Sears 917.257070 User manual

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ISearsI
MODEL NO.
917.257070
OWNER'S
MANUAL
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Assembly Operation
Maintenance Repair Parts
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, Ill. 60684, U.S.A . and Simpsons Sears Limited, Toronto, Canada
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.f.0 / vARD CARE
GARDENS
SNOW REMOVAL
CO N GRA TUL A TI ONS on your purchase of a Sears 18 H.P.
Twin Hydro Garden Tractor. It has been designed, engineered
and manufactured
to give you dependability and performance.
Should you experience any problem you cannot easily
remedy, please contact your nearest Sears, Roe buck and Co. or
Simpsons Sears Limited sto re. They have competent, well-
trained technicians and the proper tools and parts to service
or repair this unit.
Please read and retain this manual. The instructions will enable
you
to assemble, operate and maintain your Tractor properlx.
Always observe the
"R ULES FOR SAFE OPER AT IO N' .
YOUR NEW SEARS
GARDEN TRACTOR
FEATURES ...
OPP OS ED-PISTON, FOUR CYCLE, TWIN - CYLINDER 18
H.P. ENGINE
-- to run smoothly and quietly with plenty of
power to take on a vari ety of yard, gardening or snow re-
moval tasks.
SAFET Y IN TERLOCK SYSTEM --a llows engine to start only
when Drive Control Lever is in neutral and Attachment Clutch
Pedal is in "OFF" position.
AUTOM ATI C TR ANSMI SS ION --means no gearshifting and
no clutching. Regulate tractor speed and direction with the
Drive Control Lever. Move lever forward from neutral
to
increase forward speed. Move Lever rearward to back tractor
and regulate backward speed.
SE RVICE HOUR METER--lets you know at a glance, when
mainten
ance is due.
CO N TRO L PAN EL --with Throttle, Choke, Light Switch, Ig-
nition Switch, Service Hour Meter and Power Assist Lift
Switch for Three Point Hitch conveniently grouped for ease of
use.
AT TAC HMENT V ERSATILITY --handles a large variety of
Sears Yard and Garden Tractor Attachments including ...
42 AND 48 INCH MOWERS with three "high-lift " blades
to l ift grass up for level cuts.
LITTER WHISK LAWN SWEEPER is more efficient than
conventional lawn
sweepers because of its wheel-less design;
only the rotary brush touches the ground.
SELF POWERED ROTO-TI LL ER prepa res soil for new
lawns
and gardens wit h a 30 or 38 inch wide tilling path.
OTHER SOIL TI LLAGE ATTACHMEN TSincluding Plow,
Disc Harrow, Drag Harrow
and Cultivator.
CHEVRON Tl RES for added traction in l oose soil, gravel
or snow.
SNOW BLOWER handles wet, heavy or powdery snow with
ease .
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
WARRANTY.
RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS .
1
1
. 2
.4
MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS
TROUBLE SHOOTING
REPAIR PARTS . . •
.6
.13
.14
FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY
ON ELECTRIC START GARDEN TRACTOR
For one year from th e date of purcha~c. ••,hen this Garden Tractor is used for personal household purposes, Sears
will repair any defect in material or workmanship in this Garden Tractor, except the battery, at no charge.
If this Garden Tractor is used for commercial or rent al purposes, this warranty applies for only 30 days from the
date of purchase.
FULL 90-DAY WARRANTY ON BATTERY
For 90 days from the d at e ot purchase, if any battery includ ed with the Garden Tractor proves defective in mat·
erial or workma nship and will not hold a cha rg e, Sears wi ll replace the battery, at no charge.
LIMITED WARRANTY ON BATTERY
From the 91st day until one year from the date of purchase, if any battery included with the Garden Tractor
proves defective in material or workmanship 1nd will not hold a charge, Sears will replace the battery, charging
1/12th of the price of the new battery for each full month from the date of purchase.
Warranty service
is available at your home, ai no charge, by simply contacting the nearest Sears store or Service
Center throughout the United States.
Th is warranty giv es you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sea rs Tower
sse 41·3
Chicago, IL 60684
RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION
1. Know the controls and how to stop quickly. READ THE
OWNER'S MANUAL.
2. Do not allow children to operate the vehicle. Do n ot allow
ad ults to operate it without pr oper instruction.
3. Do not carry passe ngers. Ke ep children and pets a safe dis-
tance away.
4. Clear
th e work area of objects wh ich might be picked up
and
thrown.
