Craftsman Professional 247.38109 Operator's Manual page 15

TO START ENGINE
1. Standingbehindthe mower,squeezethe bladecontrolhandle
againstupperhandle.See Figure11.
2. Holdingthese two handlestogetherfirmly,grasprecoilstarter
handleand pull ropeslowlyuntil resistance is felt, then pull with a
rapid,continuous, f ull arm stroke.See Figure11.Keepinga firm
grip on the starterhandle,letthe roperewindslowly.Repeatuntil
enginecranks.Letthe rope rewindeachtime slowly.
Rapidretractionof startercord (kickback)will pull handand arm
towardengine fasterthan youcan let go. Brokenbones,fractures,
bruisesor sprainscould result.
NOTE:If engine floods,wait a few minutesto restart.
TO STOP ENGINE
1. Releasebladecontrolto stop the engineand blade.
Waitfor the bladeto stopcompletelybeforeperforminganywork on
the moweror to removethe grass catcher.
Figure11
USING YOUR LAWN MOWER
Be sure lawnis clearof stones,sticks,wire, or otherobjectswhich
coulddamagelawnmoweror engine.Suchobjectscouldbe accidently
thrownby themowerin anydirectionand cause seriouspersonalinjury
to the operatorand others.
Theoperationof any lawnmowercan result in foreignobjectsbeing
thrownintothe eyes,whichcan damageyoureyes severely. A lways
wearsafetyglasseswhileoperatingthe mower,or whileperforming
anyadjustmentsor repairson it.
1. Oncethe engineis running,squeeze the drivecontrol againstthe
upperhandleto propelmower.Releaseit to disengagethe drive.
USING AS MULCHER
For mulchinggrass,removethe grasscatcheror the side discharge
chutefrom the mower,and reattachthe mulchingbaffle.Foreffective
mulching,do not cut wet grass.If thegrass has beenallowedto grow
in excessof four inches,mulchingis not recommended. U sethe grass
catcherto bagclippingsinstead.
USING GRASS CATCHER
You canuse the grasscatcherto collectclippingswhileyou are
operatingthe mower.
1. Attachgrass catcherfollowinginstructionsin the Assembly
section.Grass clippingswill automatically collect in the bag as
you run the mower.
2. Operatethe mowertill the grass bag is full.
3. Stopenginecompletelyby releasingthe bladecontrol.Makesure
that the unit hascome to a completestop.
4. Whileholdingthe grass bag by boththe rear handleand the lower
handle,lift the grass bag straightup off the adapter.Thechute
door will movethe rope outof the way of the bag.
5. Continuing to hold the lowerhandle,raisethe rearof the grass
bagand releasethe lowerhandleovera properreceptacle. T he
grass bag willopen and the grass clippingswill disperse.When
replacingthe grass bag,be surethetop of the bag restson the
wire supportbetweenthe handles.
If you strikea foreignobject,stopthe engine.Removewirefrom the
spark plug,thoroughlyinspectmowerfor anydamage,and repair
damagebeforerestartingand operating.Extensivevibrationof mower
duringoperationis an indicationof damage.The unit shouldbe
promptlyinspectedand repaired.
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