Craftsman 917.388300 Owner's Manual page 9

MOWING'lIPS MULCHING MOWlNGTIPS :
• Under certain concilk_ such as very tail IMPORTANT:. For best performance, keep
grass, it may be nenessery to raise the n_wer housing free of buUt-upgrass and
height of cut to reduce pushing effort and to trash. Clean UNDERSIDE OF MOWER
keap from overloading the engine and
leaving clumps of grass clipp_s. It may
aise be necessary to reduce ground speed
and/or run the lawn mower over the area a
second time.
• For extremely heavy cutting,reduce the
dth ofc=byov ng prev cut
path and mow
• For better grass bagging and most cutting
conditions,the engine speed should be set
in the fast pos'_don.
• Porea in cloth grass catchers can become
filled with dirt and dust with use and
catchers will collect less grass. To prevent
this, regularly hose catcher off with water
and let dry before using.
• Keep top of angine around starter clear
anddeanof gross crq0p_gs andchaff.
This will help engine air now and extend
engine life.
HOUSING after each use. See "Cleaning"in
MAINTENANCE section of this manual.
• The special mulching blade will recut the
grass cl'_opings m any times and reduce
them in size so that as they fail onto the
lawn they will dispeme into the grass and
not be noticed.Also, the mulched grass will
biodegrade quickly to provide nutrientsfor
the lawn. Always mulch with your highest
engine (blade) speed as this will provide
the best re_fting actien of the I_des.
• Avoid cuttingyour lawn when itis weL Wet
grass tends to form dumps and inte=feres
wi_ the mulching ac'don.The best time to
mow your lawn is the early afternoon. At
this time the grass has dried and the newiy
cut area will net be exposed to the direct
sun.
• For best results, adjust the lawn mower
cutling height so that the lawn mower cuts
off only the top one-third of the grass
blades. If the lawn is overgrown 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 gra,ss.For extremely
heavy mulching, reduce your width of cut,
mow slowiyand raise the rear of the lawn
mower one wheal adjuster setting higher
than the front.
• Certain types of grass and grass comr_ions
may require that an area be mulched a
second lima to completely hide the
cr_pings. When doing a second cut, mow
acrose or peq_e_rK_jlar to the tirst cut path.
• Chenge your cutlJngpaftem from weak to
weak. Mow north to south one week then
change to east to west the next week. This
will help prevent matting and grairdngof
the lawn.
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