Toro 30839N Operator's Manual page 24

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Practice moving forward and reverse, and starting and
stopping the machine. To stop, take your foot off of the
traction pedal and let it return to neutral or press down
on the reverse pedal to stop. Going down a hill, you may
need to use the reverse pedal to stop.
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When driving on slopes, drive slowly to maintain steering
control and avoid turns to prevent rollovers. In side hill
situations you should shift the sidewinder cutting units
to the uphill side to give you more stability. Conversely,
shifting the cutting units to the down hill side will give
you less stability. This should always be done before
going on a side hill.
•
When possible, mow up and down hills rather than across
them. Have the cutting units lowered when going down a
hill to maintain steering control. Do not attempt to turn
on a hill.
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Practice driving around obstacles with the cutting units
up and down. Be careful when driving between narrow
objects so you do not damage the machine or cutting
units.
•
On the Sidewinder unit, get a feel for the reach of the
cutting units so you do not hang them up or damage
them in any way.
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Do not shift the units from side to side, unless the cutting
units are down and the machine is moving, or the cutting
units are up in the transport position. Shifting the cutting
units when they are down and the machine is not moving
may cause turf damage.
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Always drive slowly in rough areas.
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If a person appears in or near the operating area, stop
the machine, and do not start it again until the area is
cleared. The machine is designed for one person. Never
let anyone else ride on the machine with you. This is
extremely dangerous and could result in serious injury.
•
Accidents can happen to anyone. The most common
causes are excessive speed, sudden turns, terrain (not
knowing which slopes and hills can be mowed safely), not
stopping the engine before leaving the operator's seat,
and drugs which impair your alertness. Cold capsules or
prescription drugs may cause drowsiness, as can alcohol
and other drugs. Stay alert and stay safe. Failure to do so
could result in serious injury.
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The Sidewinder offers up to a maximum of 13 inches
(33 cm) of overhang, allowing you to trim closer to the
edge of sand traps and other obstacles, while at the same
time keeping the tractor tires as far away from the edge
of traps or water hazards as possible.
•
If an obstacle is in the way, shift the cutting units to easily
mow around it.
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When transporting the machine from one work area to
another, raise the cutting units to the fully up position,
move the mow/transport slide to the left to transport,
and place the throttle in the Fast position.
Mowing Patterns
Change mowing patterns often to minimize aftercut
appearance issues induced by repetitive operation in only one
direction.
Counterbalance
The counterbalance system maintains hydraulic back pressure
on the deck lift cylinders. This counterbalance pressure
transfers cutting deck weight to the mower's drive wheels
to improve traction. The counterbalance pressure has been
factory set to an optimal balance of aftercut appearance and
traction capability in most turf conditions. Decreasing the
counterbalance setting can produce a more stable cutting
deck, but can decrease the traction capability. Increasing the
counterbalance setting can increase the traction capability,
but may result in aftercut appearance issues. Reference the
service manual for your traction unit for instructions to adjust
counterbalance pressure.
Resolving Aftercut Appearance
Reference Aftercut Appearance Troubleshooting Guide
available at www.Toro.com
Mowing Techniques
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To begin cutting, engage the cutting units, then approach
the mowing area slowly. Once the front cutting units are
over the mowing area, lower the cutting units.
•
To achieve the professional straight-line cut and striping
that is desirable for some applications, find a tree or other
object in the distance and drive straight toward it.
•
As soon as the front cutting units reach the edge of the
mowing area, lift the cutting units and perform a tear drop
shaped turn to quickly line you up for your next pass.
•
To mow around bunkers, ponds, or other contours
easily, use the Sidewinder and move the control lever left
or right, depending on your mowing application. The
cutting units can also be shifted to vary tire tracking.
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The cutting units tend to throw grass to the left side
of the machine. If trimming around bunkers, it is best
to mow in a clockwise direction to prevent throwing
clippings into the bunker.
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The cutting units can be equipped with bolt-in mulching
baffles. The mulching baffles perform well when turf is
maintained on a regular schedule to avoid removing more
than 1 inch (25 mm) of growth per cutting. When too
much growth is cut with the mulching baffles installed,
after-cut appearance may deteriorate and the observed
power to cut the turf increases. The mulching baffles also
perform well for shredding leaves in the fall of the year.
Mow When Grass is Dry
Mow either in the late morning to avoid the dew, which causes
grass clumping, or in late afternoon to avoid the damage
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