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InstallingtheMulching
Blades
Partsneededforthisprocedure:
3Mulchingblade
Procedure
Installthemulchingbladesandmowerdeckonthe
machine;refertotheOperator’sManualforthe
machine.
Torquetheboltsto136to149N∙m(100to110ft-lb).
Operation
OperatingTips
UsingtheFastThrottleSetting
Forbestmowingandmaximumaircirculation,operate
theengineattheFASTposition.Airisrequiredto
thoroughlycutgrassclippings,sodonotsettheheight
ofcutsolowastototallysurroundthemowerinuncut
grass.Alwaystrytohave1sideofthemowerfree
fromuncutgrass,whichallowsairtobedrawninto
themower.
CuttingaLawnfortheFirstTime
Cutgrassslightlylongerthannormaltoensurethat
thecuttingheightofthemowerdoesnotscalpany
unevenground.However,thecuttingheightused
inthepastisgenerallythebestonetouse.When
cuttinggrasslongerthan15cm(6inches)tall,cutthe
lawntwicetoensureanacceptablequalityofcut.
CuttingaThirdoftheGrassBlade
Cutonlyaboutathirdofthegrassblade.Cuttingmore
thanthatisnotrecommendedunlessgrassissparse,
oritislatefallwhengrassgrowsmoreslowly.
AlternatingtheMowingDirection
Alternatethemowingdirectiontokeepthegrass
standingstraight.Thisalsohelpsdisperseclippings
whichenhancesdecompositionandfertilization.
MowingatCorrectIntervals
Grassgrowsatdifferentratesatdifferenttimesof
theyear.T omaintainthesamecuttingheight,mow
moreofteninearlyspring.Asthegrassgrowthrate
slowsinmidsummer,mowlessfrequently.Ifyou
cannotmowforanextendedperiod,rstmowata
highcuttingheight,thenmowagain2dayslaterata
lowerheightsetting.
UsingaSlowerCuttingSpeed
Toimprovecutquality,useaslowergroundspeed
incertainconditions.
AvoidingCuttingTooLow
Whenmowinguneventurf,raisethecuttingheight
toavoidscalpingtheturf.
StoppingtheMachine
Ifyoumuststoptheforwardmotionofthemachine
whilemowing,aclumpofgrassclippingsmay
dropontoyourlawn.Toavoidthis,moveontoa
previouslycutareawiththebladesengagedoryou
candisengagethemowerdeckwhilemovingforward.
KeepingtheUndersideofthe
MowerClean
Cleanclippingsanddirtfromtheundersideofthe
moweraftereachuse.Ifgrassanddirtbuildupinside
themower,cuttingqualitywilleventuallybecome
unsatisfactory.
MaintainingtheBlade(s)
Maintainasharpbladethroughoutthecuttingseason
becauseasharpbladecutscleanlywithouttearingor
shreddingthegrassblades.Tearingandshredding
turnsgrassbrownattheedges,whichslowsgrowth
andincreasesthechanceofdisease.Checkthe
mowerbladesaftereachuseforsharpness,and
foranywearordamage.Filedownanynicksand
sharpenthebladesasnecessary.Ifabladeis
damagedorworn,replaceitimmediatelywitha
genuineT ororeplacementblade.
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