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Owner's Manual
£RAFTSMAN °
185 HP
ELECTRIC START
42" MOWER
AUTOMATIC
LAWN TRACTOR
Model No
917.270760
• Safety
• Assembly
• Operation
• Maintenance
• Repair Parts
CAUTION:
For answers to your questions
about this product, Call:
Read and follow all Safety
Rules and Instructions before 1-800-659-5917
Sears Craftsmen Help Line
operating this equipment
5 am - 5 pm, Mon - Sat
Seam, Roebuck and Co, Hoffman Estates, II 60179
Visit our Craftsman website:wv, w sears corn/craftsman
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Warranty ............................................... 2 Maintenance ....................................... 18 Safety Rules ......................................... 3 Service and Adjustments .................... 22 Product Specifications .......................... 5 Storage ............................................... 29 Assembly .............................................. 7 Troubleshooting ................................. 30 Operation ............................................ 11 R
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IMPORTANT: This cutting machine is can result in severe injury or death. All capable of amputating hands and feet slopes require extra caution. If you cannot and throwing objects. Failure to observe back up the slope or if you feel uneasy on the following safety instructions could it, do not mow it. result in serious injury or death. DO: GENERAL OPERATION , Mow up and down slopes, not across. • Read, understand, and follow all • Remove obstacles such as rocks, tree instructions in the manual and
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• Never tamper with safety devices. • Before and when backing, look behind and down for small children. Check their proper operation regularly. • Keep machine free of grass, leaves, or • Never carry children. They may fall off other debris build-up. Clean oil or fuel and be seriously injured or interfere spillage. Allow machine to cool before with safe machine operation. storing. • Never allow children to operate the machine. • Stop and inspect the equipment if you strike an object. Repair, if n
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_CAUTION: Tow only the attachments ,_LLook for this symbol to point out that are recommended by and comply important safety precautions. It means CAUTION!!! BECOMEAWARE71! YOUR with specifications of the manufacturer of your tractor. Use common sense when _FETY IS INVOLVED. towing. Operate only at the lowest CAUTION: In order to prevent acciden- possible speed when on a slope. Too tal starting when setting up, transporting, heavy of a load, while on a slope, is adjusting or making repairs always
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Steering Wheel 0 Extension Steering Shaft Steering Sleeve t teering Wheel Adapter (1) Hex Bolt 3/8-16 x 1 Wheel Insert _ 1) Lock washer 3/8 (1) Hex Bolt 5/16-18 x 1-1/4 (1) Large Flat (1) Washer Locknut 5/16-18 Seat (1) Shoulder Bolt 5/16-18 (1) Washer 17/32 x 1-3/16 x 12 Gauge (1) Knob Video Cassette Keys Slope Sheet (2) Keys "-'t 6
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Your new tractor has been assembled at the factory with exception of those parts left unassembled for shipping purposes. To ensure safe and proper operation of your tractor all parts and hardware you assemble must be tightened securely. Use the correct tools as necessary to insure proper tightness. TOOLS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY • Assemble large flat washer, 3/8 lock A socket wrench set will make assembly washer, 3/8 hex bolt and tighten easier. Standard wrench sizes you need securely. are listed b
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HOW TO SET UP YOUR TRACTOR NOTE: You may now roll or drive you tractor off the skid. Follow the appropriate CHECK BATTERY instruction below to remove the tractor • Lift seat pan to raised position and from the skid. open battery box door. TO ROLL TRACTOR OFF SKID (See • If this battery is put into service after Operation section for location and month and year indicated on label (label located between terminals) function of controls) charge battery for minimum of one • Press lift lever plunger a
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INSTALL MULCHER PLATE • Slowly move the motion control lever forward and slowly drive tractor off (If previously removed) skid. • Raise and hold deflector shield in • Apply brake to stop tractor, set parking upright position. brake and place motion control lever • Place front of mulcher plate over front in neutral position. of mower deck opening and slide into • Turn ignition key to "OFF" position. place, as shown. Continue with the instructions that follow. • Hook front latch into hole on front
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CHECKLIST WHILE LEARNING HOWTO USE YOUR BEFORE YOU OPERATE AND ENJOY TRACTOR, PAY EXTRAATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT ITEMS: YOUR NEW TRACTOR, WE WISH TO ASSURE THAT YOU RECEIVE THE 4' Engine oil is at proper level. BEST PERFORMANCE AND J Fuel tank is filled with fresh, clean, SATISFACTION FROM THIS QUALITY regular unleaded gasoline. #" Become familiar with all controls - their PRODUCT. PLEASE REVIEW THE FOLLOWING location and function. Operate them CHECKLIST: before you start the engine.
