreye shieldswhileoperatingyourtractoror performinganyadjustmentsor
repairs.We recommenda widevisionsafetymaskoverthe spectacles,or
standardsafetyglasses.
HOW TO USE YOUR TRACTOR
Yourtractorisequippedwithan operator
presencesensingswitch.Whenengineis
running,anyattemptbytheoperatorto
leavethe seatwithoutfirstsettingthe
parkingbrakewillshutofftheengine.
TO SET PARKINGBRAKE
•Depressclutch/brakepedal intofull
=BRAKE"positionand hold.
•Placeparkingbrakeleverin =EN-
GAGED"positionand releasepressure
from clutch/brakepedal.Pedalshould
remainin=BRAKE"position.Makesure
parkingbrakewillholdtractorsecure.
Attachment Clutch
Throttle/Choke Lever=Engaged"
Control Position
\=Disengaged"
=Brake" ParkingBrake
Position
,,\ Position
Motion
Pedal =Drive" Control
PosilJon Position Lever
STOPPING
MOWER BLADES.....
•Moveattachmentclutchleverto=DIS-
ENGAGED"position.
GROUND DRIVE -
•Depressclutch/brakepedalintofull
=BRAKE"position.
•Movegearshiftleverto neutral(N)posi-
tion.
ENGINE-
•Movethrottle controltoslowposition.
NOTE: Failuretomovethrottle controlto
slowpositionand allowingengineto idle
befotL_oppir_j-maycause engineto
=backfire".
•Turnignition keyto =OFF"positionand
removekey. Alwaysremovekeywhen
leavingtractortopreventunauthorized
USe.
•Neverusechoketostop engine.
NOTE: Undercertainconditionswhen
tractorisstandingidlewiththeenginerun-
ning,hotengineexhaustgasesmay
cause"browning" ofgrass. To eliminate
thispossibility,alwaysstopenginewhen
ppingtractoron grassareas.
CAUTION: Alwaysstoptractorcom-
pletely,as describedabove,beforeleaving
theoperator'sposition;toemptygrass
catcher,etc.
THROTTLE CONTROL
Alwaysoperateengineat full throttle.
•Operatingengineat lessthanfull throt-
tlereducesthe batterychargingrate.
•Fullthrottle offersthebestbaggingand
mowerperformance.
TO MOVE FORWARDAND BACKWARD
The directionandspeedofmovement is
controlledbythe gearshift lever.
•Starttractorwithclutch/brakepedal
depressedandgearshiftleverin neutral
(N) position.
•Move gearshiftlevertodesired posi-
tion.
•Slowlyreleaseclutch/brakepedalto
start movement.
IMPORTANT: Bringtractorto a complete
stopbeforeshiftingorchanginggears.
Failuretodosowillshortentheusefullife
ofyourtransaxle.
TO ADJUST MOWER CUTTING HEIGHT
The cuttingheightiscontrolledbyturning
theheightadjustmentknobindesired
direction.
•Tum knobclockwise( ) toraisecut-
tingheight.
•Turn knob counterclockwise( ) to
lowercuttingheight.
The cuttingheightrangeisapproximately
1-1/2"to4". The heightsare measured
fromthegroundtothe bladetipwiththe
enginenotrunning.These heightsare ap-
proximateand mayvarydependingupon
soilconditions,heightofgrassand types
ofgrassbeing mowed.
14

•The averagelawnshouldbecutto
approximately2-1/2 inchesduringthe
coolseasonandto over3 inchesduring
hotmonths. Forhealthierandbetter
lookinglawns,mowoftenandafter
moderategrowth.
•Forbestcuttingperformance,grass
over6 inchesinheightshouldbe
mowedtwice. Make thefirstcutrela-
tivelyhigh;thesecondtodesiredheight.
TO OPERATEMOWER
Yourtractorisequippedwithanoperator
presencesensingswitch.Anyattemptby
theoperatortoleavethe seat withthe
enginerunningand the attachmentclutch
engagedwillshutoffthe engine.
•Selectdesiredheightofcut.
•Lowermowerwithattachmentliftcon-
trol.
•Startmowerbladesbyengagingattach-
mentclutchcontrol.
•to Stopmowerblades- disengage
attachmentclutchcontrol.
,_CAUTION: Do notoperatethemower
withouteithertheentiregrasscatcher,on
mowerssoequipped,or thedischarge
guardin place.
