SAFE MOWING GUIDE
9
F-050406L
While mowing, if you hit a foreign object, stop
the engine. Remove the spark plug wire. Care-
fully and thoroughly inspect the mower for
damage. Make necessary repairs before re-
starting. If the unit starts to vibrate abnormally,
stop the engine immediately and check for the
cause. Vibration is generally a warning of
trouble. Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight.
The blade is the most dangerous part of the
mower and also the most important part in ob-
taining a nice lawn appearance. Check the
blade and the blade mounting hardware fre-
quently. Keep it tight. If the blade hits a solid
object, check it thoroughly for deformation or
cracks and replace if damaged. For safety,re-
place the blade every two years. A sharp blade
reduces the work load on the engine and cuts
grass more cleanly, for a better looking cut with
less work. The blade is always close to the out-
side of the mower housing. For best trimming
on side discharge mowers, cut with the left
side of the housing toward the area that needs
trimming.
A useful accessory for your mower is a grass
catcher. There are grass catchers available for
most models. For best performance and safe-
ty, be sure the grass catcher is approved for
use with your mower. Assemble as directed
and follow operating and safety instructions
with the catcher and in the Instruction Book.
Before mounting, checking or emptying the
grass catcher, always turn the engine off. Re-
member to check the grass catcher before
each use for cracks, wear, or deterioration. Re-
place any part that is damaged with the man-
ufacturer’s recommended replacement part
before using the grass catcher again.
Proper cutting technique is important if you
want your lawn to look good. Avoid the tempta-
tion to cut grass too short. Cutting grass too
short can kill the plant, cause grass to turn yel-
low, or make the lawn look brown and thatchy.
Use the lower cutting heights in cool months
when the grass is lush. Use the higher cutting
heights in extremely dry periods. Cutting with
a dull blade or low engine speed bruises,
shreds, and can uproot some grass making
the lawn look dull and brown a few days after
cutting. Always put the throttle control, if
equipped, in FAST position when mowing and
bagging. When bagging, slower ground speed
will provide the best results.
Change the mowing pattern slightly each time
you cut. If you always cut the same way, the
grass will develop a “set” and clippings will ac-
cumulate more heavily in some areas more
than in others causing grass to get thinner in
those areas. Do not service your mower over
the grass. Spilled oil and gas can kill the grass.
In tall grass or very heavy grass, do not try to
cut it all at once. Raise the height of cut on the
first cutting and lower it for the next cutting the
same day or within a few days. Another way is
to cut only part of the width of the mower and
adjust your ground speed (not the engine) to
move more slowly so the mower can clear it-
self as it moves forward.
When cutting with a walk behind mower, al-
ways push the unit. Do not pull it. Pushing the
unit keeps the operator behind the mower in
the “operator’s zone” for better control. Push-
ing the unit also gives you a chance to see ex-
actly where and what you are mowing. There
will be times while you are mowing that you will
have to pull the mower backwards (such as
when the front of the mower has come up
against a wall or fence). If you must back up,
make sure your feet are in the clear. Stand well
back from the mower, plant your feet firmly with
each step and back up being careful to look be-
hind you. Resume normal mowing as soon as
possible.
If your unit is self-propelled, remember that
the drive mechanism is not designed to do all
the work, but the unit can move without your
help. Always keep your hands on the handle
near the controls when the engine is running.
Remember too that the self-propelled mecha-
nism can be dangerous. Keep hands and feet
away from belts and chains. Always turn off the
engine before attempting to remove anything
that becomes entangled in the self-propelled
system.
Remember, your mower is a useful tool, but it
can be dangerous. Follow the instructions in
this Instruction Book. Use the mower properly
and carefully and it will give you many hours of
trouble free, accident free operations.