Installing The Discharge Chute; Operating Tips - Toro 70186 Operator's Manual

Installing the Discharge Chute

Danger
Without the grass deflector, discharge cover, or
complete grass catcher assembly mounted in place,
you and others are exposed to blade contact and
thrown debris. Contact with the rotating mower
blade and thrown debris will cause injury or
death.
•
Never remove the grass deflector from the
mower because the grass deflector routes
material down toward the turf. If the grass
deflector is ever damaged, replace it
immediately.
•
Never put your hands or feet under the mower.
•
Never try to clear the discharge area or mower
blades unless you disengage the power take-off
(PTO) and turn the ignition key to Off. Also
remove the key and disconnect the wire from the
spark plug.
1. Park the machine on a level surface.
2. Disengage the blade (PTO).
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop.
5. Remove the ignition key.
6. Raise the grass collector and remove the hairpin and
clevis pin that secure the discharge tube to the rear plate
(Fig 13).
7. Move the height of cut lever to the lowest position.
8. Remove the bolt, washer, and nut that secure the 2 strap
ends together (Fig. 15).
9. Move the straps away from the the discharge chute.
Note: Do not remove the straps from the mower
housing.
10. Remove the Recycler cover from the mower housing.
11. Install the discharge chute onto the mower.
12. Raise the grass collector and install the clevis pin and
hairpin to secure the discharge tube to the rear plate
(Fig 13).
13. Install the nut and outer washer that secure the
discharge chute to the discharge tube (Fig. 14).
14. Join the 2 strap ends around the discharge chute as
shown (Fig. 15).
15. Align the holes in the strap ends and fasten them
together snugly with the bolt, washer, and nut you
previously removed (Fig. 15).

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 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.
• 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 machine 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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