Attachment Clutch
Lever "Engaged"
Position
Attachment Lift
Lever High Position
=Disengaged" Low
Pos_on
Suard
_OPERATE ON HILLS
CAUTION: Do not drive up or down
hillswith slopes greater than 15° and do
not drive across any slope.
•Choose the slowest speed before start-
ing up or down hills.
•Avoid stopping or changing speed on
hills.
•If slowingis necessary, move throttle
control lever to slower position.
•If stopping is absolutely necessary, push
clutcc,h_=l'Vbrakej3_.dalquickly to brake posio
tiona-a-R_reng_e parking bm'ke.
•Move gearshift lever to 1stgear. Be
sureyouhaveallowedroomfor tractor
torollslightlyas you restartmovement.
•Torestartmovement,slowlyrelease
parkingbrakeandclutch/brakepedal.
•Make alltumsslowly.
TO TRANSPORT
• Raiseattachmentlifttohighestposition
withattachmentliftcontrol.
•Whenpushingor towingyourtractor,be
suregearshiftleverisin neutral(N)
position.
•Do notpushor towtractorat morethan
five (5) MPH.
NOTE: Toprotecthoodfromdamage
whentransportingyourtractoron a truck
or a trailer,besurehoodisclosedand
securedtotractor. Useanappropriate
meansoftyinghoedtotractor(rope,cord,
etc.).
TOWING CARTS AND OTHER
A'I-rACHMENTS
Towonlytheattachmentsthatare recom-
mendedby andcomplywithspecifications
ofthe manufacturerofyourtractor.Use
commonsensewhentowing.Tooheavyot
a load,whileon a slope,isdangerous.
l]res canlosetractionwiththegroundand
causeyouto losecontrolofyourtractor.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL
•The engineinyourtractor hasbeen
shipped,from thefactory,alreadyfilled
withsummerweightoil.
•Checkengineoilwithtractoron level
ground.
•Unthreadand removeoilfillcap/dip-
stick;wipeoiloff.Reinsertthedipstick
intothetubeand restoilfill capon the
tube. Do notthreadthecapontothe
tube. Remove-andreadoillevel. If nec-
essary,add oiluntil =FULL_markon
dipstickisreached. Do notoverfill.
•Forcoldweatheroperationyoushould
changeoilforeasierstarting(See "OIL
VISCOSITY CHART"intheCustomer
Responsibilitiessection ofthismanua;).
•Tochangeengineoil,see the Customar
Responsibilitiessectioninthismanual.
ADD GASOLINE
•Fillfuel tank. Usefresh,clean,regular
unleadedgasolinewitha minimumof8"_
octane.(Useofleadedgasolinewill
increasecarbonandlead oxide
depositsandreducevalvelife).Do not

mixoilwithgasoline.Purchasefuelin
quantitiesthatcanbeusedwithin30
daystoassurefuelfreshness.
IMPORTANT:Whenoperatingintempera-
turesbelow 32°F(0°C), usefresh, clean
wintergradegasolinetohelpinsuregood
,_dAweatherstarting.
RNING: Experienceindicatesthat
alcoholblendedfuels (calledgasoholor
-usingethanolor methanol)canattract
moisturewhichleadstoseparationand
formationofacidsduringstorage.Acidic
gascandamagethefuel systemofan
enginewhileinstorage.Toavoidengine
problems,thefuel systemshouldbe emp-
tied beforestorageof30 daysorlonger.
Drainthegastank, starttheengineand
letitrununtilthefuel linesandcarburetor
areempty.Usefresh fuel nextseason.
See StorageInstructionsfor additional
information.Never useengineorcarbure-
torcleanerproductsinthefuel tankor per-
nentdamagemay occur.
CAUTION: Fillto bottomofgastank
fillerneck.Do notoverfill.Wipeoffany
spilledoilorfuel. Do notstore,spilloruse
gasolinenearan openflame.
TO START ENGINE
Whenstartingthe enginefor thefirst time
or iftheenginehasrunoutoffuel,itwill
take extracrankingtimeto movefuel from
thetanktotheengine.
•Siton seat inoperatingposition,
depressclutch/brakepedaland set
parkingbrake.
•Placegear shiftleverin neutral(N)posi-
tion.
• Moveattachmentclutchto=DISEN-
GAGED"position.
• Movethrottlecontroltochokeposition.
Note: Beforestarting readthewarmand
coldstartingproceduresbelow.
•Insertkey intoignitionandtumkey
clockwiseto=START"positionand
releasekey as soonas enginestarts.
