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This speed is most effective on short,
thin grass.
3. Pull the Wheel Drive Bail (B, Figure
4-7) up against the handlebar to power
the rear wheels and move forward.
NOTE: Release the Wheel Drive Bail and
continue to hold the Operator Presence
Control Bail (A, Figure 4-7) to pause
during mowing with the engine running,
or to maneuver in tight or difficult
conditions.
MOWING TIPS AND HINTS
Mow When Lawn Is Dry
Do not mow grass when it is wet. Wet
grass is difficult to mow and clumps
together inside the mower housing. This
causes inefficient operation and an
uneven cut. Additionally, wet clippings
stick together in unsightly clumps on top
of the lawn which causes inefficient
absorption of nutrients back into the soil.
Avoid Midday Mowing
If possible, mow in the late afternoon or
early evening to avoid exposing newly cut
grass to the drying effects of direct
sunlight.
Never Cut Lower Than One-Third Grass
Height In One Pass
If possible, mow
often enough or
high enough to
avoid cutting off
more than 1/3 of
the grass height.
For example, if you
are maintaining your lawn at 2", mow
before it reaches 3".
Removing more than 1/3 of total grass
blade length may expose tender, shaded
stems to the drying effects of the sun and
wind and produce a dull, brown-looking
lawn. Cutting off too much leaf area is
also a shock to the root system and it
may take weeks to repair the damage.
Clean Mower Frequently
Clean the mowing housing frequently to
remove any grass build-up. Refer to the
cleaning instructions in Section 5.
Turning the Mower
1. For short turns, release the Wheel
Drive Bail (B, Figure 4-7) but continue to
hold the Operator Presence Control Bail
(A). This disengages the wheel drive, but
the engine continues to run.
2. Press down on the handlebar to raise
the front end slightly.
3. Push the handlebar opposite the
direction to which you want to turn.
4. For longer, wider turns, there is no
need to disengage the powered wheels.
Vary Cutting Pattern
Vary the cutting
pattern from week
to week. One week
mow horizontally.
Mow vertically the following week. This
helps prevent wear patterns and soil com-
paction.
Side-Discharge Mowing
When in Side-Discharge mode, try cutting
in a circular pattern with the chute
inward, facing the uncut area. This
results in less clumping by recutting the
clippings for a finer, cleaner appearance.
Avoid Sharp Turns
Sharp turns may produce an uneven cut.
If possible, follow natural ground
contours or use gentle, sweeping turns
for a better looking lawn.
1
3
Mow Long Grass Twice
If the grass
is 5" long or
more, cut it
once at the
highest
setting and then mow it again at the
desired height. This method may
produce too many clippings to use the
mulcher effectively. Use the Grass
Catcher to remove the grass clippings.
Use Extreme Caution on Slopes
When operating on
sloping ground,
exercise extreme
caution and use good
common sense to
avoid possible
personal injury or property damage.
Section 4: Operation
B
Figure 4-7 : Disengaging the wheels with
engine running.
WARNING
To avoid injury or property damage:
• Maximum safe operating angle is 15
• Exceeding maximum safe operating
angle may cause tipping or loss of
footing.
• Do not mow wet slopes.
• Mow across slopes, not up and down.
• Exercise extreme caution when
changing direction on slopes.
Do not mow steep slopes! Avoid slopes
greater than 15 degrees, or wherever
footing is unsure. If a slope is difficult to
stand on, it is probably too steep to mow
(in such a case, it may be best to
establish a ground cover that doesn't
require mowing).
Do not mow on slopes when the ground
is wet. Mow across the face of slopes,
never up and down. Slow down and
exercise extreme caution when changing
direction on slopes. Keep the Wheel
Drive Bail engaged to ensure easier
operation and better control of the mower
Empty Grass Catcher When Full
Emptying the Grass Catcher when it is full
results in better collection and mower
performance. Empty the bag as soon as
the bag is filled. See Bagging Mode for
more information on the Smart Bag
feature.
A
o
.
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