Craftsman 917.388760 Owner's Manual page 9

TO STOP ENGINE
• To stop engine, release operator
presence control bar.
NOTE: In cooler weather it may be
necessary to repeat priming steps. In
warmer weather over pdming may cause
flooding and engine will not start. If you
do flood engine wait a few minutes before
attempting to start and do not repeat
priming steps.
MOWING TIPS
• Under certain conditions, such as very
tall grass, it may be necessary to raise
the height of cut to reduce pushing
effort and to keep from overloading the
engine and leaving clumps of grass
clippings. It may also be necessary to
reduce ground speed and/or run the
lawn mower over the area a second
time.
• For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the
width of cut by overlapping previously
cut path and mow slowly.
• For better grass bagging and most
cutting conditions, the engine speed
should be set in the FAST position.
• When using a rear discharge lawn
mower in moist, heavy grass, clumps of
cut grass may not enter the grass
catcher. Reduce ground speed
(pushing speed) and/or run the lawn
mower over the area a second time.
• If a trail of clippings is left on the right
side of a rear discharge mower, mow in
a clockwise direction with a small
overlap to collect the clippings on the
next pass.
• Pores in cloth grass catchers can
become filled with dirt and dust with
use and catchers will collect less grass.
To prevent this, regularly hose catcher
off with water and let dry before using.
• Keep top of engine around starter clear
and clean of grass clippings and chaff.
This will help engine air flow and
extend engine life.
MULCHING MOWING TIPS
IMPORTANT: For bestperformance,keep
mower housingfree of built-upgrass and
trash.See "CLEANING"in the Maintenance
sectionof this manual.
• The special mulchingblade willrecutthe
grass clippingsmany limes and reduce
them in s'B_e s o tha_as they fallontothe
lawn they will disperseintothe grassand
not be noticed. Also,the mulchedgrass
will biodegradequickly to providenutrients
for the lawn. Always mulchwith your
highestengine (blade) speed as this will
providethe best recuttingactionof the
blades.
• Avoklcuttingyour lawnwhen itis weL Wet
grass tendsto formclumpsand interferes
with the mulchingaclJon.The besttime to
mow your lawn is the early afternoon. At
this time the grass has driedand the newly
cut area will not be exposedto the direct
sun.
• For best results,adjust the lawnmower
cuttingheightso thatthe lawn mowercuts
off onlythe top one-thirdof the grass
blades. If the lawn isovergrownitwill be
neceesaryto raise the he'_jhtof cut to
reducepushingeffortand to keep from
overloadingthe engine and leaving
dumps of mulchedgrass. For extremely
heaW grass, reduceyourwidthof cut by
overlappingpreviouslycut path and mow
slowly.
• Certaintypes of grass and grass condi-
tions may requirethat an area be mulched
a secondtime to completelyhide the
clippings.When doinga secondcut, mow
acrossor perpendicular to the firstcut path.
• Change your cuttingpettem fromweek to
week. Mow north to south one week then
changeto east towest the next week. This
will help preventmatting and grainingof
the lawn.
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