Craftsman 138.98818 Operator's Manual page 12

MOWING TIPS
• Make sure the lawn is clear of stones, sticks,
wires, and other objects that could damage
the lawn mower blades or motor. Do not mow
over property stakes or other metal posts.
Such objects could damage the blade or
be accidentally thrown by the mower in any
direction and cause serious personal injury
to the operator and others.
• For a healthy lawn, always cut off one-third
or less of the total length of the grass.
• When cutting heavy grass, reduce walking
speed to allow for more effective cutting and
a proper discharge of the clippings.
• Do not cut wet grass. It will stick to the
underside of the deck and prevent proper
bagging or mulching of grass clippings.
• New or thick grass may require a narrower
cut or a higher cutting height.
• Clean the underside of the mower deck after
each use to remove grass clippings, leaves,
dirt, and any other accumulated debris.
NOTE: Always stop mower, allow blades to
completely stop, and remove the battery pack
before cleaning underneath the mower.
• Always be sure of your footing. A slip and
fall can cause serious personal injury. If you
feel you are losing your balance, release the
upper bail immediately.
• Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches, or
embankments; you could lose your footing or
balance.
EMPTYING THE GRASS CATCHER
See Figure 11.
• Stop the mower and allow blades to
completely stop.
• Remove battery pack(s).
• Lift the rear discharge door.
• Lift the grass catcher by its handle to remove
from mower.
• Empty grass clippings.
• Lift the rear discharge door and reinstall the
grass catcher as described earlier in this
manual.
• Reinstall battery pack(s) when you are ready
to mow.
SLOPE OPERATION
See Figure 10 and Slope Gauge on Page vi.
_, WARNING! Slopes are a major factor
related to slip and fall accidents that can result
in severe injury. Operation on slopes requires
extra caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do
not mow it. For your safety, do not attempt to
mow slopes greater than 15 degrees.
• Mow across the face of slopes, not up and
down. Exercise extreme caution when
changing direction on slopes.
• Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects,
or bumps which can cause you to slip or trip.
Tall grass can hide obstacles. Remove all
objects such as rocks, tree limbs, etc., which
could be tripped over or thrown by the blade.
12 -- English