MTD 611 Operator's Manual page 18

• For best results it is recommended that the first two
laps be cut with the discharge thrown towards the
center. After the first two laps, reverse the direction
to throw the discharge to the outside for the
balance of cutting. This will give a better
appearance to the lawn.
• Do not cut the grass too short. Short grass invites
weed growth and yellows quickly in dry weather.
• Mowing should always be done with the engine at
full throttle.
• Under heavier conditions it may be necessary to go
back over the cut area a second time to get a clean
cut.
• Do NOT attempt to mow heavy brush and weeds
and extremely tall grass. Your tractor is designed to
mow lawns, NOT clear brush.
• Keep the blades sharp and replace the blades
when worn. Refer to Cutting Blades on page 23 of this
manual for proper blade sharpening instructions.
Mulching
Some, NOT all, models come equipped with a mulch kit
which incorporates special blades, already standard on
your tractor, in a process of recirculating grass clippings
repeatedly beneath the cutting deck. The ultra-fine
clippings are then forced back into the lawn where they
act as a natural fertilizer. Observe the following points
for the best results when mulching.
• Never attempt to mulch if the lawn is damp. Wet
grass tends to stick to the underside of the cutting
deck preventing proper mulching of the clippings.
• Do NOT attempt to mulch more than 1/3 the total
height of the grass or approximately 1-1/2 inches.
Doing so will cause the clippings to clump up
beneath the deck and not be mulched effectively.
• Maintain a slow ground speed to allow the grass
clippings more time to effectively be mulched.
• Always position the throttle control lever in the
FAST (rabbit) position and allow it to remain there
while mowing. Failing to keep the engine at full
throttle places strain on the tractor's engine and
does not allow the blades to properly mulch grass.
NOTE:
It is not necessary to remove the discharge
chute to operate the mower with the mulch kit installed.
42-inch Decks
To operate the cutting deck without mulching, on
models so equipped, simply remove the mulch plug by
unthreading the plastic wing nut which fastens it to the
cutting deck. This will allow the clippings to discharge
out the side. See Figure 15.
Carriage
@
Plastic Wing Nut
Mulch Plug
Figure 15
46-inch Decks
On models so equipped, the mulch kit is packed
separately within the tractor's crate. Observe the
instructions included with the mulch kit for the best
results when mulching.
OperatingThe Headlights
On some models, the lamps are ON whenever the
tractor's engine is running. On other models, the lamps
are ON whenever the ignition key is moved out of the
STOP position.
On all models, the lamps turn OFF when the ignition
key is moved to the STOP position.
NOTE:
Never move the key into the Start position
while the engine is running. Doing so may cause
damage to your engine's electric starter.
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