Mowing Tips

The following recommendations will produce the best lawn cut quality and appearance:

• Keep mower blades sharp. Dull blades will tear grass; tips of grass will then turn brown.
• Mowing at a fast speed will increase the amount of grass that collects in the hopper.
• Cutting grass too short may kill grass and let weeds grow easily.

  Item	Measurement	Specification
  Suggested Finished Cut Height Range	Height	44 - 70 mm (1.75 - 2.75 in.)

• Adjust cutting height to remove only 1/3 of the grass at a time.
• Do not mow wet grass. If this cannot be avoided, increasing deck rake from 6.4 mm (1/4 in.) to 12.7 mm (1/2 in.) will improve the machines ability to cut in wet conditions without plugging the discharge chute.
• Mow grass often. Short grass clippings will decay quickly.
• Mow with engine at full throttle.
• Adjust travel speed to match mowing conditions:
  • Travel at slow speed when you mow thick, tall grass, make sharp turns or trim around objects.
  • Travel at moderate speed when you mow thin grass.
• Use a different mowing pattern each time you mow. Overlap mowing paths to specified distance.

  Item	Measurement	Specification
  Mowing Path Overlap	Distance	50 - 100 mm (2 - 4 in.)

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Left side with large shields (separate install kit) shown; right side similar.

• Indentions on the deck shields (A) show the edge of the cutting path to assist with mowing pass overlap.
• Drive over ridges and through shallow ditches straight-on, not at an angle.

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• Mow around the outside twice, then mow inside in straight passes. Best cut is achieved when mowing in a straight line.
• When mowing or mulching near pavement, overlap the pavement by 50 mm (2 in.) to allow clippings to dispense over grass.
• A thick layer of mulched leaves can prevent sunlight from getting to grass and smother it. Taller grass heights allow mulched leaves to dispense easier in lawn. Mulch leaves several times if needed.
• Use a thatcher in late spring or summer to pull up dead grass and aerate ground.
• For Mulching Mower:
  • Shorter cut heights will provide better cut quality, but may leave noticeable clippings. Higher cut heights will reduce clippings, but cut quality may decline.
  • Increasing the cutting height by a minimum of 6.4 mm (1/4 in.) can improve mulching performance.
  • If engine begins to labor during mulching operations, increase deck height to reduce the amount of grass being added into the mower deck.