Figure 33
Operating Tips
General Tips
•
Maintain a sharp blade throughout the cutting
season. Periodically file down nicks on the blade.
•
Replace the blade when necessary with an original
Toro replacement blade.
•
Mow only dry grass or leaves where feasible. Wet
grass and leaves tend to clump on the yard and can
cause the mower to plug or the engine to stall.
WARNING
Wet grass or leaves can cause serious injury if
you slip and contact the blade.
Mow only in dry conditions where feasible.
•
Clean under the mower housing after each mowing.
See Cleaning under the Mower Housing.
•
Keep the engine in good running condition.
•
Set the engine speed to the fastest position for the
best cutting results.
WARNING
Operating a mower with its engine running at
a speed greater than the factory setting can
cause the mower to throw a part of the blade or
engine into the operator's or bystander's area
and result in serious personal injury or death.
– Do not change the engine speed setting.
– If you suspect the engine speed is faster
than normal, contact an Authorized Service
Dealer.
•
Clean the air filter frequently. recycling stirs up
more clippings and dust which clogs the air filter
and reduces engine performance.
Cutting Grass
•
Grass grows at different rates at different times of
the year. In the summer heat, it is best to cut grass
at the 2- inch (51 mm), 2-1/2 inch (64 mm), or
3-inch (76 mm) cutting height settings. Cut only
about a third of the grass blade at a time. Do not
cut below the 2-1/2 inch (64 mm) setting unless the
grass is sparse or it is late fall when grass growth
begins to slow down.
•
When cutting grass over 6 inches (15 cm) tall, first
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 and
the leaves clump on top of the lawn, the mower may
plug and cause the engine to stall.
•
Alternate the mowing direction. This helps disperse
the clippings over the lawn for even fertilization.
If the finished lawn appearance is unsatisfactory, try
one or more of the following:
•
Sharpen the blade.
•
Walk at a slower pace while mowing.
•
Raise the cutting height on your mower.
•
Cut the grass more frequently.
•
Overlap cutting swaths instead of cutting a full
swath with each pass.
•
Set the cutting height on the front wheels one notch
lower than the rear wheels.
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 one pass over the leaves.
•
For light leaf coverage, set all the wheels at the same
cutting height setting.
•
If there are more than 5 inches (12.7 cm) of leaves
on the lawn, set the front cutting height 1 or 2
notches higher than the rear cutting height. This
makes it easier to feed the leaves under the mower
housing.
•
Slow down your mowing speed if the mower does
not cut the leaves finely enough.
•
If you mow over oak leaves, you can add lime to
the grass in the spring to reduce the acidity of the
oak leaves.
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