598994-00,37051 8/9/05 10:17 AM Page 8 Palm Rest ScalePointer Finger Grip To raise or lower the cutting height, rest the palm of your hand on the palm rest and with your fingers, squeeze upward on the finger grip and hold. While holding the finger grip up you can raise or lower the cutting height. The mulcher has eight blade height adjustment positions. Refer to the scale and pointer at the front of the mower. The pointer will give you the height setting for cutting your lawn. This setting can be a reference for the next time you want to cut your lawn at the same height. When you have the mower at the height you like, simply release the finger grip to lock the height in. NOTE: To ensure that the deck is securely locked in one of the eight positions, press down on the palm rest after releasing the finger grip. OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROL SWITCH CAUTION: Federal regulations require an Operator Presence Control Switch to be installed on lawn mowers in order to minimize the risk of blade contact injury. 598994-00,37051 8/9/05 10:17 AM Page 8 TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT • Before making any adjustments, turn off, unplug mower and wait for blade to stop rotating. • Use the Height Adjustment Control to raise deck for high cut and lower deck for low cut. • Adjust cutting height to suit your requirements. Medium position is best for most lawns. 8 DO NOT under any circumstances attempt to defeat the function of this switch. Remem-ber that the blade always turns when the motor is running. The Operator Presence Control Switch is a lever that you pull back to start and run the mower. The switch requires you to be positioned behind the mower handle for mower operation. To operate the switch, insert your finger into the opening (A) and push the lever 598994-00,37051 8/9/05 10:17 AM Page 9 out so that you can grab it with your other SAFETY SHIELD & REAR DOOR WARNING: For your own safety DO NOT use this mower without either the grasscatcher or mulch insert in operating position. Do not operate the lawnmower if the rear door is not under spring tension. Take your mower to the nearest Sears Service Center for repair. A Operator Presence Control Switch The safety shield is designed to minimize the throwing of stones or other objects by the mower blade backward from under the mower deck. The shield, along with the rear door, minimizes the possibility of accidental foot contact with the blade. DO NOT operate mower without the safety shield and rear door in place. Mulch Insert Handle Pocket Rear Door Safety Shield MOWING PROCEDURE • Inspect area where mower is to be used and remove all stones, sticks, wire, bones, and other debris which might be thrown by the rotating blades. • Place most of the extension cord close to the electrical outlet, out of the path of the mower. CAUTION: Do not plug extension cord into receptacle outlet while standing in water or when hands are wet. • Begin mowing in the area closest to the outlet. Always mow forward in a back and forth pattern across the lawn. Keep the cord on the cut portion of the lawn. 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. 9 598994-00,37051 8/9/05 10:17 AM Page 10 • From time to time turn off mower and wait for the blade to come to a complete stop. Then unplug the power cord and turn mower on its side. Using an object such as a stick, wipe out any accumulation of grass in the blade area. Be careful of the sharp edges of the blade. • If a grasscatcher is used during the fast growing season, the grass may tend to clog up at the discharge opening. Turn the mower “OFF” and disconnect the power cord plug. 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 abnormally, turn mower “OFF” and unplug power cord. Check immediately for cause. Vibration is a warning of trouble. Do not operate mower until a service check has been made. • ALWAYS turn the mower “OFF” and unplug the mower when leaving it unattended even for a short period of time. MULCHING • Your new 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 l...