Operating Tips

2.Lift the grass deflector and slide the tabs on top of the discharge cover under the grass deflector retaining rod.

3.Rotate the discharge cover down over the opening, and onto the lower lip of the cutter deck (Figure 24).

		Figure 24
1.	Grass deflector	4.	Lower lip
2.	Tabs under rod	5.	Bolt
3.	Discharge cover	6.	Nut

4.Secure the discharge cover to the lower lip of the cutter deck with bolts and nuts (Figure 24).

Note: Do not overtighten the nuts, which could distort the cover and cause blade contact.

5.To convert back to a side discharge cutter deck, remove the discharge cover and lower the grass deflector over the discharge opening.

•For the best performance, operate the engine at the maximum speed. The cutter deck requires air to thoroughly cut grass clippings, so do not set the height-of-cut too low or completely surround the cutter deck in uncut grass. Always leave one side of the cutter deck free from uncut grass to allow the air to be drawn into the cutter deck.

•Cut the grass slightly longer than normal to ensure that the cutting height of the cutter deck does not scalp any uneven ground. When cutting grass longer than 6 inch (15 cm) tall, cut the lawn twice to ensure an acceptable appearance.

•It is best to cut only about 1/3 of the grass blade. Do not cut more than that unless the grass is sparse or it is late fall when grass grows more slowly.

•Alternate the mowing direction to keep the grass standing straight. This also helps disperse clippings and enhances decomposition and fertilization.

•Grass grows at different rates at different times of the season. To maintain the same cutting height, which is a good practice, mow more often in early spring. As the grass growth rate slows in mid summer, mow less frequently.

•To improve the quality of cut, use a slower ground speed. For best operation on average lawns, operate the engine at full throttle while controlling the ground speed. You should operate the tractor between 2 to 3.5 mph (3.2 to 5.6 km/h) while mowing.

•If the grass is longer than normal, or if it contains a high degree of moisture, raise the cutting height higher than usual, cut the grass at that setting, and then cut the grass again at the lower, normal setting.

•If you must stop the tractor while mowing, you may leave a clump of grass clippings on your lawn. To avoid this, do the following:

–Engage the blade and move to a previously cut area.

–Disperse the clippings evenly by raising the cutter deck 1 or 2 height-of-cut settings while driving forward with the blade engaged.

•Use the washout port to clean clippings and dirt from the underside of the cutter deck after each use. If grass and dirt build up inside the cutter deck, the cutting quality will eventually become unsatisfactory.

•Maintain a sharp blade throughout the season. A sharp blade cuts grass cleanly without tearing or shredding the grass blades. Tearing and shredding the grass turns it brown at the edges, which slows its growth and increases the chance of disease. Every 30 days, check the blade for sharpness and file down any nicks.