Cutting Width For an even lawn finish, overlap
each mowing swath by a few
inches. If the grass is very tall or
thick, use more overlap and a
narrower mowing swath.
Blade Speed The blade must spin very fast to
cut properly. Always use the
FAST throttle setting, and keep
the engine running at maximum
rpm.
If engine speed drops, that
means the blade is trying to cut
too much grass. Mow a
narrower swath, move the
mower more slowly, or raise the
cutting height.
Blade Sharpness TROlTLE LEVER Sharp blades cut cleanly. Dull blades tear the grass, leaving
shredded ends that turn brown.
When your blade(s) doesn’t cut cleanly anymore, have it
sharpened or replaced (see page 58).
Dry Grass If the ground is too dry, mowing will stir up a lot of dust. Besides
being unpleasant to work in, too much dust will clog the
carburetor air filter.
If dust is a problem, water your lawn the day before mowing.
Mow when the grass is dry to your touch, but the soil is still moist.
Wet Gr,ass Wet grass is slippery and can make you lose your footing. Also,
wet grass clippings will clog the mower deck and collect in
clumps on the lawn. Always wait for wet grass to dry before
mowing.
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