Dixon ZTR 5020 Operator's Manual page 22

OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS
MOWING WITH A MULCHING ATTACHMENT:
Mulching or recycling the grass clippings requires a totally different mowing approach than would be
normal when side discharging or bagging the grass. There may be instances or conditions where it is
not possible to hide all of the recycled or mulched clippings.
In order to achieve the best results, please read and follow the mulching tips listed below:
1. Set the engine speed control to the wide open or full setting.
2. Place the mower deck cut height selector in either the top or second notch. Never cut more
than 3/4" to 1" off the grass at any one time. Attempting to cut more grass will result in the
deck plugging and cause the engine to stall.
3. It may be necessary to cut the lawn twice to achieve acceptable mulching performance
especially on first cuttings or if the lawn is heavily fertilized.
4. Do Not Attempt To Cut Grass When It Is Wet. Mulching performance will be very poor under
wet grass conditions.
5. Maintain A Sharp Blade Throughout The Cutting Season. This is very important. Optimal
mulching performance cannot be obtained with a dull or nicked blade.
6. Keep The Underside Of The Mower Deck Clean. Remove all grass and dirt buildup from the
underside of the pan, the baffles and deflectors after each use.
7. Alternate mower direction. This will evenly disperse the mulched grass clippings over the
lawn for even fertilization.
If the mulching quality of the mower does not seem to be satisfactory, try one or more of the
following tips:
1. Raise the height-of-cut setting on your mower.
2. It may be necessary to cut your grass more frequently.
3. Operate the mower at a slower ground speed.
4. Overlap cutting swaths instead of cutting a full swath with each pass.
5. Mow across the marginal areas a second time.
6. CUT HIGH - MOW OFTEN!
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