Craftsman 917.378411 Owner's Manual page 7

The operation of any lawn
mower can result in foreign
objects thrown into the
eyes, which can result in
severe eye damage.
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.
HOWTO USEYOUR LAWN MOWER
ENGINE SPEED
The engine speed was set at the factory
for optimum performance. Speed is not
adjustable.
ENGINE ZONE CONTROL
_I,CAUTION: Federal regulations require
an engine control to be installed on this
_awn mower in order to minimize the risk
of blade contact injury. Do not under any
circumstances 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.
DRIVE CONTROL
• Self-propelling is controlled by holding
the operator presence control bar clown
to the handle and pushing the drive
control lever forward until it clicks; then
releasing the lever.
• Forward motion will stop when the
operator 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
against handle to continue mowing
without self-propelling.
• To keep drive control engaged when
turning corners, push down on handle
and lift front wheels off ground While
turning lawn mower.
Operator presence control bar
Drive
control
TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT
Raise wheels for low cut and lower
wheels for high cut, adjust cutting height
to suit your requirements. Medium
position is best for most lawns.
To change cutting height, squeeze
adjuster lever toward wheel. Move
wheel up or down to suit your require-
ments. Be sure all wheels are in the
same setting.
NOTE: Adjuster is properly positioned
when plate tab inserts into hole in lever.
Also, 9-position adjusters (if so equipped)
allow lever to be positioned between the
plate tabs.
Lower Wheels for High Cut Plate Tab
Raise Wheels for Low Cut
Lever
TO CONVERT MOWER
Yourlawn mowerwas shipped readyto be
usedas a mulcher. T oconvert t obagging :
REARBAGGING
• Liftreardoorofthelawnmowerandplace
thegrasscatcher framehooksontothe
doorpivotpins.
• To convert t o mulchingopera[_on, remove
grass catcherandclosereardoor.
_CAUTION: Do not runyour lawn mower
withoutclippingdeflectoror approved
grasscatcher in place. Never attemptto
operatethe lawn mowerwith the rear
door removedor proppedopen,
Pivot pins Rear Grass
catcher
handle
Catcher
\\ \_\
To engage Drive control
drive control disengaged 7