Mowing Tips; Mulching Mowing Tips - Craftsman 917.377574 Owner's Manual

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 roar discharge lawn
mower in moist, heavy grass, clumps of
cut grass may not enter the grass
catcher. Reduce ground speed (push-
ing 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 best psrfonnance, keep
mower housing free of built-up grass and
trash. See "Cleaning" in Maintenance section
of this manual.
• The special mulching blade will recut the
grass clippings many times and reduce
them in ,_ze so that as they f_ onto the
lawn they will disperse into the grass and
not be noticed. Also, the mulched grass will
biodegrade quickly to provide nutrients for
the lawn. Always mulch with your highest
engine (blade) speed as this will provide the
best recutting action of the blades.
• Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet. Wet
grass tends to form dumps and interferes
with the mulching action. The best time to
mow your lawn is the early afternoon. At
this time the grass has dried and the newly
cut area WIUnot be exposed to the direct
sun.
• For best results, adjust the lawn mower
cutting height so that the lawn mower cuts
off only the top one-third of the grass blade_
If the lawn is overgrown it will be necessary
to miss the height of cut to reduce pushing
effort and to keep from overloading the
engine and leaving clumps of mulched
grass. For extremely heavy mulching,
reduce your width of cut by overlapping
previously cut path and mow slowly.
• Certain types of grass and grass conditiom
may require that an area be mulched a
second time to completely hide the
cr=ppings. Wben doing a secondcut,mow
across or perpendicular to the first cut path.
• Change your cutting pattern from week to
week. Mow nodh to ssuth one week then
change to east to west the next week. Thi_
will help prevent matting and graining of th_
lawn.
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