Craftsman 900.370520 - Manual (Page 12)

MOWING TIPS
• Mow across the face of slopes, never
up-and-down. Exercise extreme caution
when changing direction on slopes. Do
not mow excessively steep slopes.
Always maintain good footing.
• Release switch to turn mower "OFF"
when crossing any graveled area (stones
can be thrown by the blade).
• Set mower at highest cutting height,
when mowing in rough ground or in tall
weeds.
• From time to time turn off mower and
wait for the blade to come to a complete
stop. Then remove the safety key and
turn mower on its side. Using an object
such as a stick, wipe out any accumula­
tion of grass in the biade area. Be care­
ful of the sharp edges of the blade.
• If grasscatcher is used during the fast
growing season, the grass may tend to
clog up at the discharge opening. Turn
the switch “OFF and remove the safety
key. Remove the catcher and shake the
grass down to the back end of the bag.
Also clean out any grass or debris which
may be packed around the discharge
opening, Replace the grass catcher,
Clean often in wet, spring grass.
• If mower should start to vibrate abnor­
mally, turn mower “OFF" and remove
safety key. Check immediately for cause.
Vibration is a warning of trouble. Do not
operate mower until a service check has
been made.
• ALWAYS turn the switch “OFF" and
remove safety key when leaving
mower unattended even for a short
period of time.
MULCHING
• Your mower is designed to re-cut the
grass clippings many times and reduce
them in size so that, as they fall Into the
lawn, they will disperse into the grass
and not be noticed. Also, the mulched
grass will biodegrade quickly to provide
nutrients to the lawn.
• Your mower was shipped with the Mulch
Insert installed.
MULCHING MOWING TIPS
• For best performance, keep the mower
housing free of built-up grass and trash.
Clean after each use. See CLEANING in
the maintenance section of this manual.
• Avoid cutting the lawn when it is wet.
Wet grass tends to form clumps which
interfere with the mulching action. The
best time to mow your lawn is in the late
afternoon. At this time the grass is dried
and the newly cut area will not be
exposed to the direct sun.
• For best results, adjust the mower cut­
ting height so that the mower cuts off
only the top one-thirdof the grass blades.
If the lawn is overgrown it will be neces­
sary to increase the cutting height to
reduce the pushing effect and reduce
overloading the motor. For extremely
heavy mulching make narrower cuts and
mow slowly.
• Certain types of grass and grass condi­
tions may require that an area be
mulched a second time to completely
hide the clippings. When doing a second
cut, mow across or perpendicular to the
first cut path. DO NOT mow perpendic­
ular to the first path if It would cause
. mowing across a hiii.
• Change your cutting pattern from week
to week. Mow north to south one week
and east to west the next week. This will
help prevent matting and graining of the
lawn.
TO REMOVE MULCH INSERT
• Shut the mower off, wait until the blade
stops and remove safety+:ey.
• Raise the rear door and hold it up.
• Locate your hand in the handle pocket of
the mulch insert, lift and pull out the
mulch insert completely.
• The rear discharge door is spring
loaded. When you release it the door will
return to the closed position.
TO INSTALL MULCH INSERT
• Shut the mower off, wait until the blade
stops, and remove safety key.
• Raise the rear door and slide the mulch
insert into the discharge opening until it
is firmly in contact with the deck.
• Release the rear door.
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