21
Cutting Frequency
Cut the grass often, especially when it grows rapidly. You
will have to cut your grass twice if it gets excessively long
(refer to Bagging Long Grass, page 21).
Cutting Technique
For best lawn appearance, be sure to slightly overlap the
mower into the previously cut area. This helps reduce the
load on the engine and reduces the chance of plugging the
boot and tube.
Bagging Speed
The bagging system may plug if you drive too fast and the
engine speed gets too slow. On hills it may be necessary to
slow the machines ground speed. Mow down hill whenever
possible.
As the bagger fills, extra weight is added to the
back of the machine. If you stop and start
suddenly on hills, you may lose steering control or
the machine may tip.
•
Do not start or stop suddenly when going uphill
or downhill. Avoid uphill starts.
•
If you do stop the machine when going uphill,
disengage the PTO. Then back down the hill
using a slow speed.
•
Do not change speeds or stop on slopes.
Caution
Bagging Long Grass
Excessively long grass is heavy and may not be propelled
completely into the bagger. If this happens, the tube and
boot may plug.
Bagging Wet Grass
If possible, always try to cut grass when it is dry. Wet grass
can cause plugging.
Reducing Plugging
To avoid plugging the bagging system, reduce ground
speed and mow the grass at a high height-of-cut, then lower
the mower to your normal cutting height and repeat the
bagging process.
Signs of Plugging
As you are bagging, a small amount of grass clippings
normally blow out the front of the mower. An excessive
amount of clipping blow-out indicates that the bagger is
full or the boot is plugged.
Without the grass deflector, bagger tubes or
complete bagger assembly mounted in place, you
and others are exposed to blade contact and
thrown debris. Contact with the rotating mower
blade(s) and thrown debris will cause injury or
death.
•
Always install the grass deflector when
removing the bagger and changing to side
discharge mode.
•
If the grass deflector is ever damaged, replace it
immediately. The grass deflector routes material
down toward the turf.
•
Never put your hands or feet under the mower.
•
Never try to clear the discharge area or mower
blades unless you move the power take off
(PTO) to off and rotate the ignition key to off.
Also remove the key and pull the wire off of the
spark plug(s).
Warning
Bagging Blades
In certain mowing conditions, improved bagging
performance can be achieved by using bagging blades.
Contact an Authorized Service Dealer for the proper blades
for different mowing conditions.
Fan Vacuum
The bagging system operates by vacuum created by a
rotating fan mounted in the top of the hopper. If the vacuum
action is reduced, bagging performance will diminish.
Refer to Troubleshooting on page 23 for causes of reduced
performance.
Curb Climbing and Loading
Always lift the deck to the highest position when loading
the machine on trailers or ascending/descending a curb.
Leaving the mower in a lower position can cause damage to
mower baffles while loading and going over a curb. If a
curb is higher than 6 inches (152 mm), cross it at a sharp
angle with the deck fully raised. Use extreme caution
when loading onto a trailer.