Disengaging The Blade; Checking The Blade-Stop System Operation; Stopping The Engine; Using The Grass Bag - Toro 20897 Operator's Manual

Disengaging the Blade

Release the blade-control bar
Figure 24
Important: When you release the blade-control bar,
the blade should stop within 3 seconds. If it does not
stop properly, stop using your machine immediately and
contact an Authorized Service Dealer.
Checking the Blade-Stop
System Operation
Check the blade-control bar before each use to ensure that
the blade-stop system is operating properly.

Using the Grass Bag

Service Interval: Before each use or daily
You can use the grass bag to perform an additional test to
check the blade stop system.
1. Install the empty grass bag on the machine.
2. Start the engine.
3. Engage the blade.
Note: The bag should begin to inflate, indicating that
the blade is engaged and rotating.
4. Release the blade-control bar.
Note: If the bag does not immediately deflate, the
blade is still rotating. The blade stop system may be
deteriorating and, if ignored, could result in an unsafe
operating condition. Have the machine inspected and
serviced by an Authorized Service Dealer.
5. Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop.
(Figure 24).
Not Using the Grass Bag
1. Move the machine onto a paved surface in a non-windy
area.
2. Set all 4 wheels to the 89 mm (3-1/2 inch) height-of-cut
setting.
3. Take a half sheet of newspaper and crumple it into a
ball small enough to go under the machine housing
(about 76 mm or 3 inches in diameter).
4. Place the newspaper ball about 13 cm (5 inches) in
front of the machine.
5. Start the engine.
6. Engage the blade.
7. Immediately push the mower over the newspaper ball.
8. Release the blade-control bar.
9. Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop.
10. Go to the front of the machine and check the
newspaper ball.
•
If the newspaper ball did not go under the machine,
repeat steps
•
If the newspaper is unravelled or shredded, the
blade did not stop properly, which could result
in an unsafe operating condition. Contact an
Authorized Service Dealer.

Stopping the Engine

Hold down the ignition switch in the Stop position until the
engine stops.
Important: When you release the blade-control bar,
both the engine and blade should stop within 3 seconds.
If they do not stop properly, stop using your machine
immediately and contact an Authorized Service Dealer.

Mulching the Clippings

Your machine comes from the factory ready to mulch the
grass and leaf clippings back into the lawn.
If the grass bag is on the machine, remove it; refer to
Removing the Grass Bag (page 14)
clippings. If the side-discharge chute is on the machine,
remove it and lock the side-discharge door; refer to
the Side-Discharge Chute (page 15)
clippings.
Important: The machine has a safety switch that
prevents you from starting the machine unless you first
install the mulch plug securely on the machine
25).
Install the mulch plug as illustrated in
12
4 through 10.
before mulching the
before mulching the
Figure 25.
Removing
(Figure