Craftsman 917.27581 manual

Owner ’ s Manual LA WN TRA CT OR 18.5 HP , 42” Mo wer Electr ic Star t 6 Speed T ransaxle This pr oduct has a low emission engine which operates differentl y from pre viously b uilt engines. Bef ore you start the engine, read and understand this Owner’ s Manual. IMPOR T ANT : Read and f ollo w all Saf ety Rules and Instructions before op er a[...]

2 T ABLE OF CONTENTS W ARRANTY W arranty ................................................. 2 Saf ety Rules ........................................... 3 Product Specifi cations ............................ 6 Assembly/Pre-Oper ation ........................ 8 Operation .............................................. 11 Maintenance Schedule .........[...]

3 SAFETY R ULES I. GENERAL OPERA TION • Read, understand, and f ollow all instructions on the machine and in the manual bef ore star ting. • Do not put hands or f eet near rotating par ts or under the machine. K eep clear of the discharge opening at all times. • Only allow responsib le adults, who are f amiliar with the instructions, to opera[...]

4 SAFETY R ULES II. SLOPE OPERA TION Slopes are a major f actor related to loss of control and tip-ov er accidents, which can result in se vere injury or death. Oper a- tion on all slopes requires e xtra caution. If you cannot bac k up the slope or if y ou feel uneasy on it, do not mow it. • Mow up and do wn slopes, not across. • W atch f or ho[...]

5 SAFETY R ULES • Remov e gas-pow ered equipment from the truck or trailer and refuel it on the ground. If this is not possible , then refuel such equipment with a por table container , r ather than from a gasoline dispenser nozzle. • K eep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel tank or container opening at all times until fueling is co[...]

6 CUST OMER RESPONSIBILITIES • Read and obser ve the saf ety rules. • Follo w a regular schedule in main- tain ing, caring for and using y our tractor . • Follo w the instructions under “Main te - nance” and “Stor age” sec tions of this own er’ s manual. W ARNING: This tr actor is equipped with an inter nal com bus tion engine and s[...]

7 UNASSEMBLED P AR TS (1) Washer 17/32 x 1-3/16 x 12 Gauge (1) Knob Seat Steering Wheel Steering Wheel Insert (1) Large Flat Washer (1) 5/16 Lock Washer (1) Hex Bolt 5/16-18 x 4 Steering Boot Steering Extension Shaft Steering Wheel Adapter Keys Slope Sheet (1) Oil Drain Tube For Future Use[...]

8 Y our new tractor has been assemb led at the f actor y with the exception of those parts left unassembled f or shipping pur poses. T o ensure saf e and proper operation of your tr actor all par ts and hardware y ou as sem ble must be tightened securely . Use the correct tools as nec es sar y to in sure proper tightness. ASSEMBL Y/PRE-OPERA TION T[...]

9 T O ROLL TRA CT OR OFF SKID (See Op er a tion section for location and function of con trols) 1. Press lift le ver plunger and r aise at tach ment lift le ver to its highest po- si tion. 2. Release parking brake b y depressing clutch/brak e ped al. 3. Place gearshift le ver in neutr al (N) po si tion. 4. Roll tractor f orward off skid. 5. Remov e[...]

10 CHECK TIRE PRESSURE The tires on your tr actor were ov er in - fl ated at the f actor y for shipping pur pos es. Correct tire pressure is impor tant for best cutting perf or mance. • Reduce tire pressure to PSI shown in “PRODUCT SPEC I FI CA TIONS” section of this manual. CHECK DECK LEVELNESS F or best cutting results, mo wer hous- ing sh[...]

11 OPERA TION These symbols ma y appear on your tr actor or in literature supplied with the product. Lear n and understand their meaning. DANGER, KEEP HANDS AND FEET AWAY FREE WHEEL (Automatic Models only) OVER TEMP LIGHT KEEP AREA CLEAR SLOPE HAZARDS 15 15 (SEE SAFETY RULES SECTION) BATTERY REVERSE FORWARD FAST SLOW ENGINE ON ENGINE OFF OIL PRESSU[...]

