Ryobi RY401014, Operator'S Manual

Page: 14 / 44

10 — English
OPERATION
SELF-PROPELLED MOWING
See Figure 12.
WARNING:
Never engage the blade when transporting the mower
from one location to another. Only engage the blade by
pressing the start button when you are ready to mow.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious
personal injury.

Once the mower has been started, the self-propelled fea-
ture is engaged by pulling one or both of the self-propel
levers upward to meet the handle.

To disengage the self-propelled feature, release the self-
propel levers.
NOTE: The self-propelled levers can be used without
engaging the blade to power the mower from one location
to another. You must pull the bail and then one or both
self-propel levers to move the mower without engaging
the blade.
CRUISE CONTROL
See Figure 12.
WARNING:
Always adjust the cruise control before you engage the
blade. Adjusting the cruise control while mowing may
cause you to lose control and could result in serious injury
while the blade is operating.
WARNING:
When using the self-propelled feature, ensure that the
cruise control is set at a speed that you can comfort-
ably follow when walking behind the mower. You may
lose control of the mower if the cruise control is set at
a speed that is too fast for your walking pace. Release
the self-propel levers and bail if you cannot keep up
with the mower and adjust the cruise control as needed.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious
personal injury.
By sliding the cruise control button on the handle, you can
adjust the speed of the mower to accommodate your pace
when the self-propelled feature is engaged. When viewed
from the normal operating position, the cruise control button
is at minimum self propelled speed at the far left side and
is at the maximum self propelled speed at the far right side.
MOWING TIPS
WARNING:
Do not mow on wet grass, which can cause you to slip
and fall and result in possible serious personal injury.
NOTE: Fully charge battery before each use for optimal
runtime.

Make sure the lawn is clear of stones, tree nuts, sticks,
wires, and other objects that could damage the lawn mower
blade or motor. Do not mow over property stakes or other
metal posts. Such objects could damage the blade or be
accidentally thrown by the mower in any direction and
cause serious personal injury to the operator and others.
 For a healthy lawn, always cut off one-third or less of the
total length of the grass.


When cutting heavy grass, reduce walking speed to allow
for more effective cutting and a proper discharge of the
clippings.

Do not cut wet grass. It will stick to the underside of the
deck and prevent proper bagging or mulching of grass
clippings.

New or thick grass may require a narrower cut or a higher
cutting height.

Clean the underside of the mower deck after each use
to remove grass clippings, leaves, dirt, and any other
accumulated debris.
NOTE: Always stop mower, allow blade to completely stop,
remove the start key and remove the battery packs from
the battery port before cleaning underneath the mower.
SLOPE OPERATION
See Figure 13.
WARNING:
Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall accidents
that can result in severe injury. Operation on slopes re-
quires extra caution. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do not
mow it. For your safety, do not attempt to mow slopes
greater than 15 degrees and mow across the face of
slopes, not up and down.
 Mow across the face of slopes, not up and down. Exercise
extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.

Watch for holes, ruts, rocks, hidden objects, or bumps
which can cause you to slip or trip. Tall grass can hide
obstacles. Remove all objects such as rocks, tree limbs,
etc., which could be tripped over or thrown by the blade.
 Always be sure of your footing. A slip and fall can cause
serious personal injury. If you feel you are losing your bal-
ance, release the upper blade control lever immediately.
 Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches, or embankments;
you could lose your footing or balance.