Do notrunstartercontinuouslyfor more
thanfifteen secondsper minute.Ifthe
enginedoesnotstartafterseveral
attempts,movethrottle controltofast
position,waita few minutesandtry
again.If enginestilldoesnotstart,
movethe throttlecontrol beck tothe
chokepositionand retry.
WARM WEATHERSTARTING(50° F
ANDABOVE)
• Whenenginestarts,movethe throttle
controltothefast position.
•The attachmentsand grounddrivecan
nowbe used.If theenginedoesnot
accepttheload, restarttheengineand
allowittowarmupfor one minuteusing
thechokeas describedabove.
COLD WEATHERSTARTING(50°F
AND BELOW)
• When enginestarts,allowengineto run
withthethrottlecontrolinthechoke
positionuntiltheenginerunsroughly,
then movethrottlecontroltofast posi-
tion.Thismay requireanenginewarm-
upperiodfrom severalsecondstosev-
eralminutes,dependingonthetemper-
ature.
•The attachmentscanalsobeuseddur-
ingtheenginewarm-upperiod.
NOTE: Ifat a highaltitude(above3000
feet) or incoldtemperatures(below32 F)
the carburetorfuel mixturemayneed tobe
adjustedfor bestengineperformance.
See =TOADJUST CARBURETOR"inthe
ServiceandAdjustmentssectionofthis
manual.
MOWING TIPS
• "13rechainscannotbeusedwhenthe
mowerhousingisattachedtotractor.
•Mowershouldbeproperlyleveledfor
bestmowingperformance.See =TO
LEVELMOWER HOUSING"inthe
ServiceandAdjustmentssectionofthis
manual.
•The lefthandsideof mowershouldbe
usedfor trimming.
•Drivesothatclippingsaredischarged
ontothe areathathasbeen cut.Have
thecutareato-therightofthetractor.
Thiswillresultina moreevendistribu-
tionofclippingsandmoreuniformcut-
ting.
16

•When mowing large areas, start by turn-
ing to the right so that clippings will dis-
charge away from shrubs, fences, drive-
ways, etc. After one or two rounds, mow
in the opposite direction making left
hand tums until finished.
•Ifgrass is extremely tall, it should be
mowed twice to reduce load and possi-
ble fire hazard trom dried clippings.
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 unde-
sirable 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 se-
lecting a low enough gear to give the
mower the best cutting performance as
well as the quality of cut desired.
•When operating attachments, select a
ground speed that willsuit the terrain
and give best performance of the at-
tachment being used.
MULCHING MOWING TIPS
IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep
mower housing free of built-up grass and
trash. Clean after each use.
•The special mulching blade will recut
the grass clippings many times and
reduce them in size so that as they fall
onto the lawn they will disperse into the
grass and not be noticed. Also, the
mulched grass will biodegrade quickly
to provide nutrients for the lawn. Always
mulchwithyourhighestengine(blade)
speedas thiswill providethebestrecut-
tingactionoftheblades.
Avoidcuttingyourlawnwhenit iswet.
Wetgrasstendstoform clumpsand
interfereswiththemulchingaction.The
besttimetomowyourlawnisthe early
! ,' I I,
aftemoon.Atthis timethegrasshas
driedandthe newlycutareawillnotbe
exposedtothedirectsun.
•Forbestresults,adjustthemowercut-
tingheightsothatthemowercutsoff
onlythetopone-thirdofthe grass
blades.Forextremelyheavymulching,
reduceyourwidthofcutoneachpass
andmowslowly.
•Certaintypesofgrassand grasscondi-
tionsmayrequirethatanarea be
mulcheda secondtimetocompletely
hidetheclippings.Whendoinga sec-
ondcut,mowacrossorperpendicularto
thefirst cutpath.
•Changeyourcuttingpatternfrom week
toweek. Mownorthtosouthoneweek
thenchangeto easttowestthenext
week.Thiswillhelppreventmattingand
grainingofthelawn.