12 KNO W Y OUR TRA CT OR READ THIS O WNER'S MANU AL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERA TING Y OUR TRA CT OR Compare the illustrations with y our tractor to f amiliarize yourself with the locations of v ar ious controls and ad just ments. Sav e this manual f or future reference . Our tractors conf or m to the saf ety standards of the American Nation[...]

13 01844 The op er a tion of any trac tor can result in f oreign objects thrown into the ey es, which can result in se vere e ye dam age. Al wa ys wear safety glass es or ey e shields while op er at ing your trac tor or per fo r m ing any ad just ments or repairs. W e rec om mend a wide vi sion safe ty mask ov er spec ta cles or stan dard safety gl[...]

14 01994 Attachment Lift Le ver High P osition Attachment Clutch Le ver “Engaged” P osition “Disengaged” P osition Low P osition Defl ector Shield T O OPERA TE MO WER Y our tractor is equipped with an operator presence sensing s witch. Any attempt by the oper ator to leav e the seat with the engine running and the attachment clutch engaged[...]

15 ADD GASOLINE • Fill fuel tank to bottom of fi ller neck. Do not ov erfi ll. Use fresh, clean, regular un lead ed gasoline with a minimum of 87 octane. (Use of leaded gasoline will increase carbon and lead o xide deposits and reduce v alve lif e). Do not mix oil with gasoline. Purchase fuel in quan- ti ties that can be used within 30 da ys to[...]

16 MO WING TIPS • Mower should be properly le veled f or best mowing perf or mance. See “T O LEVEL MO WER HOUSING” in the Ser vice and Adjustments section of this manual. • The left hand side of mower should be used f or trim ming. • Dr iv e so that clippings are dis charged onto the area that has already been cut. Hav e the cut area to t[...]

17 MAINTENANCE BEFORE EACH USE T R A C T 0 R Inspect Muffler/Spark Arrester Lubrication Chart Check Brake Operation Clean Air Filter Change Engine Oil (with oil filter) Replace Air Filter Paper Cartridge Replace Spark Plug Check Battery Level Check Tire Pressure Clean Battery and Terminals FILL IN DATES AS YOU COMPLETE REGULAR SERVICE MAINTENANCE S[...]

18 TRA CT OR Alwa ys obser ve saf ety r ules when per- fo r m ing any main te nance. BRAKE OPERA TION If tractor requires more than fi v e (5) feet to stop at highest speed in high est gear on a le vel, dry concrete or pav ed surf ace, then brak e must be chec ked and ad just ed. (See “T O ADJUST BRAKE” in the Ser vice and Ad just ments sectio[...]

19 TRANSAXLE COOLING K eep transaxle free from build-up of dir t and chaff which can restrict cooling. V -BEL TS Check V -belts for deterioration and w ear after 100 hours of operation and replace if necessar y . The belts are not ad just able. Re place belts if they begin to slip from wear . TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE SAE[...]

20 AIR FIL TER Y our engine will not r un properly using a dir ty air fi lter . Replace pre-cleaner after e very 25 hours of operation or e very season. Ser vice paper car tridge e very 100 hours of operation or e ver y season, whiche ver occurs fi rst. Ser vice air cleaner more often under dusty conditions. 1. Pull up on air fi lter cover handl[...]

21 02696 CLEANING • Clean engine, batter y , seat, fi nish, etc. of all f oreign matter . • K eep fi nished surf aces and wheels free of all gasoline, oil, etc. • Protect painted surfaces with au to - mo tive type w ax. SER VICE AND ADJUSTMENTS W ARNING: T O A V OID SERIOUS INJUR Y , BEFORE PERFORMING ANY SER VICE OR AD JUST MENTS: 1. Depre[...]

22 01156 00598 01267 Both F ront Links Should be Equal in Length Nut “F” Ground Line Bottom edge of mow er to ground 01553 Suspension Ar m Lift Link Adjustment Nut 01268 Bottom edge of mow er to ground A A T runnion F ront Links Nut “E” “D” “D” Mandrel T O LEVEL MO WER HOUSING Adjust the mow er while tractor is parked on le vel g ro[...]

