Mulching; Mowing; Using The Deck Lift Lever - Troy-Bilt 26J Mini-Rider Operator's Manual

Mulching

A mulch kit has been supplied with your unit. Mulching is a
process of recirculating grass clippings repeatedly beneath
the cutting deck. The ultra-fine clippings are then forced back
into the lawn where they act as a natural fertilizer. Refer to the
Assembly & Set-up section of this manual for instructions on how
to install the mulch kit.
Observe the following points for the best results when mulching:
• Never attempt to mulch if the lawn is damp. Wet grass
tends to stick to the underside of the cutting deck
preventing proper mulching of the clippings.
• Do NOT attempt to mulch more than 1/3 the total height of
the grass or approximately 1-1/2 inches. Doing so will cause
the clippings to clump up beneath the deck and not be
mulched effectively.
• Maintain a slow ground speed to allow the grass clippings
more time to effectively be mulched.
• Always position the throttle control lever in the FAST
(rabbit) position and allow it to remain there while mowing.
Failing to keep the engine at full throttle places strain
on the tractor's engine and does not allow the blades to
properly mulch grass.
NOTE: It is necessary to remove the discharge chute and install
the mulch plug to operate the mower in the mulching mode.
WARNING!
discharge chute or mulch plug properly in place.
20 20 S S 5— o 5— o
ection ection peration peration
Never operate the mower without the

Using the Deck Lift Lever

To raise the cutting deck, move the deck lift lever to the left, then
place it in the notch best suited for your application. Refer to
Setting The Cutting Height earlier in this section.

Mowing

WARNING!
To help avoid blade contact or a
thrown object injury, keep bystanders, helpers,
children and pets at least 75 feet from the machine
while it is in operation. Stop machine if anyone
enters the area.
The following information will be helpful when using the cutting
deck with your tractor:
WARNING!
Plan your mowing pattern to avoid
discharge of materials toward roads, sidewalks,
bystanders and the like. Also, avoid discharging
material against a wall or obstruction which may
cause discharged material to ricochet back toward
the operator.
• Do not mow at high ground speed, especially if a mulch kit
or grass collector is installed.
• For best results it is recommended that the first two laps be
cut with the discharge thrown towards the center. After the
first two laps, reverse the direction to throw the discharge
to the outside for the balance of cutting. This will give a
better appearance to the lawn.
• Do not cut the grass too short. Short grass invites weed
growth and yellows quickly in dry weather.
• Mowing should always be done with the engine at full
throttle.
• Under heavier conditions it may be necessary to go back
over the cut area a second time to get a clean cut.
• Do NOT attempt to mow heavy brush and weeds and
extremely tall grass. Your tractor is designed to mow lawns,
NOT clear brush.
• Keep the blades sharp and replace the blades when worn.
Refer to Cutting Blades in the Service section of this manual
for proper blade sharpening instructions.