SECTION VII. MOWING
MOWING
WARNING
To avoid possible injury, do not allow anyone in the area opposite the discharge chute while mowing. Although the area has been supposedly cleared of foreign objects, small objects may be picked up and discharged by the mower.
WARNING
Never direct the discharge of material toward bystanders or allow anyone near the machine while in operation.
For best results it is recommended that the first two laps should 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, as the mower will tend to scalp the grass. Short grass invites weed growth and yellows quickly in dry weather.
Mowing should be done with the engine at full throttle. Do not mow at high ground speed.
During certain times of the year and under some conditions, the mower may leave streaks of uncut grass.
Streaking may occur when attempting to mow heavy weeds and tall grass. Under these conditions it may be necessary to go back over the cut area a second time to get a clean cut.
The following practices will help eliminate streaking:
1.Mow the area more often so the grass doesn’t get too tall and heavy.
2.Operate the tractor at full throttle and slower forward speeds.
3.Keep the blades sharp and replace the blades when worn.
4.Follow the mowing pattern shown in Figure 61.
Figure 61
MOWING WITH MULCHING OPTION
1.Do not cut wet grass. For effective mulching do not cut wet grass. Wet grass sticks to the underside of the deck prevention proper mulching and dispersal of grass clippings.
2.Cut no more than 1/3 the length of the grass. When mulching long grass, it may be necessary to mow twice, lowering the deck another 1/3 of the length for the second cut, and perhaps cutting in a different pattern. Overlap the cut on each pass to help clean up any heavy clippings left on the lawn.
3.Use a slow ground speed. Adjust ground speed so clippings can be evenly dispersed into the lawn.When cutting heavy grass, it may be necessary to use a slower ground speed in order to get a well mulched cut.
4.Always operate the tractor at full throttle. To obtain the best cut and do the most effective job of mulching, the engine should be run at full throttle.
5.Clean underside of deck. Be certain to clean the underside of the deck often to avoid a buildup of grass clippings, which will prevent proper mulching.
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