Operating Tips - Toro 20833 Operator's Manual

Danger
If the rear door does not close completely, the lawn
mower could throw objects, causing serious
personal injury or death.
If you cannot close the rear door because the grass
clippings clog the discharge area, stop the engine,
wait for all moving parts to stop, and remove the
grass clippings (with a stick, not your hand) until
the rear door closes completely.

Operating Tips

Review the safety instructions and read this manual
carefully before operating the lawn mower.
Clear the area of sticks, stones, wire, branches, and
other debris that the blade could hit and throw.
Keep everyone, especially children and pets, away from
the area of operation.
Avoid striking trees, walls, curbs, or other solid objects.
Never deliberately mow over any object.
If the lawn mower strikes an object or starts to vibrate,
immediately stop the engine, disconnect the wire from
the spark plug, and examine the lawn mower for
damage.
Maintain a sharp blade throughout the cutting season.
Periodically file down nicks on the blade.
Replace the blade when necessary with an original Toro
replacement blade.
Mow only dry grass or leaves. Wet grass and leaves
tend to clump on the yard and can cause the lawn
mower to plug or the engine to stall.
Warning
Wet grass or leaves can cause you to slip and
contact the blade, resulting in serious injury.
Mow only in dry conditions.
Clean under the housing after each mowing. See
Cleaning under the Housing on page 12.
Keep the engine in good running condition.
Set the engine speed to the fastest position for the best
cutting results.
Warning
Operating a lawn mower with its engine running
at a speed greater than the factory setting can
cause the lawn mower to throw a part of the blade
or engine into the operator's or bystander's area
and result in serious personal injury or death.
Do not change the engine speed setting.
If you suspect the engine speed is faster than
normal, contact an Authorized Service Dealer.
Cutting Grass
Grass grows at different rates at different times of the
year. In the summer heat, it is best to cut grass at the C,
D, or E cutting height settings. Cut only about a third of
the grass blade at a time. Do not cut below the C setting
unless the grass is sparse or it is late fall when grass
growth begins to slow down.
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.
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:
Sharpen the blade.
Walk at a slower pace while mowing.
Raise the cutting height on your lawn mower.
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 one pass over the leaves.
Slow down your mowing speed if the lawn mower does
not cut the leaves finely enough.
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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