Engine Speed; To Adjust Cutting Height; Toconvert Mower - Craftsman 917.378451 Owner's Manual

The operation of any lawn
mower can result in foreign
objects thrown into the
eyes, which can result in
severe eye damage.
Always wear safety glasses or eye
shields while operating your lawn mower
or performing any adjustments or repairs.
We recommend standard safety glasses
or a wide vision safety mask over
spectacles.
HOWTO USEYOUR LAWN MOWER
ENGINE SPEED
The engine speed is controlled by a
throttle located on the side of the upper
handle. FAST position is for starting,
normal cutting, trimming and better grass
bagging. SLOW position is for light
cutting, trimming and fuel economy.
._ SLOW
FA ; i'
ENGINE ZONE CONTROL
_CAUTION: Federal regulations require
an engine control to be installed on this
lawn mower in order to minimize the risk
of blade contact injury. Do not under any
circumstances attempt to defeat the
function of the operator control. The blade
turns when the engine is running.
• Your lawn mower is equipped with an
operator presence control bar which
requires the operator to be positioned
behind the lawn mower handle to start
and operate the lawn mower.
DRIVE CONTROL
• Self-propelling is controlled by holding
the operator presence control bar down
to the handle and pushing the drive
control lever forward until it clicks; then
releasing the lever.
• Forward motion will stop when the
operator presence control bar is
released. To stop forward motion
without stopping engine, release the
operator presence control bar slightly
until the drive control disengages. Hold
operator presence control bar down
against handle to continue mowing
without self-propelling.
• To keep drive control engaged when
turning corners, push down on handle
and lift front wheels off ground while
turning lawn mower.
Operator presence control bar Drive
control
TO DRIVE
ENGAGE CONTROL
DRIVE CONTROL DISENGAGED
TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT
Raise wheels for low cut and lower
wheels for high cut, adjust cutting height
to suit your requirements. Medium
position is best for most lawns.
• To change cutting height, squeeze
adjuster lever toward wheel. Move
wheel up or down to suit your require-
ments. Be sure all wheels are in the
same setting.
NOTE: Adjuster is properly positioned
when plate tab inserts into hole in lever.
Also, 9-position adjusters (if so equipped)
allow lever to be positioned between the
plate tabs.
LOWER WHEELS FOR HIGH CUT
Plate
RAISE WHEELS FOR LOW CUT Lever
TOCONVERT MOWER
Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be
used as a mulcher. To convert to bagging:
• Lift rear door of the lawn mower and place
the grass catcher frame hooks onto the
door pivot pins.
• To convert to mulching operation, remove
grass catcher and close rear door.
• iLCAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower
without rear door closed, clipping
deflector or approved grass catcher in
place. Never attempt to operate the lawn
mower with the rear door removed or
propped open.
Pivot pins Rear Grass
catcher
handle
7 Catcher frame