23 0231 4 Mandrel Pulley Mandrel Pulley Idler Pulleys T O CHECK AND ADJUST BRAKE Y our tractor is equipped with an ad just able brak e system which is mounted on the right side of the transaxle. If tractor requires more than fi v e (5) feet to stop at highest speed in high est gear on a le vel, dry concrete or pav ed surf ace, then brak e must be [...]

24 T O AD JUST STEER ING WHEEL ALIGN- MENT If steering wheel crossbars are not hor i zon tal (left to r ight) when wheels are positioned straight f orward, remov e steer- ing wheel and reassemble with crossbars horizontal. Tighten securely . FRONT WHEEL T OE-IN/CAM BER The front wheel toe-in and camber are not adjustable on y our tractor . If dam a[...]

25 02495 Hood Headlight Wire Connector T O REPLA CE HEADLIGHT BULB 1. Raise hood. 2. Pull bulb holder out of the hole in the backside of the g rill. 3. Replace bulb in holder and push b ulb holder securely back into the hole in the backside of the g rill. 4. Close hood. T O REMO VE HOOD AND GRILL AS- SEMBL Y 1. Raise hood. 2. Unsnap headlight wire [...]

26 01915 Idle Speed Screw Throttle Le ver Idle Mixture V alve With Limiter 01041 Gov er nor Control Le ver Gov er nor Control Plate Throttle Cable Holes “A” Clamp Screw ENGINE Maintenance, re pair , or re place ment of the emission con trol de vic es and sys tems, which are be ing done at the cus tom ers expense , ma y be perf or med by an y no[...]

27 ST ORA GE Immediately prepare your tr actor f or stor- age at the end of the season or if the trac- tor will not be used f or 30 da ys or more. CA UTION: Ne ver store the tr ac tor with gas o line in the tank inside a building where fumes ma y reach an open fl ame or spark. Allow the engine to cool bef ore storing in any en clo sure. TRA CT OR [...]

28 Will not start 1. Out of fuel. 1. Fill fuel tank. 2. Engine not “CHOKED” 2. See “T O ST ART ENGINE” properly . in Operation section. 3. Engine fl ooded. 3. W ait sev eral minutes bef ore attempting to star t. 4. Bad spark plug. 4. Replace spar k plug. 5. Dir ty air fi lter . 5. Clean/replace air fi lter . 6. Dir ty fuel fi lter . 6. [...]

29 Loss of power 1. Cutting too much gr ass/too 1. Raise cutting height/reduce f ast. speed. 2. Throttle in “CHOKE” position. 2. Adjust throttle control. 3. Build-up of grass , leav es 3. Clean un der side of mow er and trash under mow er . housing. 4. Dir ty air fi lter . 4. Clean/replace air fi lter . 5. Low oil le vel/dir ty oil. 5. Check [...]

30 Mower b lades will 1. Obstruction in clutch 1. Remov e obstr uction. not rotate mechanism. 2. W or n/damaged mower driv e 2. Replace mower driv e belt. belt. 3. F rozen idler pulley . 3. Replace idler pulley . 4. F rozen blade mandrel. 4. Contact a Sears or other qualifi ed service center . P oor grass 1. Engine speed too slow . 1. Place thrott[...]

31 15 DEGREES MAX. FOLD ALONG DOTTED LINE THIS IS A 15 DEGREE SLOPE ONLY RIDE UP AND DOWN HILL, NOT ACROSS HILL SUGGESTED GUIDE FOR SIGHTING SLOPES FOR SAFE OPERATION WARNING: To avoid serious injury, operate your tractor up and down the face of slopes, never across the face. Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees. Make turns gradually to preven[...]

194243 12.01.04 TR Printed in U .S.A. 02410 Para pedir s ervicio de repar ación a dom icilio, y para ordenar piezas : 1-888-SU-HO GAR SM (1-888-784-6427) Au Canada pour ser vice en franç ais: 1-800-LE- FOYER MC (1-800-533-6937) ww w.sea rs.ca To purchase a protection ag reement (U.S.A.) or mai ntenance agree m ent (Canada) on a produ ct serviced [...]