Craftsman C459.60310 - Driving On Slopes

15
OPERATION
5. The lawn tractor is brought to a stop by depressing the brake
pedal.
WARNING
Before leaving the operator’s position for any reason, disengage the
blades, place the shift lever in neutral, engage the parking brake,
shut engine off and remove the key.
IMPORTANT: When stopping the tractor for any reason while on a
grass surface, always:
1. Place the shift lever in neutral,
2. Engage the parking brake,
3. Shut engine off and remove the key. Doing so will minimize the
possibility of having your lawn ‘‘browned’’ by hot exhaust from
your tractor’s running engine.
DRIVING ON SLOPES
Refer to the SLOPE GAUGE in the Safety Instructions section of the
manual to help determine slopes where you may operate this tractor
safely.
WARNING
Do not mow on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degrees (a rise
of approximately 2-1/2 feet every 10 feet). The tractor could overturn
and cause serious injury.
• Mow up and down slopes, NEVER across.
• Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.
• Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden objects.
Uneven terrain could overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide
obstacles.
• Avoid turns when driving on a slope. If a turn must be made, turn
down the slope. Turning up a slope greatly increases the chance
of a roll over.
• Avoid stopping when driving up a slope. If it is necessary to stop
while driving up a slope, start up smoothly and carefully to reduce
the possibility of flipping the tractor over backward.
ENGAGING THE BLADES
Engaging the PTO (Blade Engage) transfers power to the cutting deck
or other (separately available) attachments. To engage the blades,
proceed as follows:
1. Move the throttle/choke control lever to the FAST (rabbit) position.
2. Grasp the PTO (Blade Engage) lever and pivot it all the way
forward into the engaged (ON) position.
3. Keep the throttle lever in the FAST (rabbit) position for the most
efficient use of the cutting deck or other (separately available)
attachments.
NOTE: The engine will automatically shut off if the PTO (Blade
Engage) lever is moved into the engaged (ON) position with the shift
lever in Reverse.
4. Activate the choke control by moving the throttle/choke lever all
the way up into the choke position.
5. Turn the ignition key clockwise to the START position. After the engine
starts, release the key. It will return to the ON (or Normal Mowing)
position.
CAUTION
Do NOT hold the key in the START position for longer than ten
seconds at a time. Doing so may cause damage to your engine’s
electric starter.
6. After the engine starts, deactivate the choke control and place the
throttle control in the FAST position.
NOTE: Do NOT leave the choke control on while operating the tractor.
Doing so will result in a “rich” fuel mixture and cause the engine to run
poorly.
STOPPING THE ENGINE
WARNING
If you strike a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect the spark
plug wire(s) and ground against the engine. Thoroughly inspect the
machine for any damage. Repair the damage before restarting and
operating
1. If the blades are engaged, place the PTO (Blade Engage) lever in
the disengaged (OFF) position.
2. Turn the ignition key counterclockwise to the STOP position.
3. Remove the key from the ignition switch to prevent unintended
starting.
DRIVING THE TRACTOR
WARNING
Avoid sudden starts, excessive speed and sudden stops.
WARNING
Do not leave the seat of the tractor without first placing the PTO
(Blade Engage) lever in the disengaged (OFF) position, depressing
the brake pedal and engaging the parking brake. If leaving the tractor
unattended, also turn the ignition key off and remove the key.
WARNING
Always look down and behind before and while backing up to avoid a
back-over accident.
1. Depress the brake pedal to release the parking brake and then let
the pedal up.
2. Move the throttle lever into the FAST (rabbit) position.
3. Place the shift lever in either the FORWARD or REVERSE
position.
IMPORTANT: Do NOT use the shift lever to change the direction of
travel when the tractor is in motion. Always use the brake pedal to
bring the tractor to a complete stop before shifting.
4. Gradually begin to apply pressure to the drive pedal. The further
down the pedal is pushed, the faster the tractor will travel in the
desired direction based on the position of the shift lever.