Craftsman 917.377421 Owner's Manual page 7

The operation of anylawnmowercan
resultin foreignobjectsthrownintothe
eyes, which can result in severe eye dam-
age. Always wear safety glasses or eye
shields while operating your lawn mower or
performing any adjustments or repairs. We
recommend a wide vision safety mask over
spectacles or standard safety glasses.
HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER
ENGINE SPEED CONTROL
The engine speed was set at the factory
for optimum performance. Speed is not
adjustable.
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 cimum-
stances 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.
TO ADJUST CU'I'rlNG HEIGHT
• Raise wheels for low cut and lower
wheels for high cut.
• Adjust cutting height to suit your require-
ments. Medium position is best for most
lawns.
• To change cutting height, squeeze
adjuster lever toward wheel. Move wheel
up or down to suit your requirements. Be
sure all wheels are in the same setting.
NOTE: Adjuster is properly positioned
when plate tab inserts into hole in lever.
Also, 9-pesition adjusters (if so equipped)
allow lever to be positioned between the
plate tabs.
- Plate
Lower Wheels for High Cut Tab _
Raise _ _ Lever
Wheels for
Low Cut
DRIVE CONTROL
• Self-propelling is controlled by holding
the operator presence control bar down
to the handle and pushing the drive con-
trol lever forward until it clicks; then
release the lever.
• Forward motion will stop when the opera-
tor 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 to handle to continue
mowing without self-propelling.
• To keep drive control engaged when
tuming comers, push down on handle
and lift front wheels off ground while tum-
ing lawn mower.
Operator presence control bar Drive control
To engage _ _'_, Drive control
drive control disengaged
NOTE: Your lawn mower has been
shipped ready for mulching operation. To
convert to discharging operation, you
must install the discharge deflector attach-
ment included with your mower.
TO INSTALL DISCHARGING
DEFLECTOR
• Lift door upward on it's hinge until the
deflector frame can be hooked over the
door mounting bracket as shown.
• Release the door to rest against deflec-
tor frame.
• To return to mulching operation, reverse
the above steps and be sure door is in
closed position.
CAUTION: Do not operate your lawn
mower without mulcher door in locked
position, discharge deflector in place, or
approved grass catcher in place.
Deflector _ar Door
_'_/-- Mounting
bracket
7