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These symbols may appear on your tractor or in literature supplied with the product. Learn and understand their meaning. BATTERY CAUTION OR REVERSE FORWARD FAST SLOW WARNING ENGINE ON ENGINE OFF OIL PRESSURE LIGHTS ON OVER TEMP LIGHT L FUEL CHOKE MOWER HEIGHT PARKING BRAKE UNLOCKED MOWER LIFT LOCKED H L ATTACHMENT REVERSE NEUTRAL HIGH LOW PARKING BRAKE CLUTCH ENGAGED KEEP AREA CLEAR SLOPE HAZARDS ATTACHMENT (SEE SAFETY RULES SECTION) CLUTCH DISENGAGED IGNITION FREE WHEEL DANGER, KEEP HANDS AND F
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KNOWYOUR TRACTOR READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR TRACTOR Compare the illustrations with your tractor to familiarize yourself with the locations of various controls and adjustments. Save this manual for future reference. Light Switch Attachment Ignition Clutch Lever Switch Ammeter " -'--. . Lever Choke Contro[_ Plunger Throttle Lift Lever Clutch/ Brake Pedal Height Adjustment Indicator Free Wheel Control g Brake Lever Approxq Speed: I I 3MPH_J 2MPH_ Our tractors co
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The operation of any tractor can result in foreign objects thrown into the eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields while operating your tractor or performing any adjustments or repairs. We recommend a wide vision safety mask over spectacles or standard safety glasses. HOW TO USE YOUR TRACTOR • Never use choke to stop engine. IMPORTANT: Leaving the ignition TO SET PARKING BRAKE switch in any position other than "OFF" Your tractor is equipped with an
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These heights are approximate and may • Start mower blades by engaging vary depending upon soil conditions, attachment clutch control. • TO STOP MOWER BLADES - disen- height of grass and types of grass being mowed. zage attachment clutch control. • The average lawn should be cut to CAUTION: Do not operate the mower approximately 2-1/2 inches during the without either the entire grass catcher, on cool season and to over 3 inches mowers so equipped, or the deflector during hot months. For healthie
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• Pull freewheel control out and down ADDGASOLINE into the slot and release so it is held in • Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular the disengaged position. unleaded gasoline with a minimum of • Do not push or tow tractor at more 87 octane. (Use of leaded gasoline than two (2) MPH. will increase carbon and lead oxide • To reengage transmission, reverse deposits and reduce valve life). Do above procedure. not mix oil with gasoline. Purchase fuel in quantities that can be used NOTE: To protec
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• Insert key into ignition and turn key • The attachments can be used during clockwise to "START" position and the engine warm-up period after the release key as soon as engine starts. transmission has been warmed up Do not run starter continuously for and may require the choke control be more than fifteen seconds per minute. pulled out slightly. If the engine does not start after NOTE: If at a high altitude (above 3000 several attempts, push choke control feet) or in cold temperatures (below 32
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• Sitting in the tractor seat, start engine. After the engine is running, move throttle control to half (1/2) speed. With motion control lever in neutral (N) position, slowly disengage clutch/ brake pedal. • Slowly move motion control lever forward, after the tractor moves approximately five (5) feet, slowly MULCHING MOWING TIPS move motion control lever to reverse IMPORTANT: For best performance, position. After the tractor moves approximately five (5) feet return the keep mower housing free of
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MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE _ AS YOU COMPLETE _ .O_>/'_.o, _1, REGULAR SERVICE sER v,cEDATES e::;o.+::lon Check Operator presence end T Intedock Systems R Check for Loose Fasteners V' _T V' T Lubdcstion Chart O Check Battery Level A Sharpen/Replace Mower Blades _4 R Clean Battery and Terminals I_ Check Transaxle Cooling V' Adjust Blade Belt(s) Tension I_s Adjust Motion Odve Belt(s) Tension +I, Check Engine Oil Level _ I_ Change Engine Oil _1,2,3 E Clean Air Filter _2 N Clean Air Screen I_#'2 Inspect Mu
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TRACTOR • Tighten bolt securely (27-35 R. Lbs. torque). Always observe safety rules when IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is Grade 8 heat performing any maintenance. treated. BRAKE OPERATION Mandrel Assembly TrailingEdge Up 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 section of Fiat Washer_.._ "_r_ (____ Blade __.. Center H_le _ _S_tar this manual). Lock Washer "_"_, TIRES • Ma
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Corrosionand dirt on the battery and NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils terminals can cause the battery to "leak" (5W30, 10W30 etc.) improve starting in power. cold weather, these multi-viscosity oils will • Open battery box door. result in increased oil consumption when • Disconnect BLACK battery cable first used above 32°1:. Check your engine oil then RED battery cable and remove level more frequently to avoid possible battery from tractor. engine damage from running low on oil. • Rinse the b
