DANGER
If the discharge door does not close completely, the
lawn mower could throw objects, causing serious
personal injury or death.
If you cannot close the door because the grass
clippings clog the discharge area, stop the engine
and gently move the discharge door handle back
and forth until you can close the door completely.
If you still cannot close the door, remove the
obstruction with a stick, not your hand.
DANGER
The lawn mower can throw grass clippings and
other objects through an open discharge tunnel.
Objects thrown with enough force could cause
serious personal injury or death to the operator or
bystander.
Never open the door on the discharge tunnel when
the engine is running.
Operating Tips
General Tips
•
Review the safety instructions and read this manual
carefully before operating the lawn mower.
•
Clear the area of sticks, stones, wire, branches, and
other debris that the blade could hit and throw.
•
Keep everyone, especially children and pets, away
from the area of operation.
•
Avoid striking trees, walls, curbs, or other solid
objects. Never deliberately mow over any object.
•
If the lawn mower strikes an object or starts to
vibrate, immediately stop the engine, disconnect the
wire from the spark plug, and examine the lawn
mower for damage.
•
Maintain a sharp blade throughout the cutting
season. Periodically file down nicks on the blade.
•
Replace the blade when necessary with an original
Toro replacement blade.
•
Mow only dry grass or leaves. Wet grass and leaves
tend to clump on the yard and can cause the lawn
mower to plug or the engine to stall.
WARNING
Wet grass or leaves can cause serious injury if
you slip and contact the blade.
Mow only in dry conditions.
•
Clean the underside of the lawn mower deck after
each mowing. See Cleaning the Underside of the
Lawn Mower Housing.
•
Keep the engine in good running condition.
•
Set the engine speed to the fastest position for the
best cutting results.
WARNING
Operating a lawn mower with its engine
running at a speed greater than the factory
setting can cause the lawn mower to throw a
part of the blade or engine into the operator’s or
bystander’s area and result in serious personal
injury or death.
– Do not change the engine speed setting.
– If you suspect the engine speed is faster
than normal, contact an Authorized Service
Dealer.
•
Clean the air filter frequently. Mulching stirs up
more clippings and dust which clogs the air filter
and reduces engine performance.
Cutting Grass
•
Grass grows at different rates at different times of
the year. In the summer heat, it is best to cut grass
at the 2-1/4 inch (57 mm), 2-3/4 inch (70 mm), or
3-1/4 inch (83 mm) cutting height settings. Cut
only about a third of the grass blade at a time. Do
not cut below the 2-1/4 inch (57 mm) setting unless
the grass is sparse or it is late fall when grass growth
begins to slow down.
•
When cutting grass over 6 inches (15 cm) tall, first
mow at the highest cutting height setting and walk
slower; then mow again at a lower setting for the
best lawn appearance. If the grass is too long and
the leaves clump on top of the lawn, the lawn
mower may plug and cause the engine to stall.
•
Alternate the mowing direction. This helps disperse
the clippings over the lawn for even fertilization.
If the finished lawn appearance is unsatisfactory, try
one or more of the following:
•
Sharpen the blade.
•
Walk at a slower pace while mowing.
•
Raise the cutting height on your lawn mower.
•
Cut the grass more frequently.
•
Overlap cutting swaths instead of cutting a full
swath with each pass.
•
Set the cutting height on the front wheels one
notch lower than the rear wheels. For example, set
15