5. Disengage all attachment clu tc h es and shift into neutral be-
fore attempting to start the engine.
6. Disengage p
ow er to attachments and stop the engine be-
fore leaving the operator's posit ion.
7. Disengage power to attachments and stop th e engine before
making any repairs
or adjustments.
8. Disengage power
to attachments when transporting or not
in use .
9. Take all poss ibl e precautions when leaving the vehicle u n-
attended, such as disengaging the power·take·off, l ow ering
the attachments, shifting
into neutral, setting the parking
brake, stopping the eng i ne , and re mov ing the key.
10. Do not stop or start suddenly when going uphill or down-
h il l. Mow up and dow n the face of slopes (not greater than
15°); never across the face.
11. Reduce
speed on sl opes and ma ke turns gradua ll y to pre-
vent ti pp ing or loss of control. Exercise extreme caution
wh en changiny direction on s lo pes .
1
2. Stay alert for ho l es in the terrain and other hidden hazards.
13.
Use care when pulling l oads or us in g h eav y equipment.
a. Use o nly ap pr oved drawbar hit ch points.
b. Li mit loads to those you can safely control.
c. Do not turn sharply. Us e care when backing.
d.
Use counterweights or wheel weights when suggested in
this owner's manual.
14 . Watch out for traffic when crossing or near roadways.
15. When using any attachments, never direct discharge
of
material toward bystanders nor allow anyone near the ve·
hide while in operation.
16. Handle gasoline
with care · it is highly flammable.
a. Use approved gasoline containers.
b. Never remove the cap
of the fuel tank or add gasoline to
a running or hot engine, or fill the fuel tank in doors.
Wipe
up spilled gasoline.
c. Open doors
if the engine is run in the garage · exhaust
fumes
are dangerous. Do not run the engine indoors.
17 . Keep the vehic le and attachments in good operating con·
dition, and keep safety devices in place.
18. Keep all nuts, bolts and screws
tight to be sure the equip·
ment is in safe working condition .
19. Never store the equipment
with gasoline in the tank inside
a building where fumes may reach
an open flame or spark.
Allow the engine to cool before storing in any enclosure.
20. To reduce fire hazard, keep the engine free of grass, leaves ·
or excessive grease.
21. The vehicle and attachments should be stopped and inspect·
ed for damage after striking a foreign object, and the dam·
age should be repaired before restarting and operating the
equipment.
22.
Do not change the eng in e governor settings or overspeed
the
en gine.
23. When using the vehic
le wi th mower, proceed as follows:
a. Mow only in day li ght or in good artificial light .
b. Never make a cutting height adjustment while the engine
is running if the operator must dismount to do so.
c. Shut the engine off when removing the grass catcher or
unclogging chute.
d.
Ch ec k the blade mou nting bolts for proper tight ne ss at
frequent intervals.
24. Check the
grass catcher bags frequently for wear or deterio·
ration. Replace with new bags for safety protection.
A LOOK
FOR THIS SYMBOL TO POINT OUT IMPORTANT
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.
IT MEANS .. ATTENTION!
BECOME ALERT! YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED.
. 1 .
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I
•
CUT AWAY VIEW
FIGURE 1 :: ~-:. ..::.::.-:. ...::
) ':
BATTERY
-BOLT
\
BAT TERY
SUPPORT
SL
OT
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 5
SAFETY
VENT CAP
BATTERY
, I '?': TUBE
I rrBA TT ERY
CELL
...... _ ___ -
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- -- ----
To assemb le and adju st your Tr actor you wi ll need:
two 7
/16", one 9/ 16" and one 3/ 4" Wrenches.
ASSEMBLY
1. Remove Shipping Wires, Batter y, Steering Wheel and Bag of
Parts .
2
.Filli ng and charging Battery (before installing): NOTE: SEE
DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS PACKAGED WITH BAT-
TERY .
A WEAR EYE
AND FACE SHIELD.
a. Fill Battery with electrolyte to bottoms of tubes in cells
(Fig. 1). NOTE: DO NOT OVERFILL. OVERF ILLING
WILL RESULT IN DAMAGE TO TRACTOR.
A
WAS H HANDS OR CLOTHING IMMEDI-
ATELY IF AC CIDENT A LL Y IN CONTACT
WITH ELECTROLYTE.
b. Check level of electrolyte after 30 minutes. Add addi-
tional electrolyte if necessary. NOTE: Press Safety Vent
Caps down securely in place.
c. Cha rge Battery at a rate not exceeding three amperes
for about two and one half hours.
