Use and Care Manual

16
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 recut-
ting 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.
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.
• Under certain conditions, such as when
mowing very tall grass, raise the mower
height on the first 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 en-
gine. To keep clip pings off of walkways,
flower beds, etc., make the first cuts in a
clock wise direction.
• 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.
• Pores in cloth grass catchers can be-
come filled 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.
• 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 first 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.
MAX 1/3
OPERATION
9
CAUTION: Under normal usage, the
catcher 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 discharge deflector (rear
door), approved grass catcher, clipping
de flec tor or mulcher plate in place. Never
attempt to operate mower with the dis-
charge deflector (rear door) removed or
propped open.
Hinge bracket
Formed tabs
Rear door
Grass
catcher
frame
HINGE BRACKET MOUNTED
DOOR PIVOT PIN MOUNTED
HANDLE BRACKET MOUNTED
DOOR SLOT MOUNTED
Handle bracket hooks Rear
door
Grass
catcher
handle
Catcher frame side hook
Rear door slots
Grass
catcher
han dle
Catcher frame hook
Pivot pins Grass
catcher
handle
Catcher frame hook
Rear
door
Frame
handle
Frame
opening
Vinyl
bindings
“FABRIC TOP” GRASS CATCHERS
TO ASSEMBLE AND ATTACH GRASS
CATCH ER
• Put grass catcher frame into grass bag
with rigid part of bag on the bottom.
• Slip vinyl bindings over frame.
NOTE: If vinyl bindings are too stiff, hold
them in warm water for a few minutes. If
bag gets wet, let it dry before using.
• Lift the rear door on the mower housing.
• For HINGE BRACKET mounted catcher,
place the grass catch er frame onto the
formed tabs on the rear door hinge
bracket.
• For HANDLE BRACKET mounted
catcher, place frame side hooks into
slots in handle brackets.
• For DOOR PIVOT PIN mounted catcher,
place the grass catcher frame hooks
onto the door pivot pins.
• For DOOR SLOT mounted catcher,
place the grass catcher frame hooks
into the slots of the rear door.
NOTE: The grass catcher is secured to the
lawn mower housing when the rear door is
lowered onto the grass catcher frame.
ASSEMBLY