17

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE _./_ __..,,,__.,,_€.J
AS YOU COMPLETE DATES
lie
Check Brake Operation t_ Vp
Check Tire Pressure I_
i Check Operator Presence and
T: Intedock Systems V°
R CheckforLooseFa_enera V* I,/, l/
SharperdIReplace Mower Blades V_4
T LuStre.onChart V' I/
Check Battery Level
Clean Battery and Terminals/Recharge VrV_
Check Transaxla Cooling
Ad}ust Blade Belt(s) Tension Ks
Adjust Motion Drive Ball(s) Tension I_s
Check Engine Oil Level V°V°
Change Engine Oil IV_1_.3 V*
EClean Air Filter iV'2
N Clean Air Screen !V_2
G Inspect Muffler/Spark Arraster I_
Replace Oil Filter (If equipped) V_1.2
N Clean Engine Co_ing Fins VP2
Replace Spark Plug If ll_
Replace Air Filter Paper Cartridge V_2
Replace Fuel Filter V'
1 - Change more often when operstlng undM a heavy load or in high ambient tempeqat_r_. 5 * If equipped with adjustable systern.
2 - Service more o/len when opeflmting ;n dirty cx dusty €ondltlons.
3 - If equipped v*l_ o;I rdtwo Ohange oil evely 50 hourL
4 - Replace blmdN moreoqtenwhon _insandy soil.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
The warrantyonthistractordoesnotcover
itemsthathavebeen subjectedtooperator
abuseor negligence.To receivefullvalue
from thewarranty,operatormustmaintain
tractoras instructedin thismanual.Some
adjustmentswillneedtobe madeperiodi-
callyto properlymaintainyourtractor.
All adjustmentsin theServiceand
Adjustmentssectionofthis manualshould
be checkedat leastonceeachseason.
•Oncea yearyoushouldreplacethe
sparkplug,cleanor replaceairfilter,and
checkbladesandbeltsfor wear.A new
sparkplugandcleanair filter assure
properair-fuelmixtureand helpyour
enginerunbetterand lastlonger.
BEFORE EACH USE
•Checkengineoillevel.
•Checkbrakeoperation.
•Checktirepressure.
•Ch_k operatorpresenceand interlock
sys_'d_ fo_lSroperoperation.
•Checkfor loosefasteners.
6 - Not required if equipped with rnalntenance-_ee better,/.
7 - Tighten front rode plvol bon to 35 ft.-Ibs, _.
Do no__.
LUBRICATION CHART
OSpindle
Zerk
OFrontWheel Wheel
BearingZerk Bearing
Zerk
0 Enc
0 Attachment_ :
Clutch •Gear
Pivot(s) _"-_" T-_ _Shift
...... Pivots
OSAE30 or 10w30MotorOIL
e GeneralPurposeGrease
@RefertoMaintenance"Engine"Section
IMPORTANT: Do not oil or grease the pivot
points which have special nylon bear-ings.
Viscous lubricants will attract dust and dirt
that will shorten the life of the self-lubricating
bearings. If you feel they must be lubricated,
use only a dry,powdered graphite type lubri-
cant sparingly.
18

TRACTOR
Alwaysobservesafetyruleswhenper-
forminganymaintenance.
BRAKE OPERATION
If tractor requires more than six (6) feet
stopping distance at high speed in highest
gear, then brake must be adjusted. (See
"TO ADJUST BRAKE" in the Service and
Adjustments sectionof this manual).
TIRES
•Maintain proper air pressure in all tires
(See "PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS"
on page 5 of this manual).
•Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect
control chemicals which can harm rub-
ber.
•Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp
"objects and other hazards that may
cause tire damage.
NOTE: To seal tire punctures and prevent
flat tires due to slow leaks, tire sealant
may be purchased from your local parts
dealer. Tire sealant also prevents tire dry
rot and corrosion.
BLADE CARE
For best results mower blades must be
kept sharp. Replace bent or damaged
blades.
BLADE REMOVAL
•Raise mower to highest position to allow
access to blades.
•Remove hex bolt, lock washer and flat
washer securing blade.
• Install new or resharpened blade with
trailing edge up towards deck as shown.
• Reassemble hex bolt, lock washer and
fiat washer in exact order as shown.
• "13ghtenbolt securely (30-35 Ft. Lbs.
torque).
IMPORTANT: Blade b01t'is--Grade 8 heat
treated.
Bladher___ Mandrel
Assembly
FlatWas Trailing
EdgeUp
•oc.
Hex Bolt(Grade8)_.._
*A Grade 8 heat treated bolt can be
ide!;l_, by,_x lines on the bolt head.
TO SHARPEN BLADE
NOTE: We do not recommend sharpening
blade, butif you do, be sure the blade is
balanced.
Care should be taken to keep the blade
balanced. An unbalanced blade will cause
excessive vibration and eventual damage
to mower and engine.
•The blade can be sharpened with a file
or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt
to sharpen while it ison the mower.
