Craftsman 247.887330 Operator's Manual page 13

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Look behind the mower before and during reverse operation. Stop
the mower blades before operating in reverse.
USiNG The MOWeR
IMPORTANT: Always release the drive control before changing
speeds. Refer to "Know your Mower" section for mower control details.
Be sure lawn is clear of stones, sticks, wire, or other objects which
could damage lawn mower or engine. Such objects could be accidently
thrown by the mower in any direction and cause serious personal injury
to the operator and others. For best results, do not cut wet grass and
never cut off more than one-third of the total length of the grass.
1. Once the engine is running, slowly squeeze the drive control
against the upper handle to propel the unit. To activate the cutting
blades, squeeze the blade control against the upper handle.
2. To change gears, release the drive control lever and move the
gear shift lever to the desired setting. When first practicing with
the mower, put the lever in No. 1 position. Select forward speeds
according to mowing conditions and terrain. Use slower speeds
on rough terrain or when grass is heavy or thick. The forward
speed can be increased on smooth terrain or if the grass cover is
light. Allow the wheels to stop completely before shifting from one
speed into another.
IMPORTANT: Be aware that when engaging the drive control
lever with the gear shift lever in 3rd or 4th gear, the power and
torque generated may cause the unit to lurch forward. To avoid
this, slowly squeeze the drive control lever against the upper
handle.
3. To stop the blades, release the blade control. To stop the drive
control to the wheels, release the drive control.
STOppiNG The MOWeR
1. Release blade and drive control to stop wheels and deck blades.
2. Move throttle/choke control lever down to slow (turtle)
position. Whenever possible, gradually reduce engine speed
before stopping engine.
3. Move throttle/choke control lever all the way down to stop
position .
4. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and ground against
the engine.
MOviNG The MOWeR WiThOUT
eNGiNe pOWeR
The mower can be manually pushed or pulled by placing the gear shift
lever into N (neutral) position and pressing the drive control against the
handlebar grip.
OpERATION
MULChiNG OR Side-diSChARGe MOWiNG
You can use the mower either as a mulching mower or as a side-
discharge mower. To use the mulching feature, insert the mulch plug
as described below. Remove the mulch plug to side-discharge grass
clippings.
The mulch plug is designed to keep the discharge chute raised up
while mowing. When the plug is removed, the discharge chute will
lower itself for side-discharge mowing.
Before installing or removing mulch plug, stop engine, wait for parts
to stop moving, and disconnect spark plug wire.
To install or remove mulch plug:
1. Stop the engine and wait for all parts to stop moving.
2. Disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug.
3. To install the mulch plug, insert the right-side tab (A) of the plug
into the bracket on the deck, Figure 8.
4. Insert the cover into the discharge opening (B), Figure 8.
5. After the mulch plug has been placed into the deck opening, push
the plug towards the rear of the mower (C) to fit the plug properly
into the opening, Figure 8.
6. To remove the plug, slide the cover to the right (front of mower) to
disengage the slot from the mower deck and then pry the left-side
of the cover out and off.
Keep hands and feet away from the discharge opening of the cutting
deck.
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C
B
A
Figure 8
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