OPERATION
Before you start
•Mow the lawn 1/2" shorter than normal.
•Allow the lawn to dry. Wet conditions can cause extensive damage to healthy grass.
FLAIL BLADES OR SPRING TINES:
•Flail Blades or Spring Tines: Set blade or tine depth so that the blades or tines just touch on a flat surface such as a sidewalk or driveway.
•Delta Blades: Set blades to penetrate the soil to a depth of 1/8" to 1/4" with a maximum penetration of 1/2". Check your seed bag for the manufacture’s recommended depth of application
•Set blade depth so that the blades just touch on a flat surface such as a sidewalk or driveway.
•Lawns with deep thatch exceeding 3/4" may be best dethatched in two treatments (spring and fall) to avoid major shock to an older lawn.
Starting
•Set the transport lever in working position.
•To engage the clutch in heavy thatch, bear down on the handle and raise the front wheels slightly. Hold the clutch engaged against the handle and carefully lower the machine into the turf.
•Do a small test area at a slow walking pace.
•If the engine speed drops excessively, the depth setting is too deep.
•If the machine pulls forward and bucks roughly, the depth setting is too deep. Check for stones or fixed objects in the lawn.
Finishing
•Remove all extracted thatch from the grass and compost/dispose of properly.
•Other methods for improving your lawn may include aeration and fertilization.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION Clear the lawn of any debris.
Clearly mark rocks and other fixed objects.
Be especially sure to check for hidden electrical cables or similar in the surface of the lawn.
T R A N S P O R T
LEVER
DEPTH KNOB
16
