Mowing Tips - Craftsman 917.271052 Owner's Manual

below)
. When engine starts, allow engine to
run with the tllrottle control in the
choke position until the engine runs
roughly, then move throttle control to
fast position, Tl_is may require an
engine warm-up period from severat
seconds to several mtnutes, depend-
ing on the temperature,
• The attachments can also be used
during the engine warm-up period.
NOTE.' If at a tllgh altitude (above 3000
feet) or in cold temperatures (below 32 F)
the carburetor fuel mixture may need to
be adjusted for best engine performance,
See "TO ADJUST CARBURETOR" in the
Service and Adjustments sectton of this
manual.
MOWING TIPS
- Tire chains cannot be used when the
mower housing is attached to tractor.
• Mower should be properly leveled for
best mowing performance, See "TO
LEVEL MOWER HOUSING" In the
Service and Adjustments section of
this manual,
° The left hand side of mower should be
used for trimming,
• Drive so tllat clippings are discharged
onto the area thathas been cut, Have
the cut area to the right of the tractor°
This will result in a more even distribu-
tion of clippings and more uniform
cutting.
o When mowlng large areas, start by
turning to the right so that clippings wllf
dtscllarge away from shrubs, fenceS,
driveways, eto, After one or two
rounds, mow In the opposite direction
maklng left hand turns until finished.
° If grass ls extremely tall, it should be
mowed twice to reduce load and
possible fire hazard from dried
clippings. Make first cut relatively
htglt; the second to the desired height,
• Do not mow grass when It Is wet. Wet
grass will plug mower and leave
undesirable clumps, Allow grass to
dry before mowlng.
- Always operate engine at full throttle
wllen mowing to assure better mowing
performance and proper discharge of
material, Regulate ground speed by
selecting a low enough gear to give
the mower cutting performance as well
as the quality of cut desired,
° When operating attachments, select a
ground speed tlqat will suit the terrain
and give best performance of the
attachment being used.
f -,,
MULCHING MOWING TIPS
IMPORTANT: For best performance,
keep mower housing free of built-up
grass and trash, Clean after each use_
• The special mulching blade wilt recut
the grass clippings many times and
reduce them tn size so that as they fall
onto the lawn they will disperse into
the grass and not be noticed. Also, the
mulched grass will blodegrade quickly
to provide nutrients for tl_e lawn,
Always mulch with your highest
engtne (blade) speed as this will
provide tile best recuttlng action of the
blades,
• Avold cutttng 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 t}me the grass
has dried and the newly cut area will
not be exposed to the dlrebt sun,
° For best results, adjust the mower
cutting helght so that the mower cuts
otf only the top One-third of the grass
blades. For extremely heavy mulching,
reduce your wldtll of out on each pass
and mow slowly.
° Certain types of grass and grass
conditions may require that an area be
mulched a second time td completely
hide the clippings. When doing a
second cut, mow across or perpen-
dicular to the first cut path.
• Change your cutting pattern from week
to week° Mow north to south one week
then change to east to west tile next
week. This will help prevent matting
and gralnlng of the lawn.
Max !/3"
15