Cutting Grass
•
Cut only about a third of the grass blade at a time. Do not
cut below the 54 mm (2-1/8-inch) setting unless the grass
is sparse or it is late fall when grass growth begins to slow
down. Refer to
Adjusting the Cutting Height (page
•
When cutting grass over 15 cm (6 inches) tall, 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, the machine may plug and cause
the engine to stall.
•
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.
•
Be aware of a potential fire hazard in very dry conditions,
follow all local fire warnings, and keep the machine free
of dry grass and leaf debris.
•
Alternate the mowing direction. This helps disperse the
clippings over the lawn for even fertilization.
•
If the finished lawn appearance is unsatisfactory, try 1
or more of the following:
– Replace the blade or have it sharpened.
– 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 a notch
lower than the rear wheels. For example, set the front
wheels at 54 mm (2-1/8-inches) and the rear wheels
at 64 mm (2-1/2 inches).
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 a single pass over the leaves.
•
If there are more than 13 cm (5 inches) of leaves on the
lawn, set the front cutting height 1 or 2 notches higher
than the rear cutting height.
•
Slow down your mowing speed if the machine does not
cut the leaves finely enough.
After Operation
After Operating Safety
9).
General Safety
•
Clean grass and debris from the machine to help prevent
fires. Clean up oil or fuel spills.
•
Allow the engine to cool before storing the machine in
any enclosure.
•
Never store the machine or fuel container where there is
an open flame, spark, or pilot light, such as on a water
heater or on other appliances.
Hauling Safety
•
Use care when loading or unloading the machine into a
trailer or truck.
•
Use full-width ramps for loading the machine into a
trailer or truck. Do not exceed a 15° angle between the
ramp and the trailer or truck.
•
Tie the machine down securely using straps, chains, cable,
or ropes. Both front and rear straps should be directed
down and outward from the machine.
Folding the Handle
WARNING
Folding or unfolding the handle improperly can
damage the cables, causing an unsafe operating
condition.
• Do not damage the cables when folding or
unfolding the handle.
• If a cable is damaged, contact an Authorized
Service Dealer.
1. Remove and save the 2 handle knobs and 2 carriage
bolts from the handle brackets
Important: Route the cables to the outside of the
handle knobs as you fold the handle.
14
(Figure
28).