Product Manual

14
MAX 1/3
TO STOP ENGINE
• To STOP engine, release operator pres-
ence control bar.
NOTE: For engines with a primer, it may
be nec es sary to repeat priming steps
in cooler weather. In warmer weath er,
overpriming may cause fl ood ing and
en gine will not start. If you do fl ood
engine, wait a few minutes before
attempting to start and DO NOT repeat
priming steps.
MOWING TIPS
CAUTION: Do not use de-thatcher
blade attachments on your mower. Such
attachments are hazardous, will damage
your mower and could void your warranty.
• For most cutting conditions and bet ter
bagging per form ance, the engine speed
should be set in the FAST po si tion.
• Under certain conditions, such as when
mowing very tall grass, raise the mower
height on the fi rst cut to reduce pushing
effort, to avoid over heat ing the engine,
and to avoid leaving clumps of grass
clippings. Make the second cut to the
desired height.
• For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the
width of cut.
• For side discharge lawn mowers, cut in
a coun ter clock wise di rec tion, start ing at
the outside of the area to be cut, in order
to spread grass clip pings more evenly
and to put less load on the engine. To
keep clip pings off of walkways, fl ower
beds, etc., make the fi rst cuts in a clock-
wise direction.
• Pores in cloth grass catchers can
become fi lled with dirt and dust with use
and the catcher will collect less grass.
To prevent this, regularly hose catcher
off with water and let dry before use.
FOR MULCHING MOWERS ONLY
- MULCHING MOWING TIPS
IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep
mower housing free of built-up grass and
trash. See "CLEANING" in the Mainte-
nance section of this manual.
• The special mulching 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 bio de grade quickly to provide
nu tri ents for the lawn. Always mulch with
your highest engine (blade) speed as
this will provide the best recutting action
of the blades.
• Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet.
Wet grass tends to form clumps and
in ter feres with the mulch ing action. The
best time to mow your lawn is the early
afternoon. At this time the grass has
dried, yet the newly cut area will not be
exposed to direct sunlight.
• For best results, adjust the lawn mower
cutting height so that the lawn mower
cuts off only the top one-third of the
grass blades. If the lawn is overgrown it
will be necessary to raise the height of
cut to reduce pushing effort and to keep
from over load ing the engine and leaving
clumps of mulched grass. For ex tremely
heavy grass, reduce your width of cut
by overlapping previously cut path and
mow slowly.
• When using a rear discharge lawn
mower in moist, heavy grass, clumps
of cut grass may not enter the grass
catcher. Reduce ground speed (push ing
speed) and/or run the lawn mower over
the area a second time.
• If a trail of grass clipping is left on the
right side of a rear discharge lawn mow-
er, mow in a clockwise direction with a
small overlap to collect the clippings on
the next pass.
• 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 clip pings. When doing a sec ond
cut, mow across (per pen dic u lar) 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.
11
SIMPLE STEPS TO REMEMBER WHEN
CONVERTING YOUR “COMBI-CUT”
LAWN MOWER
FOR MULCHING -
• Rear mulcher plate installed and rear
door closed.
• Mulcher door closed.
FOR REAR BAGGING -
• Rear mulcher plate removed.
• Grass catcher installed.
• Mulcher door closed.
FOR SIDE DISCHARGING -
• Rear mulcher plate installed and rear
door closed.
• Discharge defl ector installed.
CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower
without rear mulcher plate or plug in place
or approved grass catcher in place. Never
at tempt to op er ate the lawn mow er with
the rear door re moved or propped open.
GRASS CATCHER
(REAR BAGGING MODELS ONLY)
TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER
• Simply open rear door and lift grass
catcher up and away from mower.
NOTE: Do not drag the bag when
emptying. It will cause unnecessary wear.
CAUTION: Under nor mal usage, the
catch er material is subject to de te ri o ra tion
and wear and should, therefore, be
checked frequently for replacement. Any
replacement catcher should be checked
to ensure compliance with original
man u fac tur er's spec i fi ca tions.
CAUTION: Do not run lawn mower
with out the rear door, ap proved grass
catcher or clip ping de fl ec tor in place.
Never at tempt to op er ate mower with the
rear door removed or propped open.
OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROL
BAR
Your lawn mower is equipped with an op-
er a tor presence control bar which re quires
the operator to be po si tioned behind the
lawn mower handle in order to start and
operate the lawn mower.
CAUTION: Federal reg u la tions require
an en gine control to be in stalled on this
lawn mower in order to min i mize the risk
of blade contact injury. Do not un der
any cir cum stanc es attempt to de feat the
func tion of the operator con trol. The blade
turns when the engine is running.
DRIVE CONTROL
“STANDARD DRIVE” CONTROL
• Self-propelling is controlled by holding
the operator presence control bar down
to the handle and pushing the drive
control lever forward until it clicks; then
releasing the lever.
• Forward motion will stop when the op-
erator presence control bar is released.
To stop forward motion without stopping
engine, release the operator presence
control bar slightly until the drive control
disengages. Hold operator presence
control bar down against handle to con-
tinue mowing without self-propelling.
• To keep drive control engaged when
turning corners, push down on handle
and lift front wheels off ground while
turning lawn mower.
DRIVE
CONTROL
ENGANGED
Operator pres ence con trol bar
DRIVE
CONTROL
DIS EN GAGED
“DUAL BAIL” DRIVE CONTROL
• To start forward motion, lift drive control
bar up to handle.
• To stop forward motion, release drive
control bar.
TO ENGAGE DRIVE CONTROL
Drive
control
DRIVE CONTROL DISENGAGED
Operator
presence
control bar