Company Lawn Mower User Manual

12 Operation
51642 (Rev. 11/9/2007)
Should mower become plugged, causing belt to slip for
over two seconds, raise mower just enough to clear
plug and continue running for at least two minutes,
allowing pulleys to cool. Stopping the mower with belt
in contact with a very hot pulley will bake and ruin belt.
To reduce the risk of thrown objects, do not raise
mower higher than necessary.
COMMENCING MOWING
 Do not put mower into service unless either dis-
charge chute or side shield is installed and in good
condition. Replace if damaged.
 Keep bystanders away from equipment.
 Never direct discharge toward people, animals,
or property.
 Keep hands, feet, hair, and clothing away from
equipment while engine is running. Stay clear of all
moving parts.
 Stop power unit and equipment immediately
upon striking an obstruction. Turn off engine,
remove key, inspect, and repair any damage before
resuming operation.
When engaging PTO, the engine rpm should always be
low. Once engaged and ready to start mowing, raise
PTO speed to 1000 rpm and maintain throughout cut-
ting operation.
The condition of the terrain to be cut will determine the
smoothness of the final results. For best results, mower
blades should be kept sharp at all times and the plat-
form kept as level as possible. When mower blades
show excessive wear, they should be replaced.
MOWING TECHNIQUES
Mowing Speed
Proper ground speed for mowing will depend on the
height, type and density of grass to be cut. Normally,
ground speed will range from two to five miles per hour.
Tall, dense grass should be mowed at low speeds,
while thin, medium-height grass can be cut at a faster
ground speed.
Always operate PTO at 1000 rpm when mowing. This
is necessary to maintain proper blade speed to pro-
duce a clean cut.
Under certain seasonal conditions, front tractor tires or
casters may roll some grass down and prevent it from
being cut at the same height as the surrounding area.
When this occurs, reduce the tractor ground speed but
keep PTO rpm at 1000. The slower ground speed will
permit grass to at least partially rebound and be cut. In
general, lower mowing heights give a more even cut
with less tendency to leave tire tracks.
Mowing Tips
Extremely tall grass should be mowed twice. Cut grass
higher on the first pass. Cut the second time at desired
height at 90° to the first pass.
Remember, sharp blades produce cleaner cuts and
use less power.
Before mowing, analyze the area to determine the best
mowing procedure. Consider the height, type of grass
and the terrain type (hilly, level or rough).
 Inspect and clear area of stones, branches, or
other hard objects that might be thrown, causing
injury or damage.
 Keep bystanders away from equipment.
 Look down and to the rear and make sure area
is clear before operating in reverse.
 Watch for hidden hazards on the terrain during
operation.
When using the discharge chute, mow with uncut grass
to the right. This will distribute clippings over the cut
area. Discharging clippings over uncut grass will cause
a build-up and may prevent uniform cutting.
For a professional touch in large open areas, try the
mowing pattern in Figure 3. Make a counter-clockwise
pass or two to discharge clippings away from bordering
objects. Then cut the lawn in half by mowing down the
center. Turn clockwise (to the right) at each end of the
area over grass previously mowed.