to slip and fall. New grass or thick grass may require a narrower cut.

•For a healthy lawn, always cut off one-third or less of the total length of the grass. Lawn should be trimmed in fall as long as there is growth.

IMPORTANT: Move the shift lever only when the engine is running. Changing the shift lever setting with the engine off can cause damage to the mower.

WARNING: If the mower strikes a foreign object, stop the engine. Remove spark plug wire from the spark plug and thoroughly inspect for any damage. Repair the damage promptly before restarting and operating the mower.

Mulching

For effective mulching, do not cut wet grass. New or thick grass may require a narrower cut. If the grass has grown in excess of 4”, mulching is not recommended. Mow using the side discharge to reduce the grass height to 3.25” maximum before mulching.

Bagging Grass Clippings

You can use the grass catcher bag to collect clippings while you are operating the mower.

•Attach grass catcher following instructions on page 8 of this manual. Grass clippings will automatically collect in the bag as you run the mower.

•Operate the mower till the grass bag is full.

•Stop engine completely by releasing the blade control handle. Make sure that the unit has come to a complete stop.

•While holding the grass bag by both the rear handle and the lower handle, lift the grass bag straight up off the adapter. The chute door will move the rope out of the way of the bag.

•Continue to hold the lower handle and raise the rear of the grass bag up toward your chest. The grass bag will open and the grass clippings will disperse. When replacing the grass bag, be sure the top of the bag rests on the wire support between the handles.

SECTION 6: MAKING ADJUSTMENTS

WARNING: Do not at any time make any adjustments without first stopping engine and disconnecting spark plug wire.

Handle Height

Your mower is shipped with the handle in the higher height position. To lower the height, proceed as follows:

•Remove the starter rope from the rope guide.

•Remove the wing nuts and carriage bolts securing the upper handle. Remove and lay the upper handle out of the way, being careful not to bend or kink the cables.

•Remove the hairpin clips from the weld pins on the handle brackets and remove the wing nuts and carriage bolts from the upper hole on the handle mounting bracket.

•Press out on the legs of the lower handle and remove lower handle from the mower.

•Turn lower handle around so the notch on the bottom of the lower handle is facing forward. See Figure 11.

Notch

Lower Handle

Figure 11

•Reassemble the handles, placing the bottom holes in the handle over the weld pins in the handle mounting bracket.

•Place the hairpin clips in the inner holes in the weld pins and insert the carriage bolts through the upper hole on the handle mounting bracket and secure with plastic wing nuts.

•Reassemble the upper handle to the lower handle.

•Attach the starter rope as instructed on page 8.

Cutting Height

Your mower is shipped with the cutting height in the lowest position. The cutting height adjustment lever is located above the left rear wheel. To adjust the cutting height, proceed as follows:

11