A DO
NOT SMOKE. FUMES FROM CHARG·
ED ELECTRO LYTE ARE EXPLOSIVE.
d. Neutralize excess electrolyte for disposal by adding it to
four inches of water in a five gallon plastic container.
Stir with a wooden or plastic paddle while adding bak-
ing soda until the addition of more soda causes no more
foaming.
3.1nstall Battery using:
Battery Clamp,
two Wing Nuts, two Battery Bolts,
Q):::DD @) ®
four Flat Washe rs, two Hex Bolts and two Hex Nuts found
in
Bag of Parts.
a. Gr asp each side of Hood at rear and pull outward and
upward (Fig. 2).
b. Remove tape from Plastic Tray. Position Plastic Tray so
that drain hole in Tr ay is over round hole of Battery
Support.
c. Place Battery in Plastic Tray (Battery Terminals to rear
of Tractor) (Fig. 3).
d. Hook one Battery Bolt into slot on the left side of
Battery Support (Fig. 3). Fasten Battery Clamp (inner
slot)
to Battery Bolt with a Flat Washer and Wing Nut.
e. Hook remaining Battery Bolt to right side of Battery
Support and fasten Battery Clamp to it with a Flat
Washer and Wing Nut (Fi g. 4). Tighten Wing Nuts
securely.
f.
Place a Flat Washer over the end of a Hex Bolt . Secure
RED Battery Cable to Positive (+ )Battery Terminal with
a Hex Bolt (Washer attached) and Hex Nut (Fig. 5).
Tighten
Nut securely. Place Boot over Terminal.
A
POS ITIVE TERMIN AL MU ST BE CON·
NECTED FIRST TO PREV ENT SPAR KS
F RO M ACCIDENT AL GR OUNDING.
g. Plac e remaining Flat Wa sher over the end of the remain-
ing Hex Bolt. Secure BLACK Ground Cab le to Negative
(-) Battery Terminal with Hex Bolt (Washer attached)
. 2 . and Hex Nut (Fig. 5). Tighten Nut se curely.
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4. 1nstall Steering Wheel using: Flat Washer, Lockwasher, and
Hex Bolt assembled on end of Steering Shaft; Woodruff
Key, and Steering
Wheel Insert found in Bag of Parts.
a. Remove Hex Bolt, Lockwasher and Flat Washer from
Steering Shaft (Fig. 6).
b. Insert Woodruff Key in Keyway of Steering Shaft and
slide Steering
Wheel over Shaft and Key. NOTE: BE
SURE WOODRUFF KEY IS SECURE IN STEER lNG
SHAFT .
c. Fasten with Flat Washer, Lockwasher and Hex Bolt
(Fig. 6). Tighten securely.
d. Press Steering Wheel Insert in place.
INITIAL ADJUSTMENTS
1. Reduce Tire pressure to 12 pounds in front and r ear Tires.
(Tires were overinflated for shipping purposes).
2. Seat position may be adjusted forward or backward by
loosening Nut in Seat Plate (Fig. 7). NOTE WH-EN RE·
TIGHTENING NUT AFTER ADJUSTMENT. MAKE SURE
SEAT PLATE HAS NOT TWISTED OUT OF ALIGN·
MENT WITH SEAT SPRING.
3.The By-Pass Valve Handle (Fig. 8) slides in and out, and
rotates
so that Ha ndle will engage the notch in Rotating
Plate. Moving the Handle up or down
with Handle engaging
notch
will open or close By- Pa ss Valve.
The By-Pass Valve must be in closed pos1t1on (rotate
down tight)
for tractor to operate with engine running.
Index handle up at least four notches if it becomes neces -
sary to push tractor with engine stopped.
NOTE: Do not force Valve.
THIS TRACTOR IS EQUIPPED WIT H
SAFETY SWITCHES TO PREVENT
START IN G OF THE TRACTOR ENGINE
WHILE THE ATTACHMENT CLUTCH
PEDAL IS IN THE
"ON" POSITION (FIG.
11) AND THE DRIVE CONTROL LEVER
IS IN " F" FORWARD OR " A" REVERSE
POSITIONS (FIG. 12).
IMMEDIATELY REPLACE SWITCHES
THAT ARE NOT IN PROPER WORKING
ORDER.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DEFEAT
THE PURPOSE OF THESE SWITCHES.
STEERING--~
WHEEL
INS ERT
STEERI
FIGURE 6
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