Craftsman 917.37742 - Manual (Page 9)

TOUCHING MOWING TIPS
M PORTANT: For best periormance, keep
newer housing free of built-up grass and
rash. Clean UNDERSIDE OF MOWER
-lOUSiNG after each use. See "Cleaning“
n CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES sec-
ion of this manual,
The special mulching blade will recut the
grass clippings many times and reduce
them in size so that as they fall onto the
lawn they will disperse into the grass and
not be noticed. Also, the mulched grass
will biodegrade quickly to provide nutri­
ents for the lawn. Always mulch with your
highest engine (blade) speed as this will
provide the best recuttlng action of the
blades.
• Avoid cutting 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 time the grass has dried
and the newly cut area will not be
exposed to the direct sun.
° For best results, adjust the lawn mower
cutting height so that the lawn mower
cuts off only the top one-third of the grass
blades. If the lawn is overgrown it will be
necessary to raise the height of cut to
reduce pushing effort and to keep from
overloading the engine and leaving
clumps of mulched grass. For extremely
heavy mulching, reduce your width of cut,
mow slowly and raise the rear of the lawn
mower one wheel adjuster setting higher
than the front.
" 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,
» Change your cutting pattern from week to
week. Mow north to south one week then
change to east to west the next week.
This will help prevent matting and grain­
ing of the lawn.
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