Cutting Grass
•
Cut only about a third of the grass blade at a time. Do not
cut below the 2 inch (51 mm) setting unless the grass is
sparse or it is late fall when grass growth begins to slow
down. Refer to Adjusting the Cutting Height (page 8).
•
When cutting grass over 6 inches (15 cm) tall, 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, the machine may plug and cause
the engine to stall.
•
Mow only dry grass or leaves. Wet grass and leaves tend
to clump on the yard and can cause the machine 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.
Maintenance
Note: Determine the left and right sides of the machine from the normal operating position.
Recommended Maintenance Schedule(s)
Maintenance Service
Interval
After the first 5 hours
Before each use or daily
After each use
Every 25 hours
Every 100 hours
Before storage
Yearly
Important: Refer to your Engine Operator's Manual for additional maintenance procedures.
Maintenance Procedure
• Change the engine oil.
• Check the engine oil level.
• Ensure that the engine stops within 3 seconds after releasing the blade-control bar.
• Clean grass clippings and dirt from under the machine.
• Replace the air-cleaner element (more frequently when operating the machine in
dusty or dirty operating conditions).
• Charge the battery for 24 hours.
• Clean the cooling system (refer to your engine owner's manual).
• Replace the spark plug.
• Empty the fuel tank before repairs as directed and before annual storage.
• Change the engine oil.
• Replace the blade or have it sharpened (more frequently if the edge dulls quickly).
• Refer to your Engine Operator's Manual for any additional yearly maintenance
procedures.
•
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:
– Replace the blade or have it sharpened.
– Walk at a slower pace while mowing.
– Raise the cutting height on your machine.
– 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. For example, set the front
wheels at 2 inches (51 mm) and the rear wheels at
2-1/2 inches (64 mm).
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