14
MULCHING MOWING TIPS
IMPORTANT: FOR BEST PERFORMANCE, KEEP MOWER
HOUSING FREE OF BUILT-UP GRASS AND TRASH. CLEAN
AFTER EACH USE.
• The spe cial mulch ing blade will recut the grass clip-
pings many times and reduce them in size so that as
they fall onto the lawn they will disperse into the grass
and not be noticed. Also, the mulched grass will biode-
grade quick ly to provide nutrients for the lawn. Always
mulch with your highest engine (blade) speed as this
will pro vide the best recutting action of the blades.
• Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet. Wet grass tends
to form clumps and interferes with the mulch ing action.
The best time to mow your lawn is the early afternoon.
At this time the grass has dried and the newly cut area
will not be exposed to the direct sun.
• For best results, adjust the mower cutting height so
that the mower cuts off only the top one-third of the
grass blades (See Fig. 10). For ex tremely heavy mulch-
ing, re duce your width of cut on each pass and mow
slow ly.
MAX 1/3
FIG. 10
FIG. 9
• Mower should be properly leveled for best mowing per-
formance. See “TO LEVEL MOWER HOUSING” in the
Service and Adjustments section of this manual.
• The left hand side of mower should be used for trim-
ming.
• Drive so that clippings are discharged onto the area
that has been cut. Have the cut area to the right of the
machine. This will result in a more even dis tri bu tion of
clippings and more uniform cutting.
• When mowing large areas, start by tur ning to the right so
that clippings will discharge away from shrubs, fences,
driveways, etc. After one or two rounds, mow in the
opposite direction making left hand turns until fi nished
(See Fig. 9).
OPERATION
• If grass is extremely tall, it should be mowed twice to
reduce load and possible fi re hazard from dried clip-
pings. Make fi rst cut relatively high; the second to the
desired height.
• Do not mow grass when it is wet. Wet grass will plug
mower and leave undesirable clumps. Allow grass to
dry before mowing.
• Always operate engine at full throttle when mow-
ing to assure better mowing performance and proper
dis charge of material. Regulate ground speed by se-
lect ing a low enough gear to give the mower cut ting
per for mance as well as the quality of cut desired.
• When operating attachments, select a ground speed
that will suit the terrain and give best performance of
the at tach ment being used.
• Certain types of grass and grass con di tions may re quire
that an area be mulched a second time to com pletely
hide the clippings. When doing a sec ond cut, mow
across or perpendicular to the fi rst cut path.
• Change your cutting pattern from week to week. Mow
north to south one week then change to east to west the
next week. This will help prevent matting and graining
of the lawn.