• To check blade balance, you will need a
5/8" diameter steel bolt, pin, or a cone
balancer. (When using acone balancer,
follow the instructions supplied with bal-
ancer).
NOTE: Do not use a nail for balancing
blade. The lobes ofthe center hole may
appear to be centered, but are not.
•Slide blade onto an unthreaded portion
of the steel bolt or pin and hold the bolt
or pin parallel with the ground. If blade
is balanced, it should remain in a hori-
zontal position. If either end of the blade
moves downward, sharpen the heavy
end until the blade is balanced.
CenterHole
5/8"Bolt
orPin
Blade
BATTERY
Yourtractorhasa batterychargingsystem
whichissufficientfornormaluse.
However,periodicchargingofthebattery
withan automotivechargerwillextendits
life.
•Keepbatteryandterminalsclean.
•Keepbatteryboltstight.
•Keepsmallventholesopen.
•Rechargeat 6-10 amperesfor 1 hour.
TO CLEAN BATTERYANDTERMINALS
Corrosionand dirtonthebatteryandter-
minalscancausethebatteryto"leak"
power.
•Openbatteryboxdoor.
•DisconnectBLACKbatterycablefirst
thenRED batterycableand remove
batteryfrom tractor.
•Rinsethebatterywithplainwaterand
dry.
•Cleanterminalsandbatterycableends
withwirebrushuntilbright.
19

•Coat terminals with grease or petroleum
jelly.
•Reinstall battery (See =CONNECT BAT-
TERY" in the Assembly section of this
manual).
V-BELTS
Check V-belts for deterioration and wear
after 100 hours of operation and replace if
necessary. The belt3 are not adjustable.
Replace belts if they begin to slip from
wear.
TRANSAXLE COOLING
Keep transaxle free from build-up of dirt
and chaff which can restrict cooling.
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Only use high quality detergent oil rated
with API service classification SF, SG, or
SH. Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade
according to your expected operating tem-
perature.
Change the oil alter every 50 hours of
operation or at least once a year ifthe
tractor is notused for 50 hours in one
year.
Check the crankcase oil level before start-
ing the engine and after each eight (8)
hours of operation. Tighten oil fill cap/dip-
stick securely each time you check the oil
level.
SAE VISCOSITY GRADES
T()_HANGE _N_'E O_
Determinetemperaturerangeexpected
beforeoilchange. AlloilmustmeetAPI
serviceclassificationSF,SG, orSH.
•Besuretractorisonlevelsurface.
•Oilwilldrainmorefreely whenwarm.
•Catchoilin a suitablecontainer.
•Removeoilfillcap/dipstick.Becareful
nottoallowdirttoentertheengine
when changingoil
•Removedrainplug.
•Afteroilhasdrainedcompletely,replace
oildrainplugandtightensecurely.
•Refillenginewitho=3throughoilfill dip-
sticktube. Pourslowly. Donotoverfill.
Forapproximatecapacitysee=PROD-
UCT SPECIFICATIONS"onpage3 of
this.ro,_, al..;... _
•Use gauge on oil till cap/dipstick for
checking level. Insert dipstick intothe
tube and rest the oUfill cap on the tube.
Do not thread the cap onto the tube
when taking reading. Keep oil at
=FULL=line on dipstick. Tighten cap
onto the tube securely when finished.
AirCleaner CoverKnob
Cover
Foam
Pre-Cleaner
Wing Nut
Air
Cleaner
Base
Oil Fill
Air Cleaner Cap/
Paper Dipstick
Cartridge
OilDrain Plug
CLEAN AIR SCREEN
Air screen must be kept free of dirt and
chaff to prevent engine damage from over-
heating. Clean with a wire brush or com-
pressed air to remove dirt and stubborn
dried gum fibers.
AIR FILTER
Your engine will not run properly using a
dirty air filter. Clean the foam pre-cleaner
after every 25 hours of operation or every
season. Service paper cartridge every
100 hours of operation or every season,
whichever occurs-flrst.
Service air cleaner more often under dusty
conditions.
•Remove knob and cover.
•Remove wing nutand air cleaner from
base.
TO SERVICEPRE-CLEANER
•Slidefoampre_leaner offcartridge.
•Wash it inliquiddetergentand water.
•Squeezeitdryina cleancloth. Allowit
todry.
•Saturateitinengineoil. Wrap itin
clean,absorbentclothand squeezeto
removeexcessoil.
2O