Toro 71257 Operator's Manual page 18

• If the grass is longer than normal, or if it contains
a high degree of moisture, raise the cutting height
higher than usual, cut the grass at that setting, and
then cut the grass again at the lower, normal setting.
• If you must stop the tractor while mowing, you may
leave a clump of grass clippings on your lawn. To
avoid this, do the following:
– Engage the blade and move to a previously cut
area.
– Disperse the clippings evenly by raising the
mower 1 or 2 height-of-cut settings while driving
forward with the blade engaged.
• Use the washout port to clean clippings and dirt
from the underside of the mower after each use. If
grass and dirt build up inside the mower, the cutting
quality will eventually become unsatisfactory.
• Maintain a sharp blade throughout the season. A
sharp blade cuts grass cleanly without tearing or
shredding the grass blades. Tearing and shredding
the grass turns it brown at the edges, which slows
its growth and increases the chance of disease.
Every 30 days, check the blade for sharpness and
file down any nicks.
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