Section 4: Operation
C. Put the Gear Select Lever (C, Figure
4-2) in R (reverse) setting by first
moving lever to N (neutral). Then
pull lever up, turn it to R position,
and release lever.
D. To start the wheels, slowly squeeze
Wheel Drive Control (D, Figure 4-2).
To avoid sudden acceleration, slowly
squeeze the lever.
E. TO STOP THE WHEELS:
• To stop drive power to the wheels,
release the Wheel Drive Control. The
wheels will gradually slow to a stop.
• To quickly stop the wheels, release
both the Wheel Drive Control and
the Operator Presence Control.
• Return the Gear Select Lever to the
N (neutral) position when you have
completed reverse operation. Allow
the wheels to stop completely be-
fore shifting from R (reverse) into a
forward speed.
The mower turns easily by pushing
the handlebars in the opposite direction
that you want to turn. The differential
mechanism inside the transaxle will
allow the inside turning wheel to stop or
slow down while the outside turning
wheel is powered by the drive system.
Reduce the wheel speed before turn-
ing the mower. For tight turns, disen-
gage the Wheel Drive Control and manu-
ally push the mower through the turn (if
needed, put the Gear Select Lever in
neutral so the wheels turn freely).
MOWING TIPS AND HINTS
Mow When
Lawn Is Dry
For best results, avoid cutting grass
when it is wet. Wet grass tends to form
clumps which interfere with the cutting
action. The best time to mow is in the
late afternoon or early evening when the
grass is usually dry.
Cut Top 1/3 of
Grass Blades
Cutting more than 1/3 of grass length
may cause the grass to become exces-
sively dry. In tall grass, it may be neces-
sary to mow at a higher setting and then
mow again at the desired height. NOTE:
The cutting height is critical to achieving
a well-groomed lawn. You should exper-
iment with various settings to find that
“just right” cutting height.
Vary Cutting Pattern
Vary the cutting pattern from week to
week to help prevent matting of the
grass. One week, mow from north to
south, the next week mow from east to
west. Overlap several inches when
mowing to obtain an even appearance.
Mowing on Slopes
Do not mow excessively steep slopes
(see WARNING statement that follows).
Slow down and exercise extreme caution
when changing direction on slopes.
Before mowing on slopes, check the en-
gine oil level and make sure that the level
is at the FULL mark. Maintaining a FULL
oil level is particularly important when
operating on slopes as oil can be drained
away from vital engine parts.
Mulching Leaves
• The mower can be used to mow fallen
leaves. The leaf particles filter down into
the lawn and provide added fertilizer.
• The leaves must be dry in order to be
mulched.
• Use a slower ground speed if the
leaves are not mulched into fine parti-
cles.
• If you mulch oak leaves (which add acid
to the soil), add lime to the lawn in the
spring to reduce the acidity of the soil.
Keep Mower Blades Sharp
For best mower performance, keep the
blades sharp. Dull blades will tear,
bruise and split the ends of grass. See
blade sharpening instructions in Section
5: Maintenance.
Clean Mower Frequently
Clean the underside of the mower deck
frequently to remove grass build-up.
See mower cleaning instructions in
Section 5: Maintenance.
Precision Trimming
For precision trimming, use the slow-
est gear and inch the mower along by
“feathering” the Wheel Drive Control
lever. Or, disengage the wheel drive by
releasing the Wheel Drive Control so that
you can manually maneuver the mower
(if needed, put the Gear Select Lever in
neutral so that the wheels turn freely).
Mowing Ditches
If you have to mow ditches, stop the
engine and adjust the cutting height to
its highest setting. Mow in the direction
of the ditch. Mow both sides of the ditch
MAKING TURNS
1
3
To avoid injury or property damage:
• Before mowing, thoroughly inspect
area where mower is to be used and
remove all stones, sticks, wires,
bones, nails and other foreign objects.
• Disengage mower blades before
crossing gravel drives, roads, or side-
walks to prevent blades from throwing
stones or other hazardous objects.
WARNING
To avoid injury or property damage:
• Maximum safe operating angle
is 15
o
.
• Exceeding maximum safe operating
angle may cause tipping or loss of
footing.
• Do not mow wet slopes.
• Mow across slopes, not up and down.
• Exercise extreme caution when
changing direction on slopes.
WARNING
15
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