Cutting Grass
•
Cut only about a third of the grass blade at a time.
Do not cut below 51 mm (2 inches) unless the
grass is sparse or it is late fall when grass growth
begins to slow down.
•
When cutting grass over 15 cm (6 inches) tall,
mow at the highest cutting height setting and walk
slower; then mow again at a lower setting for the
best lawn appearance. If the grass is too long, the
machine may plug and cause the engine to stall.
•
Wet grass and leaves tend to clump on the yard
and can cause the machine to plug or the engine
to stall. Avoid mowing in wet conditions.
•
Be aware of a potential fire hazard in very dry
conditions, follow all local fire warnings, and keep
the machine free of dry grass and leaf debris.
•
Alternate the mowing direction. This helps
disperse the clippings over the lawn for even
fertilization.
•
If the finished lawn appearance is unsatisfactory,
try 1 or more of the following:
– Replace the blade or have it sharpened.
– Walk at a slower pace while mowing.
– Raise the cutting height on your machine.
– Cut the grass more frequently.
– Overlap cutting swaths instead of cutting a full
swath with each pass.
Cutting Leaves
•
After cutting the lawn, ensure that half of the lawn
shows through the cut leaf cover. You may need
to make more than a single pass over the leaves.
•
If there are more than 13 cm (5 inches) of leaves
on the lawn, mow at a higher cutting height and
then again at the desired cutting height.
•
Slow down your mowing speed if the machine
does not cut the leaves finely enough.
After Operation
After Operation Safety
General Safety
•
Always shut off the machine, remove the ignition
key (if equipped), wait for all moving parts to stop,
and allow the machine to cool before adjusting,
servicing, cleaning, or storing it.
•
Clean grass and debris from the machine to help
prevent fires. Clean up oil or fuel spills.
•
Never store the machine or fuel container where
there is an open flame, spark, or pilot light, such
as on a water heater or on other appliances.
Hauling Safety
•
Remove the ignition key (if equipped) before
loading the machine for hauling.
•
Use care when loading or unloading the machine.
•
Secure the machine from rolling.
Cleaning under the Machine
Service Interval:
After each use
For best results, clean under the machine soon after
you have completed mowing.
1.
Lower the machine to its lowest cutting-height
setting.
2.
Move the machine onto a paved level surface.
3.
With the engine running and the blade engaged,
spray a stream of water in front of the
right
, rear
wheel (
).
Note:
The water will splash into the path of the
blade, cleaning out the clippings.
g002600
Figure 19
4.
When no more clippings come out, stop the
water and move the machine to a dry area.
5.
Run the engine for a few minutes to dry the
underside of the machine.
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