Toro 22198 Operator's Manual page 17

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Avoid striking trees, walls, curbs, or other solid objects.
Never deliberately mow over any object.
•
If the machine strikes an object or starts to vibrate,
immediately stop the engine, disconnect the wire from
the spark plug, and examine the machine for damage.
•
Maintain a sharp blade throughout the cutting season.
Periodically file down nicks on the blade.
•
Replace the blade when necessary with an original Toro
replacement blade.
•
Mow only dry grass or leaves. Wet grass and leaves tend
to clump on the yard and can cause the machine to plug
or the engine to stall.
WARNING
Wet grass or leaves can cause serious injury if
you slip and contact the blade.
Mow only in dry conditions.
•
Clean under the machine housing after each mowing.
Refer to Cleaning under the Machine Housing (page 25).
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Keep the engine in good running condition.
•
Set the engine speed to the fastest position for the best
cutting results.
WARNING
Operating the machine with its engine running
at a speed greater than the factory setting can
cause the machine to throw a part of the blade
or engine into the operator's or bystander's area
and result in serious personal injury or death.
– Do not change the engine speed setting.
– If you suspect the engine speed is faster
than normal, contact an Authorized Service
Dealer.
•
Clean the air filter frequently. Mulching stirs up more
clippings and dust which clogs the air filter and reduces
engine performance.
Cutting Grass
•
Grass grows at different rates at different times of the
year. In the summer heat, it is best to cut grass at the
2-1/4 inch (57 mm), 2-3/4 inch (70 mm), or 3-1/4 inch
(83 mm) cutting height settings. Cut only about a third
of the grass blade at a time. Do not cut below the 2-1/4
inch (57 mm) setting unless the grass is sparse or it is late
fall when grass growth begins to slow down.
•
When cutting grass over 6 inches (15 cm) tall, first mow
at the highest cutting height setting and walk slower; then
mow again at a lower setting for the best lawn appearance.
If the grass is too long and the leaves clump on top of the
lawn, the machine may plug and cause the engine to stall.
•
Alternate the mowing direction. This helps disperse the
clippings over the lawn for even fertilization.
If the finished lawn appearance is unsatisfactory, try one or
more of the following:
•
Sharpen the blade.
•
Walk at a slower pace while mowing.
•
Raise the cutting height on your machine.
•
Cut the grass more frequently.
•
Overlap cutting swaths instead of cutting a full swath
with each pass.
•
Set the cutting height on the front wheels one notch
lower than the rear wheels. For example, set the front
wheels at 2-1/4 inches (57 mm) and the rear wheels at
2-3/4 inches (70 mm).
Cutting Leaves
•
After cutting the lawn, ensure that half of the lawn shows
through the cut leaf cover. You may need to make more
than one pass over the leaves.
•
For light leaf coverage, set all the wheels at the same
cutting height setting.
•
If there are more than 5 inches (12.7 cm) of leaves on the
lawn, set the front cutting height 1 or 2 notches higher
than the rear cutting height. This makes it easier to feed
the leaves under the machine housing.
•
Slow down your mowing speed if the machine does not
cut the leaves finely enough.
•
If you mow over oak leaves, you can add lime to the grass
in the spring to reduce the acidity of the oak leaves.
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