Operating Tips - Toro 20339 Operator's Manual

3. Disengage the handle locks
1. Handle lock disengaged
positions
4. Fold the handle fully forward
Important: Route the cables to the outside of the
handle knobs as you fold the handle.
5. Engage the handle locks.
6. Lift the front of the machine by the handle and move
it into a storage space

Operating Tips

General Mowing Tips
•
Inspect the area where you will use the machine and
remove all objects that the machine could throw.
•
Avoid striking solid objects with the blade. Never
deliberately mow over any object.
(Figure 20).
Figure 20
2. Handle lock engaged
position
(Figure 20).
(Figure 21).
Figure 21
•
If the machine strikes an object or starts to vibrate,
immediately shut off the engine, disconnect the wire from
the spark plug, and examine the machine for damage.
•
For best performance, install a new blade before the
cutting season begins.
•
Replace the blade when necessary with a Toro
replacement blade.
Cutting Grass
•
Cut only about a third of the grass blade at a time. Do not
cut below the 54 mm (2-1/8 inch) setting unless the grass
is sparse or it is late fall when grass growth begins to slow
down. Refer to
•
When cutting grass over 15 cm (6 inches) 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.
g189218 •
Wet grass and leaves tend to clump on the yard and can
cause the machine to plug or the engine to stall. Avoid
mowing in wet conditions.
•
Be aware of a potential fire hazard in very dry conditions,
follow all local fire warnings, and keep the machine free
of dry grass and leaf debris.
•
Alternate the mowing direction. This helps disperse the
clippings over the lawn for even fertilization.
•
If the finished lawn appearance is unsatisfactory, try 1
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.
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 a single pass over the leaves.
g189217
•
If there are more than 13 cm (5 inches) of leaves on the
lawn, set the front cutting height 1 or 2 notches higher
than the rear cutting height.
•
Slow down your mowing speed if the machine does not
cut the leaves finely enough.
12
Adjusting the Cutting Height (page 8).