Stopping The Tractor; Operating Tips - Toro 71285 Operator's Manual

Stopping the Tractor

To stop the tractor, release the ground speed pedal,
disengage the blades (PTO), and turn the ignition key to
Off to stop the engine. Also set the parking brake if you
leave the tractor unattended; refer to Setting the Parking
Brake on page 13. Remember to remove the keys from the
ignition and KeyChoice switches.
Caution
Children or bystanders may be injured if they
move or attempt to operate the tractor while it is
unattended.
Always remove the ignition and KeyChoice keys
and set the parking brake when leaving the tractor
unattended, even if just for a few minutes.

Operating Tips

For the best performance, operate the engine at the
maximum speed. The mower requires air to thoroughly
cut grass clippings, so do not set the height-of-cut too
low or completely surround the mower in uncut grass.
Always leave one side of the mower free from uncut
grass to allow the air to be drawn into the mower.
Cut the grass slightly longer than normal to ensure that
the cutting height of the mower does not scalp any
uneven ground. When cutting grass longer than 6 in.
(15 cm) tall, cut the lawn twice to ensure an acceptable
appearance.
It is best to cut only about 1/3 of the grass blade. Do not
cut more than that unless the grass is sparse or it is late
fall when grass grows more slowly.
Alternate the mowing direction to keep the grass
standing straight. This also helps disperse clippings and
enhances decomposition and fertilization.
Grass grows at different rates at different times of the
season. To maintain the same cutting height, which is a
good practice, mow more often in early spring. As the
grass growth rate slows in mid summer, mow less
frequently.
To improve the quality of cut, use a slower ground
speed. For best operation on average lawns, operate the
engine at full throttle while controlling the ground
speed. You should operate the tractor between from 2 to
3.5 mph (3.2 to 5.6 km/h) while mowing. An uneven
cut is often a result of operating the tractor at an
excessive ground speed.
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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