Craftsman 247,204110 Operator's Manual

Beforeleavingthe operator'sseat:Shutoff the PTO,movethe RHandLHdrivecontrolleversfullyoutwardinthe neutralposition,engagethe parkingbrake0, shutoff the engineandremovethe ignitionkey.Waitforallmovementto stopbeforeservicingor cleaning.Operatethe drivecontrolleverssmoothlyandavoidanysuddenmovementsof the leverswhenstartingandstopping.Keepafirm griponthe controllevers.Becarefulwhenoperatingnearroadways.Stopthe ridingmowermotionandwaitfor vehiclesto passbeforeoperatingalongthe road.Donot operatethe ridingmowerwiththe mowerdeckremoved.Removalofthe deckwill changethe balanceof the ridingmower,andcouldcontributeto aridingmowerrollover.Avoidoperationon tractionsurfacesthat areunstable;useextremecautionif thesurfaceisslippery.Slowdown beforeturningandcometo acompletestop beforeanyzeroturnmaneuver.Donot stopthe ridingmoweror parkthe ridingmowerovercombustiblematerialssuchasdry grass,leaves,debris,etc.Donot fill the fueltank whenthe engineisrunningor whilethe engineishot.Allowthe engineseveralminutesto coolbeforerefueling.Tightenthefuelcapsecurely.Before Operating YourRidingmowerBeforeyouoperatethe ridingmower,studythismanualcarefullyto familiarizeyourselfwith theoperationofall the instrumentsandcontrols.It hasbeenpreparedto helpyouoperateandmaintainyourridingmowereffldently.Thisengineiscertifiedto operateonlyonclean,fresh,unleadedregulargasoline.Forbestresults,fill thefuel tank withonlyclean,fresh,unleadedgasolinewith a pumpstkkeroctaneratingof 87or higher.Unleadedgasolineisrecommendedbecauseit leaveslesscombustionchamberdepositsandreducesharmfulexhaustemissions.Leadedgasolineisnotrecommendedandmustnot beusedwhereexhaustemissionsareregulated.NOTE:Purchasegasolineinsmallquantities.Donot usegasolineleft overfromthe previousseason,to minimizegumdepositsinthe fuel system.Gasohol(upto 10%ethylalcohol,90% unleadedgasolinebyvolume)isanapprovedfuel.Othergasoline/alcoholblendsarenotapproved.MethylTertiaryButylEther(MTBE)andunleadedgasolineblends(upto amaximumof 15%MTBEbyvolume)areapprovedfuels.Othergasoline/etherblendsarenotapproved.Checkthe engineoil level.Cleanthe air cleanerelementifnecessary.Checkthe tire inflationpressures.Adjustthe seatfor operator'smaximumcomfort,visibilityandformaintainingcompletecontrolof the ridingmower.Safety Interlock SystemThisridingmowerisequippedwith asafetyinterlocksystemfor the protectionofthe operator.If the interlocksystemshouldevermalfunction,do not operatetheridingmower.Call1-800-659-5917to scheduleservicefromSearsParts& Repair.Thesafetyinterlocksystempreventstheenginefromcrankingorstartingunlessthe RHandLHdrivecontrolleversaremovedfullyoutwardtoeachsideintheneutralposition,the parkingbrakeisengaged,andthe PTOisdisengaged.Toavoidsuddenmovementwhendisengagingthe parkingbrake,the safetyinterlocksystemwill shutoffthe engineif the RHand/orLHdrivecontrolleversaremovedto apositionotherthanthe fullyout inthe neutralpositionwhenthe parkingbrakeisengaged.Thesafetyinterlocksystemwill shutoffthe engineifthe operatorleavestheseatbeforeengagingthe parkingbrake.Thesafetyinterlocksystemwill shutofftheengineiftheoperatorleavestheseatwiththe PTOengaged,regardlessofwhethertheparkingbrakeisengaged.NOTE:ThePTOswitchmustbemovedtothe"OFF"positionto restarttheengine.Thesafetyinterlocksystemwill shutoff the PTOandthe mowerbladeswillstopif bothdrivecontrolleversaremovedinto the reverseposition.ThePTOwill re-engagewhenoneor bothof the leversaremovedbackto eithertheneutralor forwardposition.Starting the EngineThisriding mowerisequippedwith a safetyinterlocksystemdesignedforthe protection of the operator. Donot operate the riding mower if any partof the interlocksystemismalfunctioning. Periodicallycheckthe functionsof the interlocksystemfor proper operation.Forpersonalsafety,the operatormust be sitting in the riding mower seatwhen starting the engine.1. Operatormustbesitting inthe tractorseatwith the controlleversfullyoutwardinneutral(parkingbrakeon).2. Makecertainthe PTOswitchis inthe disengaged(down)position.RefertoFigure11.RHControlLeverIll ControlLever 3 o o o o o o o GOntinNentral 3 o o o o o o o o _ OntinNentral0000000000000000000000Throttle/ChokeControltothe ChokePosition/(Disengaged)Position--__itchFigure1114