Exmark metro 21 Operator's Manual page 25

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Clean the air filter frequently. Mulching stirs up more clippings and dust
which clogs the air filter and reduces engine performance.
Cutting Grass
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Grass grows at different rates at different times of the year. In the
summer heat, it is best to cut grass at the 2-1/4 inch (57 mm), 2-3/4 inch
(70 mm), or 3-1/4 inch (83 mm) cutting height settings. Cut only about a
third of the grass blade at a time. Do not cut below the 2-1/4 inch (57 mm)
setting unless the grass is sparse or it is late fall when grass growth
begins to slow down.
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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.
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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:
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Sharpen the blade.
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Walk at a slower pace while mowing.
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Raise the cutting height on your lawn mower.
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Cut the grass more frequently.
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Overlap cutting swaths instead of cutting a full swath with each pass.
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Set the cutting height on the front wheels one notch lower than the rear
wheels. For example, set the front wheels at 2-1/4 inches (57 mm) and
the rear wheels at the 2-3/4 inches (70 mm).
Cutting Leaves
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After cutting the lawn, ensure that half of the lawn shows through the cut
leaf cover. You may need to make more than one pass over the leaves.
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For light leaf coverage, set all the wheels at the same cutting height setting.
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If there are more than 5 inches (12.7 cm) of leaves on the lawn, set the
front cutting height 1 or 2 notches higher than the rear cutting height. This
makes it easier to feed the leaves under the lawn mower deck.
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Slow down your mowing speed if the lawn mower does not cut the leave
finely enough.
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If you mow over oak leaves, you can add lime to the grass in the spring to
reduce the acidity of the oak leaves.
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