Mowing And Bagging Tips; Mulching Tips; Operating Tips - Craftsman 502.270210 Owner's Manual

OPERATING TIPS
OPERATION
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Check the attachment clutch for correct adjustment° For the
blade(s) to disengage correctly, the adjustment must be cop
rect
Before you use the unit, check the oil in the engine and add oil
if necessary°
if the engine wi]! not start, first make sure the wire is attached
to the spark plug
Make sure atlthe belts are inside ait the belt guides See the in-
structions on how to remove and install the motion drive and
mower drive belts
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Before you make an inspection, adjustment (except for the car-
buretor) or repair, make sure the wire from the spark plug isdis-
connected°
Make sure the seat switch wire is connected If the wire is not
connected, the engine will not start
For longer life of the battery, charge the battery every three
months_
Use the shift lever to change the ground speed, not the throttle
control
Belt noise can occur when the blade or clutch is engaged° This
noise is normal and does not affect the operation of the unit
MOWING AND BAGGING TIPS
1 For a lawn to lookbetter, check the cutting level of the mower 10.
housing° See "How To Level The Mower Housing" in the Ser-
vice And Adjustment section
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For the mower housing to cut level, make sure the tires have
the correct amount of air pressure (PSI)
Every timeyou use the unit, check the blade, tf the blade is bent
or damaged, immediately replace the blade Also, make sure
the nut for the blade is tight.
Keep the blade(s) sharpened_ Worn blades will cause the ends
of the grass to turn brown
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For better engine performance and an even discharge of the
cut grass, always operate the engine with the throttle in FAST
position
When you use a bagger, operate the engine with the throttle in
FAST position and the shift lever in first or second gear
For better cuttingperformance and a quality cut, mow with the
shift lever in one of the slower speeds
After each use, clean the bottom and top of the mower housing
for better performance Also, a clean mower housing will help
prevent a fire°
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Do not cut or bag grass that is wet Wet grass will not discharge
correctly. Let the grass dry before cutting,
Use the left side of the mower housing to trim near an object
Discharge the cut grass onto the mowed area. The result is a
more even discharge of cut grass
When you mow large areas, start by turning to the right so that
the cut grass wilt discharge away from shrubs, fences, drive-
ways, etc After one ortwo rounds, mow in the opposite direc-
tion making left turns until finished (Figure 14)
If the grass is very high, cut two times to decrease the load on
the engine First cut with the mower housing inthe highest posi-
tion and then lower the mower housing for the second cut
Figure14
MULCHING TIPS
When you use a mulcher attachment, the grass is cut into very small 4
pieces° These small pieces wilt quickly break down. Because the
nutrients are returned to the soil, the lawn will need less fertilizer_ Too
correctly mulch the grass, follow the steps belowo
1 Set the throttle in the FAST position. Operate the mower at a
slower ground speed If ground speed is too fast, the grass wilt 5
not have an even cut
2. Keep a sharp edge on the blade. A blade that is not sharp will
cause the ends of the grass to become brown_ 6.
3 Make sure the grass is dry Wet grass is difficult to cut 7
F-98668 17
Set the height of the mower housing so that only the top third
of the grass is cut If the grass is too high, set the height of the
mower housing to the maximum heighL Then, lower the mower
housing for the second cut. Also, instead of using the full width
of the mower housing, mulch at half the width°
Clean the bottom of the mower housing. Grass and other debris
can keep the mower from working correctty_
If the grass grows fast, mulch more often
ff an area needs improvement, mulch a second time