Craftsman 247.397900 Operator's Manual page 13

3. While continuing to hold the blade and drive controls together, push the
drive control forward to propel mower. See Figure 11. The farther the control
is pushed forward, the faster the mower will propel.
4. Once pressure is released from the control it will return to the neutral
position and the drive will be disengaged.
NOTE: For ease of use, while gripping the controls, simply lock your wrist and
elbows and walk - the unit will automatically adjust to your speed.
The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects being
thrown into the eyes, which can damage your eyes severely. Always
wear safety glasses while operating the mower, or while performing any
adjustments or repairs on it.
The following information will be helpful when operating your mower.
Plan your mowing pattern to avoid discharge of materials toward roads,
sidewalks, bystanders and the like. Also, avoid discharging material
against a wall or obstruction which may cause discharged material to
ricochet back toward the operator.
• Do not mow at fast ground speeds, especially if mulching or a grass collector
is installed.
• Do not cut the grass too short. Short grass is prone to weed growth and
yellows quickly in dry weather.
• For best results, it is recommended that the first two laps be cut with the
discharge thrown towards the center. After the first two laps, reverse the
direction to throw the discharge to the outside for the balance of cutting.
This will give a better appearance to the lawn.
• Do NOT attempt to mow heavy brush and weeds or extremely tall grass. Your
mower is designed to mow lawns, NOT clear brush.
• Keep the blades sharp and replace the blades when worn.
After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect the spark plug
wire and ground against the engine. Thoroughly inspect the mower for any
damage. Repair the damage before starting and operating the mower.
Using as Mulcher
For mulching grass, remove side discharge chute from the mower. When you
remove the side discharge chute, the mulch plug will close. For effective mulching,
do not cut wet grass. If the grass has been allowed to grow in excess of four inches,
mulching is not recommended.
OPERATION
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
If you strike a foreign object, stop the engine. Disconnect the spark plug
wire, thoroughly inspect mower for any damage, and repair damage
before restarting and operating. Extensive vibration of mower during
operation is an indication of damage. The unit should be promptly
inspected and repaired.
Operating on Slopes
Refer to the Slope Gauge on page 7 to help determine slopes where you may
operate the mower safely.
Do not mow on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degrees (a rise of
approximately 2-1/2 feet every 10 feet). The mower could overturn and
cause serious injury.
• Mow across the face of slopes; never 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.
• 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 blade control
handle immediately and the blade will stop rotating within three seconds.
• Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches or embankments, you could lose your
footing or balance.
• Do not mow on wet grass. Unstable footing could cause slipping.
13
Figure 11
WARNING
WARNING