Operation - Craftsman 917.249121 Owner's Manual

OPERATION
TIPS FOR IMPROVED BAGGING
OPERATION:
Follow the mower operation instructionsin your tractor
owner'smanual.
When operatingyourgrass catcheron a lawn where grass
and leaf bagging equipment has not been used, you are
pickingupthatch and debristhat has accumulatedfor long
periodsoftime. The amountcollectedand the total timeof
operation may be greater than you will experience with
regularuse of yourgrass catcher.
Always runthrottleat full speed when bagging.
Select a gear low enoughto givegood mower cutting
performance,good qualitycut andgood baggingper-
formance.
NOTE: IT MAY BENECESSARY TO OVERLAPWIDTH OF
CUT TO SUIT YOUR CONDITIONS.
If grassisextremelytall,itshouldbe mowedtwice.The
first time relatively high, the second time to desired
height.
Use left hand side of mower fortdmming.
Plastictrash bagscan be insertedinsidegrasscatcher
containersfor ease of debris disposal To remove the
plastictrash bags when full:
a. Raise seat. Unlatch and raise cover.
b. Remove one container at a time by graspingcon-
tainerhandlesand pullingtowardthe rear,offofthe
tube rails.
c. Withthe containerrestingon theground,closeand
securethe top ofthe plasticlawnbag.
d. Tip thecontainer on itssideand slide thefilledbag
fromthe container.
e. Install a newplasticlawn bag withthe edges ofthe
bag draped over upper lip of the Container (for
replacement bags refer to REPLACEMENT
PARTS).
f. Repeat for othercontainer.
g. Reinstallcontainers making sure right container
overlaps leftcontainerat center support.
h. Close cover and secure latch over canter support
tube.
Avoidcutting wetgrass or inthe morningwhilethedew
is still heavy. Grass clippingscollected under these
conditionstend to be stickyand adhere tothe walls of
the flow path causing clogging.
Yourbaggerisequipped witha full bagger indicator.As
the bags becomefull, movementof the wheel willslow
downand/orstop, Indicating thatthe bagsarefull or the
chuteshavebecomeclogged.Careshouldbe taken not
todamagethe partsandthat thewheelspinsfreelyat the
beginningofeach use.
If the grass catcherfails to pick up cutgrass or leaves,
it is an indication that clogging has occurred in the
system or that the grass catcher containers are full.
Usually thisis indicatedbythe stoppedmovement of the
full bagger indicator.
a. Disengage blades, shift into neutral, en-
gage the parkingbrake and stopthe engine,
- Raise seat. Unlatch and raise cover.
- Slide out containers and disposeof clippings.
- Replacecontainers; close cover,and latch.
b. Unlatchchutesand check for clogging
- Remove all debris in chutes.
- Reassembleand latch chutes
c. Check to insure full bagger indicatorhas
not becomeclogged.
- The air passage hole must be clear of debris.
Gently insert a small twig or wire intopassage-
way to clear.
CAUTION
Do not operate mower with grass catcher
partially Installed,
Disengage blades and stop engine before
leaving tractor seat to empty containers,
unclogging chutes, etc.
Close cover before starting.
Disengage mower when crossingdriveways
or gravel surfaces and other areas where
thrown objects could be a hazard.
Do not attempt to vacuum up cans or other
potentially hazardous projectiles.
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