45
SECTION VII. MOWING
MOWING
WARNING
To avoid possible injury, do not allow anyone in
the area opposite the discharge chute while
mowing. Although the area has been
supposedly cleared of foreign objects, small
objects may be picked up and discharged by
the mower.
WARNING
Never direct the discharge of material toward
bystanders or allow anyone near the machine
while in operation.
For best results it is recommended that the first two
laps should be cut with the discharge thrown towards
the center. After the first two laps, reverse the direction
to throw the discharge to the outside for the balance of
cutting. This will give a better appearance to the lawn.
Do not cut the grass too short, as the mower will tend
to scalp the grass. Short grass invites weed growth
and yellows quickly in dry weather.
Mowing should be done with the engine at full throttle.
Do not mow at high ground speed.
During certain times of the year and under some
conditions, the mower may leave streaks of uncut
grass.
Streaking may occur when attempting to mow heavy
weeds and tall grass. Under these conditions it may be
necessary to go back over the cut area a second time
to get a clean cut.
The following practices will help eliminate streaking:
1.
Mow the area more often so the grass doesn’t get
too tall and heavy.
2.
Operate the tractor at full throttle and slower
forward speeds.
3.
Keep the blades sharp and replace the blades
when worn.
4.
Follow the mowing pattern shown in Figure 62.
Figure 62
MOWING WITH MULCHING OPTION
1.
Do not cut wet grass. For effective mulching do
not cut wet grass. Wet grass sticks to the
underside of the deck prevention proper mulching
and dispersal of grass clippings.
2.
Cut no more than 1/3 the length of the grass.
When mulching long grass, it may be necessary to
mow twice, lowering the deck another 1/3 of the
length for the second cut, and perhaps cutting in a
different pattern. Overlap the cut on each pass to
help clean up any heavy clippings left on the lawn.
3.
Use a slow ground speed. Adjust ground speed
so clippings can be evenly dispersed into the
lawn.When cutting heavy grass, it may be
necessary to use a slower ground speed in order
to get a well mulched cut.
4.
Always operate the tractor at full throttle. To
obtain the best cut and do the most effective job of
mulching, the engine should be run at full throttle.
5.
Clean underside of deck. Be certain to clean the
underside of the deck often to avoid a buildup of
grass clippings, which will prevent proper
mulching.
