Safe Mowing Practices; Mowing Tips - Honda HRX537VYE Owner's Manual

SAFE MOWING PRACTICES

For your safety, keep all four wheels on the ground, and be careful to
avoid losing your footing and your control of the mower. Keep a firm
grip on the handlebar, and walk, never run, with the mower. Be very
careful when mowing uneven or rough ground.
If stuck, do not kick or shove the mower with your foot. Use the
handlebar to control the mower.

The cutting means are sharp and spin at high speed.
If you come in contact with a spinning cutting means, it
will cut you severely and can amputate fingers and
toes.
• Wear protective footwear.
• Keep your hands and feet away from the mower
deck while the engine is running.
• Stop the engine before performing any adjustment,
inspection, or maintenance.
Stability
Mow across slopes, not up and down.
Avoid steep slopes (more than 20°),
and be careful when changing direction.
Mowing on a slope when the grass is
damp or wet could cause you to slip,
fall, and lose control of the mower.
Obstacles
Use the side of the mower to cut close
to large obstacles, such as fences or
walls.
Release the Select Drive control to
disengage the drive when mowing
around trees and other obstacles. Push the mower around obstacles
for better directional control. Be careful when mowing over obstacles
embedded in the lawn, such as sprinkler heads, paving, edging, etc.
Avoid anything that sticks up above the surface of the lawn.
If the cutting means hits something, or if the mower starts to vibrate,
stop the engine immediately and check for damage. Striking objects
may damage the cutting means, bend the crankshaft, and/or break
the mower deck or other components. Vibration usually indicates
serious trouble.

A worn, cracked, or damaged cutting means can
break, and pieces of the damaged cutting means can
become dangerous projectiles.
Blades thrown from the mower could seriously hurt or
kill someone.
Inspect the cutting means regularly, and do not operate
the mower with a worn or damaged cutting means.
The warranty does not cover parts damaged by accident or collision.
Gravel and Loose Objects
Gravel, loose stones, and landscaping material can be picked up by
the mower and thrown many feet with enough force to cause serious
personal injury and/or property damage. The best way to prevent
potential injury from thrown objects is to release the cutting means
control lever to stop the cutting means before reaching areas with
gravel, loose stones, or landscaping material.
DANGER
WARNING

MOWING TIPS

When to Mow
Most grasses should be mowed when they have grown 12 ~ 25 mm
above their recommended height.
More frequent mowing is required for mulching than for catching. For
best results, you may need to mow the lawn twice a week during the
growing season.
Cutting Height
Consult a local nursery or lawn and
garden center for cutting height
recommendations and advice about
specific types of grasses and growing
conditions in your area.
If you look closely, you'll see that most
grass has stems and leaves. If you cut off
the leaves, you'll scalp the lawn. Let the
grass recover between mowings. Your
mower will work better, and your lawn will
look better.
If your grass gets too tall, cut it once at the highest cutting height
setting, and then mow again in 2 or 3 days. Don't take off more than
one third of total grass height in any one mowing, or brown patches
may develop.
Cutting height adjustment levers are explained in the CONTROLS
chapter (page 5).
Cutting Width
For an even lawn finish, overlap each mowing swath by a few
centimeters. If the grass is very tall or thick, use more overlap and a
narrower mowing swath.
Cutting Means Speed
The cutting means must spin very fast to cut properly. Always use the
fast throttle setting, and keep the engine running at maximum speed.
If engine speed drops, it could mean the engine is being overloaded
by the cutting means trying to cut too much grass. Mow a narrower
swath, move the mower slower, or raise the cutting height.
Cutting Means Sharpness
A sharp cutting means cuts cleanly. A dull cutting means tears the
grass, leaving shredded ends that turn brown. When your cutting
means doesn't cut cleanly anymore, have it sharpened or replaced.
Dry Grass
If the ground is too dry, mowing will stir up a lot of dust. Besides being
unpleasant to work in, too much dust will clog the carburetor air filter.
If dust is a problem, water your lawn the day before mowing. Mow
when the grass is dry to your touch, but the soil is still moist.
Wet Grass
Wet grass is slippery and can make you lose your footing. Also, wet
grass clippings will clog the mower deck and collect in clumps on the
lawn. Always wait for wet grass to dry before mowing.
Fallen Leaves
Your mower can be used to pick up fallen leaves for disposal. If using
the mower to catch large amounts of fallen leaves, and not for
mowing, set the cutting height adjustment levers so the front of the
mower deck is one or two settings higher than the rear. To start,
position the Clip Director knob in the #9 position (not quite full
mulching). This setting will allow the leaves to be recirculated and
recut until the particles are small enough to pass though the sliding
door opening and into the grass catcher. Mulching when the leaves
are still damp will help cut down on the amount of dust created.
ENGLISH
LONG ENOUGH
TOO SHORT
11