Mowing Tips; Mulching Mowing Tips - Craftsman 917.377190 Owner's Manual

MOWING TIPS
• Under certain conditions, such as very
tall grass, it may be necessary to raise
the height of cut to reduce pushing effort
and to keep from overloading the engine
and leaving clumps of grass clippings. It
may also be necessary to reduce
ground speed and/or run the lawn
mower over the area a second time.
• For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the
width of cut by overlapping previously
cut path and mow slowly.
• For better grass bagging and most
cutting conditions, the engine speed
should be set in the fast position.
• When using a rear discharge lawn
mower in moist, heavy grass, clumps of
cut grass may not enter the grass
catcher. Reduce ground speed (push-
ing speed) and/or run the lawn mower
over the area a second time.
• If a trail of clippings is left on the right
side of a rear discharge mower, mow in
a clockwise direction with a small
overlap to collect the clippings on the
next pass.
• Pores 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 engine around starter clear
and clean of grass clippings and chaff.
This will help engine air flow and extend
engine life.
MULCHING MOWING TIPS
IMPORTANT: For best performance,keep
mower housingfree of built-upgrassand
trash.See "Cleaning" in Maintenancesection
of this manual.
• The special mulching bladewillrecutthe
grass clippingsmany timesand reduce
them in size so that as they faUontothe
lawn they will disperse into the grass and
not be noticed. Also, the mulched grass will
biodegrade quickly to provide nutrients lor
the lawn. Always mulch with your highest
engine (blade) speed as this will provide the
best recutting action of the blades.
• Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet. Wet
grass tends to form dumps 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 resutts, a djust the lawn mower
cuttingheightso thatthe lawn mowercuts
off onlythe top one-thirdof the grass blades.
Ifthe lawn is overgrownitwillbe necessary
to raisethe heightof cutto reducepushing
effortand to keep from overloadingthe
engine and leavingdumps of mulched
grass.For ex-b'emely heavy mulching,
reduceyourwidthof cut by overlapping
previously cut path and mow slowly.
• Certain typesof grass and grass conditions
may requirethat an area be mulched a
secondtimeto completely hide the
clippings.When doinga secondcut,mow
acrossor perpendicular to the first cut path.
• Change your cuttingpattem from week to
weak. Mow northto southone week then
changeto east to westthe next week. This
willhelp preventmatting and grainingof the
lawn.
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