Operation

Mowing

1.Engage the parking brake. Make sure the PTO switch is disengaged, the motion control levers are locked in the NEUTRAL position, and the operator is on the seat.

2.Start the engine (see STARTING THE ENGINE).

3.Set the mower cutting height.

4.Set the throttle to FULL.

5.Engage the PTO by pulling up on the PTO switch.

6.Begin mowing.

7.When finished, shut off the PTO.

8.Stop the engine (see STOPPING THE RIDER

AND ENGINE).

Proper Cutting Height

 

Mowing Recommendations

Several factors can affect how well your machine cuts grass. Following proper mowing recommendations can improve the performance and life of your machine.

Tall Grass Requires Incremental Cutting

For extremely tall grass, set the cutting height at maximum for the first pass, and then reset it to the desired height and mow a second or third time.

Height of Grass

 

Don’t cover the grass surface with a heavy layer of

Often cutting height is a matter of personal

 

clippings. Consider usi g a grass collection system

 

and sta ting a c

mp st pile.

 

 

preference. Typically, you should mow the grass

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

when it is is between three and five inches high. The

 

 

 

 

 

proper cutting height range for a specific lawn will

 

 

 

 

 

depend upon several factors including the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the type of grass, the amount of rainfall, the prevailingfor

 

Cut Here On

 

Cut

temperature, and the lawn’s overall conditi

n.

 

 

First Pass

 

Here On

 

 

 

 

Cutting the grass too short causes weak, thin grass

 

 

 

 

Second

 

 

 

 

Pass

plants, which are easily damaged by dry periods and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

pests. Cutting too short is often more damaging than

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

allowing the grass to be slightly higher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not

 

 

 

 

 

Letting grass grow a bit longer especially when it is

 

 

 

 

 

hot and dry reduces heat build-up, pres rv

s n ded

 

 

 

 

 

moisture, protects the grass from heat damage and

 

 

 

 

 

other problems. However, allowing grass to grow too

 

good rule of thumb is the 1/3 rule:Reproductionto cut no more

high can cause thin turf and additional problems.

Incremental Cutting

Cutting off too much at one time shocks the plant’s

 

growth system and weakens the grass plants. A

 

than one third of the grass height, and never

 

more than 1 inch at a time.

 

The amount of grass you are able to cut in one pass is also effected by the type of mowing system you are using (for example, broadcasting with side discharge decks can process a much larger volume of grass than mulching does).

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