To Start Engine; Mowing Tips; Mulching Mowing Tips; Height Of Cut - Craftsman 3One 917.383242 Owner's Manual

OPERATION
TO START ENGINE
* To start a cold engine, push primer five (5) times before
trying to start. Use a firm push. This step is not usually
necessary when starting an engine which has already
run for a few minutes.
o Push engine speed control lever to fast (_,8_) p osition.
, Hold operator presence control bar down to the handle
and pult starter handle quiCkly. Do not allow starter
rope to snap back.
* To stop engine, release operator presence control bar.
NOTE: In coo_er weather (t may be necessary to repeat
priming steps, in warmer weather over priming may cause
flooding and engine will not start. If you do flood engine,
wait a few minutes before attempting to start and do not
repeat priming steps.
MOWING TiPS
o Under certain conditions, such as very tafi grass, it may
be necessary to raise the height of cut to reduce
pushing effort and to keep from overloading the engine
and leaving ctumps of grass clippings.
, For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the width of cut
and raise the rear of the lawn mower housing one (1)
wheel adjuster setting higher than the front for better
discharge of grass.
o For better grass bagging and most cutting conditions,
the engine speed should be set in the fast (_r__) p osition.
o When using a rear discharge lawn mower in moist,
lneavy grass, clumps of cut grass may not enter the
grass catcher. Reduce ground speed (pushing speed)
and/or run the Iawn mower over the area a second time.
If atrail of grass clippings is left onthe right side of a rear
discharge lawn mower, mow in a clockwise direction
with a smatt overlap to collect the clippings on the next
pass.
, Keep top of engine around starter clear and clean of
grass clippings and chaff. This will help engine airflow
and extend engine tife.
o Pores in cloth grass catchers can become filled with dirt
and dust with use and catchers wit! collect tess grass.
To prevent this, regularly hose catchers off with water
and let dry before using.
FIG. 8
MULCHING MOWING TIPS
IMPORTANT: FOR BEST PERFORMANCE, KEEP
MOWER HOUStNG FREE OF BUILT-UP GRASS AND
TRASH. CLEAN UNDERSIDE OF MOWER HOUSING
AFTER EACH USE. SEE "CLEANING" IN CUSTOMER
RESPONSIBILITIES SECT_ONOFTH1S MANUAL
* The special mulching blade will recut the grass clip-
pings many times and reduce them in size so that as
they fal! onto the lawn they wilt disperse into the grass
and not be noticed. Also, the mulched grass will
biodegrade quickly to provide nutrients for the lawn.
Always mulch with your highest engine (blade) speed
as this will provide the best recurring action of the
blades.
• Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet. Wet grass tends
to form clumps and interferes with the mulching action.
The best time to mow your lawn is the early afternoon.
At this time the grass has dried and the newly cut area
will not be exposed to the direct sun.
,, For best results, adjust the lawn mower cutting height
so that the tawn mower cuts off only the top one-third
of the grass blades (See Fig. 8). If the lawn is over-
grown it will be necessary to raise the height of cut to
reduce pushing effort and to keep from overloading the
engine and leaving clumps of mulched grass. For
extremely heavy mulching, reduce your width of cut,
mow stowty and raise the rear of the lawn mower one
wheel = adjuster setting higher than the front.
............... ,, . ................. Ce_ain types of :grass and grass.conditions.may re......
: quire that an area be mulched a second time to com-
pletely hide the clippings. When doing a second cut,
mow across or perpendicuiar to the first cut path.
,, Change your cutting pattern from week to week. Mow
no_lh to south one week then change to east to west the
next week. This wilt help prevent matting and graining
of the lawn.
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