Operating Tips - Toro 22176TE Operator's Manual

Operating Tips

General Tips
• Review the safety instructions and read this
manual carefully before operating the lawn
mower.
• Clear the area of sticks, stones, wire, branches,
and other debris that the blade could hit and
throw.
• Keep everyone, especially children and pets,
away from the area of operation.
• Avoid striking trees, walls, curbs, or other solid
objects. Never deliberately mow over any
object.
• If the lawn mower strikes an object or starts
to vibrate, immediately stop the engine,
disconnect the wire from the spark plug, and
examine the lawn mower for damage.
• 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. Wet grass and
leaves tend to clump on the yard and can cause
the lawn mower to plug or the engine to stall.
Wet grass or leaves can cause serious
injury if you slip and contact the blade.
Mow only in dry conditions.
• Clean the underside of the lawn mower deck
after each mowing. See Cleaning the Underside
of the Lawn Mower Housing.
• Keep the engine in good running condition.
• Set the engine speed to the fastest position for
the best cutting results.
Operating a lawn mower with its engine
running at a speed greater than the
factory setting can cause the lawn 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. Mulching 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 inch (51 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 lawn 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 lawn 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. For example,
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